Navigating the Tension: Faithful Living in a Comfort-Seeking World
Leviticus 8-9; Matthew 23; Psalm 119
The fact that we are embraced by the world, no, more than that, applauded even, may be our greatest indictment. The prophets of old were stoned to death. The disciples who went before us were hung upside down on crosses.
Now, in full disclosure, I have no desire to be a martyr. My dream is to grow old and chubby, making cookies and doing crafts surrounded by grandchildren. Like most people, I want to live in comfort and be liked by neighbors and friends.
I’m not a daredevil or an adrenaline junkie. I like making good dinners for friends and family. I think I want what probably most people want.
And yet.
And yet, when I consider the faith handed down to us, when I think about the words of the Man I follow, the One I love, the God I serve, I am struck by what is lacking in my own experience.
Even now, I am thinking about Paul’s words:
Colossians 1: 24 “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church…”
These followers of Jesus, the ones who have gone before us, turned the world upside down, disrupting governments with the Gospel, angering power structures with their non-compliance. They wouldn’t bow to religion or false gods. They wouldn’t acquiesce to evil kings. They lived loyal lives and were hated for it.
Hear me. I don’t want to be hated.
The Gospel we preach is love and power and righteousness.
But throughout the ages, the Gospel’s power to disrupt the status quo has made its messengers a target.
To be loved and popular isn’t necessarily a sign of preaching well. To be adored doesn’t necessarily mean we have learned to live the message.
Do you know what I mean?
In our culture, where influence is everything, where social popularity reigns supreme, it’s easy to buy into the lie that likes and shares equate to effective Gospel preaching.
It does not.
One thing I’ve learned as I’ve read through the words of Jesus, as recorded in the gospels, is that Jesus didn’t come to condemn sinners. He came to save us! He came to reveal the heart of the Father. And He would go toe to toe with anyone and anything that got in the way of that message, which put Him at odds with the religious system.
And for this, he did not shrink back. Calling it exactly how He saw it, exactly how it was, Jesus called those hypocrites “a brood of vipers.” He spoke to their hypocrisy, and their neglect of the very values they heralded: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. He indicted the sham.
And for that, He wasn’t loved or adored. He was hated and reviled.
But He was telling the truth, and He was telling that truth in love.
And I’m wondering if I’m doing that. Am I telling the truth in love? Is the church still doing that?
The goal isn’t to be hated. But the goal can’t be about being loved either.
Matthew 23: 33 “You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell? 34 Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town, 35 so that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Barachiah,[f] whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. 36 Truly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.”
More than a conclusion, I guess I’m mulling over the question: Are we walking in love and truth? And if we are, where is the testimony of living out that tension?
I don’t want to be hated, but I’m almost positive that being applauded is more dangerous for our soul.
I’m asking the Lord to help me land in the tension.
Where do you land on this? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Deepening Faith: Reflective Journal Prompts
- Reflecting on Personal Aspirations vs. Faith Challenges: Think about your own life aspirations compared to the challenges faced by biblical figures. How do your desires for comfort and acceptance align or conflict with living out a bold, faith-filled life?
- Facing Rejection for Faith: Have you ever experienced rejection or discomfort due to your faith? Reflect on these moments and what they taught you about resilience and commitment to your beliefs.
- The Gospel’s Disruptive Nature: Consider how the Gospel’s message can be both comforting and disruptive. How have you experienced or witnessed the Gospel challenging societal norms or personal comforts?
- Balancing Truth and Love: Reflect on how you balance speaking the truth with showing love in your interactions, especially when discussing faith. Are there areas where you feel you could improve?
- Your Response to Christ’s Teachings: Jesus’ teachings in Matthew 23 challenge religious hypocrisy. How do these teachings resonate with you, and how do they shape your understanding of authentic faith?
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