There has been so much division and fighting over this past year, and everything seems to quickly escalate to an “us verses them” mentality.
Republican V Democrats
Maskers V Anti-maskers
White V Minorities
Personal Freedom V Public Safety
and on and on the list goes…
In conservative Christian circles, we tend to glorify the idea of being a martyr, suffering for our cause, and fighting for our freedoms. We love to tell the stories of those who sacrificed everything for the cause of Christ. We admire those who fought for what they believe. We idolize the entire concept.
We write books about it, we sing about it, we pray for the courage to be brave enough to join the ranks of those who suffer.
Who hasn’t been in a service where the preacher asks:
“If someone said ‘deny Christ or (insert horrific event here)’, what would you do?!”
and we all sit and ponder, would I be brave enough to do that? Could I face that? Would I be worthy?
Please don’t misunderstand me, I hope we have the kind of genuine faith that would lead us to do extraordinary things when or if we are ever called upon to do so.
My question is, are we balancing that idealism with the true character of Christ?
You see, when Jesus came, He turned the religious world upside down. Before He came, it was all about traditions, actions, and duties. Your relationship with God was based on how often you sacrificed and what you were willing to do to make atonement for your sin. Would you be be willing to give up your very best lamb for passover? Would you give to the poor? Would you join the army and physically war against other false religions? Would you give everything?
When Jesus came, He ended all of it.
Jesus didn’t come to fight and win. Jesus came to lose on purpose so that others could win.
Think about that.
Jesus, I was physically attacked!
Turn your other cheek to them also.
Jesus, this man wants me to walk a MILE with him.
Go with him two miles.
Jesus, they say it’s offensive that I’m eating meat but you said it’s not forbidden anymore!
If it causes your brother offense, give it up.
Jesus, he has wronged me multiple times! I have forgiven him already but he did it again!
Forgive him 490 times. (7 times 70)
Jesus, they are bullying me!
Bless and pray for those to persecute you.
Jesus had the ultimate claim to anything He needed or wanted. He didn’t need to feel physical pain and hunger. He had the right to better than the best this world had to offer. He could have rightly fought for His throne. He had the ultimate cause and the ultimate righteous claim to everything.
But He demanded nothing.
He asked for nothing.
He fought for nothing (for Himself).
He chose to wash the dirty feet. He chose to be hungry. He chose to be poor. He chose to be rejected and judged unfairly. He chose to defer His right to claim anything, and then He gave everything.
Jesus came to surrender it all, even His life, for unworthy, ungrateful, unfair, undeserving, unrighteous people who didn’t even want Him.
We call ourselves Christians; Christ-like.
So be like Christ.
Stop trying to win. Stop focusing on your rights. Stop focusing on your liberties. Stop glorifying martyrs and BE a martyr.
Does it bother other people that you don’t wear a mask? Then wear a mask.
Does it ruffle your feathers that someone voted differently than you? Don’t judge.
Does it make you angry that someone is being treated better than you? Be happy for their blessings.
Do your rights and comforts compare to what Christ was willing to sacrifice for others? I’m willing to bet they don’t. Unless someone is asking you to deny your faith or do something contrary to the Word of God, let it go.
Change is legitimately hard and frightening, but it’s not innately wrong or to be feared.
Jesus turned everything upside down in the world of religion and traditions, but He did it for our good and His glory. He turned our focus inside out, for our good and His glory.
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Please, I’m begging you as your sister in Christ, turn your eyes away from yourselves and onto others.
*My thoughts were partially inspired by this sermon by Andy Stanley*
