When young people graduate, they're often told to follow their dreams. Change the world. After all, the sky's the limit.
But what if you don't know what you want to be when you grow up or lack the required social positioning to achieve it?
There are always limits to following self-centered dreams. But if we posture ourselves as "living sacrifices" seeking God's dreams and God's will, the possibilities really are endless.
David Brooks, a columnist for the New York Times, recently described how graduating students are often told to discover their passion, then pursue their dreams. Yet, Brooks says, "most successful young people don't look inside and then plan a life. They look outside and find a problem, which summons their life."
It's true: As we apply our God-given spiritual gifts to the needs of the world, we begin to discover our vocation.
Graduating from college in the 21st century can be jarring. Living in the college bubble, students learn of limitless possibilities. But the current labor market can feel more limiting than limitless.
An outward-focused posture of humble servant leadership is more commendable than a life of egotistic achievement.
In fact, Malcolm Gladwell says in his book Outliers, that even the world's most remarkable people don't achieve success alone. "It makes a difference where and when we grew up," he says. "The culture we belong to and the legacies passed down by our forebears shape the patterns of our achievement in ways we cannot begin to imagine."
Serving God and others, rather than seeking money and social status, should shape the pattern of our achievement. This requires humility, a scarce commodity in a culture of self-importance. If we are humble, the Holy Spirit can direct our own desires toward God's purposes.
The Apostle Paul describes an orientation toward God's will. "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God -- what is good and acceptable and perfect" (Rom. 12:2).
Indeed, God promises to be our guide and has supplied us with ample tools for knowing God's will. We can pray for wisdom and strength, study Scripture, seek counsel from mentors and take note of others' experiences.
So, what if Jesus were a commencement speaker today? What life advice might he give? Perhaps it would go something like this: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind. And love your neighbor as yourself.
Jesus taught us to live with an outward-focused spirit. A humble posture of service to God and each other runs counter to individualistic egotism and American exceptionalism. Living into our calling is a journey that bends toward bringing God's reign on Earth as it is in heaven.
Steve McSwain: How to Know God Beyond Organized Religion
Yes, Jessu would probably start of with the Love Message. Love is the key. He would also say to stcik with My Gospel and not the many "social gospels" that from those who seem to think that I've missed something in My Gospel. He would say that I've told you all things and nothing needs to be added or subtracted. He would probably say that, "I've made it crystal clear that there are no alternative roads back to the Father. While you can respect another person's religious beleifs, just remember tht 1+1 does not equal 3. No matter how sincerly a person believes that 1+1= 5, the reality is that 1+1= 2."
He would problbly stress at the concusion of his talk,"Beware of the sheep's in wolves clothing. They usually appeal to the emotions of young people who want to 'save the world' . You'll know them by the classic fruit that they bear-you don't need Me for salvation."
He would end, "Go in Peace"
How can love be commanded? I cannot possibly bring myself to love an entity that I have no evidence for or understanding of.
"And love your neighbor as yourself."
Again, I cannot be commanded to love people. Love is not a switch you can turn on and off with a whim. I could make believe that I love someone, but that would be insincere.
The Jesus who was seen hanging out with sinners and the most hated people of his day? Not haranguing them or preaching to them, but befriending them?
The Jesus who upset cultural and religious traditions to speak peace and acceptance to the Samaritan Woman at the Well? The Jesus who spoke against self-righteous judgment, as in "He who stands sinless among you, cast the first stone" (in defense of a woman, I might add).
The one who allowed a prostitute to worship him in public to the shock and horror of all the men present?
The one who said, "Don't dare point out someone else's sins until your own are completely atoned for"?
This is the Jesus you heard speak?
Your post is cute but defies the Jesus who comes across in the gospels as an individual fiercely committed to truth, love, service, and equality before God.
what christians have yet to accept is they have missed his message. a nation that prides itself on its super power military status is no christian nation; anything but christian.
a nation that has wars for corp profits is anything but a christian nation.
a nation that had an illegal war with vietnam and 80% of americans did not even know who the viet cong were but killed one million vietnamese is no follower of jesus teachings. find me one american that has asked for forgivness for our killing and harming so many people for corp profits.
a nation that has something called wall street that is greed galore. a nation that allows 50 million americans to go without health insurance for reasons such as pre existing medical conditions to max out corp profits and CEO bonuses.
a nation that gives tax breaks to the rich for their reelection money. a nation that even has private prisons so corp america can make profits off those in prison. now they want to make corp profits off their children and seniors.
yes it is easy to see what jesus would say but only once; he would never be invited to speak again in any church in america or at any high school or college graduation. few will understand these words very few.
