Status Quo

My guess is that more and a few of you who are reading this book (In His Steps) are having the same problem I am; putting it down! I am just a few chapters from the end at this point. I just have a hard time stopping. I keep wanted to see what will happen next. It is not so much that it is a wonderful novel it is just that I want to see how these characters will respond to the question "What would Jesus do?" in these various situations they are facing.

The one comment I want to make today comes from Pg. 139 at the top of the page. "In fact, I do not see how a perfect upheaval of Christianity, as we know it, can be prevented in the ministers and churches generally take the Raymond pledge (What would Jesus do) and live it out." These were the words spoken by the Bishop of Chicago. As I was reading these pages I was holding my breath because I thought that this Bishop was going to tell this pastor (Calvin) that if he chose to lead his congregation in what the church in Raymond was doing that he was going to ask him to resign as the pastor of this church in Chicago. In case you have not read this far I won't give away what happens.

My interest is in that quote. it makes we wonder if I am many others who call Jesus Lord are content with a status quo Christianity. Why bother asking the question "What would Jesus do?" aren't things OK for us right now? Why invite the consternation, the upheaval, the difficulty? Things are OK so what good is there in stirring the pot as it were?

I have to admit that as a pastor I struggle with this question. Sadly there are things I should (at least I feel I should) say about things I see in the life of the congregation to which God has called me that need to be addressed but I worry. "How will what I say be taken?" "What if they get upset and leave the church, what good will that do me?" "What if there is retaliation and it is not just one person or one family that leaves, what if many leave?" You have to face questions of the same nature if you chose to do as Jesus would do. You will no doubt risk the lose of friends. Family members will accuse you of being some sort of religious fanatic. Worst of all you will have to give up what has been a comfortable existence.

What if we chose to not do as Jesus would do? What if we chose to take a path of least resistance and just leave well enough alone? I fear that answer may already be given to us in Revelation 3: 15-19 “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other!¹⁶ But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!¹⁷ You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.¹⁸ So I advise you to buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see.¹⁹ I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference

These are still the days when we are called to take up the cross and follow Jesus. Will we bare the cross?

Pastor Sheldon