Brutus Zion United Church of Christ

Jesus Is Just All Right By Me

“If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9.23 NRSV

May 18th, 2012

       In his book Creekside Conversations, Wendell Garrison recounts the story of Clarence Jordan. Half a century ago Clarence was in legal trouble over his part in starting an interracial community.
       He asked his brother, who was an attorney, to represent him. His brother turned him down.
       Clarence responded to his brother this way: “You need to go back to that church where we made our professions of faith and tell them what you meant to say was that you admired Jesus, not that you want to follow him.”
       Much mischief has come out of churches led by people who thought Jesus was “just all right by me”, but who never made the commitment to have their lives radically changed into His likeness.
       Jesus never asked us to think He’s a nice guy. He calls us to take up our cross and follow Him. Nothing less will do.

Prayer: Lord, You lead. I follow.