Readjusting Jesus

America is a great country.

Really, I’m an American. And I love it.

But it’s not the kind of place for sacrifice.

America is more of a have-your-cake-and-eat-it-too kind of place.

And that creates a special kind of abundance. An abundance the rest of the world values. And wants.

But I think, if we’re not careful, we can let that view define how we understand Jesus’ call.

At one point he tells his followers, “whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me” (Matthew 10:38).

Here, “cross” means “everything else we value.”

In America, that stands for some pretty valuable things.

Freedom to speak
Freedom to choose
Freedom to build
Freedom to vote
Freedom to not
Freedom to succeed
Freedom to be famous (or private)

Are these things bad?

Definitely not.

Well…not unless they’re too important to give up.