St. Paul expresses amazement at so many of the earlier followers of Jesus abandoning the Good News, the Gospel that Jesus preached, and opting for other gospels, other messengers, and other teachings. It is difficult to assess all the reasons why this happened then and continues to happen today, but there are some truths contained in the scriptures that may offer reasons why.
In his letter to the Galatians, Paul asked if they were currying favor, seeking gain, by giving attention to people or Christ. That question could be asked of followers of Jesus today.
I read just this past week an interview conducted with evangelical pastors who had to admit that as much as some did not agree with certain aspects of the current political scene, their congregations did, and it was their congregations who held the purse strings. Who would they curry favor from—the members of their congregation or Jesus? Many pastors were conflicted and adopted a gospel that allowed them to accomplish both, at least in their minds.
We could offer many examples to demonstrate the movement of currying favor from people and things and less to Jesus. It is a challenge we face and one that also conflicts us at times.
Luke's Gospel presents us with another challenge that causes conflict and can lead some to compromise the Gospel. We heard the question posed to Jesus about what is needed to gain eternal life, "Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
Hard work—that is what is needed. Hard work that involves loving God and neighbor with our whole heart, our whole being, our whole strength, and our whole mind.
Who is my neighbor? Maybe the better question the scholar could have asked Jesus was, how should I treat my neighbor? Our answer to that question would reveal where we stand with Jesus. Like the Samaritan, we would be followers of Jesus and do what Jesus would have done.
Following Jesus today is hard work, which may explain why what Paul saw continues; people opting out for other gospels. However, there are multitudes knowing its demands, who continue to run the race to win the prize.
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