Reflections of the Soul

Genesis 21:8-21
Romans 6:1b-11
Matthew 10:24-39


They say that the true character of a person is revealed in the choices they make when no one is watching. The world does watch, and watches carefully, for signs of faith as Christians work within the demands and expectations of our contemporary culture. Rev. William Obalil, a United Methodist elder in Geneva IL, suggests that the nature of our discipleship is revealed not only in what we do but also in our reasoning as justification for the choices we make. He writes: I fear not many weekly churchgoers are equipped to integrate what we hear and affirm in church with the concrete choices faced each day – at home, school, work, and marketplace. The result is functional atheism. Much of the time we operate as if God were not an active factor, let alone the decisive factor, in our decision-making. Yes, we engage in discrete religious practices. We go to church, we pray, we read the Bible, and we give time and money to acts of mercy. But we also act without considering God as a force to be reckoned with. We weigh a purchase, asking, “Can I afford it?” but not, “Am I being a faithful steward?”

It occurred to me as I reflected on Jesus’ discourse to His disciples that we pay a lot of attention to the life of Christ while He was physically present on the earth, but we do not seriously consider how it might have been for the disciples who followed Jesus throughout His time on earth, who lived and worked and worshipped with Jesus and knew Him to be within eye sight or ear shot. It could well be that the choices made by these disciples were tempered somewhat by the knowledge that Jesus was always nearby. Our theology teaches us that He is still nearby even if only spiritually, but do we really live our everyday lives as if we really believe that?

I have to admit that even as I think about religion or philosophy often and wonder how either may be reflected in what I have already done, I cannot say that I’ve given even half as much thought into something I may be ready to do BEFORE I actually do it. I am actually more inclined to act instinctively according to my own experiences and desires or according to cultural or social expectations and demands – or a little of both. And given the state of the current credit market crunch, for instance, I would suspect that I have not been the only one.

In Matthew’s discourse Jesus seems to be going off in several different directions at the same time almost as if He may be running down a list of generalities and then thinking, “Oh, and by the way …” There is a lot to take in, but the central theme seems to be about the active, and interactive, Divine Presence that responsible disciples should consider at every turn. It is especially revealing in verse 26: “… nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known.” It is as if He is saying, ‘you can run but you cannot hide’!

Still, I think this is probably the wrong approach to take when reading and praying this passage. Our theology must never be reduced to perceiving of the Holy Father in such a negative light as that of a task master who rules with an iron fist because in verse 27 Jesus moves to something a little more positive in encouraging us to share what we know. This must surely be an indication that what we will have revealed to us is GOOD NEWS that others need to know about, so understanding something Jesus shares as a veiled threat does not fit well with all that He has tried to teach us.

“Everyone who acknowledges Me …”, contrary to popular belief, is not restricted to an opportunity for martyrdom or an e-mail that comes with the not-so-subtle “threat” “that those who deny Me will be denied …” if we fail to forward the e-mail to “at least 10 people”. Back to the very point that Rev. Obalil was trying to make regarding our moving about at work or school or in the public marketplace, I think maybe this part of Jesus’ discourse has everything to do with how we conduct ourselves and temper our purchase choices. Whether those around us know us as members of a local church or as Christians at all or not, what we do is a reflection of who we are and what we believe to be true. If our decision to act or refrain from acting is not determined by our knowledge that the Lord is nearby, then our act might be construed as a denial of the real presence of Christ. Honestly, this is a pretty overwhelming thought and more than a little unsettling.

“Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone {or anything} as obedient slaves, you are slaves to the one you obey, either of sin which leads to death, or of obedience which leads to righteousness?” Romans 6:16

So whom do we pay homage to? Who gets our time and attention? The answer to these questions is revealed in everything we do, every choice we make. And Jesus does not make it easy for us, either. When He proclaims that He “brings not peace but a sword”, it may be a way of telling us that within this context which will certainly bring challenges that will test our limits, our proclamation – or denial – of Christ will be revealed in how we face up to these challenges, whatever they may be.

It is not an easy thing to be a disciple of Christ, and it is a mistake to pretend otherwise. Think of it this way. There are those who will avoid confrontation at almost all cost, and they mistakenly believe that such avoidance is an indication of weakness or fear. Think for a moment of how much strength is required to bite one’s tongue when one might rather unload on the offending person. It is not hard to curse someone who has wronged us, but it is almost physically painful to withdraw from a confrontation when we would rather not especially when it is our pride, and not the Gospel, that is on the line.

This is the challenge before disciples not only in the way we think through a purchase but in the way we deal with everyday life and everyday people. The world tells us that it is ok to “tell it like it is” or to “do it if it feels good”, but Jesus challenges us to offer something different. To “take up {His} cross” is to put aside our lives and our desires and our natural inclinations. When we are able to do so, it is then when we “lose {our} life for {His} sake” by choosing the spiritual and faith-filled alternative. Only then will our very souls be an accurate and honest reflection of Goodness and Mercy. Only then will our souls be a reflection of Christ when His life becomes ours, and our lives become His. It is what the world is hungry for, and we as disciples are the ones called to provide it.