Nonsense?

 I expect you've seen the recent ads operating under the title of "He Gets Us." They're designed to make those without Him more aware of Him and see in Him in a more appealing way than they currently might. I understand the motives behind them. Just as I understood an earlier attempt to do the same with the "Got Jesus?" campaign. Well-meaning as they both were and are, I have problems with the concept. I have some honest questions and concerns as well.

In the "He Gets Us" movement I would ask, though it is comforting to know that He does completely understand us, isn't it even more important that we "get" Him? That we come into real understanding of who He is, why He came, what He accomplished on the cross and in His resurrection? My problem with the ads is that they center on us far more than upon Him. In my prayer journal I've written down, "Is He our resource or our Source?" Is He Someone we can use to have a better way, a better and more successful life? Someone who can make us happy, secure, and content. Or is He our Source, the center of all of our life and all life. Scripture says that "In Him all things hold together." Jesus is not our Master Tool in our "How To Have A Good Life" kit. Can we face the honest question of whether or not that is exactly how we've been viewing Him?

I'm asking all this because it seems we're trying so hard to "market" Jesus Christ. To make Him more appealing to those who don't know Him. To help them see just how much good He can do for them. How much He can add to their lives. The choice then comes down to it not being about His Sovereign grace piercing the darkness of our hearts and convicting us of our lostness due to sin and desperate need for Him, but one of letting people know what a benefit He is. By helping them see how much sense it makes to have Him in their lives and then choosing to "accept" Him. Do I overstate? How often have we, myself included, presented Him as Someone who can really add onto our lives? Making them happier, more successful. We promote Him as a resource, not our Source. Worst of all, we invite them into a life that has no place for a cross. A life that has us at the center, not Him.

I don't know whether it was my thought or not, but in my journal I've written, "Instead of being absorbed into His life, we want Him to adapt His life to ours." In I Corinthians 1:23, Paul writes, ".....but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews, and folly to Gentiles." Paul preached a Christ who loves us too fiercely to ever be willing to merely adapt to our lives and become a helpful part. He preached the Christ who was sent by His Father to offer an abundant life, but a life that can only be realized because He went to the cross. A life that we can realize only by our going to that cross as well....and die there. Die, that we may live. Paul said that this Christ was a stumbling block and a folly. One Bible translation uses the word "nonsense." Coming to and following such a Jesus makes no sense, yet this is the Christ Paul invited people to, as did Peter, John, and the first century church. And the message turned the world upside down, or as one person put, "turned the world right-side up." It was supernatural message bringing about supernatural transformation. It still does and will today if we'll dare to proclaim it. 

A compliant Jesus adapting to our natural world, never disturbing our comfort zones will transform nothing. Christ crucified, victorious over death and sin in all of its form will. Do you know this Jesus, or does He continue to be a stumbling block, just plain nonsense to you?

Blessings,
Pastor O