Are You Living by Christ or by Culture?
Jesus said: “Ye have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.”(Matthew 5:38–39) The teachings of Jesus Christ always goes crosswise to the world’s thinking; this must also apply to our lives as believers.
And when Jesus was come into his own country, He taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? Matthew 13:54. The religious authorities of His day were left gobsmacked on hearing the words of Jesus; His words cut through the traditions and writings of the scribes. There are incidents recorded when multitudes were left in a state of astonishment after hearing Jesus speak.The words of Jesus confronted the hearts of those who heard; His words were radical, going crosswise of man’s natural perception.
We have to be honest in our own lives: Jesus is commanding a transformation in how we comprehend life’s circumstances. Jesus calls us away from wanting to retaliate when we are offended; His words very often reprove our self-interests and our pride in thinking we can handle situations without seeking His counsel.
He also declared: “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.”(Matthew 5:5) The world’s system evolves around the pursuit of power and of controlling influence; Whereas Jesus honours humility, meekness, righteousness, and obedience. This is the precise reason why the Kingdom of God, in which we are to live our lives, is not built upon human ambition but upon surrendered hearts that submit to the will of Almighty God.
The question is not whether Christ’s teaching challenges society—it always has and always will. The real question is whether His disciples are willing to live by His words when they conflict with the spirit of the age. Those who follow Jesus will inevitably stand apart, because His kingdom values are contrary to the world’s.