Jesus, the way, the truth, and the life, declared that He was one with the Father, revealing a principle that applies to all humanity. The Apostle John insisted that anyone who claims to love God while hating a brother or sister is a liar (1 John 4:20). The habit of projecting God as something unimaginably distant comes from pretenders, not from those who speak the truth. If we are truly made in God’s image, we cannot look elsewhere when we set out to know God. The real difference is that a person may be unaware of the sinful condition that separates them from the Father in whose image they were created.
Human beings are hopeless as long as they are out of contact with the God who made them in His own likeness. Yet those same humans often do not know what caused their separation from God in the first place. Jesus came specifically to unveil the mystery of God, who dwells within humanity even while people remain oblivious to their true identity. The only reason anyone lives with a vague hope of being united with God is ignorance. Why would a person feel empty while carrying the assurance of having been created in God’s image? Through Christ, everything is now attainable, for He declared that without Him we can do nothing.
“Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” (John 15:4-7 NIV)
Nevertheless, we take Jesus out of context when we assume He holds an arbitrary prerogative to decide a person’s destiny. Jesus intended to help those who genuinely desired knowledge to recognize that He alone is the source. He contended with those who presumed to know better than He did, in the mold of the Pharisees. Jesus Christ should not be imagined somewhere far away; He dwells among his brothers and sisters.
Anyone can feel as though they are quenching their thirst, even while drinking from a pond other than the one Jesus offers. The recorded messages in the Gospels are sufficient for evaluating our actions and conduct as Christians. Choosing another source is like a branch grafted somewhere other than the true vine. Such a branch cannot produce desirable fruit because it is not connected to the original. Jesus represents the original. Others may sound truthful but lack authenticity. Strangely, people have a tendency to separate themselves from God by their own volition.
Sin is attractive to the ordinary person but not to God’s children. The troubles of humanity stem from an inability to grasp our true origin. Out of ignorance, God is rejected by many who see Him as fundamentally different from themselves. Choosing to disobey God is a self-determined act, yet it results from ignorance that leads a person to assume they are inherently separate from God. Conversely, choosing to obey God is self-determined, but this time it flows from genuine knowledge.
How can one distinguish the voice of God among the many voices of this world? The task can feel immensely daunting. However, Jesus makes it easier for humanity to access knowledge and truth. Christian churches should not be seen as brazenly declaring disbelief in Jesus’ teachings. In their multitudes, those Christian organizations appear fully committed to Christ. Their followers are not necessarily forced to remain under their tutelage.
The standard is Jesus Christ, so everything that passes through our ears must be examined against His teaching. Followers of Church denominations are often attracted by the charisma of a preacher, or by some other point of interest—music, a dress code, or the atmosphere of a particular group. Miracles attract the majority.
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ evildoers!’” (Matthew 7:21-23 NIV)
The rejected ones in this Scripture make it seem as if there is an impenetrable riddle on the path to Godliness. Their failure lies in assuming that God can be bribed into loving them on their own terms, rather than on His. Godliness is a matter of choice, made when one is aware of being God’s child, a state in which God’s mind flows freely. The rejected ones appear interested in pleasing Jesus as their Master, yet they embrace godlessness instead. There is only one reality that distinguishes Godliness from godlessness. Everything about Godliness is unattached to physical display.
Godlessness, by contrast, draws attention to itself through public spectacle. What appeals to human eyes is often what displeases God, who focuses more on what goes on in the heart. The admirable deeds done by godless characters are glamorously showcased to attract public attention, whereas Godliness avoids showing off. There is no other dividing line. Godly actions are not meant for public display, according to the teaching of Jesus.
“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:1-4 NIV)
We live in a world where everyone craves validation rather than offering it to others. Society instinctively assumes that public approval confers Godliness, but in reality public approval confers the opposite. Today, Christianity is sustained by renowned theologians who are validated by their academic degrees. Anything outside the scholars’ consensus is often dismissed as heresy. This shifts the anchor of faith from Jesus to the theologians. To be accepted as a Christian, one feels compelled to subscribe to scholarly presentations rather than to Jesus Himself.
The common reasoning among those considered fair-minded is to reject anything not endorsed by scholars. Tragically, this is how Christianity easily discards common sense by placing its faith in academic achievement. Scholars are authenticated by doctorates, treated as professorial credentials that guarantee public acceptance. Renowned theological scholars are treated as the ultimate referees on matters of Christianity. Yet Jesus Christ declared:
“You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life. I do not accept glory from human beings, but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts.” (John 5:39-42 NIV)
The educational system aims at impressing rather than serving humanity. Theological studies are pursued for public honor rather than for the salvation of souls. Such revered recognitions directly violate the Christian teaching that goodness should not be put on public display. Professorial theological degrees attract public respect and thereby stand in contrast to true Christianity as Jesus defined it. Even the most basic form of dignity is doing the right thing without seeking public approval. Nothing has made Christianity more unattractive than its emphasis on avoiding public approval as the very foundation of its pursuit:
“Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” (James 1:26-27 NIV)
The only way a person can be polluted is when granted honorable adulation by the public. Jesus taught that when giving alms, the left hand should not know what the right hand is doing. Godliness avoids the pollution that comes through public approval. On the contrary, godlessness yearns for that pollution, chasing prodigious adulation. Those who desire adulation cannot pursue Godliness. Their inclination is to be hurt when they are not praised for their kind acts, and that disposition runs directly against the nature of God.
