Becoming a Mature Christian 2

 Luke 4:16-30 

Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

Leaving the desert, still filled with the Spirit, Jesus went to his home region of Galilee, back to Nazareth where he was raised and shared with his friends and family what his being the “Son of God” meant to him.  His mission was the mission of Isaiah. (Isaiah61:1-2) His message was the prophetic message of peace and justice.  At first the people were impressed, amazed by his eloquence, his graciousness. But Jesus didn’t stop there.  He went on to explain that justice and peace are found not only in Israel, not always in Israel.  God will use those on the outside to seek justice when those on the inside neglect their responsibility to ‘love one another’. 

Brené Brown highlights the difference between belonging and fitting in.  Jesus refused to soften his message to ensure that he would ‘fit in’ to his hometown.  Even though it meant that he could no longer belong there.  Denying yourself to ‘fit in’ is something we have all probably done more than once.  We all need to find a place, a community, to which we can truly belong:  family, friends, church, social group.  Emotional maturity requires that we don’t deny our own emotions and experiences, values and faith in an attempt to belong.  If we do, we might fit in, but we will never belong. 

What are the circumstances that nudge you towards ‘fitting in’? When have you chosen not to do what was necessary to fit in?   Jesus’ blunt talk got him run out of town.  How do you know when to just ‘go along to get along’ and when to risk being run out of town?  Do you know yourself well enough to stay true to yourself even if you sometimes choose to ‘fit in’?  With whom do you truly belong?

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