“Why do you have to wear a t shirt that says Jesus?” her mom asks her. Culturally not cool. Embarrassing as a parent who would rather keep Jesus more constrained and contained. I can relate to part of that. I personally don’t feel compelled to slap a God message on my car or my clothes.
“And where have I failed you as a parent that you need to go work for God?” Another parental question for her. “That you feel like you have to go out and live on a shoestring on other people’s support?” How’s a parent to explain that one to their friends, whose children are out in the real world seeking post- college jobs with tangible benefits? And they sigh and hope she outgrows this phase.
Like Jesus is Barbie or a favorite band. Like he’s just big enough to hold her interest for a year or two until the next big thing comes along.
It’s hard to explain Jesus and living for Him.
We at the church make it harder for her parents to understand than it needs to be. Outsiders and insiders in the church get used to another version of following Jesus that is promoted subtly or blatantly in the church.
Francis Chan described it this way:
There’s a Wide Road that leads to destruction: Evil, Satan, denial of Jesus and the cross.
There’s a Narrow Road that leads to life: the Gospel , grace to be saved, trading my life for his, following him to the cross.
But we at church have sometimes created a safe path down the middle. Not too radical. Not in your face. Not very costly. A “both/and” kind of Gospel that embraces Jesus and the world. Navigating life down this middle road will land us in the ditch. It’s an impossible myth.
If Jesus fills the whole universe as eternal and unchanging God, and calls us to leave all to follow Him, then we’re on a radically narrow way. It will offend the world. It will even offend the church at times. But let’s never outgrow the path that leads to life!
~Jan Cooper
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Hi there.
ReplyDeleteI see that you are using one of my photos on your blog. As you have not asked permission, you are breaking copyright. The way you have liked it, you are also stealing bandwidth. I'm sure this doesn't fit with the principles of your website, so please rectify. I'm happy for you to continue to use the photo, provided you host it yourself and credit me as the photographer.
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