Jesus: Commitment To A Person Versus A Set Of Values

“Follow me.”

Matthew 9:9

While we were still dating, I convinced Patsy—now wife, then fiance—that I was a Christian. Shortly after our wedding it became obvious that we had an ambiguity of terms over what it meant to be Christian. I was committed to a set of Christian values, but I learned she was committed to a Person.

One can be committed to Christian values but still not be a Christian, as I soon found out. To be committed to a set of Christian values is to be a moralist, but not necessarily a Christian. The commitment is to be a “good” person to the best of one’s ability.

The inevitable result of committing to a set of Christian values is disillusionment and confusion. We are not good. We may not be as bad as we could possibly be, but neither are we as good as God expects. No one can live a moral life in their own power, so we renegotiate our values down over time. We settle for a compromised level of integrity.

Through the clouded eyes of self-deceit, we lose sight of the pervasiveness of our sins. We may feel envy toward our friends, have a secret thought life of fantasy, or explode in fits of anger more painful to our family than physical blows. We make ourselves feel better by comparing ourselves to the “national average” instead of the standard of the Living Word.

What’s the Difference?

What difference does it make whether we are committed to a set of values or to a Person? It is not the way of Christ that leads to everlasting life; it is the Person of Christ. It is trusting Him to produce the spiritual life in us, not trusting in ourselves to produce the spiritual life by our own effort.

I could not understand this difference at first. The distinction seemed inconsequential. Yet as I learned more and more, the difference began to come into focus. It is a huge distinction. For those who want to know God, it is the dividing line. Do you know it?

Jesus says simply, “‘Follow me.’” When we are weary and burdened Jesus gives us rest—not our values. He says, “‘Follow me,’” He does not say “Follow my principles.” It is His life that connects us to God, not emulating His “goodness.” If we imitate His life but don’t know Him personally, we will become exhausted. We can see that which is good, right, and pure, but we do not have the power to live up to it. Only Christ in us can live up to it.

How do we become committed to the Person of Christ? We must by faith allow our “self” to be crucified with Christ so that His power may be released within us, the power of the Holy Spirit. “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). It is a Person who lives in me, not a set of values. We don’t invite a set of values to indwell us; we invite the Spirit of the living Christ.

Imitation Versus Surrender

Today church pews are filled with well-meaning people—people who sincerely want to be Christian. But they are confused. They believe (and their church often confirms) that the Christian life is a commitment to a set of values. Who would question such a noble thought? Jesus would. He said, “‘I am the way. No one comes to the Father except through me’” (John 14:6). Not through values.

It is not imitation that leads to everlasting life; it is surrender. It is not guessing what Christ would do and imitating Him; it is acknowledging we cannot imitate Him at all. It is accepting that His blood was spilled on the cross because we cannot imitate Him. It is to surrender our will, heart, mind, soul, and strength to the Person who died for us.

It is not what we follow, but who we follow; not a set of values but a Person. It is not “the life I live in the body, I live by these values.” It is "the life I live in the body, I live by faith.” Faith is confidence in the Person of Christ and the atoning work He did through the shedding of His blood for our sins, not in the merit of living up to a set of values.

Well-meaning people come to the foot of the cross to be refreshed. They are deeply encouraged that they don’t have to do something to become Christian, only that they must admit they cannot do anything apart from the Master. But as they go on their way, they can “see” the values of Jesus, while He Himself remains invisible, enigmatic, mysterious. It is easier to follow what is seen than what is unseen, so people gravitate to living by a set of values. This is not faith in Christ.

Well-meaning people often begin their pilgrimage committed to His Person, but later place their faith in what they do for Him (the seen) instead of what He has done for them (the unseen). But, “We live by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). If you live by sight, you will lose the joy of your salvation.

Are you committed to a set of Christian values, or are you committed to a Person for your salvation? If you began your pilgrimage by receiving Christ, are you still living by faith, or has your confidence returned to a set of values?

I SURRENDER

Lord Jesus, I must admit that I often become more committed to a set of Christian values than to You. I have not spent the time getting to know You that I should. I have failed to answer Your call, “Follow me.” Instead, I have been following my own good idea of what it would mean to be a Christian. I have wanted to be a good person, but I now see that You want me to trust only You for my spiritual destiny and not my own effort. Forgive my sins, take control of my life, and make me into a follower of You—not a follower of a set of values. Amen.