The common phenomenon observed worldwide is the human obsession with territorial protection. Regardless of race or culture, there’s a universal inclination to safeguard one’s territory. Often, there’s no specific reason behind this, yet it resonates with the innate human instinct. This behaviour is prevalent even among Christian denominations, where members commonly assume a duty to defend their denomination’s leader. Peter, having been commended for acknowledging Jesus as the Son of God, soon succumbed to a mindset that Jesus likened to that of Satan. This reveals a principal flaw of Christianity.
From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men. Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:21-26 ESV).
The forensic analysis of the text uncovers the essence of Christianity. By human standards, Peter was justified in his fervent attempt to defend his master. He held the conviction that dying in defence was his obligation, rather than subjecting his master to such disgrace. However, in his rash reaction, Peter overlooked Jesus’ final words, “and be raised the third day.” Peter fixated on the prospect of Jesus’ death, not His resurrection. This is typical of humans, who often prioritize territorial protection as the ultimate goal.
In reproving Peter, Jesus addressed him as “Satan,” the deceiver of humanity. God and Satan represent antithetical forces manifested through humans. When a person reflects God’s mindset, they are, at that moment, an embodiment of God. Conversely, reflecting Satan’s mindset means representing Satan. In that instance, Peter, without realizing it, was influenced by Satan while thinking he was protecting Christ. Jesus, discerning the subterfuge, responded decisively, showing His understanding of Satan’s strategies.
Jesus seized the opportunity to impart a principle that affirms self-denial as a prerequisite for following Him. We must examine the meaning of self-denial in the context of Jesus’ intense debate with Peter. Jesus’ path, which Peter tried to oppose, involved self-denial, exemplified by the humiliation He endured on the cross. Thus, the crucial element of this teaching is that without the willingness to deny oneself, one cannot rightfully claim the title of Christian. Christianity, therefore, entails a readiness to forsake one’s own desires in the pursuit of following Christ. Embracing Christianity becomes meaningless without such a standard manifestation.
The central tenet of His teachings is: “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” This should act as a litmus test, separating the wheat from the chaff, among those who identify as “Christians” yet are oblivious to this specific teaching. Jesus embodied the timeless truth, distinct from the world’s prevalent doctrines. It is inconsistent for one to claim the title “Christian” without the willingness to forsake oneself, as following Jesus necessitates. The act of protecting one’s territory is often associated with self-interest, which contrasts with the selflessness represented by Jesus.
The central theme of Jesus’ teachings is self-denial. Those who diligently adhere to His teachings will concur with the notion of self-denial, which involves relinquishing one’s own territory. Jesus introduced a completely new perspective on life. Humans are often consumed with the defence of their physical territories. In contrast, Christianity focuses on the abandonment of such physical territories. The fear of losing their physical territories often outweighs the fear of remaining within them. Regrettably, such people are unaware of the principle that what one fears the most ultimately has control over them.
Contrary to the belief that salvation demands a stringent commitment to follow Jesus, the true call is simply to renounce one’s own domain. This means embracing Jesus’ teachings as a genuine representation of one’s life. The challenge comes not from disbelief in Jesus but from the reluctance to give up one’s domain. It’s one matter to profess following Jesus and another to live by his words, showing readiness to forsake all. There’s no fault in not following Jesus if unconvinced; the fault lies in feigning adherence without truly living by His teachings.
“For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’? Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for conditions of peace. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple. Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavour, how shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” (Luke 14:28-35 ESV).
The text discusses the dichotomy between embracing possessions and renouncing them. It begins by recognizing that the spirit and the flesh are opposites, and their union creates friction. The flesh needs space, or territory, to survive. In contrast, the spirit does not require space or territory. A person who values territory differs from one who rejects it. Only through divine revelation can one comprehend the superiority of the person who renounces territory over the one who cherishes it. The spiritual failings of humanity lie in being captured by the physical nature. Some may think that by ignoring the call of Jesus, they are ensuring their physical safety.
Jesus does not employ force or any form of enticement to lead people to salvation. Faith in Jesus involves a choice: to stay in the physical realm or to leave it behind and be with Jesus. This choice is akin to assessing whether one has the means to achieve a desired goal. The cravings of the flesh are powerful, necessitating a deliberate choice between relying on oneself and placing trust in Jesus. The dilemma arises because once the decision to trust Jesus is made; there is no turning back, even when faced with unbearable physical suffering.
