Confessing Jesus Posted: Thursday, June 4, 2009 12:05 pm
The Messenger, June 4, 2009
Written by members of the Obion County Ministerial Association
The season for congregational homecomings has begun in earnest. What a great tradition that is for many. How wonderful it is to see those great extended families worshiping and eating together. Still, we must acknowledge that there are often grumblings, just as in our own family gatherings. There are often folks there who were not expected. Sometimes there are those there who some would want to be absent. There may even be an occasional, “What’s she doing here?” or “Can you believe he is here?”
Unfortunately, there may also be, “If we ignore them maybe they’ll go away!”
Sometimes we get mighty narrow in our views of the worth of others. We find their behavior, looks, language or dress unacceptable. We try to stay away from them. Many families have the proverbial “black sheep” to contend with. We don’t speak to them and many times won’t even speak about them.
Somehow I think that Jesus’ attitude might be different. He understood what it is to be the one not wanted. In Matthew 10:32-33, Jesus says, “Everyone, therefore, who acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven; but whoever denies me before others, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.” It’s a scripture to which we should pay some attention.
Perhaps we may say that we certainly acknowledge being Christians, that we do not deny Jesus before others, and that we show that by doing what Jesus would have us do, and not doing what He would have us avoid. Yet we must look closely to see how we may deny Jesus. Do we condemn others? Do we refuse to associate with some people because of petty differences? Are we downright prejudiced against some people? Do we do simple things for Jesus such as praying before meals in public, or are we too embarrassed to do so? Do we pass by the opportunity to do good for someone because we are just too busy, or because they are just taking advantage of the system?
I suspect that what Jesus meant in the Matthew passage is that we must live lives which are exemplary of our faith. We are to be the eyes, hands, heart and feet of Jesus in His absence from this world. If we do not do what He commands us to do we do not acknowledge Him before others, and because we do not love Him. We all need to remember that when we are tempted to stray just a little, gossip just a little, lie just a little, tell that one joke we shouldn’t, say that one thing we shouldn’t. And so on.
Whatever we do which does not bring honor and glory to the name of Jesus Christ is a direct denial of Him before others. It’s a dangerous path. I don’t know about you, but when it comes time for that great homecoming in eternity, I don’t want Jesus to ask, “What do you think you’re doing here?” I want Him to say, “Come on in! It’s great to see you!”
Rev. Hugh D. Barksdale
Mount Zion/Rush Creek United Methodist churches | 
