Negative Attraction
What is the biggest stumbling block for us?
From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, ‘God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.’ But he turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling-block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.’ Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?
‘For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.’ - Matthew 16:21-28
We remember Peter for his acts of denial. In today's Gospel he refuses to accept what Jesus says will happen. And Jesus calls him Satan.
In explaining that they must make a choice between the treasures of this world and the treasures in heaven, Jesus tells them they must take up their crosses and follow him.
Who wanted to hear that? The punishment of crucifixion by the Romans was a horrible public site. Along the road there would be crosses where the bodies would be picked by birds. So what Jesus was saying was gruesome and not something to be desired.
So, who can blame Peter for being upset. That is not the kind of end he had in mind for himself.
Nor is it what we believe our outcomes will be.
In this age when we are struggling to attract people to our churches, we don't hear much about carrying our crosses and denying ourselves in this life.
That message is too negative to attract anyone.
Instead we try to make our faith fit into the lifestyles of the community around us.
Jesus wasn't afraid to scare people away with his examples. And he gained many followers, because they discovered the oppression and despair they endured in this life was temporary.
Maybe we need to get back to the real message of the Gospel and not worry about scaring people away.
Those who need to hear the message most will understand the point.
More to come...