I remember sitting in the hallway of my non-air conditioned dormitory my freshman year in college. It was August and the heat index was almost three digits. For any who haven't had that experience, the dorm hallway is where college guys get together and pontificate on school, girls, and the problems of the world. This particular evening we were trying to figure out how well we knew each other after only a few weeks living in the same building. We began describing each individual as someone who either sees a glass as half empty (pessimist) or half full (optimist). When it was my turn, I asked them "what type of person do you think I am?" One of my best friends spoke up and said, "You're the kind of guy that doesn't see the glass as empty OR full... you see the glass and ask 'who the [expletive] has been drinking my water?!'"
Apparently I'm a "disruptor".
Sometimes I wonder how different Christ was viewed among his peers compared to how we picture him today. Christ is so often cast as a classical figure in antiquity with flowing hair, a neatly trimmed beard, and with a voice that speaks in nothing but calm wisdom. We forget that Christ was a normal person who laughed, got angry and irritated, got hungry and thirsty, and did everything else we do today. "There was nothing special or impressive about the way he looked, nothing we could see that would cause us to like him." (Is 53:2)
I think perhaps the biggest difference between how Christ acts in the scriptures and how we paint him today is that Christ was a disruptor; he sought to upend the natural order of things and caused people to question everything. In fact, in Luke we read...
"I came to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already set ablaze! But I have a baptism to undergo, and how it consumes me until it is finished! Do you think that I came here to bring peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division." (Luke 12:49-51)
In this scripture we can see how Christ, being consumed by the thought of his death on the cross, saw a seriousness to his mission. It makes sense that Christ's knowledge of impending crucifixion would have caused him to become more animated about his purpose on earth. He wanted to make certain that his followers understood that he wasn't going to die on a cross just so things could stay the same. He wasn't dying because he wanted milquetoast disciples who casually followed his teachings on select days of the week. He was a disruptive savior who wanted disruptive disciples.
Our journey, as disciples, is not paved with individuals who sat idly by as the things of God lost their luster; our predecessors were men and women whom God raised, despite their weaknesses, to perform miracles, leads countless souls to a loving savior, and in some cases to sacrifice their own lives to save millions of others. This is our legacy as a part of the family of Christ. We may not ever be called to perform actions as monumental as what we read in the scriptures, but even sharing a crumble of the glory of God is worth far more than any written record. We have a great opportunity to be a part of the greatness of God, but to do it we must be willing to question things that are comfortable.
Be willing to be a disruptor, knowing the potential cost. Christ was a disruptor and has gone out ahead of us. Will we follow his lead?
DEVOTIONAL PRAYER A Prayer for Eagerness and Non-complacency
Father in heaven, help us to remain hungry for the mission to which you have called us. Giving us the wisdom to know when to be disruptive and the discernment when to seek peace. Walk with us when we stand against the status quo so that we won't shy away from any challenge life may throw our way. Give us brothers and sisters to stand beside us when we face life's challenges and keep us bold when trials come our way. Above all things, let us always remember to glorify you for any victory we may taste so that we can grow closer and closer to you and your kingdom. In your name we pray, amen.
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