To live your life like Jesus would live it if he were you in any situation is not some kind of great mystery. How to lead like Jesus and how to follow leaders are also not secrets. The teachings of Jesus and how he lives his life are the basis for how we are called to follow and lead. However, this is not always the basis of our decisionmaking as Christians. We add a lot of stuff because we have other influences.
There are common things that happen in churches today that are absent from anything Jesus ever taught or did. Things like democracy (voting on what God is calling you to do), assertiveness and verbal manipulation (the one who is most aggressive gets their way), or doing things based on church member’s desires (I wonder if they will like this or not?).
With Jesus and his disciples, and with the disciples the disciples would lead, and so on, there is never a vote. Assertiveness and aggressiveness don’t work when seeking the truth. And at no time do Jesus and the leaders worry whether their followers are going to like something or not. With this in mind, let’s look at things Christians say that Jesus didn’t.
5 things you never heard Jesus say:
- “What do you guys think we should do?”
Leaders lead. God gives his vision to leaders. Christian leaders place themselves in situations where they learn from Jesus, discern his vision, have mentors to guide them, and share the vision. Those who are receptive share in the vision. The leader trains disciples who are receptive and they lead and train others who are receptive. This is how the Kingdom work expands.
Vision is not voted on and it is not reached by consensus. Vision is received and shared.
- “That wasn’t very Christian of you.”
“Christian” is not an adjective. There is no such thing as “Christian” behavior. Usually what is meant when someone says this is they assume “Christian” means, “You can do whatever you want and I will encourage you,” or “You are always right.” When someone says someone else is not acting “Christian,” chances are they misunderstand what it actually means to be, well, a Christian.
- “I am really studying the Bible a lot” (or “I am really praying a lot.”)
Bible study and prayer are key elements of living life like Jesus lives it. They are essential to a life of growth and health as disciples of Jesus. It’s just that these actual activities are not what is important. It is what happens as a result of your studying and praying. How you apply what you learn and hear from God is what is important. Your life and the life of those around you is being transformed. You don’t have to tell me you are studying and praying a lot because it will be clear enough in how you are living and influencing others as a result.
- “I really liked worship today.”
Whether we enjoyed worship or not isn’t the issue. Worship isn’t about us. Worship is about God. The spirit of worship comes from God and God is the recipient of our thanks and praise.
If I “enjoyed” worship; fine. If “I didn’t get anything out of” worship; that’s nice. Worship is about God and not about me in the first place.
- “I give my time rather than my money.”
We are all called to live out our lives as disciples of Jesus in everything we do. When I live my life to be an influence for Jesus in everything I do, than all my time is God’s time.
Jesus also calls on me to give my money generously to fund his mission and care for the needs of others. Giving offering doesn’t take the place of spending my life serving, and serving doesn’t take the place of giving generously of my finances. It all belongs to God, anyway.
Posted via web from how to be a christian without being a jerk!
