Following Jesus

 What does it mean to carry the name of Jesus? We talk about being a Christian. We talk about accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior. We talk about following Jesus. But what does it actually mean to carry His name?

When we become Christians, we're not simply adding another belief to the list of things we believe. We're not simply adding an hour on Sunday morning to our weekly schedule. We're taking on the name of Jesus...

I was told this by my father, and I'm sure my Uncle Dean could verify this - growing up, whenever any of the brothers did anything they weren't supposed to do – it always got back to my Grandfather. You see, Grandpa was the local barber on the square in Crown Point and everyone knew Herb Buche. If dad would peel out of a parking lot or get in a fight – someone would give Grandpa an earful during a haircut. Grandpa told the boys, 'that's my name you're carrying...'

When somebody sees your name attached to something, they make a connection between you and that name. When we call ourselves Christians, there's a connection between us and the name of Jesus. That's a wonderful privilege, but it's also a tremendous responsibility. The Apostle Paul wrote in Colossians 3:16-17 (NIV)...

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. (17) And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Everything we do and say, how we treat people, how we respond when we're angry, how we handle our money, how we behave when nobody from church is watching... How we respond when somebody disagrees with us, how we treat the person who can't do anything for us in return - all of those things carry the name of Jesus with them.

And I think there are really two sides to what it means to 'carry the name of Jesus'. We are called to stand in His name, but we're also called to bless in His name. And those two things really belong together. So let's start with the idea that we are called to...

I. Stand in the name of Jesus

Having faith, talking about God and Jesus outside of a church building - that didn't used to be considered a particularly controversial thing in America. But our culture has changed drastically. In many places there is a definite bias against people who might be considered "too outspoken" about their personal faith. But Jesus never told us to hide our allegiance to Him. In fact, Jesus said this in Matthew 10:32-33 (NIV)...

Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. (33) But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.

Jesus calls us to acknowledge Him, to identify with Him, to carry His name. And that means there are times when we will have to intentionally decide whether we are really going to stand with Jesus. It's a call to...

A. Choose whom you will serve

Every believer has had to make a choice to accept or reject Jesus.

And as we continue in this life, we continue to make choices. Jesus didn't call any of us to an easy, moderate, comfortable faith. He called us to a faith that's completely committed to Him. Jesus said in Luke 16:13 (NIV)...

No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

The word translated here as "money" literally means worldly wealth - wealth personified. And while most of us wouldn't look at our modest bank accounts and consider ourselves in danger of being devoted to wealth, Jesus' point is bigger than how much money we have. Consider what you do with what you have.

Money itself isn't evil. But even small amounts can master us if we're not careful. It's not just about the amount. It's about how we pursue money and why we pursue it. How much time we give to acquiring it. How we spend it once we have it. What we're willing to compromise to get it - or to keep it.

Many years ago, my little Josie came into some money by way of 'the tooth fairy'. She was all excited about what she'd buy with it. We had a discussion with her about the value of money and the fact that God wants us to be good managers of what He gives us. So she decided to give some back to God in the offering plate, but the rest she'd use to purchase a little toy hamster she'd been eyeing for weeks.

The next day, Erin took her out for her big purchase and she was thrilled to get her new toy. She even took the hamster to bed, but later that night, Josie crawled out of bed, shuffled up to me, her eyes heavy from sleep, and handed me the toy hamster and said, "Daddy, I want my money back." - Don't underestimate the power that money can have over you.

James, the brother of Jesus, was addressing fighting that was going on in the early church over money and things that money can buy. And he didn't hold back. He says this in James 4:3-4 (NIV)...

When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. (4) You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.

That's pretty strong language. He called them adulterous because of their desire for the things of this world. He accused them of cheating on God by their selfish desires. And James equated selfishly chasing after the things of this world with being a friend of the world and an enemy of God.

So - who will I serve? Will I follow what the world says is important - or will I choose to serve God? Because we can't serve both. And sometimes taking a stand for Jesus begins with something that nobody else ever sees. It begins with a decision in your own heart... And we need to understand that following Jesus...

B. May cost you something

Now, if we take a stand for Jesus, we shouldn't be surprised when that stand sometimes creates tension. When you stand for Jesus, you are standing against some of the values of the world. And the world doesn't always care for that very much. Many are perfectly comfortable with a moderate, "keep it to yourself," private, reasonable kind of faith.

A faith that makes no demands or changes how you live. A faith that doesn't challenge what you value. A faith that doesn't elevate Jesus above everything else. But if you take the kind of stand that Jesus calls us to take - then we should expect that sometimes there will be hostility. Look at what Peter wrote in 1 Peter 4:12-16 (NIV)...

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. (13) But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. (14) If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

(15) If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. (16) However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.

Notice those words - 'because of the name of Christ'. Peter isn't saying we should go looking for trouble. He isn't saying we should make people angry just so we can claim we're being persecuted. In fact, he specifically says that if you suffer, it shouldn't be because you've done something wrong. There's an important distinction there.

