There is in our hearts a desire to please, to be seen in a good light, to be esteemed. I don’t think we can escape this, nor does it seem evil in itself. This is a large part of the glue of social systems: it is why we learn all the little cultural cues and values–so we can fit in, so others will not look down at us and so we will not be seen as odd. Reputation matters to people. In the world, peer pressure itself is neutral, bringing good or bad results to a society.

Jesus also had a heart with a desire to please. The object of His desire was different: “I do always those things that please [my Father]” -Jn 8:29. But regarding men,  Jesus made Himself “of no reputation,” refused to defend Himself, suffered as an evildoer in the opinion of the world, and now we are graciously invited to “go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.” Read the rest of this entry »

We can get ourselves off track with all sorts of fantastic imaginations about what “real” Christianity is like. You may have heard some of these:

1. No one is opposed to someone whose life truly reflects Christ.
2. If you live the way God designed Christianity, you will find that many–even most–people around you will become Christians, too.
3. If you live a true Christian life, your life will fall neatly into place, and your circumstances will be providentially blessed.

I’m sure you can add more. I’ve found myself trying to understand what real Christianity might look like, and then wondering if my outlandish ideas about what it means or what it looks like or what are the results of living a true Christian life were moving in the right direction. Christian practice can be pretty far off track in so many areas, so we don’t have a reliable guide based on our experiences or on “how church is done.” Read the rest of this entry »