Jesus did not call people of one ideology to follow him. Jesus is for all people. In his small band of twelve disciples (Matthew 10:1-4), we find Simon the Zealot, and we find Matthew, the tax collector. Why is this significant? The Zealots were a movement during the time of Jesus that believed violence was justified in the effort to remove the Roman presence from the land and restore Israel’s greatness. The ends justified the means! This movement represented the era’s fusion of religious identity and political power.
Matthew was a tax collector, an occupation of people who were Jewish, yet had partnered with Rome to financially benefit themselves. They were hated by their own countrymen because they “sold out” to the enemy – traitors. A Zealot and a tax collector could not be further apart in their political ideologies, and they certainly would never sit at the same table together. I am confident that this was part of the confusion people experienced when they met the disciples.
Jesus’ invitation is not some superficial unity that brings these two together in the same room to create a false and uncomfortable peace. Instead, His invitation was to empty themselves of who they once were and find themselves in who He is. (Paul called this a New Creation.) This is why we do not find a continuation of these two living out their past ideologies. Simon lays down his sword in order to love his neighbor. Matthew leaves the collector’s table to put his trust and security in a different Kingdom as he stored his treasure in heaven, where moth and rust do not corrupt, and thieves do not break in and steal.
When Jesus invited his disciples to “Follow me”, it was an invitation to lay down their political ideologies and identities at His feet, deny themselves, take up a cross daily, and follow Him (Luke 9:23). Simon and Matthew were now disciples of Jesus, and that was bigger than anything else.
This is the same invitation that you and I have before us today…lay it down. Jesus does not want our human political ideologies; he wants us to be his disciples.
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so must you love one another.” John 13: 34
Dean Kuest
This is not a typical bio I would use to introduce myself to strangers, but ministry is often where we present our best on the “front stage” and hide the dirt “backstage.” Like social media, it is easy to produce the stuff that makes us look great, but I long for relationships that are real…so here is my “honest” bio.
I am a husband of 33 years to my beautiful wife, Leslie. I am a pastor and a PK who raised five PKs (all boys). I am now Pops to five grandchildren (four girls in there – finally). I have a great relationship with my parents and my boys. I’m so proud of each of them.
I am an example of failure—I have put my work above my wife for many years. I have never had an affair, but the church has been my mistress at times. Leslie has been gracious, and we have worked through those wounds and scars. We are an example of perseverance, and I am so grateful for the love we nurture.
I was blessed to be rooted in one church in the Phoenix area for 25 years. I was blessed to be uprooted and lead a church plant in the Seattle area for eight years. I have climbed the ladder of leadership in an exceptionally large church. And I have been humbled by a complete loss of confidence at the end of my time in Seattle.
I sought help and learned several things about myself.
I tried to do everything myself and had poor stress management.
I have ADD and need strategies and medication to deal with it.
I had a hormone imbalance that contributed to my anxiety.
Thirteen years later, I continue to learn about those strategies and how to tap into the support I need.
I was one of the original nine pastors who met together in 2018 to dream the dream that has become the Matthew 5:9 Fellowship. I am passionate about the Gospel, the love and grace of Jesus, and I long to be a peacemaker in a polarized world. I have learned to be honest about what God has gifted me to do and where my abilities fall short.
I like to build and create. I don’t like to maintain. I have always had great people skills, but I am a poor administrator and event organizer. I lead with grace because I know I have needed it throughout my life and ministry. I am not always good at giving myself grace because I have a VERY LOUD inner critic who is very opinionated and always self-effacing. I am a gifted coach and mentor and connect well with younger generations of pastors.
I would love to come alongside you as a coach. As a reminder, the first session is free, and the Matthew 5:9 Fellowship will pay for two more.
Shoot me an email if that is something you would like to explore.
