Reclaiming “The Way.” Part 3 of The Way series (March 2022)©

A wise guy once grimly observed, “There is a way that SEEMS right to a person, but in the end it leads to death” (Proverbs 14:12). His name was Solomon, and he is considered one of the wisest dudes who has ever lived. Sadly, he didn’t follow his own advice, he introduced a lot of bad things into his family and his country, and upon his death, his kingdom was torn in two. Like Humpty Dumpty, it – his family and his country – was never put back together again. Another very wise guy observed that the road to (eternal) life is narrow and difficult, but it ends well. He also said that few find this road (Matthew 7:13-14).

Hmmmm… one way seems right but doesn’t end well, the other way is difficult but does end well. On the face of it, this choice seems obvious: go for the one that ends well, even though it will take some doing to get there. But, the fact is, far too many people choose the first one without any regard whatsoever to where it leads. All that matters is the experience of the journey, not the destination. Into this crowd I would lump a whole lot of people who include the identity of Christian on their life’s resumé.

At the end of part 2, I issued a challenge which said, “It is time we reclaim The Way as our identifying moniker and as our intentional practice, indicating and demonstrating something deeper, something more than the vapid version of spirituality that characterizes the faith of so many who call themselves Christian.” What do I mean?

Well, I said the first thing I meant: use the descriptor ‘follower of The Way’ instead of the word ‘Christian’. This alone changes things up a bit. I described in Part 1 why this is so and you can go read that post. But, in a nutshell, the term has become diminished and demeaned from what it originally meant: a person who followed as a disciple of Jesus, the Anointed One, the Messiah. Note: “Christ” is not his last name – or a swear word – it’s his title.

In the first two posts I also began to touch on what I mean by the second part of my challenge: making our following of The Way a disciplined, intentional practice. I introduced the idea that The Way is both a person AND a path. But I want to go a bit deeper.

Just because someone calls themselves a Christian, doesn’t mean they are one. In the modern West (America, Canada, Europe), the word Christian more and more simply means ‘I try to be a good person; I live here in the West; I only tell little white lies – sometimes; I take care of my mom; I give to a charity; help old people across the street; I speak peace and love to one and all; and I go to church on Christmas and Easter.’ Perhaps you will be shocked to hear that on your death, standing before Jesus, as you spout these sentiments, Jesus will reply, “I never knew you.”

Worse still will be the ones who say something like, ‘I went to church – a lot; I was super busy with ministry; I gave some money; I know who you are; I listened to your teaching,’ and Jesus has already said that his reply will be, “I don’t know you or where you are from. Get away from me” (Luke 13:22-29).

Why would Jesus reach this conclusion? Because all of it is superficial. If I tell my child that I love her, spend a ton of money to make sure she has the cutest room, the nicest clothes, goes to the best schools, and participates in the best groups, but I never spend time with her, never listen to her, never talk to her, never share life with her, do you really think she will feel truly loved? Even IF I am in physical proximity to her but closed emotionally, relationally, do you really think she will feel truly valued as a person versus a commodity that makes me look good?

Being acquainted with Jesus, who he is, what he said, is not enough. Belonging to the church club is not enough. Preaching peace and love and harmony is not enough. Even going through the rituals of baptism or communion, if that is all they are, is not enough. Just like having a wedding ceremony does not a marriage make. Earning the “Jesus badge” on our spiritual scout sash is not going to matter in the end.

Lest you think that I am advocating salvation through deeds, think again. I am talking about going beyond the superficial, the easy, outward, performance-based stuff and digging into the relationship part of this faith journey. That’s a scary thing for a lot of people to consider, and, frankly, it can be hard to do with Someone we cannot physically see or touch. But, as I observed in part 2, “the way” is first and foremost a person. We cannot have a meaningful relationship with anyone with whom we (a) have not committed to in an intentional relationship, and (b) do not spend time with, giving of ourselves in transparent and wholeheartedly vulnerable ways, and receiving the same back in return. So, if you’ve taken that step, what else am I talking about?

I am talking about doing the relational work of prayer and Bible study to learn who God is and what his voice sounds like.

I am talking about worship that involves our heart, soul, mind and strength, every day all day as a way of life, not just 20 minutes of music during a church service.

I am talking about caring about what Jesus cares about and doing what we can, within our individual spheres he has placed us in with whatever gifts he has blessed us with, to be his hands, feet, and mouth.

I am talking about being salt that preserves what is good.

I am talking about being a light that shines like a single candle in a dark room or a beacon that lights up a shoreline or a city that can be seen from space.

I am talking about being and bringing the kingdom of God, here, now. The kingdom of God is not a destination that we wait to go to while doing the best we can “down here.” It is so much more, and it is experienced by and through those who are intentionally following and practicing The Way.

Note that in both verses cited above, Jesus talks about not knowing someone. This is beyond knowing about someone. Most of us know a little bit about a great many people, some of whom we have never met and do not know personally at all. That is not the knowing Jesus means. In fact, he calls out being the recipient of that kind of superficiality. He means knowing each of us personally, intimately, like a best friend or a beloved spouse, and us knowing him back the same way.

Such knowing does not come quickly or easily. It takes work and patience and caring enough to try. Repeatedly. It takes trust and love. Not the superficial love of a happy-clappy moment or the “love” of the blessings I happen to get. No, the kind of knowing that Jesus means is not something that can be faked. Jesus is saying he can and does know the difference and will one day tell each person so to his or her face. I pray that I will be one to whom he says, “I know you! Welcome home! Come on in!” If that’s something you want to hear, you know what to do.

PS: If you happen to be reading this post and you really don’t know what to do, let me know. I would love to help.