Just Like Jesus?

One of my students commented today that people say they want to be like Jesus, but the reality is that they don't. In other words, if people REALLY had to go through the things Jesus went through, they might not be so quick to want to be like him.

This is a topic I've been thinking a lot about lately---what does it mean to be authentically Christian? While I'm still convinced I want to be like Christ, I think I'd better---we'd all better, really---heed his words to count the cost. Jesus repeatedly told whoever would listen that following him would be really hard. They would lose everything. They would be hated by the world. They would have to abandon themselves to find themselves. They might even be killed for his sake---and most of his closest followers were killed, and most in pretty awful ways.  Just because we are distanced by time and space from the culture Jesus lived in, we are not suddenly exempt from the struggles Jesus cautioned would come.  Maybe we aren't facing those struggles because "being a Christian" has become far too easy and comfortable.

I realize I am walking a fine line here.  I don't intend to cross over to a works-based salvation.  We are woefully lost beings outside of Christ's grace and I certainly can't do enough to somehow save myself.  My bad thoughts alone far outweigh my good works.  That alone is enough to send me to hell if I find myself outside of the loving mercy of Jesus.  Yet, Jesus said that those who abide in Him will bear fruit...and those who aren't bearing fruit will be cut off and thrown into the fire.  Time and time again he tells us that few will really follow Him and few will find salvation.  In this day and age, we have made salvation as simple as believe and say a prayer and you're in.  I hesitate to argue against that because it is so prevalent in our church culture, but I just don't see that portrait of a Christian painted in the Gospels.  Jesus says being a Christian will cost something.  James tells us that believing is not enough.  Our faith will be shown in our lives, and Jesus makes it clear that those who don't bear fruit aren't in Him.  Maybe that kind of talk makes you uncomfortable.  It's not surprising, considering that it makes me uncomfortable too and I am the one typing the words.  But, I challenge us all to read the Gospels anew and ask the question, "What does following Christ look like according to Christ?"  I would love to hear what picture emerges for you and how that impacts the way you think and live.