Are You Committed?

Read Time: 10 Mins

When it was evening, he took his place at the table with the twelve. And while they were eating he said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.” They became greatly distressed and each one began to say to him, “Surely not I, Lord?” He answered, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man will go as it is written about him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for him if he had never been born.” Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” Jesus replied, “You have said it yourself.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭26‬:‭20‬-‭25‬ ‭NET‬‬

Did you know that the term, cowboy, started as a slur? While many other workers were called cattlemen or cowhands, white men refused to give black men the dignity of being called a man, so they opted to call them cowboys. Crazy right? Depending on the time and context of the term, it can evoke different meanings. Depending on who uses it and when, where, and why it's used, a term can mean a myriad of things to a myriad of people. My question for us today is, what does it mean to be a Christian? 

The word Christian has seen a similar shift in its history. The word “Christian” was first used as a slur against followers of Christ. The Greek word for Christian, christianos, meant little Christ, but the suffix “ianos” was often used in Roman slang as a dismissive and derogatory political insult. The first time we see the term used in the Bible, it’s said that others were calling them Christian, not that the followers of The Way, as they would refer to themselves, were calling themselves Christians. It was a negative name with negative connotations. 

When Nero blamed the followers of Christ for the problems of his empire, he called them Christians as a way of belittling and insulting them. Suetonius, a non-Christian historian of the day, referred to followers of Christ as Christian’s when calling them trouble makers. 

To be Christian meant you were a part of a frowned-upon, despised, and dangerous sect. Romans saw them as atheists because they rejected the pantheon of Gods. Their pledge of loyalty to another king sounded politically rebellious. Their “secret” meetings and feasts fed into rumors of their immorality and talk of what we would call communion led to them being seen as cannibals. This word has a history. It holds weight. People died for this word. We shouldn’t take it lightly.

To accept the title of Christian meant to accept ridicule, abuse, and oppression. It meant that you would be discriminated against, discarded, and potentially even killed. Followers of Jesus knew that to uphold the title of Christian meant that at any time they could hear a knock at their door and then find a Roman guard with a sword in hand questioning their allegiance. The guard would ask if they were a Christian, and as they stuck their chest out to say yes, they would be struck down and killed in front of their family as their blood ran down the street. To claim the title of Christian was a big deal. 

Peter, in one of only three times the word Christian is mentioned in the New Testament, referred to it in the context of ridicule and suffering. To be a Christian was to suffer. This is what was expected. But here’s my issue. Today, it’s too easy to bear the title without also accepting the weight. It’s too easy to be a cultural Christian who holds on to the name of Christ without any personal or reputational cost. It's too easy to claim the identity without the action. To claim the title doesn’t seem to require as much by in as it used to. It doesn’t force you to be all in and bet your life on it. To call yourself a Christian has cheapened in meaning.

We live in an era where it's too easy to say you’re a Christian without having fruit to back it up. We live in a world where people argue that their version of Christ is right while viewing those they disagree with in a way Christ never would. We need a definition. 

The word doesn’t seem to mean anything anymore. We cherry-pick the Bible and use the name of God for political power plays instead of laying down our lives for their enemies like Christ would. We make stupid arguments based on passages from a book we haven’t studied outside of second-hand Instagram quotes to push our agendas. We hold others to standards we don’t hold ourselves to. We are Christians in word but not deed, when the Bible tells us that faith that doesn’t result in action isn’t faith. We can’t just be hearers of the Word; we must be doers.

Politicians argue against gay rights in the name of God and biblical marriage, while their lawyer finishes up the paperwork for their third divorce on the basis of unresolved differences. Some hate immigrants while ignoring that their immigrant God said to love their neighbors, while others preach love while having no backbone to stand on truth and integrity. We cheer when a widow forgives her husband's killer, but also cheer when the president says he hates his enemies. We’re selective. We call out those who can’t love the gay, poor, or disenfranchised, but we’re too arrogant, proud, and self-centered to listen to people whom we see as dumb. We are wishy-washy. We wouldn’t respect ourselves if our version of Christianity came from someone else. We are often unrepentant and ignore conviction in areas that the Bible clearly says grieve God's heart, yet we claim the title, follower of Christ. We aren’t serious.

Like the artist who makes songs against God and then thanks Him at an award show, we seem to be living double lives. There’s a lot of talk, but not a lot of action. Simple questions would crumble many of our arguments like a house of cards. We use God as a tool for our own agendas instead of offering ourselves as a tool for His. We seem to be preaching faith without fruit, and I have an issue with this. We have a lot of so-called Christianity without commitment, when this is a message to die for. 

