Most born-again Christians are on-board with the rhetoric of serving God. They are on-board with the idea of boldly standing up for their faith, preaching the truth, and generally being some kind of John the Baptist character justified by the glory of Heaven. Even if we don't want to be "that guy", we understand in our heads that the calling is to be bold in our faith, standing against the temptations of the world and pitfalls of a godless society... right?
Some of us take that rhetoric to heart more than others. We take pride in initiating Christian conversation or speaking to strangers about our faith. In worship services we might feel empowered in our external displays of "holiness". In service to the church we occupy positions of respect. With a little work, we may start thinking of ourselves as somehow more "devout" than our brothers and sisters in Christ.
In Mark there is a story of two disciples who fell into this trap and began believing themselves to be worth above their peers. THEY were devoted! THEY were enthusiastic! THEY were 'owed' recognition for their piety! Christ quickly disillusioned them of what it means to follow him...
35 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, approached [Jesus] and said, “Teacher, we want you to do whatever we ask you.” 36 “What do you want me to do for you?” [Jesus] asked them. 37 They answered him, “Allow us to sit at your right and at your left in your glory." 38 Jesus said to them, “You don’t know what you’re asking. Are you able to drink the cup I drink or to be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?” 39 “We are able,” they told him. Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink, and you will be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with. 40 But to sit at my right or left is not mine to give; instead, it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” 41 When the ten disciples heard this, they began to be indignant with James and John. 42 Jesus called them over and said to them, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions act as tyrants over them. 43 But it is not so among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you will be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first among you will be a slave to all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:35-45)
Jesus knew that James and John were getting ahead of themselves. They loved the idea of martyring themselves alongside their savior, but Christ knew that they didn't fully comprehend what they were asking. As we now know, Jesus was correct as the disciples fled and hid in the hours and days following the crucifixion.
James and John fell in love with the romantic idea of being a disciple of Christ. They fell in love with the glory and prestige, but they neglected the pain, sorrow, and shame which accompanies it. Sadly, many Christians find themselves in a similar boat, enthusiastic about the idea of following Christ, but not well grounded in the realities of what a life dedicated to Christ actually means. As a result, they rocket to levels of prominence in the church or amongst their peers, but quickly falter as soon as the reality of discipleship's cost becomes apparent.
I will share with you an experience. From time to time, I have found myself cleaning the rooms or facilities I use for ministry. When I did youth ministry, that meant cleaning floors and a kitchen. At our church, that often means sweeping, wiping down chairs, and scrubbing toilets. I don't mind it. In fact, there is something I find fulfilling about it. There is nothing glorious about cleaning a bathroom, but it feels "right" for someone seeking to emulate humility. Serving others rarely means gaining social media clout or becoming a superstar. When done correctly, it looks a lot like scrubbing a floor on your hands and knees or wiping your brow with the back of your wrist as you hold a bottle of Clorox and a bundle of paper towels. Christ served us with far more humility and yet so many religious leaders flatter themselves as "the shepherd", "the prophet", and "the leader". Do we think ourselves better than Christ? Christ eschewed the mantle of royalty and embraced the role of the humble servant.
Remember the station to which we are called... as the foot of the table, washing feet and eating scraps. The reward we are after is not what is made by human hands, but what has already been prepared for us in heaven.
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