That’s a fair question to ask a follower of Christ whenever he or she is facing a tough decision, isn’t it? I think so. In fact, it may be a question we don’t ask enough. After all, if we are struggling to know what to do or what to choose or which way to go, why wouldn’t we want to seek help from the author of all wisdom and knowledge who loves us and is the source of our purpose and direction? Seriously. And the truth is, a lot of times we just don’t do that? So if as we are on the threshold of some major, life-changing decision and seeking the wise counsel of a trusted friend, a gentle reminder to humbly and honestly seek God with every last bit of ourselves like the fate of the world depends on it may be the best advice a person can give.
But most of the time when somebody has asked me that question, it hasn’t been pre-decision as a way of guiding me to find my answer from the all-knowing God of the universe. It has been post-decision as a way of saying, “What they heck are you thinking?” Have you ever had that happen?
Now, granted, the question itself isn’t unreasonable, especially when it’s asked to someone who generally desires to follow Jesus. But most of the time when I’m asked that question, especially post-decision, it’s not really a question at all; it’s a statement of disapproval. It’s a roundabout way of saying, “I wouldn’t have done it that way. I don’t approve. And I think you’re an idiot.” But when it’s couched in that oh-so-spiritual-sounding phrase, the implication is, “There is NO WAY you’ve actually prayed about this because I really don’t believe God would lead you in that direction. I haven’t actually prayed about it myself, but we’re talking about you here.”
Those of you who know me well know that I tend to be a little… unconventional sometimes. I’m not much for conformity and I really don’t care too much if people think I’ve lost my mind, so I’ve heard THE QUESTION and others like it more than a few times from semi-well-intentioned people. What I’m learning more and more all the time, though, is how much of an unconventional nonconformist Jesus was, at least when compared to the prevailing ideas about what was normal in the Near East in those days. (And even more so when compared to the prevailing ideas about what is normal in the West in these days.) Not to compare myself to Jesus, because that would be, well… not much of a comparison at all, like dividing the ratio of penguins to jazz by the square root of pink; it just doesn’t compute, but seeing how misunderstood (and even hated) Jesus was by the religious people who you would think would be in his corner gives me a little hope that just maybe I’m on the right path at least part of the time. Because one guaranteed way to be misunderstood by both religious and irreligious people alike is to forsake “normal” life for a life of radical faith and obedience to Christ. And that is the life I desperately want to live.
So next time you see me after I’ve done something stupid, or when I’m in the process doing something stupid, or when I’m about to do something stupid, or when I’m thinking about doing something stupid…so pretty much just whenever you see me next…I give you permission to question me about it. Chances are, I may have done/be in the process of doing/be about to do/be thinking about doing something completely idiotic that every single person on the planet could look at and think, “What an idiot! What’s he thinking!?!” But maybe, just maybe, I’ll be following Jesus.
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