Jesus said that this message is about laying down your life and following Him, but we’ve watered Christianity down to talking points and not a lifestyle. We’ve watered down what it means to be a follower when in any other field we’d call this practice out as fake. If I called myself a present and active father but my kids didn’t know me, you’d say I’m a fake, right? So how come we have so-called Christians whom God wouldn’t recognize? We wouldn’t call someone a student, let alone a good one, if they refused to come to class or even enroll, but we have the audacity to call ourselves disciples when we place no priority on studying the Word. We wouldn’t call someone a basketball player if they refused to play basketball, but we let people parade themselves around as Christian’s when they have no desire to follow Christ. It doesn’t make sense, and I think it’s time for us to be serious about this. We have to ask ourselves what it means to be a real follower of Christ and then commit our lives to it. 

We have to be true disciples. We have to love Jesus to the point that we despise everything else in comparison. We must be committed to following Christ and not just find ourselves crippled as cultural commentators. 

I’m not saying you have to be perfect or that you won’t make mistakes. I'm not saying you have to know everything or get everything right. I’m not even saying you have to be “sinless” and problem-free tomorrow, if that were even possible. And I'm definitely not saying that you should start comparing yourself to others in a sense of moral superiority. All of us are broken. What I am saying, however, is that to be a Christian is to be committed. To be a disciple is to be dedicated. It can't be a side dish; it has to be the main course of your life. It can’t be a bumper sticker or hashtag; it has to be a lifestyle. Christ must be the foundation of your life and not a mere decoration. 

Jesus didn’t use the word Christian. He would’ve called it a disciple. A student committed to doing life with their master for the purpose of learning to emulate them. Paul referred to it as being a slave to Christ. In that time, some would sell themselves into slavery to pay a debt. Paul is saying that true Christianity is to give your life in service to the Lord of your life because of all He is and all He has done. It's about being committed to progression. It’s about being committed to following His voice. 

You have to be all in. Even if you can be honest enough to say you don’t always want what God wants, do you want to want what God wants? Hypocrisy is acting like you're perfect when you aren't. Honestly, however, is admitting both your faults and your desire to move forward. You are broken and battered, but committed to becoming better. That's what we're called to. Is there any desire to grow in Christ and not remain stagnant, or are you comfortable at your own pace? Do you truly desire for God to be the center and foundation of your life? To be a follower is to actually desire to follow and hear the voice of God, even when He leads you to uncomfortable places. To put God first means to put Him above your romantic relationship, your income, your lifestyle, or your sense of comfort. To put anything ahead of God means that God isn’t the head of your life. You have to be committed enough to listen to that still small voice of the Holy Spirit when it leads you into uncomfortable and humbling actions and truths of repentance and reaction. But how? How can we become more than cultural Christians?

I believe this passage helps to cut through the confusion we have in the modern-day Christian culture. It’s not just about a claim; it’s about commitment. While many of us think being a disciple is just about reading the Bible and going to church, this text points out something different. 

Picture it with me. All the disciples are sitting at a table with Jesus during the last supper. I can imagine they’re talking and laughing as they discuss ideas and recount the day. Then Jesus speaks up and says that one of them will betray Him. Woah. 

This is crazy. What does Jesus mean? Can you imagine how the disciples felt? As the disciples hear this bold statement, they respond, “Surely not me, Lord.” But Judas, oh Judas, does something every so slightly different. While the rest of the disciples become greatly distressed and concerned for their Lord, Judas responds, “Surely not I, Rabbi.” 

Did you catch it? Oh, it’s so slight yet so significant. The disciples refer to Jesus as their Lord, but the deserter refers to Him as a teacher. Those who are committed refer to Jesus as Lord, but those who are only conditional see Him as just a good teacher.

Here’s the difference between a follower and a fraud. It all hinges on how you view Jesus. Is He an answer or a suggestion? Is He a good addition or someone you’re willing to die for? It’s not bad to be a teacher, but a teacher and a Lord are different. Every reputable historian admits that Christ existed and has some cool things to teach. Anyone can learn something from Jesus. Anyone can take some sound bites and appreciate His power. Anyone can think about how being close to God could benefit them. But only the followers are committed to obedience. 

A teacher may help coach or guide you for a specific, agreed-upon time. To say someone is a good teacher is to say that they have something nice to offer.  They’re presenting something of benefit. But you can have many teachers, you can only have one Lord. The Bible says you can’t serve two masters. A teacher may give advice that you can decide to take or leave. But to call someone Lord is to commit to obedience even when you don’t understand. 

You sit under a teacher's tutelage only as long as it takes to get what you want out of them. Especially in college, you’re paying the professor to give you something. You still have a sense of control. You can leave whenever you want, and the teacher really has no final say. But to sign yourself up to be a slave, as Paul did is to relinquish your control. It’s to commit your life, not just a personally beneficial moment to someone. Do you see the difference between Jesus being a mere teacher vs being a Lord? I can learn from a lot of people, but I can’t say I’m fully submitted to a lot of people. That’s the difference. 

