real Discipleship … 11/19/13
The primary focal point of Jesus’ ministry was the deconstruction of ALL social barriers that excluded or isolated … So who is on your in list? Who’s actually invited to your table? And, who — because of financial status, career choice, religious affiliation, political views, sexual proclivities, ethnicity, gender or whatever else — has been left isolated from your own small section of the vine? Who have you left outside to whither and dry up and fade away?
Make no mistake, my friends: There is a profound cost to real discipleship in Christ. If you dedicate yourself to emulating Jesus’ teachings, your entire Life will radically change and your outlook on others will be completely transformed. A conversion of self will take place; an active rebirth of the Soul that becomes “facta non verba” — based in actions, not mere words … and “facta non fides” — grounded in deeds, not mere beliefs.
For if you decide to truly & sincerely follow the Way of life set forth by Jesus in the Gospels, your life simply cannot in any manner remain the same.
(~ inspired by Nathan Hollifield)
P.S. Jesus, at least when he was “dialed in” to pure LOVE in most of his sayings & deeds in the Gospels, knew only a raw & courageous & humble Caring for others — period. These days, politicians have gotten hold of this concept and labeled it “liberal”, even though Jesus never made such a distinction. For him, there was either judgment & condemnation & criticism & self-defense & “just warfare” & “fair punishment” — a lack of LOVE that we today call “conservative” — OR acceptance & forgiveness & kindness & compassion & selfless service — expressions of perfect LOVE that we today tend to call “liberal”. It is my humble opinion that Jesus — were he with us in the flesh today — would still be encouraging us to avoid politics completely; to “give to Caesar what is Caesar’s (which is pretty much nothing), and to the Lord what is the Lord’s” (which is a raw appreciation for the gift of life, via acts of radical LOVE shown to everyone in one’s life, “liberals” & “conservatives” alike).
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