What is this today? Take up your cross--count
the cost, hate father mother--What is this?
Just last week we were all about invitations? How many of you
were here last Sunday? That's okay, you don't have to raise your
hands. But last week Jesus was all about asking everybody to
his party. He wanted the blind and the lame and the losers. Jesus
wanted everybody at the party.
Today we see that Jesus got his wish. The crowds are collecting. Hundreds are coming to see his act, hear his message. He put out the invitation and they all came. If he had been a TV evangelist he'd be in 7th heaven--the ratings are up. He's the cover on TIME and People Magazine. Whatever you're doing Jesus it's just right, keep it up, ride the crest of the wave--they;ll make you a superstar--a King.
So what the heck is Jesus doing today. He steps up to the podium, turns to the crowds and takes a whole new tack. He opens his mouth and talks about the high cost of following him. He talks about discipleship--take up your cross, count the cost, assess the bottom line. Don't blithley drift into this thing called Christianity and then five, ten years down the line look back and say, "I had no idea it would be like this!"
We're talking committment here. Doug and I have counseled dozens of couples before they get married. One of the big questions that we have in our minds as we do that is, "Is this couple all about the wedding or are they really interested in the marriage? Sometimes it's apparent that all they're interested in is what the bridesmaids will wear and if we'll allow them to use Kenny Rogers Gambler song, (you know, " know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em") in the ceremony. When we counsel with them we want them to think about what this marriage means. Where's the committment!
Count the cost now...look at what these vows that you are taking mean....Are you ready to be committed to each other when you've been awake 48 hours with two kids who have the flu? Are you still ready to be committed when that super job offer opens up half way across the continent and it means a decision about a move yet again? Are you ready to be committed when the doldrums hit, when every day seems just like the last? Are you ready to be committed when that debilitating illness takes hold?
Jesus doesn't want us to be surprised. We're
attracted. Just like the crowds, we're intrigued. We're here
at the party--And it's great! The music is super, the fellowship
is fun, we're comfortable. But Jesus wants us to be afraid--to
be very afraid...of just where this might lead. It's all about
discipleship! Jesus offers it all to us--purpose, meaning, love,
justice, self worth. Gain your life--make the years you walk
this planet mean something, make these days count and even beyond
that be sure, be certain of eternal life with God.
But know that it doesn't come without comittment. The philosopher
Soren Kierkagaard once warned a group of preachers about having
sermons that were too artistic "Whereby Jesus hath obtained
admirers rather than followers." It's not enough to be an
admirer. Discipleship isn't flirtation, it's not a passing fancy,
a fad that's here today and gone tomorrow, an emotional high,
an intellectual exercise. Discipleship isn't a piece of life,
it's the whole enchilada. The standard by which all the rest
is judged,
Discipleship is a committment, a growing devotion, an evolving
understanding, a deepening trust that this Jesus, this Christ
holds the key to it all if we just give it up to him.
That kind of committment doesn't happen all at once. We use terms like growing, evolving, deepening because we know that there isn't one of us, not a single one of us that has it all together--that makes that committment 100 per cent. Our theme this year for Rally day is "Fanning the Flames of Discipleship." It's a good theme. For me, it conjures up a lot of important images. Our discipleship, our faith is that flame that was lit at baptism--symbolized by that Baptismal candle. That flame, that fire is burning, consuming, passionate. There's nothing ho-hum about it. Which leads me to a new insight regarding this tough Gospel for today. I tell you, not only is there cost to everything that is important in life, and we ought to count the cost but also this: You are eager to pay the cost.
I think we are looking for something worth giving our life to. Maybe that is the reason you're heree this morning. You are willing, even eager for something so large, so true and demanding , that there is a cost. Something beyond, ourselves, our jobs, our house and car and kids. When I was in seminary I had a kind of a faith crisis. I always thought that to be truly faithful meant having to do things the hard way. To me then, to be faithful would mean chucking it all and going to be a missionary somewhere where there would be lots of bugs. A friend with whom I could discuss spiritual matters helped me to see that sometimes the hardest place to be faithful is right where you are. To be a faithful voice in a corporate board room may be a lot harder task than passing out food in a refugee camp. To raise faithful, compassionate, loving children in a community of abundance may be no easier task than to struggle to get children through a life of want as faithful people. To work for public policies that may mean personal sacrifice but act for common good is discipleship just as much as taking off your coat and giving it to a homeless person.
Jesus calls us today to fan the flames of discipleship,
to count the cost. Not with "Have I got a deal for you"
but rather " Here's the deal-"take up your cross and
follow me."
Amen.