March 2020:

Dear Grandchildren:

I am finally getting to writing March’s grandchildren’s letter. So much has happened over the last thirty days with the virus and in our country. I hope you are all safe, and together we will defeat this invisible enemy.

Forty-eight years ago last January, my life changed, and today I’d like to talk about it with you. I decided to follow Jesus Christ. Back in 1972, people that knew me, would say things like, “He’s a Jesus freak.” Or “Denny’s got religion.” Or “He’s trying to clean up his life with religion.” But the simple fact is, I decided to follow Jesus.

Most folks think Christianity is an outdated religion. But it turns out, it’s neither outdated nor a religion. Surprising, when the word was first coined, it referred to something more simple, provocative, and shocking. 

To really understand “Christianity,” we have to go back to the beginning, to put first things first. For starters, Jesus was not a Christian. He never asked anyone to become a Christian. He never built a steepled building. He never drew up a theological treatise. He never took an offering. He never wore religious garments and never incorporated for tax purposes.

He simply called people to follow him. That’s it. Despite its simplicity. He called people to follow him.

The first two were brothers: Simon and Andrew. Regular guys, simple fishermen. You could say the first to accept his invitation to follow him.

These brothers didn’t think at all about becoming Christians or taking on a new religion. Here was the thirty-year-old man, trained as a carpenter, who simply said, “Follow me” and they believed him.

In faith, these two brothers gave their lives to him-putting down their nets and following him. Here was the birthplace of a way of life that would revolutionize the world forever.

Before hurrying on with words and 2000 years of theology, we must pause at the cradle of what we call Christianity.

It is never more than Jesus’s call to follow me and a response to dropping familiar nets and following in faith, this Jewish man. Two thousand years of words can do nothing to the simple, basic reality of Christianity.

As Jesus went about his amazing business, people responded to him in various ways. Many great crowds became intrigued by him, his healings, and miracles.

Some religious rulers became dead set against him and his teachings. But a few, hearing something undeniable in his call, left their lives to walk with him. Those who followed him weren’t called Christians,(that word would come later), but followers or disciples of Jesus. Disciples just means followers.

Who were they? Several fishermen, a tax man, a revolutionary guerrilla, and a lawyer. Men and women who left their homes to walk dust-covered streets in a small section of the Middle East, all because they believed Jesus.

What we would call “Christianity” was nothing more and nothing less than some people responding to Jesus’s call.

By attaching themselves to him, they believed. They followed. They listened. They questioned. They obeyed. They learned and ultimately gave their lives to this character Jesus. That is what we call Christianity.

And forty-eight years ago, Grandma and I did the very same thing. We followed Jesus and our lives have never been the same.

I love you, 

Grandpa

Featured Image by Jeff Jacobs from Pixabay