June 26, 2021,
Dear Grandchildren:
During the Love and Respect encounter with twenty couples, the class has got me thinking about the word “Christian.” What does this word “Christian” really mean?
The fact is though it’s a word we use all the time, there’s no real agreement on what “Christian” really means. That’s why there are “Christians” on all sides of every political issue, every social issue, every legal issue, and every economic issue.
It’s why nations that are predominantly “Christian” have gone to war with one another.
Christianity sports a seemingly endless array of brands, flavors, and traditions. Some would say “Christian” is all about what you believe, others will say, it’s all about how you behave.
So “Christian” is whatever you want it to be. You can slap a label on yourself, have a shiny cross around your neck, then believe and do just about anything, adopting whatever lifestyle you prefer now. You can hide whoever you are behind it, then easily redefine it whenever you get the urge.
In Matthew 4:12-19, Jesus is teaching, then Simon and his brother Andrew believed in Jesus and became His followers. In fact, Jesus said (in verse 19), “Come, follow me!” The word followers mean disciples. Simon and Andrew became the first followers or disciples of Jesus. Did you catch these words of Jesus? He didn’t use the word “Christian” and he didn’t say follow the church or leaders, but follow me.
What is a disciple? It simply means: a learner, a pupil, an apprentice, an adherent, or a follower. A disciple looks to a certain person as the authority and example for everything. A disciple always answers “yes” to whatever that person asks or requires of him.
That brings us to this uncomfortable question: Are we disciples? Or are we just Christians?
If we’re disciples of Jesus, then no matter what he asks of us, the answer must be yes.
Now, I want to return to my opening paragraph of love and respect because Jesus gave his disciples the bottom line of what it means to be “his” disciple.
On the night before he was crucified, he told them, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my [true] disciples, if you love one another” John 13: 34-35 NIV.
Jesus wanted his disciples to be a community of people defined by unconditional, generous, and compassionate love. Jesus said this was how others would know we are really his followers. Not by how long we pray, how long we preach, or what we do on Sunday mornings, but how we love one another.
What would it look like in your world to love the people around you the way Jesus loves you?
By God’s grace, Grandchildren, just try it.
I love you,
Grandpa