Is Jesus worth it? That seems like a silly question. You're probably thinking well of course He is. But is He really? Think about that honestly, seriously. We've been trained to have a gut reaction when such questions are asked to say yes. When push comes to shove is He really worth it? Is what He asks you to do worth losing jobs, friends, family members, maybe your life?
Come follow me doesn't come with the word unless attached. It is not unless things are hard, you're afraid, or I ask a little too much. That is all encompassing. I feel like we tend to say 'Yes Lord' but then we draw invisible lines we won't cross. Like maybe I will do whatever as long as I don't have to worry about money or I won't be in danger or my family is safe. Fill in that blank, where is your line?
Tonight I watched the documentary The Insanity of God, a movie based on the book of the same name by Nik Ripken. It centers on followers of Christ in persecution and their willingness to be beaten, ostracized, lose their families, imprisoned, or even killed all because of Jesus. There is a point where Nik is recounting an interview with such a person. Nik is talking about feeling guilty because of the freedom we have here. The man he is speaking to responds that they are as free to worship as we are in America. That sounds preposterous. How can someone who lives where Christians are imprisoned or killed for their faith be as free as we are?
Essentially he says it is a personal choice. They are free to witness just like we are it just comes with risks. Their faith can be lived out in the same way ours can. It is just a matter of if we will choose to live that way. I've grown up hearing how there are believers that don't have the freedom I do, I've taught on it. Tonight I heard such a believer say that was wrong. Even though it sounds crazy he is right. Laws might not hinder me from witnessing but it is still a personal choice. I have to choose to share my faith, to speak. You have to choice to live the faith you have so it can be seen. In doing so we do what they do without the risks. Our lives look different because it isn't just talk and people notice.
Our culture says we are intolerant. My beliefs are offensive and I shouldn't express them. These are the things that our society says because we do not go along with the crowd. My faith means I can't be alright with many things because they are sin, so my refusal to support them paints me as an intolerant bigot. This begs the question, is Jesus worth exclusion? Am I o.k. with people not liking me because I won't just go along with the world standard whatever it is at the time. This is a big one for me. I have an idol of people pleasing that I'm working to kill. That being said people not liking me is worth them hearing the gospel.
I can handle being called a bigot if it is because my love of Jesus is stronger than my need for acceptance. I've got family who strongly disagree with my beliefs, especially when it comes to abortion and homosexuality. I love these people but I can't back down from speaking about these things because not speaking is as good as supporting the two. I do not yell or argue. I will not let hate color my words because if I can't speak with grace my speaking is useless.Thus far they haven't disowned me but they know where I stand. If in the end they can't accept me because of my refusal to support certain things I have lost family but I haven't compromised my beliefs.
Perhaps you are like I was a year ago, your line for Jesus is your dreams. That was me, I had good, God-honoring dreams of spending time in Africa doing short term missions. I was sure that was how things were going to play out. I'd get to Africa and teach some and share the gospel with a people I love. Along the way those dreams became an idol. I was willing to follow Jesus but I wanted Africa to be in the plan. If it wasn't I wasn't sure what it was God was doing. Letting go of our plans isn't easy. We are taught from a young age to dream big dreams for our future. The problem is those don't always line up with what God has for us. I can tell you that His plans are better. They might be unexpected but they will be better for you. Is He worth it even if it means you lose your dream future?
What about family? I am a family man. This is where my line would have to be. Where my struggle is. I don't want to put them in danger. Following Jesus at the risk of my own life is one thing and putting them in danger is another. This, I think, is one of the more difficult facets of a follower living in a heavily persecuted area-death of family. We are to comparatively hate our families when put up against our love of Christ, but that is easeir said than done. When you add in the threat of death it gets harder.
Let's switch gears though, what if He called you to be right where you are? What if the everyday, nine to five grind was your place? Forget danger, imagine the mundane. So often we think our lives have to be exciting or adventurous to be useful but we are wrong. God never said if you aren't living in a third world country teaching a foreign people about me I can't use you. In fact, where you are right now might be exactly where he wants you to stay. Maybe that isn't east to swallow. Maybe you want excitement, you're tired of sitting in a desk chair. Is He worth faithfully serving in the ordinary day to day life stuff?
So, is He worth it? Is Christ worth beatings, ridicule, exclusion, loss, death, or the mundane? Sometimes I think it is easy to read about a martyr and say yes, clearly Jesus is worth it. But, it is a personal question. You see He was worth it to those people. The question remains if He is worth it to you, no matter what He calls you to in the end.
No comments:
Post a Comment