• NOTE: The following comments are not intended to be unappreciative of the way of life that many of us have enjoyed in the United States of America. They serve only as a warning to beware of allowing our “Americanism” to become a higher priority than our walk with Jesus Christ.

For whatever reason, last night I slept poorly and had a continual barrage of thoughts invading my dreams. These bullets to my grey matter centered mostly on the ways we have Americanized our walk with Jesus Christ. As Americans, we have come to value several standards:

  • The supremacy of success
  • The strength of individualism
  • The pursuit of comfort
  • The power of education

These traits have served us well as our country broke into the wilderness and turned a ruggedly beautiful landscape into a land flowing with milk and honey. These qualities have enabled us to establish an unparalleled culture of prosperity, freedom and opportunity. But each of these can become dangerous when asked to co-exist with the reign of Jesus in the human heart. Jesus is a Lord who will have no rivals.

Success is redefined by Jesus. It is not about personal greatness. It is not centered in material wealth. It is found in humble service to others and loyal obedience to God. Even the attitude used to achieve is transformed by Christ: a boldness and aggressiveness that is informed by gentleness and trust.

Individualism is cast aside in exchange for the interdependence of the body of Christ. I have only recently rediscovered the beauty of this analogy. We who have chosen to follow Jesus are called into a body. We are not like a body. We are a body – the body of Christ, with Him as the head. Like it or not, we are linked together and share life. We share pain and joy, conflict and peace, growth and death. There truly is no such thing as a disciple of Jesus who has no church family.

Comfort is found, not in creating our own havens of rest, but by resting in the Spirit of God. So many today view the goal of life to be retirement: the ultimate creation of a warm nest to snuggle into in the final years of life. I understand the desire to seek a place of rest. Every day, around 5 p.m. especially, that seems like a worthy goal. But this is not why we have been placed here. Our rest awaits in heaven. Read the first few verses of John 14 for more on that. We are not disciples seeking comfort, but providing it.

Education is viewed by many as a cure-all. Indeed, to move up the career ladder in our culture, a good education is a must. And I am one who has always enjoyed the pursuit of knowing more. But when education becomes the goal, we become intellectual stones. We are not called to merely know, but to be. Jesus came to provide transformation, not just information. Make sure that what you know has a Godly effect in making you more like Jesus.

Jesus said, “Seek first His (God’s) Kingdom and His righteousness. . .”