“Some questions don’t call for much thought,” Jonathan Banning posted.
“We blaze by them, skim over them, check the box and move on. You may be tempted to treat Jesus’ questions the same way, but that would be a mistake.”
Jonathan reminds us that “The questions of Jesus are like a burning flame. Rush past them, and you’ll rob them of their power, but if you sit with them, dwell with them, hold them close to your heart, more and more you’ll begin to feel their incredible intensity.”
In several Facebook posts, Jonathan has posted excerpts from his recent book. “Questions From The One With All The Answers.”
The book was written for personal study, family devotionals, and Bible class settings. Jonathan’s goal is to encourage and facilitate deeper thought and meditation on the challenging questions Jesus asks of his followers.
Here are two excerpts from Jonathan’s book posted on his facebook page for your reflection.
Excerpt From Chapter 1, “What Do You Seek?”
“It is doubtless true; a life in Christ is a life of comfort. However, there is a vast difference between being comforted and being comfortable. True discipleship will always involve a healthy dose of discomfort. Jesus made that clear. Sometimes the foxhole provides more comfort than the way of Christ (Luke 9:57–58).
There is a counterfeit form of Christianity to which many adhere, a counterfeit lifestyle that abides by one overarching principle: “I will follow Jesus wherever He goes, so long as I can remain comfortable.”
Adherents of “Comfortable Christianity” have found that there is much about the Christian life that agrees with them. It is what their family does. It is part of their routine. It is the only life they have ever known. All the trappings of the Christian life are familiar.
They enjoy wearing the title, “Christian.” For them, showing up on Sunday, singing the songs, breaking the bread, praying the prayers, and wearing the clothes feels downright cozy. Even the small sacrifices they make along the way—giving a few hours of life every Sunday, giving a few dollars to the church, agreeing not to break a few big rules—feel comfortable because they are not arduous and—let’s be honest—a little sacrifice makes them feel righteous. Yet, when following Jesus requires discomfort they refuse to go that far.”
Are you following Christ because it is comfortable or are you following Him for something deeper, greater, better? What do you seek?
Excerpt from chapter 2, “What More are You Doing Than Others?”
What more are you doing in the way you judge others?
It is ironic that a culture which so often condemns judgment so readily engages in it. These are the days of cancel culture, a time when every person is just one bad day, one bad moment, one bad post, one poor choice of words away from total societal ostracization.
In times like these, Christians should easily be able to distinguish themselves by the way they judge others. We judge with understanding, recognizing that we should judge others as we ourselves would like to be judged. We judge with humility, appreciating that we have our own flaws and foibles, too. We judge with compassion and mercy knowing that we will desire the same from God when He judges us (Matthew 7:1–5).
What more are you doing than others?”
Jonathan’s posts and excerpts from Questions From The One With All The Answers have whetted my appetite to order the book.
In the meantime, I’m reminded that in these turbulent and troubling times, Jesus does indeed have the answers–all of the answers to life’s most basic questions and our deepest needs.
Looking at the table of contents and considering the title of this book reminded me of when many disciples quit following Jesus and turned to the apostles with this question: “Do you also want to go away?” (JN. 6:67)
Peter’s immediate response is soul-searching–” Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life?” (Jn. 6:68).
Will we listen and learn from Him who has all the answers?
–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman
