His Way or the Highway

Last Sunday my pastor talked about "The Christian Perspective on Forgiveness". His sermon addressed the question of "does the Christian value of forgiveness bring about a peaceful society?" He concluded no, not necessarily so but as Christians we are called to live by His values. He added that as Christians we are citizens of heaven first. We follow Jesus' way of unmerited forgiveness and this may upset peace in the society. Listening to his sermon, I was struck by one passage that he used that spoke to me in real terms as I continue in my own life journey with Jesus.

I am going to reflect on one of the passages that my pastor used in his sermon.

"Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword."

Matthew 10:34

The Cost of Discipleship

The sword is symbolic of division. In Luke's account, the author phrased Jesus' statement in the positive interrogative saying, "Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. - Luke 12:51" By phrasing it this way, it gives an impression that Jesus was issuing a stern challenge and an ominous warning to his followers. Jesus was implying that his Way was not going to be easy. Many of the remaining disciples and early church leaders of the Way died a martyr's death and/or imprisoned for rebellion. Some, according to the Bible and church traditions, were stoned and crucified even boiled in a cauldron of oil.
So does the message of grace, of underserved favour, of unmerited forgiveness, sit well with any society ancient or modern?

Radical Grace Divides

Grace and Truth is Jesus Christ. Jesus began his ministry by teaching in the synagogue the prophetic words of Isaiah. In Luke's account (Luke 4:18-19), Jesus read from the scroll,

“18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

then declared later on (in Luke 4:21) that "Today this Scripture is fulfilled". The "acceptable year of the Lord" is an expression that means the year of Jubilee. It's not a calendar year but a specific reference to the once every fifty years observance by the Jewish people for when the land rested, everyone returned to their family property, and slaves were freed. Reading back Isaiah's prophecy wasn't simply reciting a piece of Israel's history from when they were liberated from Babylonian exile, Jesus was in fact implicitly declaring to them their salvation from sin and liberation from all its consequences through him. 

He started an uproar and the people were so incensed at what he said later on (in Luke 4:25-27) about two examples of Gentiles receiving help from God (possibly insinuating that the blessings from Deuteronomy 28 will be bestowed to the non-covenant Gentile peoples rather than them who are the true sons of God). The people were so angry at that insinuation, which was a picture of radical grace, that they shoved Jesus to the edge of a hill ready to push him over the cliff. Of course, Jesus escaped that riot unharmed. But to the question, did Jesus come to bring peace? In this example, he caused quite a stir that brought out the wrath in people's hearts.

Sword Examples

As a Christian living here in Vancouver, am I also prepared for this kind of reception when I start sharing God's story of grace in the person of Jesus? The worst I could imagine is being dismissed and ridiculed. I remember an experience during one of our Church's outreach ministry to the homeless. We started to approach a homeless person who recognized us from a week before when we distributed a hot meal to two of his friends. My friend and I extended our hands to greet him when he hurriedly walked past us and angrily blurted out as he passed that he didn't accept anything from church folks. That experience was new to me but I've never personally witnessed anything worse than that. I acknowledge my experience pales in comparison to other Christians worldwide.
I occasionally sparred with officemates who are atheists (the ordinary kind not the intellectuals) who are just simply dismissive because in their mind they can't accept a powerful and seemingly loving God who allows suffering and strife in the world to continue. Honestly, I find it easier to argue with atheists than to talk about God's undeserved, unmerited, and unearned favour to fellow Christians who have fallen from grace (Galatians 5:4) because they stuck ardently to living rightly instead of believing rightly in the Grace and Truth of Jesus Christ.
Then to the question, does the message of grace, of underserved favour, of unmerited forgiveness, sit well with any society ancient or modern? In my opinion, the answer is a resounding no. The concept of grace isn't natural for all people Christian or otherwise. It is so unnatural that when you demonstrate grace today in public, you'll be mocked, labeled as an irrational fool, seen as pretentious, and worst of all even killed. Growing up I had uncles and aunts who worked as engineers and nurses in Saudi Arabia. I recalled them telling me that many times they risked their jobs and lives gathering together for Bible studies. If they were ever caught in the hallways of their apartments with a Bible they could be charged with proselytizing which was punishable by death. Many societies today in Asia and the Middle East are still like the ancient world where Christians are persecuted and killed for their faith.
In my own Bible study group, we had a visitor once who was personally struggling to understand why her son became a born-again Christian from Catholicism (or I should say folk Catholicism). She was convinced that her son was unduly influenced to break from her household because of the biblical passages in Matthew 10:35-37, which is a continuation of the passage above in my preface,

"35 For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; 36 and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ 37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me."

Perhaps she was blinded by her own ignorance of the Word because she herself haven't read that passage before and was surprised to find out later that it was in the Bible and immediately attributed her son's estrangement to those very passages. She stuck around with us for a few succeeding sessions but eventually flaked out. In retrospect, we could have ministered to her much more about her own personal struggles on feeling abandoned by her son. I have faith though that a seed has been planted in her heart. I pray that her heart is good ground for God's word.

In Conclusion

Some fellow Christians tell me that being saved is not enough. Confessing Jesus is Lord is the next step in the Way, therefore discipleship is hard work.
However, it is by grace that I am saved through faith in Jesus who died for my sake that I may have life. His blood washed my sins clean and his resurrection made me righteous before a just God. He gave his life so that I may have life so abundant in grace.
His Way or the Highway? I agree that discipleship has a cost. But that cost was paid for and nailed to the cross. Then Jesus said, "It is finished." Sure, I expect to lose friends, perhaps invite enemies, experience hardships, and upset the peace from time to time. But by the grace of God, the only obedience that is required of me is the obedience to the faith not obedience to good works. I echo Paul's prayer below.

12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength to do his work. He considered me trustworthy and appointed me to serve him, 13 even though I used to blaspheme the name of Christ. In my insolence, I persecuted his people. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief. 14 Oh, how generous and gracious our Lord was! He filled me with the faith and love that come from Christ Jesus.
15 This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all. 16 But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life. 17 All honor and glory to God forever and ever! He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is God. Amen.
1 Timothy 1: 12-17 MSG