By: Marco De Leon

"Do not think I have come to bring peace. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword." - (Matthew 10:34)

Che Guevara wrote that it is the people who make a revolution possible; without the people, there cannot be a revolution and the mission is to serve the people at all costs.

Gloria Anzaldua wrote of Mexican culture saying "to escape rejection, we conform to the culture." In other words, tradition constitutes what is acceptable. Despite her love for her family, people, and culture she was rejected.

Che Guevara and Gloria Anzaldua knew their revolution and understood the possible outcome: death or rejection. My revolution is not one of political stance or social injustice, but spiritual freedom in pursuit of Jesus Christ.

Born Mexican and raised Catholic, I was taught work ethic and family value. I was instilled principles that validated my legitimacy such as having candles with portraits of Jesus or the Virgin Mary underneath my bathroom sink, hanging a rosary on the rear-view mirror of my truck, and prayer was reserved for the defense of the Evil Eye (El Ojo).

Then, one day, I realized I had upset the value of tradition and custom when I made Jesus my priority. In Mexican culture, family is religion, our house is the church building, members of the family become the congregation, and time spent together is like community groups or bible studies.

To be clear, I'm not against time spent together as a family or that family isn't important. I am, however, saying that family can be idolatrous; the displacement of Jesus as my savior. Jesus loves families. He adopts us into His based on His love for us that while we were still sinning, He died for us (Romans 5:8). Yet, Jesus makes it clear to all by seeking the kingdom of God first (Matthew 6:30-34).

All things work to glorify Jesus and my fear isn't that I have lost my family, but through grace and Jesus' work on the cross, I have been chosen to show my family the love of Jesus so that we may worship Him freely as a family!

A revolution is a time of need and the need is Jesus. No revolution is without mistake. But every revolution stands in hope.