The Cost of Following - Collide

The Cost of Following - Collide

This Bible teaching from Founded in Truth Fellowship, delivered by Matthew Vander Els, delves into the profound and challenging implications of Jesus' (Yeshua's) Sermon on the Mount. It argues that following Jesus is not a passive or comfortable endeavor, but a radical revolution that will inevitably lead to a collision with the values and norms of the world.

The Radical Call of the Sermon on the Mount

The speaker emphasizes that Yeshua's sermon is not mere pleasant advice, but a call to a fundamentally different way of life, one that reflects God's kingdom on earth. This new kingdom people, described as having the Torah and the reign of God written on their hearts (referencing Jeremiah 31), will act in ways that seem "upside down" and "radical" to the world. It is a path that will cost something and will not leave followers "safe in their flesh".

The teaching highlights that Yeshua's message often first upset the religious leaders of his time because they focused on outward checklists of righteousness rather than the true condition of their hearts. Yeshua challenged this by showing how deeply the principles of God's kingdom penetrate, even into thoughts and attitudes.

Challenging Traditional Justice: An Eye for an Eye

The sermon specifically examines Yeshua's reinterpretation of the well-known principle of "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth". While this ancient law (lex talionis) aimed to establish equal justice within a community, it had become perverted into a personal justification for revenge. The speaker points out how deeply ingrained the desire for retaliation is in American culture, evident in the popularity of revenge and superhero films.

Yeshua, however, calls for a radical departure from this mindset. He instructs his followers "do not resist the one who is evil". Examples include turning the other cheek when slapped, giving one's cloak when sued for a tunic (inner garment), and going an extra mile when forced to go one. These actions are not meant to be taken literally in every situation but illustrate a deeper principle of responding to injustice in a way that subverts the power of the oppressor and reveals God's love.

Responding with Love, Mercy, and Grace

The core of Yeshua's teaching is a call to love God and love neighbor. This love, however, extends even to those who pursue injustice against believers. Followers of Yeshua are to be molded into the image of Messiah, responding to injustice not with retaliation or revenge, but with grace, mercy, and compassion. The goal of this radical response is to reverse the injustice and positively affect the relationship and exposure of the attacker to God.

The example of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German pastor who opposed the Nazi regime through non-violence, is cited to illustrate the power of refusing to meet evil with evil. Bonhoeffer believed that "evil will become powerless when it finds no opposing object no resistance but instead is willingly born and suffered".

The Example of the Ecuadorian Missionaries

The teaching recounts the story of five missionaries who went to Ecuador in 1956 to bring the gospel to the Waorani (also known as Auca or Jorani) people, a tribe known for violence. Despite a friendly initial contact, the missionaries were eventually speared to death. From a worldly perspective, this might seem like a failure, but the story continues with the radical love and forgiveness demonstrated by the wives and relatives of the slain missionaries. Two years later, Rachel Saint, Elizabeth Elliot, and Elliot's daughter Valerie went to live with the Waorani, sharing the message of a God whose son was speared but did not retaliate. This act of selfless love led to a significant portion of the tribe becoming believers, including some of the men who had killed the missionaries. The story culminates with Nate Saint's son being baptized by one of his father's attackers, who had become a Christian elder, and Steve Saint's children calling this man "grandfather". This powerful narrative exemplifies the radical, upside-down nature of God's love and the transformative power of choosing to give and serve even in the face of extreme injustice. Jim Elliot's quote is highlighted: "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose".

True Freedom and Selfless Living

The teaching emphasizes that the freedom offered by Yeshua is not the freedom to pursue selfish desires and protect one's own rights by any means. Instead, it is the freedom to live selflessly, liberated from the bondage of our own flesh and focused on loving God and others. "Our greatest enemy" is often our own selfish nature, and Yeshua came to set us free from that. The focus shifts from getting and obtaining to giving and serving.

Following Yeshua means submitting to his teaching and example, giving up our own definitions of good and evil and our selfish desires. This submission leads to knowing the truth that sets us free. The love that is central to this new life is not selfish but self-giving, a love that would enable someone to lay down their life even for their enemies. Romans 13:8 states, "Owe no one anything, except to love each other; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law," and verse 10 continues, "Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law."

Application for Everyday Life

• When someone insults or offends you, ask yourself: How can I respond in a way that might positively influence their relationship with God?
• Resist the urge to retaliate with equal or greater negativity. Instead, consider how turning the other cheek might reveal the weakness of their actions.
• Be willing to be generous even when it feels unfair, like giving your cloak as well as your tunic. This highlights prioritizing Yeshua's honor over your possessions.
• When someone demands your time or resources, consider going the extra mile out of gratitude and a desire to serve, mirroring Yeshua's instruction during Roman occupation.
• Recognize that true honor comes from God, not from defending your earthly honor through worldly means.
• Be aware of your desire for revenge and the cultural narratives that support it, and consciously choose a different path.
• Remember that your primary mission as a believer is to reflect God's love and mercy to the world.
• When faced with injustice, aim to respond in a way that reverses the negative impact and opens the door for reconciliation and understanding.
• Examine your attitude towards your possessions, time, and finances, and ask what you are unwilling to give up for the sake of God's kingdom.
• Strive to live with a self-sacrificial love that prioritizes the well-being and spiritual growth of others, even those who oppose you.
• Recognize that following Jesus will likely lead to discomfort and conflict with the world's values.
• Choose submission to God's will over the instinct for self-preservation, mirroring Yeshua's own struggle and ultimate submission in the Garden of Gethsemane.

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References

• Matthew 5:38
• Romans 13:8
• Works by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

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