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John 3:16-17
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A former friend said there was "nothing Christian" about my "evil" actions, so he'd asked our former employer to cancel a book we'd written together. His messages hurt, but the worst part was that he wrapped his cruelty in the language of Scripture. It made me wonder if God's people are safe.
John 15:26–16:4
"When the Counselor comes, the one I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father—he will testify about me. You also will testify, because you have been with me from the beginning. "I have told you these things to keep you from stumbling. They will ban you from the synagogues. In fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering service to God. They will do these things because they haven't known the Father or me. But I have told you these things so that when their time comes you will remember I told them to you. I didn't tell you these things from the beginning, because I was with you.
It wouldn't bother me if I was banned from a synagogue. But if my neighbors picketed our house and drove us out of the neighborhood for following Jesus, that would be hard. What if my kids were expelled from school? If my ministry was shut down, my wife was fired, and our bank account was seized? Most unimaginable, what if a mob seized me, and asked me if I wanted to live or follow Christ? I think I might stumble. I would definitely question the goodness of God. When Jesus says he wants to protect his friends from "stumbling," he doesn't mean falling to the ground. It means that the price of being for God turns you against God. It's not about a temporary doubt, but a decision to stop walking with Jesus. It's what would have happened if Peter had not only denied knowing Jesus to the servant girl a few hours later, but for the rest of his life. Unless the Holy Spirit had fallen upon him, he never would have found the courage to start the church. Jesus is calling his disciples prophets! Only God's prophets are filled with God's Spirit to announce God's glory and plan. The Counselor is not like God's version of ChatGPT. No, he propels us to testify about Jesus to our community. When my faith motivates me to be a better than average neighbor, persecution seems bizarre. But when I understand myself as God's prophet, sent by his Spirit to announce the rule of Jesus, I understand the stakes. He says the people who kill his followers will think they're "offering service to God." That is, they'll see themselves as worshipping God. It's why my friend said my whistleblowing was inexcusable, even despicable. He was rebuking me in God's name. I feel reluctant to conclude that when my friend insulted me in the name of God, it revealed that he didn't know God or Jesus. But that's the kind of conclusion that Jesus draws. It's a sober warning that we can feel like we're serving God even when we don't know him. Jesus walked to the Cross by the same Spirit he now sends to us. We're not just his friends, but his prophets. When he sends the Counselor into our lives, it's not to keep us from suffering or death, but apostasy. The Spirit kept Jesus faithful. He can do the same for us.
What surprises you about Jesus calling his disciples to be faithful prophets?
When has someone's religious certainty caused you harm?
What has come closest to making you walk away from Jesus?
Pray, "Spirit of truth, when and where can I testify about Jesus this week?" Then ask a friend to pray for you to have the courage to follow through.
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