Physical existence is often equated with captivity. For some, faith in Jesus symbolizes surrender, a yielding of self-governance to a supreme entity. However, opting out of this belief can be viewed as preserving one’s dignity. From this viewpoint, such submission is considered unwise by human norms, as it entails a sacrifice of personal dignity and exposes one to mockery. Yet, despite His enlightenment and divine authority, Jesus accepted dishonour, providing a model for His followers. Jesus emphasized that it is wiser to choose not to follow Him than to do so blindly without a sufficient commitment.
Life is filled with achievements that affirm one’s value of existence. To forsake these for the sake of Jesus may seem at odds with human dignity. From birth, individuals strive to establish their worth. To relinquish this, potentially facing peers’ scorn, underscores the gravity of repentance. It is not a decision to be taken lightly. True repentance may require embracing physical death, as it often involves a struggle between physical and spiritual realities. Repentance is often symbolized by sacrificing physical comforts, allowing the spirit to prosper.
The pursuit of salvation often suggests a diminishing of one’s value in this life. Those who have accomplished much through their own efforts, including Commandment keepers, experience this struggle. Yet, it is the profound failures who may find salvation most achievable. Paul considered his previous achievements as worthless, akin to a man transformed by a lightning strike while en route to persecute the faithful in Damascus. Subsequently, he grasped the essence of repentance.
“Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me” (Philippians 3:8-11 ESV).
The Apostle Paul’s strength lay in his weaknesses rather than his life’s achievements, which he deemed worthless. His humility led him not to compare himself with others but to recognize Jesus Christ and His righteousness as all-encompassing. Attaining salvation involves renouncing the physical body, either through death or the sacrifice of personal dignity. Christianity places greater emphasis on resurrection than on earthly life. Humility was a recurring theme in His teachings, culminating in its demonstration to His disciples just before the crucifixion.
“So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them” (John 13:12-17 ESV).
Washing another person’s feet may not seem dignified, but Jesus emphasized humility as the most crucial virtue to understand, above all other teachings. He concluded with the words: “Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them” (John 13:16-17 ESV). This directive was meant to encourage the practice of humility throughout their ministries. Another facet of Christianity could be the focus on transcending physical existence, thereby nurturing the spirit until the physical being fades.
A person who envisions themselves as no longer existing physically may be closer to embracing Christianity. Conversely, one who fears death or the loss of physical possessions remains bound. The greatest fear of all time, for humans is death and what a person fears tends to dominate them. Commitment to Christian principles may be evident in the person’s perspective on death. A truly free individual does not obsess over the fear of death or the loss of material possessions. Embracing salvation involves relinquishing worldly attachments to discover true worth within the spiritual realm.
Surrendering oneself to Jesus is paradoxically, the most straightforward act in life. A person who does this is not swayed by public opinion, unlike those preoccupied with others’ thoughts and their own survival. Interestingly, this message is rarely conveyed in churches, perhaps due to concerns over shrinking congregations, suggesting a territorial defence that hinders individuals from divine protection. Contemporary ministers often choose to deliver sermons that resonate with their congregants’ preferences. While this method may appear to uphold Christian values, it can lead one away from the essence of true Christianity.
“But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble. Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up” (James 4:6-12 ESV).
The essence of Christ’s teaching is that an individual coming to Him must relinquish all burdens and depend solely on Jesus. The more one presumes to know, the more they shut themselves off from Christian discourse. This results in a situation where someone who presumes knowledge may be at risk of hindering communication with God. When Jesus presented a little child as an example, He was focused on the expectations of a Christian, emphasizing the virtue of humility above all for those seeking salvation.
Andrew Masuku is the author of Dimensions of a New Civilization, laying down standards for uplifting Zimbabwe from the current state of economic depression into a model for other nations worldwide. A decaying tree provides an opportunity for a blossoming sprout. Written from a Christian perspective, the book is a product of inspiration, bringing relief to those having witnessed the strings of unworkable solutions––leading to the current economic and social decay. Most Zimbabweans should find the book as a long-awaited providential oasis of hope, in a simple conversational tone.
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