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Great Thinkers in the History of the Church (no. 6)
A Christian is a perfectly free lord, subject to none.
A Christian is a perfectly dutiful servant of all, subject to all.
*Martin Luther, b. 1483, “The Freedom of a Christian,” William C. Placher, Readings in the History of Christian Theology, Vol. 2
Scripture: St. Luke 14.25-33 (NAB)
25 Great crowds were traveling with him [Jesus], and he turned and addressed them, 26 "If any one comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28 Which of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion? 29 Otherwise, after laying the foundation and finding himself unable to finish the work the onlookers should laugh at him 30 and say, 'This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.' 31 Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down and decide whether with ten thousand troops he can successfully oppose another king advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops? 32 But if not, while he is still far away, he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms. 33 In the same way, everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple. 34 "Salt is good, but if salt itself loses its taste, with what can its flavor be restored? 35 It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out. Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear."
Comments
In St. Luke 14 Jesus is speaking about the cost of following him, which is what being a Christian means. So, is the Christian to hate her family? Hate her own life? (v. 26) Does Jesus mean that we cannot follow him without selling all our possessions (v. 34)?
One way to approach the above demands is by hyperbole. That would say, essentially, “Jesus was using exaggeration for rhetorical effect, to make a strong point about the priority we would have to have above all else in following him.”
I recommend another interpretation of the above demands for following Jesus Christ. In v. 26 Jesus is speaking of the basic cultural- biological unit, the family. However, note that he speaks of the family as made up of individuals, like father, mother, son, daughter, … He refers, also, to the individuals in the family as having a separate identity apart from the family unit: “his own life.”
Likewise, Christ speaks of each individual carrying “his own cross” (v. 27). The cross speaks of the death of the old self, the self as individual, fitting in the biological and social divisions common to culture. Note, Jesus does not say these natural divisions are wrong or evil. Jesus is saying something else? What is he saying? We now turn to that.
Jesus is saying that to follow him means to transcend the natural divisions of culture and experience another level, one we can call personhood or person. We hate, or come to detest, the religious and societal shaping of us into natural divisions that cut us off from experiencing oneness with other persons.
What is Jesus saying about possessions? We, to follow him, agree to renounce attachment to individual ownership. This does not mean we sell or give away all possessions. We have a new relationship with possessions. When I see possessions as an individual, I see them as mine. When I see them as person, I see them as a Divine gift for the benefit of everyone.
Succinctly, then, what are the implications of the above passage? Following Christ means something that from an ego, or separatist, perspective is a death and rebirth. We die to living as an individual with what belongs to me. We are reborn a member of the Body of Christ. We recognize oneness with all creatures. We accept that individual possession is an illusion, while use of natural goods is a communal right and rite.
Ironically, then, something wonderful happens. In dying to the individualistic relationships with other persons and possessions, we are freed from attachment to them and use of them for selfish ends. We are resurrected to enjoy them in a freedom and love we could never have enjoyed apart from following Christ.
Reflection
In the opening quote from Martin Luther, what do you think in regard to his affirmation on freedom? Explain.
What is the relationship between freedom and service in the Christian life?
Can you be free apart from service to other persons? Explain.
What possessions might you need to relinquish attachment to, in order to follow Christ more wholly?
To follow Christ more fully, do you need to make changes in any relationship you have with family, church, or among your friends? Explain those changes and the consequences for you in your Christian walk?
Spiritual Exercise
Keep spending at least twenty to thirty minutes daily in Silence, resting in the Lord of Love.
Make sure you have a sacred space in your home for time alone in prayer and spiritual reading.
Participate in a covenant group. For more information on covenant groups, write me at the address below.
Write a prayer of commitment of all relationships and possessions to God.
Consider, if you are not already, sponsoring a child through Compassion International. You can find out more about Compassion International by going to www.compassion.net to read about sponsoring, in the name of Jesus, children living in poverty. Thanks! Brian K. Wilcox
To contact Brian, write briankwilcox@comcast.net .
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