In today’s passage, Jesus tells us, as he told his disciples, that he came to turn the world rightside up and show us how God intended the world to be. I really like this phrasing – Jesus came to turn the world “rightside up”. I think sometimes our view is that Jesus came to turn the world upside down – but this would mean that the world as we know it is “right” – and we know it really isn’t. God intended humanity to be one people, one tribe, one nation. But Jesus’ response to our upside down world is different than what ours tends to be. As humans, we see a problem, a system that seems upside down for example, and we seek answers so that we can “fix” it. Jesus, on the other hand, is not looking to fix things but to transform lives.
When we live seeking answers, our lives and our vision are focused on the external – focused on others’ lives or on the world – rather than upon our own lives. Seeking answers allow us to focus on finding solutions so that we can change things. When we seek first to see and to accept or understand, then we begin to learn to see the world “rightside up”, to see as God sees. We become slowly transformed – and by our transformation we become empowered to “set the world afire”. When we walk through the questions, we become aligned with Christ and filled with the fire of the Holy Spirit. Living this way, our lives – our very actions, thoughts, words, and deeds – serve to confront and to disrupt. …We disrupt by not being willing to listen to gossip. …We confront by refusing to purchase the newest car when the one we have works just fine. …We confront when we refuse to return rudeness or harsh words, responding instead with love… When we choose to live this way, we choose Christ and the way of God over the way of family, or tribe, or society – and sometimes, as Jesus said, we find we are a house divided.
The way of God, experienced in Jesus Christ, asks us to choose, and often sets humans one against the other. Do you think Jesus came to smooth things over and make everything nice? Yes, sometimes we do, at least I know I do – I want Jesus’ message to be one that is nice to hear. Anything for anyone. But the problem is that if we see Jesus as a peacemaker, then we believe that Jesus would promote peace at any cost – and so we don’t speak out against the structures and systems; our leaders and friends, and even our family. In the name of peace, we lose the Christian message of love and equality, justice and mercy, and unity.
From the Scriptures, we know that if we follow Jesus’ teachings we will be confronted. We will be confronted internally – our conscience will challenge us – and we will be confronted with one another, both with fellow Christians and with non-Christians. However, if we are to truly be followers of Jesus Christ, then we must take responsibility for our Christian walk – we must take ownership of our faith.
I used to live for peace at any cost. For a long time I confused the peace of Christ with an image of Jesus as peacemaker. I have learned through the years that peace is not the absence of conflict. Peace is having within you a central core of stillness despite the chaos that is swirling around you. And for me, that central core, that centeredness, comes from my connectedness to God through Jesus Christ. Jesus promised us peace if we would trust in him – he did not ask us to become peacemakers seeking peace at all costs. I have learned the call of Christ is to live the truth we understand. So, although I don’t regularly seek out conflict, I work harder at speaking my words of truth even when I know they might confront or disturb or create conflict; I work harder at not sitting quietly just to keep things nice…
Where, in your life, are you staying comfortable when Jesus calls you to confront? …Where is God calling you to live the questions of Christ more deeply?
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