Whose Side Is Jesus On?

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“The church is the church only when it exists for others... It must tell people of every calling what it means to live in Christ, to exist for others.” —Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Scripture: Matthew 16:15

A fascinating moment in the Old Testament book of Joshua occurs when, right before a battle against another tribe, Joshua encounters a mysterious figure described as the "commander of the Lord's army."

Joshua immediately asks the question human beings have probably been asking God forever:

“Are you for us, or for our adversaries?”

In other words: Whose side are you on?

The answer is startling.

“Neither.”

Joshua wants to know whether God has joined his side. Instead, Joshua discovers that the real question is whether he has joined God's.

Those of us who call ourselves Christians struggle with this. 

We want Jesus on our side.

Our political side.

Our theological side.

Our cultural side.

Our side of the argument.

Our side of whatever division happens to be consuming us at the moment.

And Christians of almost every persuasion can become remarkably skilled at recruiting Jesus to support conclusions we have already reached.

We will cherry-pick passages from the Bible to prove our point.  We'll look around us with a jaundiced gaze at Christians we don't agree with, and determine they aren't following the real Jesus.  

Because how could they vote the way they do and be a Christian?

How could they be so judgemental and be a Christian?

How could they say they follow Jesus, and act so unlovingly?

We assume that Jesus is on our side, and that all of those people are not following Jesus at all, and possibly, maybe, perhaps aren't even Christians. 

I have to admit, I have allowed myself to think and say those kinds of things when I am not at my best.  In moments of self-righteousness, I find myself condemning those who I believe are so completely wrong that there is nothing at all right within them. 

I decide who is in and who is out, assuming that Jesus is on my side in all of my judgment, and fully approves of my shaking finger and hard words toward those who I think are missing the point.  

Here's a funny thing, though.  Jesus refuses to become the mascot for our causes.

Jesus announces something much larger: the Kingdom of God.

That kingdom doesn't fit comfortably inside any political party, ideology, nation, denomination, or movement. Every human system contains things that may reflect God's justice and goodness—and things that must be questioned by the teachings of Christ.

That's why following Jesus requires humility.

Before asking, “How can Jesus support what I believe?” we might ask something much harder:

“Where does following Jesus require me to reconsider what I believe?”

Jesus says, “Love your enemies.”

Jesus says, “Blessed are the peacemakers.”

Jesus says, “Do not judge.”

Jesus says, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these...you did for me.”

Jesus says, “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.”

Those teachings belong to no political party. They belong to Jesus.

And they stand in judgment over all of us.

The question confronting Joshua still confronts us today. We can spend our lives trying to persuade God to join our side, or we can humbly place ourselves beneath the authority of Christ and ask:

“Jesus, where are you leading?”

Then comes the harder part.

Following.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, forgive me when I try to recruit you for my causes instead of surrendering myself to yours. Give me humility to examine my assumptions, courage to change when necessary, and faith to follow you even when your way challenges me. Amen.

Reflection Questions

  1. Where am I most tempted to assume that Jesus is automatically “on my side”?
  2. Which teaching of Jesus most challenges my current assumptions or priorities?
  3. What would it look like today to ask, “Jesus, where are you leading?” before deciding what I think?

 

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