which way does jesus look?

"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God… made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant.” (Philippians 2.5-7).

​I read the following today concerning socioeconomic attitudes of “Tea Partiers,” so many of which are Evangelical and like to think of themselves as Christian,
 
“Liberals were asking them to feel compassion for the downtrodden in the back of the line…. They didn’t want to; they felt downtrodden themselves and wanted only to look ‘up’ to the elite. What was wrong with aspiring high? That was the bigger virtue, they thought. Liberals were asking them to direct their indignation at the ill-gotten gains of the overly rich… the right wanted to aim their indignation down at the poor slackers, some of whom were jumping the line” (Arlie Russell Hochschild, Strangers in their Own Land, Chapter 14).
 
My response to such attitudes is given away in the title of this post.
 
“Which way does Jesus look?”
 
When he came down to meet your needs, to rescue you, was he not under the necessity of looking down and back at you. Is it not, as the Psalmist declares a “humiliation” for him to “behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!”[i] Where would you be without his backward glance in your direction?
 
It is one thing to be weak. To find it difficult to follow Jesus and do as he did and does. That is forgivable, and worthy of mercy and grace.
 
But to deny the very doctrine of Christ? To deny, and even hold up to ridicule and hatred the very existence of his invitation—"If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me”?[ii] This is not so easily forgiven. This calls out for justice.
 
Be weak, acknowledge the difficulty. But do not rebelliously deny the reality of the call. Stop pursuing the false and idolatrous “American Dream.” It is a lie. An Illusion. It will ruin you. Make you unprofitable for Christ. If you are going to dream, dream of God. Of following him. Of being like him.


[i] Psalms 113.6

[ii] Matthew 16.24

"But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, ‘Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: and whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Mark 10.42-45).