Does Jesus call us to a demanding, uncompromising discipleship?
July 29, 2010
Does Jesus call us to a demanding, uncompromising discipleship? Luke 9:57-62
On Sunday a child answered a question by saying, “Jesus is nice.” The understanding this reflected seemed to be that Jesus would never ask or make us do something that we didn’t want to do. I wonder how much this reflects the general understanding of God. If God is a loving, generous God does that mean that God asks nothing of us, except for belief that God exists. Is this all there is to Christianity? Nice God who lets us do whatever we like, who then bails us out when we get into trouble. Is this God real? Did God send us Jesus just to do nice things for us? Or is God a demanding God who expects us to follow a list of prescribed rules of morality, like a group of petulant children who know that they better do what they are told or else.
When I read scripture I see a God who requires a certain attitude more than anything else. So I offer you some selected passages so that you can decide for yourself what attitude that is.
He has told you, O mortal, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?
Micah 6:8
In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets. Matthew 7:12
Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. Mark 11:25
But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, Matthew 5:44
