The Cost of Following Christ
I think the Sermon on the Mount suggests that Jesus knew our tendency toward compartmentalization. In fact, a good reading of the gospels might suggest that all of Jesus’ life and teachings suggests the same. Jesus is not a both/and teacher. His message was shockingly clear: if we want to follow Christ, we will have to lay down our other loyalties.
I suspect we would be more comfortable if Jesus hadn’t given us examples of how our righteousness is to exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees, but he did, and now we are faced with whether we believe him and will obey him or if we will do what the scribes and Pharisees had done for years – compartmentalize their faith. They, and we, would much rather pick and choose the righteousness we will practice and which we will ignore.
While we generally want rules to be religiously followed by others, we tend to cut ourselves some slack, but it is hard to find the slack in what Jesus said concerning how our righteousness is to exceed that of those who were meticulous at many of the details of the law. This one phrase of Jesus is repeated several times in the fifth chapter: “You have heard that it was said of old…. but I say to you.” And while it may be uncomfortable, we might need to pray that the Holy Spirit directs us in how this applies to us.
Anger and revenge or judgement.
Adultery acted out or simply contemplated in one’s thoughts.
Exacting punishment or offering forgiveness.
These topics and others Jesus raises in his sermon to us and we are quick to say yes, but to follow this Jesus demands that we sit with this teaching and ask ourselves and our Father, “In what ways am I avoiding obedience?”
And while we must always evaluate our beliefs and actions first, we might also consider if those we follow in business and politics are held to a different standard or if the teachings of Jesus apply to them as well. If one doesn’t claim to have faith, then we cannot hold them to the standard of Jesus. But lately it does seem that we might be playing loose with what we agree with as “Christian” in other areas of life.
It is clear that our obedience to Christ means that we can only seek first one thing and not two or three. When we compartmentalize our faith and separate it from our business practices and our politics, we may well have forgotten Jesus startling phrase, “But I say to you.”
Jesus, today we pray as we read the Sermon on the Mount that you would reveal to us where we have conveniently ignored your call to seek first your kingdom and your righteousness and chosen to be our own judge of what and when your teachings apply to us. Forgive us. Correct us. And lead us in your paths of righteousness for your kingdom’s sake and for our effectiveness as your sons and daughters as we live as your ambassadors. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Your Time with God’s Word
Matthew 5:17-20; 21-22, 27-28, 31-34, 38-39 ESV
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