The story of Cain and Abel offers a classic illustration of the difference between Godliness and worldliness. Both brothers brought offerings, yet God looked with favor on Abel’s offering because of what was in their hearts. Cain’s giving was driven by a desire to be validated, whereas Abel gave out of love. This is proven by what Cain did after failing to attract God’s approval. Public approval drives a person toward godlessness. I suppose our revered theologians ought to dwell on Jesus’ teachings rather than yearn for the elevation of their status in society.
“Jesus called them together and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’” (Matthew 20:25-28 NIV)
These teachings were meant to guide the disciples away from seeking public approval, for it is impossible to please God while seeking one’s own honor. The instruction was designed to attract them to the new life granted by Jesus, a life that had nothing to do with public applause. The essence of Christianity is found in Jesus’ death on the cross, which attracted no public approval whatsoever.
This world is generally driven by the craving for public recognition more than by a readiness to lay down one’s life for others. Sacrifices are meant to attract God’s approval, not the crowd’s. The rejection of Jesus by the rich young man (Matthew 19:21-23) exposes humanity’s inclination toward sinfulness. Selling possessions to benefit the poor becomes unattractive when a person is chasing worldly esteem.
Government ministers and members of parliament are customarily granted diplomatic respect. The attraction of politics is fundamentally about receiving public honor. There is no other reason for desiring political positions in this life than the desire to hold honorable offices. Yet Godliness insists that being publicly honored is, in fact, dishonorable.
This is precisely why following Jesus is unpopular (Luke 14:25-33). Only godlessness teaches that public honor is a blessing to be welcomed with open arms. The New Testament is filled with Jesus’ teachings that exalt humility as the path to Godliness. Jesus Himself, though the Christ, offended many by associating with the lowly of society. For those motivated by the truth, the revered theological degrees can never be as compelling as adopting the behavior and teachings of Jesus Christ. One has to let go any form of prestige to be with Jesus.
The significance of Godliness purges what appears to give dignity in this life. The physical self is not the true humanity, which cannot be separated from God. As long as a person is attracted to the material things of this world, he becomes separated from Godliness. His humanity is degraded to the point where he feeds on the adulation of the public. When a Christian desires a label that attracts worldly honor, he forfeits heavenly honor.
Heavenly honor is never achieved through the honor granted by people of this world. This is another reason Jesus gave the Parable of the Good Samaritan, whose mercy toward an injured stranger had nothing to do with public approval. A true Christian becomes uneasy the moment the world grants him honor. He finds gladness only when receiving public dishonor and persecution for righteousness’ sake (Matthew 5:10-12).
I suspect that nothing is as unpopular as teaching that Christianity was never meant for public approval. Nevertheless, teaching the opposite is a gross misrepresentation of the Christian message. The true teachings of Jesus are identified with His mistreatment on the cross. That is why the apostles found joy in being ill-treated rather than in being treated well.
“The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.” (Acts 5:41-42 NIV)
The apostles were more motivated by the suffering that came from true Christianity than they ever were by the approval of a false version of it. This stands in stark contrast to Christian popularity as it is known today. Most Christians do not even grasp the meaning of Christianity, though they identify themselves with the name. They conflate the physical condition of humanity with spiritual humanity. Jesus drew a clear line between the two when He revealed the foundation of God’s Church. He projected the Godly revelation of Christianity, not a scholarly one:
“When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’ They replied, ‘Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ ‘But what about you?’ he asked. ‘Who do you say I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’ Jesus replied, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.’ Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.” (Matthew 16:13-20 NIV)
Two identities appear here: the “Son of Man” and the “Son of the living God.” The identity of Jesus as perceived by Peter could not be perceived by ordinary people. This is the point where our beloved theologians are dribbled. The Son of Man is different from the Son of God, a truth that scholarship cannot observe. Jesus said only the Father could reveal that mystery. Those who devote themselves to academic study may be assured of receiving worldly honor and glory, but in doing so they separate their humanity from Godliness. Nothing in this world is Godly.
Regardless of how honorably a person is received by the world, that honor serves to separate them from Godliness. What is Godly cannot be seen with physical eyes, as attract honour. It represents what was created in God’s image, invisible to natural sight. As long as one has received honor from the world, one has been separated from Godliness. But just as Jesus was dishonored in this world, when a person is dishonored for His sake, that person becomes honored by God and is treated as God’s child. Nothing else distinguishes true Christianity.
Andrew Masuku is the author of Dimensions of a New Civilisation, laying down standards for uplifting Zimbabwe from the current state of economic depression into a model for other nations worldwide. A decaying tree provides an opportunity for a blossoming sprout. Written from a Christian perspective, the book is a product of inspiration, relieving those who have witnessed the strings of unworkable solutions, leading to the current economic and social decay. Most Zimbabweans should find the book to be a long-awaited providential oasis of hope, in a simple conversational tone.
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