What If Jesus Really Meant What He Said?

0 Comments

What If Jesus Really Meant What He Said?

Tony Campolo asked the question at our recent “Red Letter Christians” conference at Truett Seminary. He was quoting Shane Claiborne, one of a growing number of young Christians disillusioned by the modern church’s obsession with consumerist Christianity and political agendas. Shane is trying to live “The Simple Way” (his church) of Jesus.

Shane is considered radical. Why? Because he and a growing number of young disciples of Jesus are taking Jesus at his word. For example, when Jesus said “Love your enemies” (Mt 5:44), did he really mean it? Did Jesus really command Christians to love those who hated them and did them harm? Or should Christians ever torture or kill their enemies? A recent Mercer University/Faith in Public Life Poll revealed that 57% of white evangelicals living in the South believe that torture is “often or sometimes acceptable.”

Or what about Jesus’ “non-retaliation” teachings to “turn the other cheek” and “go the second mile” (Mt. 5:39-41)? Was Jesus just talking? Naïve? Did he not understand the real world? Did Jesus really mean what he said?

And what about, “Blessed are the peacemakers” (Mt 5:9). Did Jesus really mean that Christians are to work for peace, rather than rally for war? In the community where I live, a leader in a men’s Bible study group today sent out an email calling for the members to join him in a rally to oppose the leader of the Iranian government, Mr. Ahmadinejad, who was to meet with a group of Quakers and other “liberal religious groups”—a better remedy, no doubt, would be a pre-emptive nuclear strike by Israel or the U.S. government against this ungodly leader and his nation!

Is this what Jesus called us to do and be? I think not. And please don’t quote the Old Testament battles, wars, and conquests—did not Jesus come to reveal a better way? “You have heard it was said to those of ancient times, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth,’ . . . But I say to you . . .” (Mt 5:38-39). Ghandi noted that if we followed that old law, we would live in an eyeless and toothless world!

During the last two years I have visited many churches (mostly Baptist) in the DFW-Denton area of north Texas. This experience has been most disillusioning. At first I thought I finally had reached that grand old age of “Things aren’t what they used to be—and they never were!”

Even though this aphorism may be true, the real problem for the church today is not that the music is too contemporary or the sermons too plagiarized—no, the real problem is the church no longer believes Jesus meant what he said!

Two main church types prevail. The first is the modern “non-denominational” community church (though they may secretly be affiliated with a denomination). This type is basically a proponent of consumerist Christianity. By that I mean, every aspect of the church—the music, the activities, the sermons, the mission statements, the staff (including their attire), the building itself—everything is in tune with modern American culture and what is popular!

This consumerist church gives the people what they want, not what they need! It focuses on making everyone “feel good.” Usually these congregations are large, although many smaller churches copy them. They offer everything you ever wanted in life—cafeterias, bookstores, gymnasiums, private schools (where your children can remain untainted by the evil world—whatever happened to “salt and light”?), and sermons that soothe your ego and reinforce your prejudices. The music is not that much different from the rock concert you attended on Saturday night, with words that put you in a mesmerized trance of “Jesus and me” rather than the biblical pattern of “Jesus and We.” And seldom if ever will you hear a prophetic word about living on earth as Jesus did!

Then there’s a second kind of church—the “true-blue” one that focuses on right belief and doctrinal purity, usually to the neglect of ethics and character. Sometimes this group tries to include a bit of contemporary music and method, hoping to steal some of the growth spurts of the consumerist church. However, this feeble attempt to be “contemporary” is much like putting lipstick on a pig (where did I get that analogy?).

Nevertheless, the “true-blue” church mainly holds steadfastly to its theological correctness—either explained in Articles of Faith that come from God through Moses, the prophets, and denominational headquarters, or a creed put on the church’s website.

I recently viewed such a site and read their simplistic statements about God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Bible, Salvation, and Eternity.

Anything wrong with that? Of course not, as far as it goes. But in all eight paragraphs listing over 50 scripture verses, not one word about the Christian’s call to discipleship in this world. Not one word about any of the commands of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. Not one word about Christ-like behavior or taking Jesus’ words seriously!

And ever since James Robinson gathered evangelicals to endorse Reagan for president, too many modern preachers see themselves as political pundits. On October 27, CNN interviewed a Baptist pastor who was joining thirty other ministers to endorse a presidential candidate from their pulpit, in defiance of a law forbidding churches with tax-exempt status doing so. Forget the tax question. Do they really believe that they can bring in the kingdom of God through a political party?

So I come back to where I started. Did Jesus really mean what he said? I challenge you, this week, to read Matthew 5-7 and then ask that question. The answer will trouble you, I think. I know it troubles me.

JET

Correction: In endnote 2 on p. 12 of Issue 71, the website of PASCH should be www.peaceandsafety.com .