I am a follower of Jesus. I love Jesus' teachings, examples for living in God's Kingdom and the possibilities that following them presents for the sake of the world. I truly believe that Jesus' Way of living in the world would make a better world, if we would live in it. I am a person of the Way of Jesus.
"Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord' and do not do what I tell you?" (Luke 6:46) There are many who call themselves "Christians", who were baptized, who have their butts on pews or seats in sanctuaries and who breath in the sanctuary air at least once a week... many whose Bibles are well worn, who give praise and thanks regularly, who profess Jesus as personal Savior, some who even do wondrous healing and signs in His name, and who do not follow Jesus.
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?' Then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; go away from me, you evil-doers." (Matthew 7:21-23) Following Jesus is NOT just about praising and worshiping Him as Savior and basking in the glow of His Divinity and Power. It is about submitting to Him as Lord of our lives and living the Kingdom Values He taught and exemplified. It is NOT about works-righteousness, but coming to Him out of thankful, grateful hearts for His Agape Love and Grace, and following His example in how to live those in the world. THAT is a genuine walk with Jesus. Saying the right words, having the right posture, outward shows of devotion and even exhibiting Spiritual gifts, while ignoring what Jesus taught and exemplified, leave us as strangers to Jesus, at least if you believe Jesus. It is all about following His way in the world around us, which is centered on Agape Love and Grace. Praising His Name, singing His Praises, ecstatic prayers and gyrations, professing His name, getting others "saved" by saying "the sinners' prayer", etc., etc. mean nothing if we also use His Name to Judge others, exclude them, have a violent heart, make it all about us instead of about Him and others around us, ignore those in need who are brothers and sisters, condemn others for ANY reason, nit-pick others on how they are living while ignoring our need to be Gracious, living the idolatry of greed or lust for power or obsession with prestige, or belittle, shame, scapegoat, blame, victimize, abuse, exploit anyone for selfish reasons (or ANY reason). That is NOT following Jesus. I know what direction that is, and it is NOT the direction in which Jesus goes. Jesus said, "follow me."
"The Kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed; nor will some say, 'Look, here it is!' or 'There it is!' For, in fact, the Kingdom of God is within you." (Luke 17:20,21) We are "out there" people who profess Jesus, sometimes. We look for sin "out there", evil "out there" and righteousness "out there", salvation "out there", God "out there". Jesus taught us that we live within the Kingdom and the Kingdom lives within us. Paul did also - "In Him we live and move and have our being." (Acts 17:28) We are intimately connected with God. I must fight my battle with sin and evil WITHIN myself. I must look for the sources of sin and evil WITHIN myself, and not in outward things... I must also seek God WITHIN MYSELF, as God has promised to be there. My only righteousness is in Christ Jesus, who is WITHIN ME. Apart from Him, I have none, but I am not apart from Him. Purity and Holiness are not mine to have, but His to have, but He is WITHIN ME. Therefore, if I seek purity and holiness as outward acts, I miss the relationship I have with the Pure and Holy WITHIN ME. It is about living Kingdom Values in THIS PART of God's Kingdom, as they come from within me and out into the world, NOT about seeking those things in the world around me to attain them. Agape Love and Grace have been given to me. I must pour them out into the world around me, in order to follow Jesus.
Following Jesus is not a work. It is work, but it is not a work toward self-righteousness or salvation. It is a RESPONSE to the awesome and marvelous Grace and Love I have received from my Lord, and a recognition that I WANT to submit my will and conform my way to Jesus' Way, as He taught and exemplified it, witnessed to by the four Gospels and His Words in them. It is also the recognition that the world around me will be a better place if I live His Kingdom Values in it, and the desire for that better world. It means that I will not reflect the world, but address it with the Good News of Jesus - stand toe to toe with Unjust Power, Unchecked Greed, Uncontrolled egos and those who insist that the right way to live in this world is to give lip service to Jesus, but in actions and words be Unloving and Ungracious. It means standing with those whom others, even or especially by those in the religious community, have been cast out, disenfranchised, marginalized and rejected. It means being the voice of the voiceless and united power of the powerless, not for self gain, but purely for THEIR sake. It means feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, welcoming the undocumented alien, visiting the sick and imprisoned. It means proclaiming the Acceptable Year of the Lord, as Jesus did, and working to free the oppressed. It means Agape Love (selfless, unconditional committed action on behalf of the other). It means Grace (undeserved loving mercy for the sake of the other). That is work, but it comes out of a genuine Agape Love and Gracious relationship with the Lord of my life and those whom Jesus loves, who are also my sisters and brothers. Unwavering, with a stubborn refusal to judge others, Lord let me follow You by living what You taught and exemplified for me, and out of a genuine, deep love for You and my Neighbor, who you defined as stranger and enemy (Luke 10:25-37).
Pastor Jamie
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