You know how a lot of Christians seem to care a lot about what other people believe?
What would happen if we simply stopped caring?
Think about it, what if we stopped talking in quiet voices about that person or this person who believes such and such and simply just start copying the actions of Jesus?
In chewing on this concept this week, I’ve come to the conclusion that doing this would actually be a good thing. In a lot of ways it would help remove some of the ‘us’ versus ‘them’ mentality that is, unfortunately, so common today….
Here’s an example of what I mean… say that there is someone I know who does not follow Jesus (what religion they follow or lack thereof doesn’t matter). If I’m a typical Christian who is focused who what folks believe, I would typically get nervous about hanging out with them or talking to them as they might influence or ‘poison’ my beliefs – leading me down the wrong path (as I commonly hear).
However if I stop caring about what they believe, I then become free just to be the person I am. No longer am I trying to ‘fix’ or change their beliefs nor am I worried about them changing my beliefs. Instead I am just who I am (i.e. a person who is trying to copy the actions of Jesus through the strength and encouragement of the Holy Spirit).
If their actions don’t mirror the actions of Jesus or if they decided that they don’t want to follow King Jesus, than that is something they are going to have to take up with Jesus Himself as it is not my problem. That’s their problem.
Note that this doesn’t mean that I stop talking about Jesus… far from it! As a follower of King Jesus, I am confident that His way is the way to life this life (after all He made life, the universe and everything in it). And, yes, I would like it very much if all people everywhere followed Him (not just in words, but in actions).
The shift, abet subtle, is that it is not up to me to change or bring people into relationship with Him. That’s God job. I’m just responsible for my actions – following the actions of Jesus as recorded in the Bible as well as saying and doing just what He says to say and do.
And if folks around me want to life differently…that fine with me. It’s their life their gambling with.
What about John 4:1-26. If Jesus would have said nothing and just helped her with her chores, she would not have known the way. God is passionate for the hearts (salvation) of all mankind. So that everyone should be saved (not just cared for, or find earthly justice). We were given the great commission and therefore we should be compelled to share. Yes, our witness MUST match our actions. But Jesus acted AND taught. Key is still loving someone regardless of their choices. I think we must be careful not to replace the need for salvation with compassion. They should coincide in harmony. That is the challenge. God sent His Son to die…now there is no more passion for salvation then that. If we could only have an ounce of that passion for salvation just imagine…If we act like they are doing nothing wrong, then they won’t know that anything is wrong. Especially if we act like it’s no big deal. It’s eternity—it’s a big deal! If Jesus would have said “It’s their life they are gambling with” I fear we would not have had the Cross. Yes it is totally the work of God for salvation (The Holy Spirit unveiling the heart) and yes we have been predestined, chosen each by Him for Himself. But God also uses His disciples for such work. Otherwise he would not have had the Apostles. Finally I am left to ask myself how effect would Paul have been if he said “It’s their life they are gambling with.” Probably not very.
Agreed. We are to have a passion for showing the way towards Jesus – hence why I mentioned that I think follow Jesus is the best way to life and why we must continue to talk about Him and what He did.
The shift is not that we stop talking about Jesus or wanting others to follow Him or saying that everyone is ‘right’; the shift is that we stop trying to make people believe the same things that do. Each person on this planet has been given a choice – either to follow Jesus or not (and by ‘following Jesus’ I am not talking about ‘Christianity’ and all the cultural context connected to the term – I am talking about the living person of Jesus).
The story of Jesus and the Samaritan Women recorded in John 4:1-26 is a perfect example of what I’m talking about. There was Jesus sitting at a well resting when a women came out to get some water. Jesus, being thirsty, asked the lady for some water which sparked a conversation that led to her discovery that Jesus was the promised King Who Was To Come.
It was a natural exchanged full of love and compassion as well as a desire to point out a different way of living life. Unfortunately a lot of evangelism ‘techniques’ promoted in churches today seem to be centered on condemning people (i.e. convince them that they are horrible) before telling them the good news of Jesus. This is like a car sales man breaking your car window before trying to sell you a new one.
I guess what I’m saying is that why I am concerned about each person and want them to know Jesus, I’m not overly concerned about their beliefs as it is Jesus’ job to draw them to Himself. The only beliefs I have control over is my own. It is up to each person themselves to decide whether or not they are going to follow Jesus or not. I cannot make that choice for them.