Those are a few of the words I had highlighted in chapter 11 of "Not a Fan," the book our Sunday School class is studying. The author contends that if there are no exclusions, insults, rejections or persecutions, then you're probably not a follower of Jesus. You're just a fan. And in today's self-centered world of instant gratification, we are not apt to be followers when it occurs to us that it involves suffering and sacrifice.
As a professional communicator with a background that includes not only writing but also marketing (ie. sales), I found the questions and discussions quite interesting. At one point during Sunday School, I thought the discussion was going to slam the concept of marketing and advertising as we probed the subject of whether Christians are guilty of trying to "sell" Jesus. I was on the verge of interjecting with comment, but it seemed my fellow "classmates" had the same opinions I have.
Marketing isn't inherently evil any more than the idea of "selling" Jesus is. It's our job to "sell" Jesus, but just like advertisers, Christians who are "selling" Jesus come in all forms. There are those who only tell one side of the story. That following Jesus will make your life full of blessings. Well, that's true, but it's certainly not even close to the full picture! Then there are those who will sell you Jesus but with no customer service (ie. they're not interested in a relationship that will grow your faith. You bought the product; you figure it out on your own.). And then there are those rare advertisers -- the ones who tell inspiring stories. Stories that illustrate all the facets of faith. Stories that show how Jesus always works for good, even when times, people or events are bad. Stories that show how when we are obedient and sacrifice, it might very well come with suffering. Sometimes God reveals why. Sometimes, but not always, suffering may result in unexpected blessings (and maybe not our own!).
I love those advertisers. I love stories. I especially love true stories told with the actual people (not actors or stock photos) and marketers willing to do the extra work required to tell a true story.
And I love how in light of all the different people and churches who are trying to "sell" Jesus we can remember the words of this author, Kyle Idleman, "I want you to know...that Jesus came to free you from religion."
I've blogged about this phrase already, and I'm certainly not insulting my church, which I love dearly. But sometimes it's religion and religious denomination disagreements that are wearing someone out. Sometimes the sacrifice and suffering occurs before one walks outside the church doors, and it doesn't involve the betterment of the world. It's exhausting and before we know it, the very effort of trying to "sell" Jesus just pushed someone further away from the truth.
That's why I love that Idleman goes on to quote Matthew 11:28-30. Yes, there WILL be sacrifice and suffering when you become a follower of Jesus. You might lose a friend, a job, a vacation in lieu of a mission trip. You might be made fun of in our society, persecuted and physically beaten down in other countries. But followers also get this: grace and mercy. There's also the yoke of Jesus, who will walk alongside you and help carry the burden. He will show us the way. He will teach us obedience. All we have to do is commit to daily taking up a cross and dying to ourselves.
What does it look like to die every day? Idleman offers these suggestions, among others:
* Spending your lunch hour serving food to the homeless.
* Changing your vacation plans from Disney to the Dominican Republic feeding centers where children come for their only meal of the day.
* Adopting so we can save one more orphan child from sleeping on a dirt floor or being forced into a sex trade.
* Bringing Jesus into conversations with your neighbors.
"Dying to yourself doesn't make sense for the fan, but the follower understands that dying is the secret to really living. That's why we sing about the wonderful cross," Idleman writes.
What does the cross represent to you? Torture? Death?
Or...
Victory?
Abundant grace?
Life?
Healing?
Hope?
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