Which Jesus to Follow?
Like some of you, I have a complicated relationship with money.
My mom and dad didn’t grow up in a middle-class home.
Far from it.
Mom lived on the moors of Scotland in a house that had no indoor plumbing or heat. My dad, one of six kids, lived in a one-bedroom house in Denver, CO. There was a sheet in the living room that divided the girls from the boys.
As you might expect, my childhood was a little different from my parents’. I grew up in a lovely, California ranch-style home. Saving money was a high priority (they set a great example). Every penny was accounted for. Far from abundance, I was raised with a scarcity mentality. My folks expected that I would or should climb the ladder and live out the American Dream. Their American Dream. And, in many ways, I have.
But way back when, I encountered Jesus. And by encountering, I mean I went all in. MYF (Methodist Youth Fellowship) all the time. Calvary Chapel Jesus concerts every Saturday night. So many Bible studies. And Jesus Night at Disneyland (not once but twice!).
My faith was on that upward trajectory of living the American Dream. Jesus had it all. With Him, I could have it all.
Somewhere along the line, I read “The Selfless Way of Christ”* by Henri Nouwen in Sojourners. It turned my world upside down. These words etched their way into my soul:
[Jesus] moved from power to powerlessness, from greatness to smallness, from success to failure, from strength to weakness, from glory to ignominy. The whole life of Jesus of Nazareth was a life in which all upward mobility was resisted. (emphasis added)
Forty-four years later, these words seem more important now than ever. From those currently in power, I am hearing about a Gospel and a Jesus I do not recognize. Ironically, it seems to be all about power. Some are apparently choosing a Mel-Gibson-Braveheart-Jesus over the One whose life was about selflessness and downward mobility.
Maybe it also seems ironic that I would choose to live out my faith professionally by helping people raise money. I mean, would this be a profession Jesus would approve of?
I think so.
Money can be used for good in this world. Mission and ministry can’t happen without it. Churches or community centers – where people gather for worship, fellowship, admonitions to do good, and to speak truth to power – are worthy of upkeep and repair.
As people of faith, what we do with our money can be countercultural. It honors Jesus, not us. It’s not about grasping the rungs of the upward mobility ladder – it is about remembering who it is we serve, and the life Jesus lived.
Now, more than ever, I must be reminded of this Jesus. The one who moved from power to powerlessness, from greatness to smallness, from success to failure, from strength to weakness, from glory to ignominy. This is the one I decided to follow, all those many years ago. This is the One I will follow these next four years and beyond.
*June 1981, to be exact.
Photo credit: Pixabay.com
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Cesie Delve Scheuermann (pronounced “CC Delv Sherman,” yes, really) is a Stewardship Consultant for the OR-ID Annual Conference. She is also a Senior Ministry Strategist with Horizons Stewardship. For 25 years, while working as a volunteer and part-time consultant, she has helped raise over three million dollars for numerous churches and non-profit organizations.
You can reach Cesie at inspiringgenerosity@gmail.com, at CesieScheuermann.com, or at cesieds@horizons.net. Want to schedule a meeting? She’s got you covered! She’s moved by this song by Todd Agnew, My Jesus.
Schedule a meeting now.
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