Jesus said that whoever wants to be His disciple must take up their cross and follow Him. Think about this. When Jesus said that, He hadn’t died yet. The cross to His followers would’ve been seen as a symbol of criminals being crucified outside of the city limits, while wild dogs ate at their flesh. It was humiliating and gruesome. The cross wasn’t a symbol of resurrection or a simple necklace to wear.  Jesus was saying that if you want to be a real disciple, you must follow Him into the death of your self, your pride, your way of life, and your expectations. You must deny yourself and follow Him. That’s true Christianity. Giving of yourself for the cause of Christ, not personal gain. 

While Judas was curious, he wasn’t committed. Judas was a revolutionary who believed Jesus had the power to overthrow the oppressive Roman government. He saw a man who could create food from thin air and raise the dead, and saw a powerful military leader. It made sense, but it wasn’t Jesus’ goal. Judas saw Jesus as a means to an end. Some scholars actually believe that Judas sold out Jesus as a way of positioning Him to rile up the Jewish crowd and fight back to overthrow the oppressive Roman government. Jesus was a pawn in Judas’s mind. 

I want you to be honest enough to ask if you view Jesus the same way. Is He just a way to get a good man? Is He just a way to get money? Is He a checked box on your list because you want to appease your parents, or is He Lord of your life? One way you can answer this question is by asking yourself if Jesus gave you no more things, never healed you, never sent you a spouse, or never put food on your table again, would it be enough? Would you be like Job, who said, Even if He slays me, I will trust Him? Would you still be committed?

Christianity isn’t just about going to church. It’s about commitment to Christ. While I think you should prioritize Spirit-filled, Christ-centered, and edifying communities, Judas spent more time in the presence of God in three years than many of us may in a lifetime. But it didn’t mean much because he only saw Jesus as a teacher and not a Lord. You can be in church, around church, and even studying the Bible, and still be a Judas who only sees Jesus as a teacher. 

I mentioned how Judas saw Jesus as a way of exerting political power. It’s interesting that many of the other disciples did too. They assumed the Messiah would be an earthly conqueror who would start a war and overthrow the corrupt government. They assumed that the Kingdom Jesus kept talking about was about power, position, and an iron rule. They, like many people today, thought God wanted to take over politically with their help. They assumed that everyone who didn’t worship would need to be forced into compliance by any means necessary. Do you see how this issue with forced worship and the union of church and state keeps coming up historically? 

Here’s the issue. Jesus’ kingdom was never about force; it is, however, about choice. Forced intimacy is rape, not a relationship. In the same way, forced obedience isn’t worship. Jesus didn’t wanna fight, push, scheme, and oppress His way into beating those who fought, pushed, schemed, and oppressed others. It seemed counterintuitive, but He wasn’t here to fight fire with fire. He instead believed that the backwards way of sacrificial love of His enemies would win in the end. While everyone thought He was just here to help a nation, His Kingdom was more expansive and impactful than any of them could imagine. 

I tell you this because even after Jesus explains this entire plan and mindset multiple times, gets arrested, gets crucified, is dead for a whole day, and is finally raised from the dead, the disciples still don’t understand. In the book of Acts, after the resurrection, the disciples ask Jesus again when He is going to restore Israel to its former glory. They can’t see that the mission is bigger than just their nation. All they can see is a desire to heal from political pain and regain national pride, but they’re thinking too small and missing the point. They’re so narrow-minded, like many of us. 

So if both Judas and the rest of the disciples didn’t really understand, what’s the difference? Here it is. While Judas was only in it for what He did understand, the rest of the disciples were committed enough to follow in spite of what they didn’t understand. Thomas doubted and still followed. Peter was almost deserted, but still followed. Paul questioned why His prayer was never answered, but he committed to the course. Here’s my question for you: are you a Judas who bails when the teacher doesn’t make sense, or are you a committed disciple who sticks it out? Are you all in? Through the ups and the downs, are you locked in? When it doesn’t make sense, are you still committed to following? When temptation is heavy and you’re hurting, are you committed enough to not throw in the towel? When you fall and make mistakes, are you committed to being the righteous person to get up again, or will you give up and go backwards? God is looking for commitment.  Will He see it in you? 

It’s going to be hard to fully see and respond to Jesus as a Lord and not just a meat teacher. But like with all things, God will give us the desire and power to do what pleases Him. It’s a process. The more you lean in, the more He will help you to lean in. 1 Corinthians 12 argues that a true confession that Jesus is Lord can only come from those who have the dwelling of the Holy Spirit. Ask God to mold and make your heart so that each day you can choose to follow. Ask God to truly direct your steps and dictate your desires so that you will be all in and committed to this call. It will be the best decision of your life. 

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