“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” – Mat. 13:44 NRSV
So, here I am in the field. What now?
The metaphor sounds good and everything, but now that I have sold all I have and am left with the field, what do I do? I’ve lived in this field since birth, surrounded by faith, church, and Jesus. This field has been as much a part of my life as food and air. It was involuntary. I often feel as though I have bought the field but haven’t yet found the treasure hidden there. I think many Christians have bought the field but have assumed the trappings of our consumeristic culture are the treasure. We too easily equate “blessing” with material possessions or a healthy self-image.
I think my biggest mistake has been equating being here in the field with following Jesus. I would like to explore what that actually means. I believe the blessings are in the following, not the possessing. This is what I’ll be exploring in this blog. I tend to process things out-loud so if you care to merely eavesdrop or comment and join the conversation, WELCOME!
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March 11, 2010 at 9:05 am
Christie
can i ask where you are? the picture seems so beautiful, and yet so desolate….
i appreciate the idea that the blessings are in the following, not the possessing. i remember a convo with God where He was gently breaking me of desiring the outcome only and immediately. i asked Him why i do, and He said it was because i focus more on the outcome than the journey with Him. so beautiful that He chooses to walk beside us…beyond my comprehension really.
March 11, 2010 at 9:19 am
youngmike124
this photo was taken on a trip I made to Morocco several years ago. This was taken in the High Atlas mountains…gorgeous village, beautiful people. To me it was a good pict reflecting the title I had given my blog.
As to the following vs. possessing…it’s an idea I’ve been intrigued with for a while. Our western consumer culture places a lot of value in possessing/owning stuff. Deep in our psyche is a desire to own our own home, car, business, etc. (nothing wrong with any of that). However, I think those ideas have forced us to think of our faith as something to possess as well. It becomes a system of belief that we attempt to master. To most modern evangelical christians, “discipleship” is a class in which we master information. I’m becoming more convinced that it is a lifestyle of following God in the way of Jesus (sort of an unwieldy term but I like what it says). “I’m a Christian” says “I’ve arrived and am a member in good standing of the club.” “Following God in the way of Jesus” implies a journey that will engage me for the rest of my life.
November 10, 2011 at 11:45 pm
Ben Newell
Mike,
Don’t know if you look at this site anymore? I am fascinated with the “Following Jesus” theme. I think it is also about not just listening and learning (listening to sermons and doing Bible Study) but it is more about doing what we learn. And we should be “doing” continuously. That implies connection and relationship with Jesus.
Another thought about following Jesus- I get uncomfortable saying that I am a follower of Jesus because it sounds like a club as you mentioned earlier. However, I probably feel that way because I have not figured it out before. Being a Christian is easier to say and thump my chest about, but being a follower of Jesus demands obedience (that I don’t usually live up to), service, and love JUST LIKE JESUS DID.
On the MANLY side- people don’t want to be catagorized as a follower. They want to be the leader. Your dad does not say, little Mikey, be a good follower. No, o contrare! He demands his son to be the leader everyone looks up to. But Jesus says there is only one leader and it is not you. Graciously, he lets us know that He will lead and be willing to relate with you as you learn and put into practice what he lived, taught, and prayed for.
Your bud,
Ben
November 15, 2011 at 9:26 am
youngmike124
Thanks for the comment Ben! I’ve been intrigued with this idea of following for a while now. Part of that stems from my frustrations with the “club” mentality/culture of Christianity. I know that is a little harsh but that cynicism is rooted in years of formation in the institutional Christian church as well as vocationally as an ordained minister.
Something I’ve been thinking about lately is the nature of discipleship as Jesus practiced it. There were plenty of teachers before who had “disciples.” Would be “followers” would approach teacher and apply to sit at their feet. Jesus turned this upside down. He approached profane fishermen and dishonest tax collectors at their places of business (that’s a “Monday to Saturday” deal…not Sunday morning church setting). He said, “follow me.” They then proceeded to engage everyday life situations.
Disciples: “Why are you sitting with that slut samaritan woman?” Jesus: “because I was thirsty and she gave me something to drink. I told her about living water.”
Disciples: “Get those children away from here…teacher’s busy!” Jesus: “Let them come! Unless you receive the Kingdom like they do, you’ve totally missed it.”
etc. etc.
When I think about the disciple’s initial reactions to these situations, they were not doing or saying anything that was inherently evil in their culture. In fact, they were dead on accurate in their assessments of those situations in the rubric of their political and religious culture.
What Jesus did was take those everyday situations and place a new rubric upon them…something called the “Kingdom or realm of God”.
We do a lot of “discipleship” in the abstract…we learn information in the shelter of our academic halls and churches. Often times, that’s as far as things go. If we are not out living among people whom Jesus loves and observing, serving, and loving them from the perspective of the Kingdom of God, we’re missing the boat.
The thing I’m now thinking about is how, in the name of…what? efficiency? marketing? specialization? I’m not sure…we’ve separated “discipleship” and “missions” into two specialized areas of programing within our religious institutions. Rather than 2 things, I believe they are one and the same. And what they look like is “following Jesus”.