Jesus’ Christianity John 13:34-35
I love this scripture. It concisely explains what Jesus expects from us as his followers.
“That you love one another, just as I have loved you.” Jesus loved the twelve with God’s love. He loved and accepted Peter’s rough ways, and his constant missing of the Jesus lessons Jesus was teaching. He loved and accepted Thomas even though he doubted. He loved and accepted Judas even as he knew of his coming betrayal. Yes, Jesus told him to go and complete his betrayal, and yes, by his actions Judas condemned himself, but you don’t read how Jesus cursed him. This is the model for a Christian fellowship.
We are individuals. We each have our own personalities, our own interests, our own ideas about what is important. To live this commandment, each fellowship must find ways to work together. Jesus didn’t feel insulted when Peter missed the point. He didn’t feel disrespected when Thomas questioned. In the work of a fellowship, not everyone is going to agree. We must work at not feeling rejected, insulted, or hurt.
“You are also to love one another.” Is this Jesus just repeating himself? No. Verse 35, “By this, all people will know you are my followers.” Jesus tells us to love other believers, and he tells us to love non-believers.
This verse is why I believe if someone had an abortion, I am to love them; why if someone is LGBTQ, I am to love them. This verse explains how God expects a lot from us. It explains how God set the bar high. This verse is why I say each week, “Let the world see our love for God by all we say and do.”
This scripture has been important to me lately because God has been putting in front of me multiple opportunities and people to share his Word with. And as several weeks have unfolded, I’ve noticed several constants in my conversations, and in the beliefs of other Christians.
The most common one is, “I try to be a good person.” Great, we all should try to be good people. Does God notice, sure; does it save you, no. Ephesians 2:8, “For by grace you have been saved through faith…” Acts 16:31, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” Many people get this concept backwards, you don’t try to be good to be saved to God, you try to be good because you are saved by God.
I had one person tell me “I’m a good Christian because I go to church.” Again, great, Church is a great place to learn and worship in community with others. I asked her if her relationship with Christ involved only that one hour a week. One hour a week is a religion, Christianity is a relationship, a relationship with Jesus every minute of every day, a relationship we must act on and be a part of every minute of every day.
I recently had a Christian tell me that Jesus judged people’s sins and as his followers we need to judge, judgement is our way of showing love for others. I have to admit, this one hurt my head. Matthew 7:2, “For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
You had an abortion, you’re going to hell, no ifs, ands, or buts. I lied. I’m going to hell, no ifs, ands, or buts. You’re LGBTQ, you go against God’s plan. You’re going to hell. I coveted, I lusted, I went against God’s plan. I’m going to hell. I’m not saying everything is acceptable, but if we judge others with absolutism, our lives will also be judged with absolutism.
I know some who use the Bible as a weapon. Scripture is meant to help us transform our hearts, to infuse the love of Christ inside ourselves. There are those who cherry pick verses in an effort to justify their own fears and prejudices. They pick specific verses without exploring how they relate to other areas in the Bible; and they do this as a way to belittle and dismiss others. By doing this, in their mind and heart, they are condemning others to hell. Whatever is being done, our job as the faithful is not to condemn, it is to share Jesus’ love and his offer of salvation. It is not a Christians job to decide who can be saved and who cannot, it’s to offer sincere prayer and to trust God’s love and mercy extend beyond our limited understanding. And by sincere prayer I don’t mean, “God, I pray you change them, change how they live.” I mean, “God, be with _____, open their heart to the gospel. Let them accept Christ, let them live closer to what Jesus tells us.” Only God can change us, badgering prayers cannot. Badgering prayers are just another form of judgement. If we persist in this, we will be judged accordingly.
And this leads to another comment I’ve been hearing, “You Christians can’t even agree among yourselves.”
You’ll find churches that will tell you they’ve got all the right answers. Like I said before, we are all individuals with our own thoughts and interpretation of scripture. I read a verse, I pray on it, but that doesn’t mean the minister down the street hears the same revelation.
Noah’s son Ham saw his father drunk, and he told everyone about it. When Noah realized this, he said in Genesis 9:25, “Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be to his brothers.” Why do I bring this up? Because for hundreds of years Christians used it to justify slavery. There are documented and preserved sermons from our own country in the 1800’s that say this.
There has never been a single person born who gets it all correct. There are a variety of denominations because there are a variety of people. Acts 10:34-35, “God does not show favoritism, but accepts from every nation.” 1 Peter 2:17, “Show proper respect to everyone.” We may be different, but we’re told in scripture to be inclusive.
When I talk to others about my faith, I tell them, contrary to what they may think, Christianity is not a religion of rules, Christianity is a life in relationship with Christ Jesus.
To those who think I’m trying to be holier than thou, I say Christianity doesn’t make me perfect, Christianity shows me my imperfections and how to overcome them.
To those who tell me, “I believe in God,” Christianity is not just believing Jesus existed, Christianity is actions and attitudes that reflect Christ’s love and my devotion to the gospel.
To those who say I use my faith just as a way to point out what I think are their mistakes and sins, I say Christianity is not pointing out someone else’s sin, it is asking the Holy Spirit to help me understand my own. It is asking for forgiveness and help to get better.
I pray that Christ’s peace and love be on you as you continue your life’s journey in faith.
Amen.