I think if the person, Jesus, actually existed, and came back, he would say: Everyone but Bernie Sanders, immediately resign. Next, tax the rich 95%, with no loopholes. Third, the new 2 party system will be: Conservative Democratic Socialism and Liberal Democratic Socialism. And lastly, control population and start healing Planet Earth. Aloha and Peace from Kauai.
No one would listen to your "save humanity" from the mean old Christians, so you've now taken up another frustrating endeavor...save planet earth. When are you ex-Hippies- now Neo Communists- going to finally realize that you can't even save yourselves...let alone other people or the earth? Time to leave the drug realm and return to reality - especially the reality of saving your very soul!
Love isn't slavery.
I would suggest that if this is what he would say, he isn't the Messiah, the Savior, but just a run of the mill god/valedictorian...................iow's, yada yada. Nothing's changed, same old, same old, just more cunning, clever intellectualism.
Love isn't a one way street. Love isn't horizontal, it's verticle, upright.
"Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.' " - Matthew 28: 16-20
Jesus is very clear that he did not come to destroy law, for to destroy law would be to create chaos. If he did not come to destroy the law, what did he come to do? He came to fulfill it.
To fulfill something is to both fully fill something, and to fully end something at the same time. An example is a glass fully filled with water. A glass fully filled with water, fully ends something, it ends it's emptiness; the glass lacks emptiness. Jesus isn't speaking about water, he is speaking about the law and prophets. Just as the glass lacks emptiness, irrational, unjust law(s) lack justice.
Irrational, unjust law/prophets (prophecies) are a shame to both man and God. Irrational law/prophets cause chaos, disorder, mayhem.
In fact, that verse not only applies to theists but atheists as well. Not one iota of the law, not one jot nor tittle will pass until enough masses of men and women are done with them. If the masses want tyranny, tyranny will exist. If enough want peace, peace will exist.
There's a fairly famous quote out there (someone help me out with the author) that goes something like this: "Do not ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive. Then go do that. Because what the world needs is more people who have come alive." That's far better advice than Brooks' or this article's.
That is so true. But, in order to actually counter the culture of greed and self-interest, which was sold to America 30 years ago and is still sold by those who masquerade as Christians, we must tell the truth even though it may not be considered socially or politically correct.
In other words, we should tell those who are rich not to be arrogant nor to put so much faith in wealth, but to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.
We should tell the proud and militant who claim peace can be “won” by waging war that they indulge in vain folly, and that it will be the humble, gentle, kind, loving, peaceful majority who will inherit the earth, make peace, and turn their “swords into plowshares.”
It is time that we listen to the Spirit of truth which issues judgement, guides us unto truth, shows us things to come, and glorifies the Ancient One who is with God in heaven, in fulfillment of the prophecy of Jesus. And the closest thing I’ve seen to that is at http://cjcmp.org
he would be rejected by the very people that have made him god.
americans are in no mood to hear jesus speak.
think for one moment what a sermon of jesus would be like to a capitalist society that has a love affair of profits over people. visit az where they passed a state tax for sports complex for professional teams whose players earn millions, but threw people off state insurance for transplant operations.
those christian folks in az can support professional sports teams for their entertainment but not have the money to save their citizens lives.
nope jesus would be thrown out of about every church that I know of. and the religious dont have a clue they would reject the very person they have made god. not a clue. try giving a sermon on jesus and what he said about the rich getting into heaven and find out how long you will be a pastor of that church. you would be fired within the week.
oh just to find one christian preacher in america that would preach on what jesus said about rich and getting into heaven. just one that understands the connection between wealth and heaven. just one.
the atheists would just treat him as a hippy type; it is the religious that would harm him.