The Barbarian Call (Part 2 of 4)

In E. McManus' second chapter of his book, The Barbarian Invasion, he turns his attention to John the Baptist and describes how John, while being called by Jesus Christ the "greatest" man to be born of woman, was a true barbarian of the faith, despite being an outcast, the antithesis to organized religion and dressing funny and eating weird things.

This chapter is refreshing because it paints an accurate portrait of what it means to follow Christ. So much of what we hear and see on television today makes it seem that following Christ is an easy path. If only we were to follow christ and give money to the church then all of our troubles would vanish. While it is true that by following Christ we will be filled with joy and our lives, in the long run, will be more content, a true Christ follower is not always going to be living "high on the hog" (that means 'living the good life' for all of you non-Southerners).

McManus states that while John was imprisoned, awaiting death at the hands of Herod, Jesus was out doing miracles and saving people. Did John ask, "what about me?" No. About John, McManus states:

"Jesus very well knew the fate that John would face. Even then Jesus understood His purpose was to save us not from pain and suffering, but from meaninglessness. For Jesus, John was exactly where he needed to be, fulfilling God's purpose for his life. Why would he save John from that?" (p. 31-32)

So much of Christianity has been institutionalized. There is not much 'counting the cost' anymore. One joins a church, sits back, and waits for the blessings to start rolling in. Why was Peter hung upside down on a cross? Why did John the Apostle not die the same death? He lived to be in his 90's. Why do some Christians get Peter or Paul's life and not John's? McManus entertains this idea and states:

"This is the sticky part of the barbarian call. It's not fair or equitable. When you hear the call, when you follow the call, you must recognize that it is a life-and-death proposition. When you understand what Jesus means when He says that you must follow Him, you finally realize that this is not a cattle call. He is not calling you to the same life that everyone else will live. He's not even calling you to the same path that every follower of Christ will walk. Your life is unique before God, and your path is yours and yours alone. Where God will choose to lead you and how god chooses to use your life cannot be predicted by how God has worked in the lives of others before you. Jesus' respones to Peter was a straight-forward as it could possibly get: "If I want John to live and you to die, what is that to you? Your part is to follow me. My part is to lead the way." (p.36-37)

It is that 'risky' type of obedience that Jesus expects of all of us as we strive to follow Him.