"And if we intend to become like Christ, that will be obvious to every thoughtful person around us, as well as to ourselves. Of course, attitudes that define the disciple cannot be realized today by leaving family and business to accompany Jesus on his travels about the countryside. But discipleship can be made concrete by loving our enemies, blessing those who curse us, walking the second mile with an oppressor-- in general, living out the gracious inward transformations of faith, hope, and love. Such acts-- carried out by the disciplined peson with manifest grace, peace, and joy-- make discipleship no less tangible and shocking today than were those desertions of long ago."
Sometimes I wonder what makes me, a follower of Christ, any different from those around me who claim to follow another religion or even no religion at all. After reading Dallas Willard this morning, I was reminded again of how radical loving our enemies, or blessing those who curse us is in this world of back stabbing and a "me first" philosophy.
I was teaching The Great Gatsby last week and we were talking about the pursuit of the "American Dream" and what it looks like. I asked the question, "If one stomps on others to reach his/her goals and dreams, or if one neglects the needs of others to reach their own success, does that count as fulfilling the American Dream? Can one reach the American Dream by corrupt means?" I was shocked by the amount of students that believe it is not only acceptable, but necessary to use any and all means to reach a goal or a dream.
What makes me different as Christ's child? I am following a God that not only cares about others, but sacrificied himself for the life of others. I am a disciple that manifests grace, peace, and joy.
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1 comment:
Thanks for the good words Becky. Miss you. Joanna
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