Jesus in 2009 PART I: So Many Versions (And Other Distractions)

How’s your portfolio, Lord? Meet Capitalist Jesus (and shake his hand).

Even during Jesus’ time on earth- people had differing opinions. Some accused Him of performing miracles by way of demonic powers. Others thought He deserved a criminal’s death. Religious leaders saw Jesus as a heretic. But lots were radically changed by the man they believed to be God. Western civilization was eventually shaped in part by the growing number of “Christians” (a derogatory term later embraced by the early church). 

So it should not be surprising that people have varying views about Jesus today. We’ve got plenty of versions to choose from after all this time: hippie-like dude with awful hair, wise teacher, wimpy activist, coincidentally perfect man, Savior and Lord, lunatic, complete fabrication, beneficiary of historic hyperbole, and more.

Nowadays, Jesus- the man and His message, is no longer a revelation to hear about. The whole thing can end up sounding more like a violent bedtime story. We’re so familiar with the Christian lingo and iconic artwork, that Jesus often gets placed up on the shelves in our mind, collecting dust along with the other nostalgic items like dad’s old baseball glove. What the devil has successfully done is not erase Jesus completely from the mainstream consciousness; instead he has detached the monumental importance from what Jesus did. And so Jesus continues to be percieved as pliable- a good-luck trinket to carry on our travels for that occasional religious experience. But that’s not following God; it is a trade with us taking His place.

We’re so busy in 2009 that it’s easy not only to incorrectly characterize God but to avoid Him altogether. There is clutter in these hyper times, enough that a person can jump from trend to trend or from new toy to newer toy without ever looking seriously at who we are. And then there are world events, and it can be difficult to detach from scandal, and wars, and dollars in decline. But politicians come and go, economies climb and fade, stimulus checks are spent and quickly forgotten. What do we REALLY need? And can romance, or new stuff, or even a restored nation really fulfill our deepest desires?  I submit to you that only Jesus can. All these things intended for joy like culture and entertainment and technology and sex are diminished through the process of worshipping them. Take all the best presidents, the precious moments, the policies and the pep talks and it’s still just fading. It doesn’t fill us up. We can, and should be, excited by life and inspired by heroes, and thirsty for art, and expression, and the human experience. But it can only be supplemental at best. The accumulation of all the living, and thought, and religious stuff will only lead to homesickness, as Karl Barth wrote. Those things are all similar in that they are Process, an exercise (and sometimes a very good and perfectly enjoyable one). What Jesus offers is quite different: a relationship, and more specifically- THE relationship.

Our culture largely misunderstands love and evil. At any given moment, cruelty in various forms is being justified and talked into legitimacy, while love is often seen as little more than a shortcut to receiving affirmation and affection (having nothing to do with personal sacrifice). In a culture that is learning to crave finger-pointing, and tends to rationalize wrongs when committed by the self, God’s offer of reconciliation and grace can only be seen as trivial. I don’t know if it’s human nature or our contemporary culture but we seem to be very good at a weird kind of ranking system where our personal vices are declared “harmless” or “not that bad,” especially when compared to others, and our goals are always noble and worthy, simply because we envisioned them in the first place. Seems to be a pretty insulated way of going through life, and it doesn’t stop longing and identity questions from fighting to invade our thoughts.  

How then can we reach out to God? Clearly we are fallen people in a mixed-up world. I’ll get into a bit of doctrine in the next installment but for now I’ll just say- God first reaches for us, because He loved you and me, even in our broken state. I don’t want to limit the way God’s spirit works, or the infinite number of ways that He encourages a person towards Him. For those who respond to Jesus, each journey is probably different. But one thing is certain- any response to God must include a personal surrender. If we treat this life like one big vending machine, and keep making choices based only on what we want and when we want it, how then can we learn to worship and be changed by God? Instead, this particular journey (the one involving Jesus) must include a continual surrender. More on that later.

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Hey look everyone- it’s Americanized Jesus, the Tranquil Edition!

In my own life, nothing has been more intellectually meaty, illuminating and life-changing than the teachings of Jesus. But even that is secondary to the supernatural event that occurred when Christ died for our depravity by allowing himself to be tortured and murdered and, by the grace and love of God, offered forgiveness to mankind (and as a gift, expecting no favors in return). I don’t even necessarily comprehend that, but it’s the single greatest message I’ve ever heard or could ever, even in a room full of a dozen writers trying to come up with something better. I can’t find anyone else who died for me, who returned from death, who heals both the body and the soul, and promises to be my savior and Lord. I can’t find another teacher whose words convict me when I’m loving myself too much but also give hope and peace when my life is a mess. Where is a source of love greater than Jesus?  I don’t think it exists. Everywhere else I turn I find people and belief systems telling me to try harder, or do it differently, or be devout, or to act my way to godliness. Some of those messages come from within churches professing to follow Jesus. No thanks. It’s precisely those actions which led me, a former religious asshole, to ruin myself and some things around me. Outside of Jesus, I wouldn’t know where to find enduring hope. If I’m wrong, and Jesus and the Bible amount to a giant scam, then I have no idea where to get lasting purpose, not to mention other things like truth and nourishment. As C.S. Lewis said:

Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.

For me, following Jesus is the greatest (daily) challenge of my life, and it’s by the strength of God, and not my own ambition, that I am able to walk with Him. The Bible doesn’t pretend to be filled with obvious truths and conclusions. It can be maddening and mysterious to read, but let’s be honest- would God be worth our time if conventional wisdom did the trick? Some days I’m stopped by the thought “do I really, actually believe this stuff?” You know- having to do with things including resurrection and bodily ascension to Heaven. But I really do, even in the face of my doubt. I feel compelled to believe as if something outside of myself draws me to God despite my efforts to walk, or at times, run away. God fights for us. Despite crooked humanity, God works to change people towards Himself, that we might learn to grow in truth and in love, sharing both of those things with others (and Him). Not dutifully, but in joy.

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How about Museum Circuit Jesus?

Photo credit: nationalgeographic.com

I invite and encourage you to Jesus in this way: open the gospel of Matthew, or Mark, Luke or John, and meet the living Lord as He was on this earth, and is today. Let his words, ministry and sacrifice meet you where you’re at- and be honest about your doubts and curiosities of faith. Don’t listen to those delicate Christians who cast their own insecurities on the character of God- His skin, unlike theirs, is thick. The Bible is filled with examples of God urging people to reason, and to wrestle through the tough times and tougher thoughts with Him. Note that His book is filled with poetry, and doubt, and men and women of God who stumble and fail. Allow Him to interrupt your life, even for a few minutes. Don’t settle for someone else’s interpretation of Jesus (including mine- I’m no theologian) or the politically messy (and frequently stupid) messages about Christ coming out of mainstream Christianity, but instead- open yourself to the man who claimed to be The God. Jesus said: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” That’s one of the weightiest things I’ve ever had to consider. Not “I am one of many options” or “I have a few neat pointers for you,” but The Way, and The Truth, and The Life. Do you believe Him?

In what can feel like lackluster times, filled with cynacism and (often understandable) anger and frustration, are you willing to let yourself be loved in the way it was and is intended to be? Are you (and I) able to expose ourselves to God as we really truly are, beneath the half smiles and the forced laughs? God does not fit easily into our compartments (and He keeps breaking out of the ones I try to put Him in). But his love is greater than whatever we insist on controlling, or having, or chasing. Take it from a controlling guy. We are all creatures that worship. Some worship youth, or the status quo, or pleasure, or self.  I am convinced that the alternative of the risen Lord is the real deal, and though rewards are not the point of this personal surrender, His gifts are also far sweeter. What will you worship?