Born Again to Be Wild
1. Born Again to be Wild
Following Jesus can’t be a comfortable lifestyle, because the teachings and commands of Jesus are something very uncomfortable and inconvenient in our viewpoint.
Is that an option?
No, for all believers are BORN AGAIN to be WILD enough to give up their comfortable environments and walk “the Jesus way.”
Let’s face it none of us can read “Born Again To Be Wild” without hearing the orignial song. But what does it mean to be wild? Dress freaky – some were called to, John the Baptist ran around in camel skins and Isaiah ran around without pants (Isa 20), but I don’t think that is what is being talked about here.
Being homeless, certainly Jesus was, but certainly could find shelter when needed like at the Passover seder or staying with Mary and Martha. Since Judas was stealing from the money pouch we can assume there was enough to take care of immediate needs. But is that the point of these verses?
Certainly Jesus cared about the dead. Death could not be in his presence. Jesus raised up Lazarus, a young girl, saved a servant from certain death and there are other stories both recorded and not of Jesus healing. He wept over the death of his friend, but again that really isn’t the point.
So what is the point? Why did Jesus tell us all of this. I think it was to remind us that being a Christian is not about being comfortable or in the terms of the American church prosperous. He didn’t promise us a life of ease, but a life of hard choices.
If we are called to choose Jesus or a warm bed and food for our bellies. We choose Jesus. If we are called to choose between death and Jesus we choose Jesus. If we are called to choose between family and Jesus, it is Jesus.
That is radical enough in this world. We don’t need strange hair, run around half naked or ignore death or family to be “wild.”
