Musings

In Ephesians 2 Paul expresses that Christ’s sacrifice on the cross broke down the dividing wall between Jew and Gentiles.  Through the cross, Jesus destroyed the barrier(s) that exists between humanity in order to create one new humanity that is centered in him, reconciling all to God through the cross (see Eph. 2:14-16).  Further, in Paul’s letters he has expressed that in Christ there is no longer divisions between persons, between communities (see Galatians 3:28, Colossians 3:11). In essence, the cross of Christ not only conquers the power of sin and death and the grip that these have over humanity, over us, but the cross also destroys the divisions that exist between and among us and others, between human communities. 

I have often wondered in today’s world whether labelling ourselves as “Christian” may indeed create more barriers between people and communities, rather than creating open doors which invites people into experiencing and participating in the fullness of life that comes through the love and grace of Jesus.  Could our insistence in identifying ourselves with the label “Christian” indeed thwart sharing the love of Jesus in the world? 

In the New Testament, we only find three occurrences in which followers of Jesus are identified as Christian – two of them likely pejorative (see Acts 11:26 and Acts 26:28) where early followers of Jesus were called “Christian” or followers of Christ in Antioch, and Herod Agrippa responding to Paul that he was trying to make him into a “Christian.”  The final occurrence is presented by Peter, which may refer to a pejorative sense in that he expresses followers of Jesus being persecuted because they are identified as “Christian.”

I have often found that when I have identified as Christian that often an initial reaction is a negative one – not so much because of me, but because what the term “Christian” manifests in the lives of others; eliciting antagonistic notions in people’s minds due to their negative experiences of Christians or church in their personal history.  As a result, in recent years, I have found myself wondering if intentionally not identifying as Christian, but rather, simply identifying as a follower or disciple of Jesus, might be more beneficial in breaking down barriers between persons and communities as I seek to live in the way of Jesus.

But recently, I have been rethinking this as well.  Even identifying as a follower of Jesus may raise confusion, because of all the empire-based images of Jesus prevalent in our society, being expressed by those who claim to be believers in Jesus.  Such images as an AR-15 toting Jesus, or the American flag flying behind Jesus as if he were Superman, and many other images depicting a Jesus contrary to what Jesus taught.  These images, more often than not, are antithetical to the character of Jesus in the Gospels.  So, in identifying myself as a follower of Jesus, it can also raise in peoples’ minds a stereotype that is contrary to the Gospel.  

So, in thinking on this, I have been giving thought to another way for me (and us) to express our identity with Jesus as we live out our lives among our neighbors. 

In a previous post I noted that God’s name is best understood, not as a noun, nor even a verb, but rather as action (not as “an action,” but as ACTION). Because God’s name (YHWH, see Exodus 3) is closely related to the Hebrew verb for “being,” God’s name is “IS.” Though a verb is more descriptive than a noun in describing or naming God, a verb is still merely a figure of speech, describing an action, rather than being the action itself. 

Therefore, rather than describing God’s name as a verb, God’s name is literally action.  To name God is not merely to describe an action, it is ACT!  So, how we can best name God?  I suggest it is not by using a figure of speech (noun or verb), but rather acting, engaging in action – Action that is expressive of the Acting God, Action that we engage in as Christ acted, which Christ Jesus enables in us through the Spirit (see John 14: 11-12).  When we act in the way of Jesus, we express the name of God, the God whose essence is Action, acting out – loving, living, being compassionate, forgiving, speaking, creating, giving, healing, walking with us, caring for creation and us.  Indeed, the action that is God is that which holds all things together (see Colossians 1:17). 

Simply put, perhaps, too simply, when we act in the way God acts, then we are naming the name of God.

If that is the case, then in identifying ourselves with Jesus, who I understand and believe to be God Incarnate (see John 1:14), then perhaps what best identifies us as disciples of Jesus is not so much what we call ourselves – “Christian,” but rather as ones who live out the actions of Jesus – loving, caring, giving life, compassion, forgiving, healing, walking alongside with others.  Therefore, rather than identifying as “Christian” (which is far too often baggage-laden), or even as ones who state belief in Jesus (which may be confusing with all the spurious images of Jesus out there), it may be best to express our discipleship as “I seek to love in the way of Jesus, forgive in the way of Jesus, listening and being present, extending compassion for the poor, sick, stranger, in the way of Jesus,” and so forth.  In this way we are describing our engaging Jesus by participating in the actions of Jesus.

To be a disciple of Jesus, is not merely to believe something about Jesus or even in Jesus, but rather to live in the way of Jesus and to participate with Jesus in his actions, to join Jesus in what Jesus continues to do in the world through the presence of God’s Spirit.  We live out the presence of Jesus in the world, as we are open to the Holy Spirit to live out the actions of Jesus through our lives in the world. 

The Prayer of St. Francis is a reminder to us to live out the actions of Jesus in our daily living, in which our actions become our confession of our being disciples of Jesus.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.