Jesus is a radical. His lifestyle, while engaging to the culture he was surrounded by, stood in clear distinction to the values of the world around him.
Jesus commonly used a phrase like this: "You have heard it said... But I say to you..." In this way he challenged the expectations in culture and religion. Like our world, the majority of people listening to Jesus speak had come to accept their perspective as accurate because little challenged them to do otherwise.
He did not avoid culture. He understood it; he communicated using it. People looked at him and connected with him because we was like them. It was this connection that allowed him to be so radically different from them. It is as if Jesus' life was continually saying "I'm like you but I have a better way."
The life of Jesus stands in as distinct of opposition to culture today as it did 2,000 years ago. Over time many have come to accept that this opposition is defined by what his followers do not do. We do not smoke. We do not drink. We do not sleep around. We're different.
Though these things that we choose to abstain from are part of what makes of different, when they become the primary variation between Christians and all others, they create a legalistic and shallow picture of who Jesus really is. (Besides each thing we choose not to do is not about what we avoid, but what we do instead. It's not that we don't have sex outside of marriage, it's that we seek purity in all things. It's not that we don't cuss, it's that we are respectful with our words. The "don't" always comes from a "do.")
Take the beatitudes. In these profound words from Christ he does not so much challenge the actions of culture as the values. He challenges materialism, selfishness, violence, and comfort.
Maybe the things that make us different should be less about what we don't do and more about what we do. Jesus attracted attention because of the good he did in society. Not the good he participated in with his church, but the good he did. He healed the sick, befriended the friendless, and loved the poor, all the while He was preaching hope, salvation, and freedom from sin.
Maybe by choosing to purchase with integrity - supporting justice instead of enabling slavery and greed- we appear as different. Maybe in being generous with our possessions and finances instead of continually looking for the latest model, newest toy, or most comfortable sweater we stand out. Maybe in the way we treat the sick, poor, widowed, and orphaned we look like Jesus. Maybe it is what we value and then what we do, instead of what we avoid that makes us like Jesus.
If you, like me, are beginning down the road to being truly like Jesus here are 2 simple resources.
This sight provides information on the justice practices of many organizations that we buy from regularly. Choose to spend with integrity. http://www.free2work.org/
This site provides a list of simple actions that might help you find a place to start. Some are radical, some are simple. If I'm honest with you, all are intimidating to me because they challenge my sense of comfort. I think I need to be challenged. Maybe we both do.
http://thesimpleway.org/index.php/resources/details/50-ways-to-become-the-answer-to-our-prayers
Jesus commonly used a phrase like this: "You have heard it said... But I say to you..." In this way he challenged the expectations in culture and religion. Like our world, the majority of people listening to Jesus speak had come to accept their perspective as accurate because little challenged them to do otherwise.
He did not avoid culture. He understood it; he communicated using it. People looked at him and connected with him because we was like them. It was this connection that allowed him to be so radically different from them. It is as if Jesus' life was continually saying "I'm like you but I have a better way."
The life of Jesus stands in as distinct of opposition to culture today as it did 2,000 years ago. Over time many have come to accept that this opposition is defined by what his followers do not do. We do not smoke. We do not drink. We do not sleep around. We're different.
Though these things that we choose to abstain from are part of what makes of different, when they become the primary variation between Christians and all others, they create a legalistic and shallow picture of who Jesus really is. (Besides each thing we choose not to do is not about what we avoid, but what we do instead. It's not that we don't have sex outside of marriage, it's that we seek purity in all things. It's not that we don't cuss, it's that we are respectful with our words. The "don't" always comes from a "do.")
Take the beatitudes. In these profound words from Christ he does not so much challenge the actions of culture as the values. He challenges materialism, selfishness, violence, and comfort.
Maybe the things that make us different should be less about what we don't do and more about what we do. Jesus attracted attention because of the good he did in society. Not the good he participated in with his church, but the good he did. He healed the sick, befriended the friendless, and loved the poor, all the while He was preaching hope, salvation, and freedom from sin.
Maybe by choosing to purchase with integrity - supporting justice instead of enabling slavery and greed- we appear as different. Maybe in being generous with our possessions and finances instead of continually looking for the latest model, newest toy, or most comfortable sweater we stand out. Maybe in the way we treat the sick, poor, widowed, and orphaned we look like Jesus. Maybe it is what we value and then what we do, instead of what we avoid that makes us like Jesus.
If you, like me, are beginning down the road to being truly like Jesus here are 2 simple resources.
This sight provides information on the justice practices of many organizations that we buy from regularly. Choose to spend with integrity. http://www.free2work.org/
This site provides a list of simple actions that might help you find a place to start. Some are radical, some are simple. If I'm honest with you, all are intimidating to me because they challenge my sense of comfort. I think I need to be challenged. Maybe we both do.
http://thesimpleway.org/index.php/resources/details/50-ways-to-become-the-answer-to-our-prayers
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