A comment made by Ria Landon on my last article “Life is cheap for the rich” has prompted me to meditate on one of the issues I see often in the church at large.

 

“Them” and “us”

“Them” are the people out there or who are not quite like us

“Us” are the group with whom we identify.

In His wonderful example prayer Jesus identifies with us, “Our Father”

 

Jesus called a group of disciples, they did not instantly understand who He was (and is) but as they went about with Him witnessing God at work. Then they came to believe. So often we want to wait for people to believe before we let them be “us” this was not the pattern Jesus set. Belonging before believing was His pattern. And yes, he took the risk of becoming close to those who would betray Him.

 

As the disciples went about with Him they experienced the incarnate nature of the Father loving, healing, comforting, standing out against injustice, honoring the poor and down-trodden these twelve men became his intimate trusted friends. But after three years of walking with Jesus one disciple betrays him, another resorts to violence and then denies knowing him and ten run away in a crisis and doubt what they have come to believe. Perhaps he didn’t teach them well enough?

 

 If three years with Jesus didn’t perfect them we have to face the fact that the people around us will not be perfect either.

 

Jesus taught us that we need to be in relationship with others but we cannot put our total trust in them. Our ultimate trust must be in God who will take care of us even when all forsake us or speak all manor of evil against us.  He will use every situation to our good provided that, like Jesus, we are quick to forgive. Jesus did not spend His time fighting for recognition and acceptance he just got on with it out there becoming us with them. Only when our total dependence is on God can we truly take the risk of loving our neighbor as ourselves and allow ourselves to become “us” in the world whilst remaining focused on and governed by kingdom values and priorities.  In the world but not of it.  John 17 v 15 and 16

 

Jesus’ ministry was bottom up, not top down, he did not go to the religious leaders and try to convince them to change their theology, method or system of belief. He just got out amongst the common people and started to teach them a new way to live and as they went with Him they experienced the Father working with Him and through Him. Then he commissioned them and us to do likewise. Even as the Father sent me so I send you.” John 20 v 21  

St Augustine is quoted as saying

 “Therefore do not seek to understand in order to believe, but believe that thou mayest understand. ‘

 

He has sent us to go and preach the good news of the kingdom. He did not just send us out to go and get as many people “saved” as possible, the good news of the kingdom is about far more than this. It is about us demonstrating a new way of life. The good news is that God wants to partner with us to love and bless the world.

 

Transformed by amazing love we no longer want to grieve our Jesus by living for self, we have instead a burning desire to be a blessing to those we meet. Loving even our enemies, and love is an action not just a word. As people see experience God in action through us they will believe.