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Enjoy Life, Enjoy God


Dale Patterson

PUT OUT

May 24, 2010

As of today, 2010 in the United States, it's still acceptable to consider oneself a Christian. As of today, one does not have to tremble at the consequences of following Christ.

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His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue.
- John 9:22 NRS
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Yet parents of the man born blind cannot enjoy the miracle of their son's healing for fear of the penalty to embrace a new hope. The church leaders were certain that the man was not really blind prior, so they interrogate the parents. The parents cannot afford to say, Jesus healed their son, "maybe he is the Messiah!" To do so they are "put out." Today in the USA, to be "put out" means little more than start going to the next church down the street. But to be "put out" meant, loss of most everything: friendship, your job, your ability to do business with community, etc.

Today, one is hardly "put out" at all, to follow Jesus. That is not true elsewhere in our world today. Some today have lost all to follow Christ, and yet have gladly done so. What inconvenience might we joyfully relish today to have the privilege of following Jesus?
Joyfully,

Dale Patterson