In his book, “Why the Jews Rejected Jesus”, author David Klinghoffer simply states, “In the Bible, an imaginative person can discover proof of just about anything”. So has been the Christian faith over the centuries.
No more is it present that today. Christianity by in large is no longer known by it’s leader, Jesus, but by the churches and movements. These movements can also be outside the churches, with Para-church ministries and programs taking focus away from the actual practice that Jesus taught His followers to observe.
Much of what Christians do and believe have little bearing on Jesus. Their actions reflect a poor and limited understanding of the commands of Jesus. It is not a question of the heart; I believe that most Christians want to live a life pleasing to God and to follow the instructions of Jesus. It boils down to the kind of instructions they receive from their spiritual guides and the lack of focus and priority placed on personal study and searching.
For example, my 4-year old, Sammy, was trying to melt ice cubes in the microwave. When I asked him why he was doing this, he said he wanted some water. This is one way to get water, but not the best way. He did, however, manage to clean out the glass dish in the microwave with the steaming water.
What I am suggesting here is inviting Jesus back into the faith. He has been ousted for many years. He is not particularly interested in your building, your songs, your worship style, your liturgy or your views on doctrinal issues. He is greatly interested in connection. His desire, as I see it from the Scriptures devoted to His name, is relationship and connectivity with His followers. He wants and seeks disciples; not androids that mindlessly repeat a doctrinal stance He never taught or supported.
More to the point, our differences have caused a wedge between Jesus and people that don’t know Him. I have no problems discussing God with people, but when the subject of Jesus comes up, the subject of Christians comes up. Want to know the major complaint people share with me about us Christians? It is not the one we go for every time. It is not that we fail, sin or have faults like every other human. It is that we have those faults and still act as the judge and moral conscience of society. We don’t love them like Jesus does. For that matter, we don’t love each other as Jesus commanded.
Here are three points I think we can work towards that will help Jesus back into our faith and practice:
1) Your truth is not the only truth. By focusing on our differences, we focus on division. I have sat through many debates and meetings where the cost of being right cost love. If that is the correct standard, than God violated that standard by sending Jesus to atone for our sins. We have never stood in the right, but God’s love overpowered His need to be right. That, by the way is the message of Jesus, spot on.
We need to be loving and understanding towards each other. Jesus hits everyone differently. He stood tall with the educated, humble with the poor in spirit, well spoken with the crowds and strong in His death. The Apostle Paul even states that when he tries to reach people with the message of Jesus, he became “all things to all men”.
2) Promote the ways that bring peace. When I do engage people about Jesus, converting them to my way of thinking or to the Christian faith is the last thing on my mind. A good friend once told me, “If you have them taking, you have all you could ask for”. Solomon said in Proverbs, “Where there is life, there is hope”. I have watched (sadly) students, churchgoers, and the mildly curious completely shut down because they asked the wrong question. Why not allow the dialogue to flow openly? We can promote the way of peace (shalom) by being interested participators in their lives instead of judges. The time of the judges is past and the time of Jesus is here. Be open and seek peace with all. Don’t just seek peace, pursue it.
3) Study, study, study. Then, when you are done, study all the more. Here is why: If the Devil is in the details, than we can find Jesus in the Scriptures. When I teach classes’ onsite at churches, I am overwhelmed by what they don’t know. The most interesting part is this: they say they don’t talk much about Jesus because of the challenges and questions they have to field about Him. Really??? That is awesome… God is sending people to your door.
We can never truly be disciples of Jesus-knowing His will and desire for each of us-without spending the time in deep and meaningful study. Once a week “pep” talks (or beatings) from your pastor isn’t going to get it done.
We also need to encourage, edify and instruct people to study and most importantly, become comfortable with the challenges of the Scriptures. Most people are more vested in educating themselves before buying a house than preparing for eternity.
Not every Christian form, practice, church or denomination can relate to what I have written here. If you see above the clouds on this one, go forward in grace. But for the rest of you, take heart. Jesus want to be known, followed, obeyed and studied. He rewards those that seek Him.
Let’s work together to bring Jesus not only back for His Second Coming, but back into our lives by simply following His instructions.
David Fournier
David Fournier in the Senior Instructor at Restoring Grace. David teaches classes on Hebraic Perspectives, Early Christian Communities and New Testament Formations and Canon. David is available for your church, youth group, seminars and retreats. Email David at: dfour26@gmail.com
