Anointing 3

Luke 11:23

I once saw an inspirational saying that said (approximately) “If you cannot follow, then lead. If you cannot lead, then follow. If you cannot lead or follow, then get out of the way.” Simply put, if you aren’t part of the solution then you are part of the problem and we would rather you not do that.

Jesus sums up the idea in a simple statement to a crowd who has expressed doubts in his motivation and actions. They claimed that Jesus was doing the work of the devil in his miraculous works. What did Jesus say?

Again, simply put, if you aren’t a helper then you are part of the problem. Those who are not in favor of Jesus – those who do not support his goodness – are against him. There is no middle ground. There is no safe sideline where we can wait and decide later whose side we are on.

This comment addresses our faith and our relationship with God. We are either believers in Christ or we aren’t. And even if we say with our lips that we believe in Christ, if we do not actively value Jesus and his salvation, if we do not actively live out our beliefs and our faith, then we are not the Christians we claim to be.

If we are not real Christians, expressing the love of God and showing compassion to those in need, then we are not Christians at all. John Wesley applied the term “almost Christians” to those who do not have a deep faith, but I cannot believe in the “almost.” We either are or we are not.

This does not eliminate those who are struggling with their faith or those who are new to the faith and want to see their faith grow. In fact, those who desire to have stronger faith and a deeper knowledge and closeness to Jesus are indeed Christians and (I believe) will achieve that strength and depth that they seek.

But so many people are practicing Christians only because they want to play it safe. They pray and wear a cross around their necks just to be on the safe side, just in case there really is a God.

We cannot have that approach. We must choose – consciously, deliberately, and with our whole being – to believe in Jesus and accept him as our Lord and Savior.

DAILY CHALLENGE: Have you decided in your heart that Jesus is your Lord? What can you do to show that you are “with” Jesus?