When we think about Jesus words, "follow me," they sound so simple, so easy. We grow up playing games like "follow the leader" as we mimic others, following their movements and words. But do we really mean it when we say, I have decided to follow Jesus? To follow him wherever he calls. That may mean going to the mission field and reaching Muslims with the gospel of Jesus. It may mean settling into a sedentary life of patient and persistent ministry in a small town. It may mean going back to school in the classroom or travelling far and wide in the school house of the globe. It may mean enjoying an abundance or waiting for your daily bread to come each day. Can we say, "Wherever you will, whatever you want" to Jesus? Let's recognize the radical nature of those two words, "follow me."
All right. Here is my first question to throw around to everyone: "Why am I not Roman Catholic?" (of course, if you are, help us understand why you are and why we should be(?)) Sounds like an easy question, but not so easy. Let me ask a few penetrating questions to get us going. These are all questions I've heard in different forms... Does Christ not have only one church? Does Rome not have the only consistent historical connection to the early church? Did not Rome determine the new Testament cannon of Scriptures? Does not Rome have what so many evangelicals lack: mystery, awe, contemplation, etc.? One more, does our theology go asunder so irreparably? Consider these Evangelical favorites: J RR Tolkien, G K Chesterton, and Mother Theresa. Are they not a sterling model of Christian imagination , thinking and service ? Hope this gets some discussion going.
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