The world in which I’ve spent most of my time is the Western evangelical stream of Christianity. For all of that world’s challenges, I’m grateful for it all. But the “cloud of witnesses” we have behind and around us (Hebrews 12:1) is much broader and deeper than any single group. 2000 years of Christians have much to teach us.

I’d read Dr. Gerald Sittser’s book Water from a Deep Well a few years ago, but the recent revised edition had me reading it again. It’s easy to imagine our personal brand of Christianity as the only one, or the only “true” one. As Sittser makes clear, every branch and stream of the Christian church has had real challenges. But there is so much to learn, so many riches to embrace, from those who have followed Jesus before us.

This had me reflecting on the lessons I’ve learned that include perspectives from the broader Christian church. Most of these lessons I’ve “known,” as you probably have also, but I believe this reflection can enlarge areas of our Christian life in ways we really need.

Following Jesus Costs Something

During my seminary training one of my fellow classmates changed my view of Christianity. She had grown up in Ceaușescu’s communist Romania, where she and other Christians were at constant risk of being imprisoned, or worse. When they were 13 years old her best friend betrayed their small Christian group, and many were imprisoned. My classmate and her family escaped and made their way to Australia, and later to the US. What amazed her was how “lightly” most Western Christians took following Jesus. For her and her family, following Jesus had been very costly.

For the first few hundred years after Jesus’ time on earth His followers experienced periods of severe persecution. And in many parts of the world – perhaps even for you – that’s still happening today. One doesn’t put one’s life on the line like that solely because of a list of intellectual “truths,” but because of a “knowing,” a deep connection with Someone who has given Himself to rescue you and changed your life.

What has following Jesus cost me? Or you? Are you and I willing to give up something, anything, for the One we love?

We Need Each Other

It’s looked different during different seasons of Church history. In Jerusalem immediately after Jesus returned to heaven the early believers did life together, sharing everything (Acts 2:42-47). The desert “fathers and mothers” who withdrew from secular society soon began gathering in small communities to, again, “do life together.” The monastic movement spread Christianity throughout Europe and beyond through small communities. During the Reformation period movements that included small group fellowships, such as Wesley’s “Methodists,” had the most lasting transformative impact.

Jesus focused the biggest part of His time and energy on doing life with a few. He needed people! And we will only become like Him as we invest in community as well. Deeply connecting with others was messy for Jesus, and it will be the same for us.

Who is your Peter, James, and John? Your Mary, Martha, and Lazarus?

A New Relationship with Time

Most days as a young woman I was frustrated with myself over my poor use of time. In truth I was quite productive, but I often felt guilty over the time I wasted. That emotion is a challenge I still sometimes wrestle with today. Yet I’ve also learned to steward my energy as much as my time, and to treasure time when I can just be. I’m learning, sometimes the hard way, that who I am becoming is so much more important than what I do – especially to God.

Sittser’s book offered me a revolutionary perspective on time. The Christian monastic movement early on, and still today, came to see time as something to inhabit, to be fully present in. That’s very different from wasting time or using time, which both judge time by what we accomplished – or didn’t. Inhabiting time changes our internal sense about life in so many ways.

Jesus was never in a hurry. He was always fully present. And yet He was always on mission. It seems to me that’s what it looks like to inhabit time.

How might you and I have that kind of relationship with time today?

Our Transformation is not Just a “Spiritual” Endeavor

As critically important as right doctrine is, intellectual truths are not sufficient in themselves to bring about our transformation into the likeness of Jesus. It must include our “spirit, soul, and body” (1 Thessalonians 5:23), every aspect of our lives.

The physical disciplines of the desert “fathers and mothers” would greatly challenge us today. Then during the Middle Ages a sacramental view of the world and of life became a defining factor in church life. A sacramental view sees physical realities as means of spiritual grace and life, windows into spiritual realities. The spiritual mystics embodied how emotional life and spiritual life couldn’t be separated from each other.

This more wholistic view of spiritual transformation is foreign to most evangelical Christians. So, how are you bringing your body and your emotions into your life with God? How are you putting yourself into places to experience “God coming to you” in all dimensions of daily life?

It’s Not All About You

It’s been true for followers of Jesus in every season of the Christian church; it’s impossible to fully follow Jesus without reaching outward. Our salvation, our transformation, is not solely or primarily for our own benefit, as wonderful as that is. Early Christians were known for how they served and cared for those in need – whether in their community or not. As the gospel spread throughout the known world, communities of believers transformed their environment by creating schools, hospitals, businesses, etc. And perhaps you have been inspired as I have been by stories of those who have gone as “missionaries” to bring Jesus to those who would not otherwise have known Him.

This missionary mindset is a core characteristic of followers of Jesus. This is not dependent on location; it might sometimes be harder to walk next door than to travel across the ocean to share the good news. But that’s just what followers of Jesus do. It’s vital not only for our own spiritual life, but also as a key part of spreading the good news (see John 13:35).

What person or group has God put on your heart? On mine? How am I investing myself and my resources for their benefit? Who needs your story?

Living Large

Becoming like Jesus is a much more expansive process than we’ve made it out to be. The historical and ongoing witness of the Christian church broadly inspires and enlarges me. It makes me hungry for more.

Your turn: Where has your Christian experience to date been “small”? What might it mean to learn from more of the “great cloud of witnesses” who have also followed Jesus?  Leave your comment below.

Want more? This week on the podcast I talk with Dr. Gerald Sittser, author of Water from a Deep Well: Christian Spirituality from Early Martyrs to Modern Missionaries about our rich heritage of faith, and what we can learn.  Listen or watch.

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