Christianity is a personal choice for those who wish to follow Christ. The most compelling reason to become a Christian is the realization of being a child of God, as Jesus was. Many individuals were drawn to Jesus because He fulfilled their wishes and desires. However, Jesus was clear about the true commitment required to be His follower. For instance, the young rich man whom Jesus instructed to sell all his possessions before following Him left feeling sad. Jesus then illustrated the difficulty rich people had in ever accessing God’s Kingdom. The rich young man’s struggle stemmed from not fully comprehending the significance of being a child of God (Matthew 19:16-25).
The phenomenon is not confined to wealthy individuals; it applies to all humans connected to this world. Certain behavioural characteristics are prevalent among those attached to physical nature. However, Jesus told His disciples that while worldly individuals cannot align themselves with God’s Kingdom, God makes it possible. This is the reason for Jesus’ coming and His sacrifice for humanity. If access to God’s Kingdom had been easy, there would have been no reason for Jesus to die on the cross. Christianity offers several incentives for ordinary people; however, for the Kingdom, death is necessary, even though death is not appealing to humanity.
Large crowds were travelling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’
“Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able to do so, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples. Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out. Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear” (Luke 14:25-35 NIV).
The inclination to follow Jesus is often compelling for those in desperate situations. However, discussing God’s Kingdom necessitates a different approach, one that demands the complete renunciation of all worldly ties. A person living in a physical body may not realize they are spiritually dead, which is true for all of humanity. For them, life is merely defined by their physical existence. They remain oblivious to the inevitable reality of death, which burial, is managed by others rather than themselves. This condition applies universally, regardless of race or background. What the world deems as success is incomparable to the true success of attaining eternal life.
While physical death is scientifically understood as the end of life, this definition is limited to our physical existence. Every person also possesses a spiritual aspect, which underscores the significance of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. Jesus did not die for what eventually gets interred in the grave. However, this sacrifice does not automatically grant access to God’s Kingdom. Despite His unique nature, Jesus came to show us the way to enter this Kingdom. By following His example of how to live, anyone can be guided towards this goal. However, it can be challenging for those who are attached to the physical world to follow Christ, as evidenced by His rejection by the Jews, who were considered religious.
The assignment to preach the gospel was given to the disciples who had fully committed themselves to following Him. The significance of discipleship lies in the effort to consistently apply His teachings. This deep commitment makes these disciples resemble Jesus in every aspect of their behaviour. Just as Jesus was accountable only to God and not to anyone else in the world, His disciples were also expected to be answerable solely to God, through Him. Those whom they baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit would be likewise expected to follow this example. No one was meant to oversee others, except through the principle found in Proverbs 27:17, which states that “iron sharpens iron.”
People who are genuinely connected to Christ cannot be divided by denominational differences. In the past, before the rise of communication technology, such Christians could be geographically separated. However, with the advent of the internet, true Christians from all around the world can now hear the teachings of Jesus. Hearing the voice of Jesus is not dependent on a physical connection to any individual through whom He may be speaking. Those who have received the Holy Spirit will be devoted to Jesus, transcending the limitations of their respective denominations. Grouping provides comfort, but this concept primarily applies to physical humans.
The desire to be among fellow believers is a natural inclination for those still connected to this world. However, a true Christian feels at home regardless of the diversity of people around them. They find comfort even when facing persecution from those who oppose God’s word. For such individuals, the passion to do God’s work is unmatched. They seize every opportunity to preach the gospel without seeking anyone’s approval. This person holds the same authority that Jesus had before His resurrection. For some individuals, this may seem different from current practices in modern Christianity, but it is as old as those practised by Jesus.
Scriptures are clear about Christians not being of this world. Paul states that they represent a new creation, no longer subject to death. Through their interactions with those of this world, they leave an unmistakable impact. The common misconception is that Christianity represents conformity. However, true Christians can be identified as troublemakers, just as Jesus was a troublemaker. Jesus was not a troublemaker to ordinary people but was indeed viewed as a troublemaker to religious authorities.
The defining characteristic of Christianity, as established by Jesus, is its ability to provoke controversy. Jesus was perceived as a troublemaker by the religious authorities, yet He chose to remain in that hostile environment. Had He distanced Himself from the religious establishment of His time, His ministry would not have had the same impact. The Pharisees would not have objected if He had initiated a new religion; their primary concern would have been His use of their Scriptures to preach the gospel. Nonetheless, He would have succeeded in teaching principles derived from those Scriptures without directly quoting them.
Without opposition similar to what Jesus faced, Christianity would lack impact. The central issue is that living a life free of opposition would hinder the sanctification of Christians. Even Jesus was sanctified through the harsh treatment He received from His Jewish enemies. The purpose of Christianity is sanctification, which often involves enduring mistreatment or even facing death at the hands of those in the world. There can be no assurance of sanctification for a Christian who does not encounter opposition in this life. Hence, Jesus included sanctification in His prayer for the Church.
“I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. For I have given to them the words which You have given Me, and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me. “I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are.
“While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept, and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for their sakes, I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.
“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
“Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. O, righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You, and these have known that You sent Me. And I have declared to them Your name and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them” (John 17:6-26 NKJV)
Jesus was not praying for denominations but for His Church, which is composed of those who possess the Holy Spirit. Despite encountering significant opposition in a world unaccustomed to the spiritual realm, these individuals would not fear death. The desire to belong to a specific church denomination may indicate a lack of true Christianity. Another way to evaluate one’s state of Christianity is by examining the opposition faced by the individual. If everything seems easy and the person feels comfortable in their church, they might be in serious trouble. This assertion is supported by what Jesus said to His disciples.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:10-12 NKJV)
Jesus did not imply that those who receive good treatment in this world should feel blessed. Instead, He speaks of a blessing that comes from being persecuted and falsely accused. This perspective sharply contrasts with the common reactions of many people, including many Christians, who often feel joy when they receive kindness and praise from others for their good deeds. Jesus encourages a different kind of rejoicing—one that arises from experiencing persecution. Such experiences affirm that a person genuinely embodies the Christian faith.
Conversely, being well-received by the world may suggest that one is not entirely aligned with God’s Kingdom. For many, affiliating with a denomination that mirrors their beliefs renders Christianity more palatable. Regrettably, these individuals may be reluctant to compare their experiences with those of Jesus, who was crucified by His own people. There is no more harrowing experience than being repudiated by those one deems his or her own. Nonetheless, this is precisely how Jesus characterizes the essence of Christianity.
Jesus describes Christianity as embracing the willingness to endure unkind treatment from those around us. This includes the pain of feeling unappreciated for helping friends who turn out to be betrayers. Such hurt often stems from the misunderstanding that the journey of Christianity can be lonely and is largely independent of how others behave. Friends can also add to this emotional struggle, as illustrated by Job’s friends during his trials, who tormented him for his commitment to righteousness.
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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