I saw a post on Facebook that said, "It's one thing to be ridiculed for what we believe; it's another thing to be ridiculed for being jerks about it." Be gracious with people when you live out your faith. Be kind. Listen. Don't treat people as enemies simply because they disagree with you.

But even when you are gracious, there will sometimes be people who don't like the fact that you belong to Jesus. But Jesus said...

John 15:17-18 (NIV)

This is my command: Love each other. (18) If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.

And notice what Jesus said first there - "Love each other." We're not called to go out and intentionally make the world hate us. We're called to love people. But we're also called to remain faithful to Jesus. And sometimes those two things will put us in an uncomfortable position.

The Apostle Paul wasn't the only Christian who ever had to take a stand. We don't all have to be put in chains for our faith. We don't all have to preach to thousands of angry people. But - all of us are called to take a stand for Jesus in the circumstances where God has placed us.

And that brings us to the second side of 'carrying His name'. Because in following Jesus, standing for Jesus isn't the whole story. When we follow Jesus, we are also called to...

II. Bless in the name of Jesus

Hence our upcoming BLESS campaign starting next Sunday... I think sometimes when we hear a sermon about 'taking a stand', we immediately think about what we're willing to say 'no' to. 'No' to the world! 'No' to compromise, to sin, to values that conflict with God's Word! And certainly there are times when we need to say 'no'. But Jesus didn't save us simply so we could become people who are known for what we're 'against'.

Jesus called us to be a blessing! He called us to love people, to serve people. He called us to shine His light into a dark world and to show compassion to people. And that's part of what it means to 'carry His name'. We want to let people see Jesus...

A. In the way we live

Jesus said this in Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV)...

You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. (15) Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. (16) In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Jesus doesn't simply say, "Tell people about Me." He says, 'Let them see. Let them see something different in the way you live. Let them see kindness, integrity, patience, forgiveness, and generosity. Let them see Jesus in your words AND actions! Because sometimes the most powerful testimony we will ever give isn't something we say. It's something somebody sees.

Many of you remember Dave Noble who passed away just a few years ago. Dave never preached a sermon. Dave didn't teach a class. Dave served as our janitor here. But, other than my own father, Dave's service and ministry had the greatest impact on me... His words and actions were consistent, and his life was a testimony of his faith in Jesus.

People are watching us whether we realize it or not. Our kids and grandkids are watching. Our co-workers, our neighbors are watching. The person who doesn't believe what we believe may be watching.

When we carry the name of Jesus, the way we treat those people tells them something about the Jesus whose name we're carrying. That's a tremendous responsibility! But it's also a tremendous opportunity... We don't have to be perfect to be a blessing. None of us are perfect. I'm certainly not. My wife and kids could certainly attest to that fact!

But God has always used imperfect people like us. The question isn't whether we're perfect. The question is whether we're willing to let God use us. Are we willing to let God use our words and actions to...

B. Draw people to Jesus

And here's where our words come in. There are times when we need to speak up. There are times when we need to tell someone what Jesus has done for us. There are times when we need to invite somebody to church. There are times when we need to have an uncomfortable conversation. There are times when we need to say, "Let me tell you why I believe in Jesus."

Because ultimately, good behavior by itself doesn't save anybody. Our kindness doesn't save anybody. Our generosity doesn't save anybody. Our morality doesn't save anybody. Jesus saves! And that's why we can't separate being a blessing from taking a stand. If we are going to 'carry the name of Jesus', there will be times when we need to speak His name. The Apostle Peter wrote 1 Peter 3:15-16 (NIV)...

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, (16) keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

And notice the attitude that goes along with it, 'with gentleness and respect'. That's important. We're not trying to win arguments. We're not trying to prove that we're better than anybody else. We're not trying to make the world admire Christians. We're trying to help the world see Jesus! We're trying to help somebody find the One who saved us!

Sometimes being a blessing in the name of Jesus is remarkably simple. You see somebody hurting - you stop and you help. You see somebody who's lonely - you talk to them. You see somebody who's struggling - you pray with them. You see somebody who needs encouragement - and you give it. And sometimes, eventually, somebody asks, "Why do you do that?" And then we get to tell them - "Because I belong to Jesus."

So What?

This week, as you follow Jesus, I want you to think about, 'Where does Jesus want me to take a stand?' And just as importantly: 'Where does Jesus want me to be a blessing?'

When we follow Jesus - what does it mean to carry His name? My Grandpa Buche reminded my father, "That's my name you're carrying..." And now I carry that name. But more importantly, I carry the name of Jesus...

His name isn't just something we say at the end of a prayer, "In Jesus name..." It's not something we carry just in these four walls... His name is supposed to be written across our entire lives! Following Jesus means that everywhere we go, we're carrying His name. So let's make sure the people we meet are blessed because we're carrying it.