... I don’t believe He was really the Son of God”.  Who’s heard that one?  I think we all have, and I think we’ve all heard the counter-arguments that if you understand Jesus’ statements in light of Old Testament references He made about himself, He clearly claimed to be the Messiah.  Which means he was a liar, lunatic, or what He said He is - the Son of God.

The question is, as Christians, which do we really believe - great moral teacher, or Son of God (i.e. our Master)?  See, I’m a person who thinks that what we really believe should be evidenced by what we do, not by what we say.  Just a matter of common sense evidence - there is real wisdom in the sayings; “talk is cheap”, actions speak louder than words”...

Here’s my dilemma.  Take this for example: ” Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.”  - Matthew 5:23-24 Have you ever heard that cited in church?  How many of us have seen anyone (or actually did oursleves) get up and leave to first be reconciled to their brother before finishing the service?  Did it even cross your mind when you heard that, that you really should get up that instant and leave the service to be reconciled to a brother that has anything against you?  If we accept Jesus as our Master, we should see that as a direct command.  Or did you accept the passage (as I always have) as a good moral teaching but not a command that you should be expected to perform, and to perform it as instructed? 

I have to admit that this is a new concept to me and I must further admit that my actions indicate that I see Jesus more as a great moral teacher and less as my Master.  All too often I treat His commands as good principles to live by but not explicit commands.  The point is that He gave many explicit commands, and I have treated nearly all of them as good general illustrative principles to live by, but I essentially never treat them as explicit commands.  So what do I really believe? 

Read the sermon on the mount and the rest of Jesus’words again and look for explicit commands - they are everywhere.  That whole don’t worry about tomorrow thing… that was not a self-help ideal, it was a command.  Pray for your enemies, bless those who curse you, if someone sues you for your coat, give him your shirt as well, do not store up treasure on earth… all phrased as commands, not tidy philosophiocal niceties.  But we don’t treat them as commands - so what do we really believe?  Holy Spirit, work through me to change the evidence in my life.  I am not happy with what my actions say about my beliefs to date, and I hope and pray that a wave of true belief, evidenced by obedience to His commands will sweep through my life and the church as a whole, I want to be a part of that.