Faith Venture

You are more influential than you may think. People are always watching and listening to you. Are you being what you profess?

Jesus knew that. We don’t really know how many committed followers he left behind after his ascension. But he knew that their influence would eventually influence the entire world.

My “day job” entails writing about manufacturing and automation. I interview people from top executives to engineers who make things work. Then I write about what they say and add analysis and context. It was just something I did. One day a senior executive told me, “Gary, it really matters what you write. You influence many people.” I never really thought about what influence I might have.

The same with this blog. I had thought about a place to write some thoughts based on my reading, meditation and thinking. A pastor said, why not put one on our church’s Website? So this one started several years ago. Then people started commenting or talking to me about what I was writing.

It makes you think about your responsibilities–and to become responsible. Jesus depends on his followers to spread the word. Are you using your influence responsibly?

John records Jesus’ last few days with his closest friends as a time of instruction. Jesus was preparing them for their life without his presence.

Twice John records Jesus saying he is giving one command–to love one another. The second time he said it, he added, and this is true love that you give up your life for another.

If that was Jesus last command (and he said in between that if you love him, you’ll keep his commands), then have we ever forgotten that command! You don’t even have to look back at the sordid history of the Christian church. Just look around today.

Do you belong to a church where there are critics and sometimes even fractious behavior? Are people prone to call other Christians “non-Christians” because they don’t believe the same set of propositions?

Who has a lifestyle of helping others? Actually we know a few. Right? And we think they are saints. But why aren’t all of us that way? Maybe we forget. Maybe we get caught up in ourselves and we forget what Jesus taught and what he did. And that we are supposed to emulate him. That’s what disciples do. And we’re Jesus’ disciples, right?

I wonder what would happen if all Christians would practice this command. Would people outside the church be attracted to the church? Would more people want to become Christian instead of being cynical about Christians?

Maybe this is something we should try.

For some reason the personalities of Jesus’ closest friends has been on my mind this week. We like to look at Peter’s reactions and criticize his lack of consistency and his denial under stress. We think we’d be better. I doubt it. Honestly. I don’t deal with authority figures well. Just ask my wife about times she tells asks me to do something. How about in a life and death situation where the authority figures have weapons and legal right to use them–on you?

Aside from Judas, the only other glimpse we have at a friend in this crisis situation is John. I have a feeling that whereas Peter was borderline manic/depressive–subject to mood swings and impetuousness–John was more balanced. He seems to have had more control over his emotions, was accustomed to leadership (probably his father was in the Jewish elite) and more “spiritual.” (I’ll define that someday.)

It was John to whom Jesus entrusted his mother as he was dying. (One wonders where Jesus’ brothers were.) John was the stability that is sometimes needed, whereas Peter was the forceful personality that, when harnessed and guided correctly, propels a movement.

Jesus picked people carefully. He obviously saw a need for both personality types. He saw that Peter had trouble coming to grips with his thoughts and feelings. But he knew that once Peter had fully digested the situation he would be the rock upon which all could stand. And he know that John would bring that stable, intelligent, unifying force to the movement.

We have different personality types. They are neither right nor wrong. They need to be understood. Weaknesses need to be addressed and strengths emphasized. Personality types are not for judgement about whose is better. They are to be understood so that you can assume your proper role in the furtherance of God’s kingdom.

Ask yourself honestly. How would you react? Are you a Peter? A John? Something else? How can you absorb the experiences of Jesus’ dying and use it to the glory of God?

Betrayal. What is it? Judas betrayed Jesus. He visited the Jewish religious/political leaders and offered to betray Jesus for money. Jesus said that one of his inner circle would betray him. But I don’t understand exactly what it meant.

We know from the Gospels that the religious/political leaders were threatened by Jesus. They wanted him out of the way. That meant, they needed him killed. Even though he had not organized a movement, he led a loosely organized protest movement that could get out of hand at any time.

Then Jesus used theater (always a good protest movement tactic) to enter Jerusalem in the manner of a newly crowned king at the beginning of a holy time when the population was greatly expanded due to the presence of pilgrims in the city. Sort of like pouring gasoline on the flames. But the removal of Jesus had to be done quickly and quietly lest the pot get stirred any more.

Here’s what puzzles me. Jesus taught openly in the temple. He was arrested by the temple police. I cannot believe that the leaders of the police did not know who Jesus was. But, what we know about what Judas did was that he led the police to where Jesus was when he was away from the crowds, late at night, in a quiet place. He identified Jesus to the police and the arrest was made.

People have speculated about why Judas acted this way. John says it was because he was greedy and wanted money. I guess I’d believe a guy who was there rather than someone speculating about psychological motivations without ever meeting the person.

I guess the act of betrayal is one where someone trusts you and you act against them. I wonder how often I’ve let some need of mine get in the way of the needs of someone else. I wonder what would happen if we all acted in such a way that we noticed that we were about to betray a friend by gossiping about them or not being there when they need help or working to prevent them from doing something they want to do. Would we all get along better and live with more justice? Would God smile?