Jesus can sometimes be downright offensive! I often think that the difference between us and Jesus in this area is that He offends us with what matters; we often offend over stuff that has no eternal significance!
Let me give an example.
In Luke 12:33-34, after telling the parable of the rich fool, Jesus says, among other things, “sell your possessions and give alms.” (12:33) That is followed by “Yes: where your treasure is, there your heart will be too.” (12:35) (The Kingdom New Testament, N.T. Wright)
Then Jesus talks about watchfulness. (12:35-48) When the master returns, he will bless the servants whom he found awake and ready. Mixed in all of that is the idea that “the son of man is coming at a time you don’t expect.” (12:40) The whole idea of “being ready” or “watchful” as the servants care for the master’s possessions seems rather intense.
As though that weren’t enough, Jesus wraps up this conversation by saying, “Much will be required from one who is given much; if someone is entrusted with much, even more will be expected in return.” (12:48)
I happen to be reading in this part of Luke during the week before we in the United States celebrate the birth of our country on July 4. We’re obviously not a perfect country, and some of that lack of perfection is represented in my own citizenship! But the simple truth is that we have freedom about which much of the rest of the world can only dream.
Here are some realities about my own freedom:
- I go to meet with fellow believers to worship every Sunday. I have never even received a speeding ticket on my way to worship, much less been arrested for assembling.
- I work for an institution whose mission is “to educate students for Christ-centered service and leadership throughout the world.” I confess that I have received a warning for speeding on my way to that job, but it had nothing to do with where I work or an attempt to harass me for being a follower of Jesus.
- On Tuesday of last week, I had lunch with a student. We ate in a public place. We talked about a great sermon he listened to that week; our entire conversation was mostly about life in the Kingdom and ministry. No one said, “You can’t do that religious stuff in my restaurant.”
I could go on. We’re not perfect, but wow! We really have a lot of freedom.
On the other hand, the persecution of believers worldwide seems to continue to increase. I can’t get the persecution of Christians in places like Gaza – as well as the horrendous war that has been going on for a while, along with the Iran and Israel conflict – out of my mind. Then there are the thousands of people in Ukraine and Russia who are killed daily.
Hunger and illness, especially among children in many parts of the world, continue to cost the lives of innocent people.
Then in the deep recesses of my mind and heart – that place where we sometimes try to bury the “offense” of Jesus – I hear Him say, “Much will be required from one who is given much.”
I realize this is a complicated issue, and I am equally aware that I am not smart enough to come up with a solution. But I believe that as a follower of Jesus, I should be careful not to expect my government or any government to do the job God has given the church. I also am confident that I should not pretend as though all is well in our current cultural reality in our own country. But I am trying to remind myself that compared to so many all around the world, I have a rather blessed life.
July 4 is upon us. As we celebrate our freedom, perhaps we could at least take a moment and pray for persecuted believers all around the world. For hungry people, for the sick, and for those who live in the midst of open warfare every single day.
After all, “from one who is given much . . . even more will be expected in return.”
Image by Circe Denyer from Pixabay
Wye Huxford 