I wrote to you yesterday of Jesus sending out the disciples. Continuing to read from Matthew 10, we realize that his instructions to them included words of warning. (I probably should have included something about that along with yesterday's encouragement for you to "Go.") He tells them that the going would not be easy.
One of the quandaries we face is whether it was only those first disciples who faced rejection, betrayal, and death, or if it is a warning that remains in effect for us modern-day disciples. Is the danger over? Or is there something about the message of Jesus which continues to make his disciples targets?
Maybe you can arrive at an answer to that question by considering whether the culture around us accurately reflects the vision Jesus has for us?
We have had two deaths in our student population in the past two weeks. The circumstances of the first has not been disclosed; the second is rumored to be the result of alcohol poisoning. We can distance ourselves from that and say, "I am not part of that crowd," but these individuals and their crowd are our community.
South Carolina has a new law regarding undocumented persons. Setting aside the mood or intention of the law itself, the language being used by those discussing the law is painful to hear. These are humans, children of God, yet we speak of them with horrific words.
The first disciples of Jesus faced physical beatings, imprisonment, execution. We may not face these same threats, but speaking the Word of God continues to make us suspect, unpopular, even shunned. The world may say that it "loves Jesus" and "believes in Jesus," but we have a ways to go when it comes to following Jesus.
Until that time comes, those who speak on behalf of Jesus are likely to continue to feel as if we are sent out as "sheep in the midst of wolves." (Matthew 10:16)
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