I am a Jesus pusher!!! “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake” (Matthew 5:10). It may be we have developed into a self-absorbed evangelical church. Our focus in programming is determined by the apparent meeting of the immediate needs. No church seems to extend the invitation to “Come and die!” “Join our church; suffer with the afflictions of Christ!” This challenge does not resonate with today’s church.
Yet, there are those of us who desperately want the “mind of Christ.” How does He think? He must be from another world; everything He says in the Beatitudes is exactly opposite to the flow of my world. Congratulating the poor in spirit does not produce confidence in His viewpoint. “Mourning” is not attractive; meekness is not a longing of our hearts. Righteousness is questionable in every situation; mercy is only spoken of among the weak. Pure in heart is only a dream among the religious idealists. My heroes are warriors not peacemakers. But the most ludicrous of all is the preposterous idea of being congratulated for being persecuted. Perhaps the idea could be suggested at the beginning of the discussion of the Kingdom of God; but why would Jesus climax the presentation of the Beatitudes with persecution? Is this the inevitable experience of those who are one with Him? Would the helpless man who finds the resource of His presence even care? Does the greatness of Jesus overshadow all circumstances and discomforts? I am a Jesus pusher!!!