In my message at Avenue last week, I said that apprentices (followers/disciples) of Jesus Christ will do what Jesus did. Even a cursory reading of the Gospels will give us clues about what Jesus did during his lifetime: proclaim the Gospel, call people to repentance, care for the poor, heal the sick, give the thirsty a drink, clothe the naked, free the oppressed, forgive sins, and bring hope in a hopeless world. In short, Jesus’ ministry was summed up with love. A life shaped by Jesus should be becoming more loving. John Mark Comer writes, “love is the acid test of spiritual formation.”

Getting this right is vital to our witness about Jesus Christ. 

In a 2023 survey by the Barna Group, 71% of respondents said they had a favorable view of Jesus (including 40% of those claiming no faith.) Yet only 51% of respondents have a favorable view of Christianity (21% of the “nones” have a favorable view), and 47% said they have a favorable view of the local church (22% of the “nones”). People, including non-religious people, do not have a problem with Jesus. They have a problem with the Church. 

There is a ton of research, including books by Dan Kimball and David Kinnaman, that shares the emerging generation’s views on the Church. They believe that the Church is anti-science, judgmental, repressive, and too political, to name a few. There is research available (also here) stating that Christians are more susceptible to conspiracy theories. People exploring Christianity may be more likely to hear what we are against than experience the love of Christ.

When we claim to follow Jesus but espouse conspiracy theories (Covid-19, Qanon, etc), it affects our witness. When we elevate politicians and celebrities whose morality and lives do not line up with the example of Christ, our witness is nullified. If we speak of migrants, people of different ethnicities, and those living in different countries in any way less than that they are people created in the image of God, our witness is not for Christ. When we claim to follow the Prince of Peace, but our words are words of violence (and maybe our actions, too) then we lack integrity in our witness. When we would rather punch back than turn the other cheek, or allow for bitterness rather than forgive or hating our enemy rather than loving them, we have failed in our witness for Jesus.

We have to get our witness right. Our children and grandchildren need to see Jesus in us and experience Jesus through us. If we want to see them come to faith, our words, actions, and deeds must reflect the love, grace, mercy, and peace of Jesus. We must remove barriers to the Gospel rather than build walls that prevent us from offering Biblical hospitality that points to Christ. There must be integrity in our witness where our lives reflect the One we profess to follow.

As we grow in our apprenticeship with Jesus, may our witness be consistent and true as we share the love of God with those around us. May our lives reflect the love of Jesus for all people. May our choices mirror God’s Kingdom to the world around us.