Recently, I received a message from a former student who is now also a friend. I have his permission to share that message with you:
“I’ll give you an update in my life soon, but I’ve got a somewhat pressing question. Are the NT claims about marrying a divorced person as straightforward as they seem? I’ve never really had a chance to study the question but I’m getting to know a divorced woman I would like to date, but I don’t want to glibly say ‘the Bible’s teaching doesn’t make sense to me so I’m going to ignore it.’
“My sexual orientation includes same sex attraction and I can’t figure out why God makes homosexuality off limits, but it’s clear to me that he does so I submit to Christ where I don’t understand him.
“I’m willing to do that with dating divorced women too. But I’ve also learned not to trust my natural reading of the text ‘in plain English.’ As a retired pastor what are your pastoral and academic thoughts on the issue?”
Folks, that’s how a real citizen of God’s kingdom thinks. That’s how a genuine disciple makes decisions, by answering the question, “What does Jesus ask of me?”
The commitment to say “No” to ourselves as we say “Yes” to Christ is the Biblical definition of faith. My young friend illustrates just that – a life of faith oriented to the Lord Jesus, first, last and always, whatever the cost, no matter the sacrifice, regardless of the necessary self-denial.
Some people approach Christian living as if Jesus were a new, spiritual “app” for their lifestyle iPhone. Nothing else changes; they simply add a Jesus button to their many options.
Feeling stressed? Press the Jesus app. He’ll help.
Need a pick-me-up? Press the Jesus app. He’ll be there.
Sorry, but that’s not real Christianity.
Truly following the crucified, resurrected Lord requires an entire rearrangement of life’s perspectives and priorities. It means becoming functionally “unnatural,” an habitually counter-clockwise person in a very, very clock-wise world.
Following Jesus is like tossing the iPhone with all of its apps, bells and whistles over your shoulder, while strapping a simple, ticking Timex to your wrist with a second hand and numbers on its face. And, oh yes, you must relearn how to wait until you are home again before even thinking about another phone call.
Following Jesus is a radical step. He won’t become an addition to anybody’s life. Jesus always wants to remake everything in His own image. He will become the totality or he will become nothing to us at all.
I dedicated my last book, I Pledge Allegiance: A Believer’s Guide to Kingdom
Citizenship in 21st Century America, to those among my former students who understood the challenges and the amazing blessings of Christian discipleship. They are scattered around the globe now risking everything for the kingdom of God.
That’s real Christianity. And I am humbled to have had some small role in encouraging their life of faith.
This young friend of mine, a man who is making his future with Jesus Christ THE most important relationship of his life, is discipling me in what it means to follow Jesus.
