Are you Really a Follower?

"A Christian by Any Other Name"

Lisa Miller's most recent Newsweek column on religion points to the new psuedo-definition of Christianity in spiritual culture, which disdains and avoids denonminationalism and doctrinal distinctives for the simple moniker of "Followers of Jesus." This might sound positive on the face, as we Bible boys and girls define discipleship as that very thing.

However, not so fast. Miller writes, "Now, as the Christian world continues to refine its identity, another label is gaining currency: 'follower of Jesus." It is gaining among the young. On Facebook, more than 900 groups use some variation of "follower of Jesus", which according to Miller and other boosters, has at least two advantages over "Christian" or "evangelical," its boosters say. "First, it doesn't carry baggage. You can wear it abroad, in Islamic countries, or at home with your Jewish or Buddhist friends, without causing offense. Second, it distances the bearer from the culture wars that have made American politics so divisive."

Once again the fallen world misses the point. Christianity was, is and should continue to be counter-cultural, sprinkling salt and shedding light on a festering worldy culture and system that God "hates" (Ja. 4:4, 1 Jo. 2;15-17) and will eventually destroy. We don't need a redefinition of the faith, but what we do need is education leading to transformation, which comes from a proper understanding of Christianity and discipleship. Jesus didn't come to bring peace to the world and civil societies, He came to bring a "sword." Was and is Jesus concerned about causing an offense to an unbelieving and wicked world? Quite the opposite. In Matthew 10:34-39, King Jesus expresses as poltically incorrect and mind-shattering a challenge as He can to His "followers."

“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."

Miller noted, "Over the past several years, as evangelicals strained to define themselves and the media strained to comply, Christians fell into narrower and narrower niches—until at last the niches were as narrow as the denominations once were." Didn't Jesus say the road to salvation was supposed to be narrow (Mt. 7:13-14)?