What is a Christian? Part 2

Two weeks ago I asked, “What is a Christian?” I pointed to some obvious examples of people who wrap themselves in the faith while spewing hatred, fear, and division. And I pointed out that what Jesus asks us to do is follow him.

So what does following Jesus look like? Last September I led a workshop on identifying the value of Jesus because following Jesus means living out the values he lived out, doing the kinds of things he did, treating people the way he did. Most of the people at this workshop were lay folk. What follows is a verbatim of what they found in some key New Testament stories.

Take a look. Notice especially what things show up again and again. Live these things out. That’s what it means to be a Christian.

The Values of Jesus

9/17/22

Mark 4:26-29

Prodigality (excessive seed sowing)

Trust in the power of the seed

Patience

Mark 6:32-44 (feeding of the 5,000)

Compassion

Generosity

Meeting Needs

Power of prayer

Trust that God will provide

Matthew 4:23

Traveling-meeting people where they are

Teaching

Supporting religious tradition

Sharing good news

Healing

Matthew 5:1-12 (Beatitudes)

Saw people

Teaching

Healing

Blessing for those we don’t consider blessed

Reward

Joy

A place in heaven

Not alone

Matthew 5:38-48

Turn the other cheek

Love your enemies

Choosing grace not retaliation

Seeing everyone as equal

Giving love freely and unconditionally

Abundance in world of scarcity

Matthew 7:1-5 (Plank in eye)

Self-awareness

Acknowledging your own mortality

Choosing curiosity rather than judgement

Grace

Don’t be stuck in judgement of self either

Freedom to acknowledge you are not perfect

Luke 10:25-37 (Good Samaritan)

What is goodness

Reach beyond comfort zone and show love for all

Luke 15:11-32 (Lost son)

Forgiveness

Value relationships over things

Humility

Peace,

Pastor Mark Walters