Here’s another submission to the Question of Identity series more of which you can discover here.
I have a lot of respect for the written works of Arthur Sido.
He blogs, tweets and updates his FB and I find a lot of what he has to say thought-provoking and soul enriching. I don’t have to agree with everything he says, but he displays enough of a passion for the things of Christ for me to look to him as a model of good practice.
This afternoon he updated his FB status with the following verse of scripture.
So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:33)
I read the verse. I read the verse again. I read the verse once more. Then for good measure I read the verse for the road.
At the time I thought that in this day and age, with the focus on us enjoying rights and liberties and being in pursuit of happiness or the comfortable life, this very verse is anathema to all of that. Even in Christian circles that are seeking to fit in with the culture as opposed to compassionately showing an alternative much has been done to water down the intent of the verse. It refuses to fit into a view of the human life that is about preservation and building a tidy nest egg for a blissful retirement and being able to give something to the children when we die. It refuses to fit into the concept of a life where you can have it now.
When you read the context in which this statement is made it goes onto make some radical claims of what real life should be about. Claims that evidently at the time left people puzzled, challenged and in some cases offended. Claims, likewise, that today would be ridiculed or worse still rationalised and diluted beyond any resemblance to its original intent.
Dear reader, I read these claims and am again arrested and convicted.
It is such a shame that other agendas seek to take priority when it comes to my identity. It is desperately sad that issues of ethnicity, sexuality, political persuasion, national affiliation, denominational association and the like demands primacy before living out these and other radical claims made by the Messiah.
It reminds me of a sobering statement made in the epistle of James.
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. (James 2:19)
It is too easy to make statements affirming our belief in God. It is too easy to tick the correct doctrinal boxes and go for the right platitudes when it comes to the pressing social and moral issues of the day. It is too easy to say these things and have a tokenistic, nominal approach to what it is to really and truly follow Jesus.
What I believe is not just a refreshing mind escape or a tickle on me spiritual tummy to be able to sleep well at night. It is not just something I can use to clothe my other passions and interest.
Believing in Jesus must compel me to do what He did and endeavour to become like Him, which thus requires a commitment completely. Body, mind, soul, bank balance, pastimes, employment, family relationships, friendships, church community, location – EVERYTHING.
Living that out, should make me very distinct from others – not in superficial terms, but in how my convictions are lived out. How my life reflects the life of Christ who lives in me.
Once again, my prayer is to read Luke 14:33 and renounce all I have. To forsake all I have and what I know. To do all that in preference to the far surpassing worth of knowing, growing, loving and becoming like Jesus Christ.
God help me. God help us.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
dmcd
Life With CD 