The Disruptive Christ
Luke 12: 49-56
I have been so blessed to have great mentors in my life of faith and on my journey to answering my call to ministry. One of those mentors is my pastor at my church in Seattle. Rev. Rody Rowe is retired now, but he was my pastor when I was discerning my call and trying to figure out how to respond. I will be forever grateful to Rody for his guidance and wisdom and for his willingness to give me opportunities to experience different areas of ministry, including preaching. I did, however, wonder about his intentions when today’s passage ended up being the Gospel lesson for the Sunday I was scheduled to deliver the message. Nothing I had done or studied prepared me for this passage. How did I understand this passage, and how could I possibly offer a word to my church? This was not what I would’ve picked for my first ever “sermon.”
That was almost 20 years ago so I don’t remember much of what I said. And to be honest, this passage is still as jarring when it pops up on the preaching schedule today as it was then. When the Prince of Peace says that he didn’t come to bring peace but to bring division, it can be disturbing (v. 56). What are we to do with this teaching of Jesus?
I think that perhaps when Jesus says that he is bringing division and not peace, he is speaking of a false, shallow peace. Have you ever just “gone along to get along?” Many of us are conflict-avoidant and would rather just keep the peace. So many of us just want harmony, even if it is superficial. I think that may be the kind of peace that Jesus speaks of here. A superficial peace that just keeps things the way they are because we don’t want to risk conflict that could lead to not being liked or worse. When Jesus says he’s bringing division, I think it’s more of a demand to make a choice, regardless of how disruptive that choice may be to our shallow peace. When we choose the Way of Jesus, it may cause disruptions and divisions. And so many of us just to “keep the peace.”
I knew a woman at that same church in Seattle who was retired and was feeling purposeless. She went on a mission trip to several countries in Africa, including Rwanda. While there, she had an answer to her prayers and a clear sense of what her new purpose was. When she returned, she told her daughter, who happened to be pastor, that she was moving to Rwanda to work at an orphanage and school. The daughter couldn’t believe what her mom was saying, thinking that her mom was being incredibly impulsive. Her decision certainly created a division in what they each thought. The mom moved to Rwanda. She made a choice for the Way of Jesus.
Choosing the Way of Jesus always carries risk. One of those risks is division and disruption in our lives. Yet, we are still called to make that choice in order to live faithful lives. I don’t know what Jesus may be asking you to do this day that will cause division and disruption your life. I do know that it’s not an easy thing to do. Being a follower of Christ is disruptive, difficult, and not always supported by those in our lives. We may be called “crazy” or “naïve” or “disruptive.” That is hard to hear, especially from people we love and care about. Jesus knew this and reminds us here that it may not be the easy choice, but following Him is the only choice for a true peace.
Prayer
Lord, enable me to make the right choices in my life. Give me the strength to choose you. Help me conquer the impulse to please
Rev. Dana Ezell
