Things We Argue About
Last week, we heard Jesus words “Deny yourself,
take up your cross and follow me.”
I see it all the time across the country
and in our area. People standing along the road with a cross on their shoulder,
smiling and waving; usually, it’s a man. He is following Jesus’ words.
But, how many ask the question. Is that
what Jesus meant – stand by the highway and wave at people? Is he denying self
or looking for attention? Is it following Jesus?
I’m guilty of judging them. But I still
argue, usually to myself. (My
wife warns me, you’re talking to yourself again. No, I practicing my Homily.)
Believers argue. Too many time the witness
of our faith is an argument between believers about things we’re certain and
others are wrong. That’s a conflict, an oxymoron, being certain about the
mystery of God.
These arguments/discussions are we spend
our passion - human things. Things we can go on and on about that are core
aspects of our religion.
Jesus asked them, “What were you arguing
about on the way?” But they remained silent. They had been discussing among
themselves on the way who was the greatest.
Interesting, it wasn’t about Jesus. They
had just finished a trip where Jesus fed the multitude, revealed He was the
messiah, and Peter, James, and John witnessed the transfiguration. But they
were not discussing Jesus. It was about them - “Why I am better than you.”
We are guilty of that too. If Jesus Christ
is brought up, “Oh yea, Jesus, I know Him and love Him; He’s my Savior and my
Lord.” But let's argue about how great the (fill in the denomination) are. Everybody
look, these are OUR things.
Things . . . ? Things that set us ablaze;
things we’re stuck on it; things we’re obsessed with; things we’re fascinated
by; things we love. If we’re not careful these things become about us and not
about Jesus. It’s the things believers argue about, like these things:
- Evangelism: We do it better - missions; discipleship; testimony.
- Perfection: We know how - Perfect marriages; perfect children; perfect health; perfect life.
- Right and Wrong: We teach it - Inerrancy of the Bible; fallibility of the Bible; Conservatism or Liberalism (in Religion, in Politics); what’s right or wrong with our culture.
- Worship: We do it right – We’re entertaining; We have a band and videos; faith v. works; spiritual gifts; secret to salvation; end times; prosperity.
There is nothing wrong with these things
if they are innocent, pure, and about Jesus. Yet, too many times, “Jesus,
I’ve know Him and love Him; He’s my Savior and my Lord.” But let’s
discuss who’s better. We’re beyond preaching Jesus.
We begin to worship these things and
difference instead of Jesus. And, the enemy divides and conquers us with
“jealousy and selfish ambition.” The enemy uses these things because we fail to
bring Jesus to them. Things that are about our passion not about His passion.
In our passion there is argument. We have
a world view that is hard but simple to us. We bring the same arguments found
in the book of Wisdom.
- What Jesus asks is too much;
- What He ask is not what we like;
- Forget what Jesus asks, what does the world ask.
- Love God with all that you are and love your neighbor.
- Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me.
- Do this in remembrance of me.
- Preach the Gospel; baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
These things can be good. If in these
things we proclaim Jesus Christ, the Lord that upholds our life. Preach in these things the Good News that
leads others to Him.
God doesn’t call us to argue among
ourselves. God calls us to profess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is
the cross we take up when we follow Him.
So let’s ask the
question. Are we carrying that cross, so everybody can see us or so they can
see Jesus in us?
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