Some years ago I was just setting down to the dinner table when I got an irate phone call from a parishioner of mine. He had been a member of the church I was serving for several decades a fairly regular attender. This guy was totally bent out of shape. He had gone home after worship fuming I guess, but not over what I had said in a sermon or a prayer or anything like that. He was all twisted up over the Bulletin Cover that morning. Now I’ve got to tell you, I really wasn’t expecting anything like that. To his credit though, he did make the call.
The Scripture Reference on the Bulletin cover was Luke 9:62 and the context was about the cost of following Jesus. The verse says, “Jesus replied, ‘No on who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.’” However, the Bulletin Cover only quoted the text not the reference. It was written on the back cover and obviously this man hadn’t seen it.
This man, a retired farmer was upset that someone would be so biased against farmers and how dare I use such trash. I was so taken aback that it took me a moment or two to get my head on straight about the whole matter. It took a minute for me to be able to explain that it was a Scriptural reference and its context. I was also fortunate that I had grown up on a farm and knew a thing or two about agriculture.
Today many modern farmers use GPS instruments to guide their machinery across vast fields, keeping the plows, planters and harvesting equipment in straight rows. In the old days though, my Grandfather would go to the opposite end of the field and tie a white rag to a bush, tree, fence or pole and carefully keep an eye on it as he crossed the field. I asked this gentleman if he had done something similar to which he replied that he had. I also asked him if he had ever been on the cultivator and just for a moment stole a look back and what happened when he did. There was silence but I knew he had and I knew the results. Its a normal thing. Corn or bean plants were laid waste, uprooted and tattered as the cultivators tines slid beneath them, ripping them up several rows at a time depending on how many rows he was tilling at the time.
Don’t ever look back, it brings disaster
The gentleman was beginning to get the picture and never spoke of it again. I shared with him that what Jesus was saying was that if we continually are looking back as we try to be a disciple of his, we will be distracted by the things of life and fail in our duty. We will be drawn after our family, friends, portfolios, jobs, etc. instead of doing what it takes to follow faithfully, especially when times are tough.
I am afraid that many folks have been on the edge of a Christian life for a long time when all of the sudden God gets their attention in some small, seemingly insignificant way. They have been committed to doing great things, working hard for the church, working hard to do good; all the right things for what they believed to be the right reasons. However, they were often left feeling unfulfilled. It is not uncommon that the first reaction to God’s new call upon them often seems to be an argument instead of an “ah ha”. Ever been there? I sure have.
Recently, I heard that someone questioned some wording found in a Confessional Statement: “Forgive us, Lord, for the times we have set our affections more upon our children or upon our lifestyle than upon you.”
Let me say, these words weren’t new. These are more words from Christ himself, written into a liturgical form. Jesus said in both Matthew’s and Luke’s Gospel that if a man (person) would love father, mother, wife, children, his brothers and sisters, yes, even his own life more than they love him, they cannot be his disciple. (Matthew 10:37-38 & Luke 14:26).
It is clear that these questions (farmer and children, etc.) are not just found in the young people of this generation or folks who have never been a part of the Christian Community. For generations the church or at least parts of the body have done a lousy job of teaching the Word of God. The church hasn’t trained up people to be IN THE WORD. Preachers have preached great sermons (and meaningless ones too). Dedicated folks have offered wonderful, thoughtful Bible Studies. I think part of the problem is that while many of our sermons or Bible Studies are about how the Bible lessons might work into our daily journeys, we haven’t been taught the Bible – the words of the Lord. And, I know many folks don’t read and study on their own so they have not received these words and notions into their hearts.
Friends, this conversation is still about one’s willingness to follow after Christ at any cost. There are many, many references as to what that cost might entail. Each and every person must come to that place where the decide what price they will pay. The Rich Young Ruler found in Matthew 19 did all the right stuff but that wasn’t what Jesus was asking him to do. Jesus asked him to give the last thing that kept the man from fully committing to Christ and eternal life, his money. As we read, the man went away very sad.
I know that following after Jesus is not an easy task. In fact, sometimes it is painful. There are decisions that have to be made, many of which have eternal consequences. I also know that if you put God first in your life; order your life in and through him, you will have time and treasurers you never dreamt of. You will have better relationships, more peace and joy than imaginable.
Let me know what you think.
MHP
