The argument could be made that if Jesus were alive today, he would not need to die on the cross to save us. The public crucifixion he would receive daily through the media, from all directions, might be enough.

In our 24-hour news cycle, sound-bite, talking-points-driven world, a man challenging convention using parables and other messages requiring deeper reflection and thought would face many challenges getting his word out. Opposition would be mobilized within moments to attack him because his message would be upsetting many powerful apple carts. Clever Facebook posts distorting his message would become viral and the Twitter universe would be flooded with tweets and retweets disparaging him.

One side might call Jesus elitist, out of touch and insensitive in response to him saying, “the poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want, but you will not always have me.” (Mark 14:7) Another side might call him anti-family if it got out that his response to the request by one of his disciples to “permit me first to go and bury my father” was “follow me, and allow the dead to bury their dead.” (Matthew 8:21-22)

Fortunately, we have 2000 years of study and reflection to base our beliefs upon now. If any of us lived back then, though, could we honestly say if we would have been disciples or detractors after hearing Jesus speak? I know I am just glad I live now.

Unfortunately, in this day and age, people are still being persecuted for saying things that make others uncomfortable and for upsetting their apple carts.

It is not that we have to agree with what everyone says or that there are not times when there is a need to speak up and forcefully respond to what others say. Sometimes, though, it is just too easy to attack the person and distort the message.

That is why, no matter how frustrated or irritated I may get, I try to keep myself open to the messages of others that make me uncomfortable – that upset my apple cart. By doing so, I may strengthen my own beliefs and put back my apples in the same exact way, with more conviction than ever. I also might put them back in a different way with a better, though changed, understanding of my beliefs.

Either way, I will have grown from the experience.