This week we begin a two-month series based on the book Radical by David Platt. Our purpose will be to examine how our faith and our culture intersect and sometimes conflict. What does it mean to be a Christian in 21st Century America?
In Luke 9, we find Jesus’ brief discussions with three different people about the cost of following him.
57As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”
58Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
59He said to another man, “Follow me.”
But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”
60Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
61Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.”
62Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”
Following Jesus requires something of us. Sometimes we will have to make the choice that stands in contrast to the demands of our culture. Consumerism and materialism often fight against the call of the Kingdom of God to put others first and share all we have.
Let me share two quotes from David Platt’s book, Radical that address the struggle that I am talking about:
“We are settling for a Christianity that revolves around catering to ourselves when the central message of Christianity is actually about abandoning ourselves.”
“Radical obedience to Christ is not easy... It's not comfort, not health, not wealth, and not prosperity in this world. Radical obedience to Christ risks losing all these things. But in the end, such risk finds its reward in Christ. And he is more than enough for us.”
It is not easy following Jesus, but the easy road is not always the one that is best. And while the cost of following Christ may seem high, it is a cost that is worth the reward. Let’s take the journey together as we seek to discover what it means to be a Christian in 21st Century America.
shine!
Jason
1 comment:
Hurrah! Finally I got a webpage from where I can really take valuable data concerning my study and
knowledge.
Post a Comment