Jesusist*

The term "Jesusist"* came into my thinking from an unlikely story and an unlikely person.  The events took place in Nepal when a Maoist Communist revolutionary had an encounter with Jesus of Nazareth. It was not a term he used but his story led to it and the reality it implies. 

His encounter with Jesus changed the course of his life's trajectory. It didn't deny how he used to live and think; it transformed it.  In conversation with a mutual friend the former Maoist explained the difference between a Christian and a Follower of Jesus by clarifying the difference between a Communist and a Maoist.

A Communist is a person committed to the ideals of Communism. They draw from all sources regarding the principles and ideas of this political ideology (Marx, Lenin, Stalin, Mao, Castro, etc.) with the commonly held concepts such as public ownership of all properties, the absence of social classes and the creation of a communist society.  Committed to such ideals they order their thinking, living and political activities. A Maoist, on the other hand, is committed to Mao and his ideas such as his central principle of permanent revolution and that political power grows out of the barrel of a gun. In short, Mao's thinking becomes your thinking.  His answers to questions become your answers. You order your thinking and life’s activities exclusively to his ideas.

A Christian is actually committed to the concepts and ideals of Christianity. Eternal life, forgiveness of sins, the substitutionary death of Jesus on the cross, etc. They welcome ideas from a wide range of Christian sources both written and spoken. He went on to note that while Christians claim to be followers of Jesus, in practice it is often not the case.  His conclusion? Our Nepali friend had decided to respond to his encounter by following Jesus. Jesus’ thinking would become his thinking.  Jesus’ answers to questions would become his answers. His thinking and living are now being transformed from a Maoist to a “Jesusist”*.

Am I really following Jesus?  Here’s a simple assessment.  Answer the following.

According to Jesus:

1.     How do we know our sins are forgiven?

2.     How does one avoid God’s judgment?

3.     What is the definition of eternal life?

4.     What is the purpose of the Scriptures?

5.     What is the only marker which confirms someone who is his follower?

6.     What is the purpose of money? 

  

If we’re following Jesus shouldn’t his answers be our answers?  If our answers aren’t the same as his, shouldn’t those actually following him change their answers? Practically, if we’re giving answers different than his, shouldn’t we have the integrity to stop telling others that we’re following him?

*not the Urban Dictionary Term