Sermon for September 19th (Truth and Action)

Whoever claims to live in God must walk as Jesus did. Are you walking as Jesus did or are just you “doing it in your heart”? Follow me, Jesus said. Are you following him? Be honest. Are you following him in your marriage? Are you following him with your friends? Are you following him at work? Are you following him at church? I’m not asking you if you want to or if your intentions are good because I’m sure they are. But, “The person who says, “I know God,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”

When my wife, Kristy, and I first found out we were going to have a baby, we really tried to prepare ourselves for what was going to happen. We bought diapers and a high chair, we had clothes ready for that first trip home, we made sure the car seat was installed correctly, we had our doctor picked out and another lady to help us through the birth, and we had phone numbers to call people when the baby was born. But that’s not all we did, we talked about what was going to happen and how we were going to handle it as parents. We went on a ton of dates before the big day to try and talk about our fears and our hopes—we wanted to be a strong couple before this little one came in and rocked our world. We wanted to be parents, but not only that, we wanted to be the best parents we could be.

Then my little girl was born and I began to realize that I had no idea what being a parent was really about. I still find myself today wanting to be a good parent “in my heart” but not always being willing to do it. I’d rather read about the Husker game on the internet than sit down and play with my kids. I’d rather hand over Micah to his mom than listen to him scream in my ear. I’d rather go to bed and stay there instead of waking up before dawn to get everyone ready for school.

I had tried to estimate the cost of diapers, clothes, beds and food. I had tried to prepare myself for how children would change my marriage and my life, but it is so different. Once you have a child, it doesn’t matter if you want to spend all night in the emergency room before a big day at work or if you were prepared to do it . . . you just do it. It’s what a parent does. Whoever claims to be a loving parent knows that the true cost of parenting really doesn’t have much at all to do with diapers, with food or even college tuition. The cost of parenting is paid with sleepless nights, broken hearts and a mind restless with anxiety about whether you are doing a good enough job from the time they are born until the day you die. I’m sure that there are a lot of parents whose intentions are good, like me, but if a person says, “I’m a good parent” but doesn’t do the things a good parent does then they are a liar, and the truth is not in them.

I’m going to be honest with you. If you believe that the hardest part about being a Christian is getting to church on Sunday morning then you have missed Jesus’ message. It’s not just about getting to church enough, “Anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” When Jesus carried his cross through the streets of Jerusalem, everyone knew what he believed . . . do the people you work with know what you believe? When Jesus was mocked and ridiculed on the cross, he did not rain screams of profanity down on their heads or argue that he was right and they were wrong. When you are criticized, what do you do? Get defensive? Would you rather be “right” in an argument and risk losing the relationships with your children, your friends and your spouse? Can you love and forgive someone who betrays you? Jesus did. Whoever claims to live in God must walk as Jesus did.

If you believe that tithing, giving ten percent of your income, is the hardest part about being a Christian, you have missed Jesus’ message. Jesus said, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple.” The new goal is not “hate”—the goal is Jesus above anything else. Above any other relationship—Jesus alone. In one Bible story, Jesus stayed to teach a group of people one night rather than leaving with his family when they called. Did Jesus hate his mother or his brothers? No, he stayed because he desired that this group of people might better know their Father in heaven and to be saved for eternal life. Did Jesus hate his life? Was that why he died on the cross? He died on the cross because He loved you above anything else—even more than his life. The new goal is not “hate”—the goal is Jesus—the goal is love above anything else.

Jesus said, “Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.” Well what if he DID mean everything? What if we took Jesus at his word? What if we really did give up everything? What if we put Jesus first in our lives and not just “in our hearts”. What if we put Jesus first in our real, everyday lives with real, everyday things? What if we really did give up our jobs, our 401k’s, our houses, our football games, our clothes, our computers and our security and gave them in service to others? In service to God? Would our lives really be destroyed? Is it impossible?

What if Jesus meant what he said? What if the word “everything” really means everything!? What if we stopped making excuses? What if we stopped saying “That’s not realistic” just as an excuse to keep our Ipods. What if it’s not “realistic” to call ourselves followers of Jesus when we allow marriages to fail just because we’d rather feel justified in ourselves rather than forgive unconditionally? What if it’s not “realistic” to call ourselves followers of Jesus when the only people who know we are Christians are the other people in our church. “This is how we know we are in God: Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did.

When my little girl was born, I began to realize that I had no idea what being a parent was really about. And as I said before, I still find myself wanting to be a good parent “in my heart” but not always being willing to actually do it. But she still loves me, so do all three of my children, so does my wife even though I don’t deserve that kind of unconditional love from any of them. That’s grace. And yes, God knows that you had no idea what you were getting into when you became a Christian. You did not estimate the cost involved in being his disciple. Jesus died alone . . . his twelve disciples and all his followers, left him to die alone. And in your striving for being “realistic” in your life; to make it easier to be a Christian; in your passion for the things of this world rather than the things of God, you’ve abandoned Jesus on the road just like me. But Jesus Christ still loves you even though you do not deserve that kind of unconditional love. That’s grace.

The greatest tragedy, the worst offense I could ever make as a Father, or a husband, or a follower of Jesus is to admit my failures without ever seeking to change. To repent, to say “I’m sorry”, and then to still keep making the same old excuses. Making it easier on myself instead of giving up everything. For some reason, by God’s grace, we are loved. It cost you nothing. It cost Jesus his life. Jesus didn’t just love you “in his heart” while sitting on the couch. He walked the road of suffering and death according to his Father’s will. Jesus says, “Follow me.” Amen.