What is it? Looking like it was stitched together with the spare parts of other creatures, the Platypus has the body of a beaver and the face of a duck.
According to a Yahoo featured article out of Paris today, when specimens from Australia arrived in Europe in the 18th century, biologists thought they were looking at a taxidermist’s hoax. Writing for the AFP global news service, Marlowe Hood explains that scientists studying the genomes of the platypus have had a break-through in classifying it. They’ve discovered that this egg-laying critter really is a genetic stew — part bird, part reptile and part lactating mammal.
The article reminded me of a question that has surfaced in this blog over the last couple of days. What is a follower of Christ? If we get in step with him, will we be as hard to classify as a platypus? If we really enter into what it means to follow him, will we become environmentalists, social relief workers, or members of a book reading club? Will be become monks, missionaries, or members of a political party?
An important part of the answer surfaced in our discussion yesterday. There is a difference between being a family member of Christ, and one who is actively following him. Even though some believe all who belong to Christ will remain in step with him, I believe the Bible shows that there are many counter-forces that can sidetrack and stop us.
We are born into the family of God, by personally accepting and trusting what Christ has done in our behalf. His death and resurrection for our sins are the basis for an eternal salvation that is without human merit (Rom 4:5; Ephesians 2:8-10; John 3:16; Titus 3:5).
But once in him–once our spiritual journey begins, the path before us rises higher as Christ leads us deeper into the joys and sorrows of those around us.
It seems to me that “following Jesus” is as common to all active “disciples”– as it is distinctively personal and individual. While Christ-based faith, hope, and love are part of our shared, spiritual DNA, following him into our various professions, callings, homes, and past times will look wonderfully and richly different.
Because those in Christ are members of his body, we have different gifts and roles that make us distinct and interdependent not only on our Lord, but on one another.
And our relationship to The Book? In the process, we won’t just see and talk about The Book as a wonderful work of art hanging on a museum wall. We will see it as the window through which we see one-another, our world, and our God. Through this window we see Jesus, who then becomes our door into a life of following him.
At this point, I feel like we’ve barely begun to answer what it means to follow Jesus. But I need to stop typing, so you can get back in.
Just one last thought. I don’t mean to suggest that real followers will look like a platypus. Neither fish nor fowl. Actually, I’m thinking that maybe we should look that way– not as individuals– but together.
Ok, now– I’ll take a breath. Help me answer one of the most important questions we’ll ever consider.
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