It seems that everyone is consumed with making his or her identity/opinion known. From social justice platforms and political stances to movie reviews, people are insisting on being heard. Where are we as Christians supposed to be in all of this? What are people hearing from us? What/Who should we be in response?
This begs the question that I have been pondering for a while now. Who are we the most? Who should we be the most? Are we mostly about being a certain race, gender, or political party Monday through Saturday? Are we mostly the social justice advocate speaking out for or against a certain issue? Are we more about winning an argument or making a point than being Christ-like? Social media is filled with Christians and non-Christians alike fighting to be heard, but who is listening? More importantly, what’s worth hearing? Do we simply want to be agreed with or liked? What is our motivation?
Don’t get me wrong, I think having an opinion on these issues is important and there’s nothing wrong with sharing it. But as Christians, when we are more of something, anything than we are a follower of Christ (as revealed through how we spend most of our time, and what we focus on the most) then we really can’t be distinguished from non-Christians. If we can’t be distinguished, then what is the point of calling ourselves Christians?
God challenges us throughout Scripture to become more like Christ. Christ certainly addressed social issues such as the woman at the well in John 4. Jews and Samaritans didn’t interact at that time. Jesus caused outrage when he joined tax collectors, who were part of one of the most hated of people groups, in Luke 19 and Matthew 9. Even when the Pharisees tried to trap Jesus by mincing words regarding authority in Matthew 22, Jesus replied by acknowledging the authority established by both the government and God. I Peter 2:13-25 is particularly interesting because Nero, a cruel man and the one who would eventually kill Peter, was in power during the time it was written, yet Peter specifically talks about submitting to human authority.
More than anything else, Jesus was all about addressing people’s spiritual condition. Going back to the woman at the well, Jesus wasn’t there simply to break social boundaries or to make some kind of political statement. He was there to speak to the woman about a need greater than water, and a problem far more destructive than a division between people groups. He was there to address her need for a relationship with God.
So, I’m challenging myself and all Christians, the next time you’re tempted to join a heated argument, take a hard line stance, or respond to a platform presented on social media, before you do, ask yourself…who am I the most? In the words of my pastor this Sunday, choose God’s heart over your head.
