On facebook today I saw a beautiful poster, flowers and fancy script, with these words:
A doctor may save your life;
A lawyer may defend your life;
A soldier can give you a peaceful life;
But only JESUS can give you everlasting life!
I have a bit of a problem with the line about the soldier, but overall I find nothing wrong with this little poster. Jesus is the source of everlasting life! He gives us life, and life more abundantly! That is the good news in a nutshell, and it is worth telling everyone the whole world over. The Author of life loves you, wants to dwell in and with you, live through you, and after this reality is over, receive you into an everlasting habitation, a place where you (finally and truly) BELONG.
I love Jesus. I love the gospel. We should proclaim the Lord's great love and sacrifice for us all, everywhere we go. To Jesus be the glory always.
Which is why, when I read the accompanying comment, it made me so mad. I absolutely loathe the idolatry going on in America today, where allegiance to the so-called "Biblical" political beliefs has replaced Jesus as the apex of our faith. The person writes under this poster:
She posts a poster claiming that Jesus gives eternal life, and then replaces "Jesus" with the words "Biblical Worldview" in her own words beneath said poster. It is not Jesus who has the answers to life's questions. No, it is the "biblical worldview" that she truly worships.
And that, in a nutshell, says about all there is to say about the state of American Christianity today, at least in my neck of the woods.
I will remain loyal to Jesus and to Jesus alone. Right wing politics, old earth creationism, misogyny, homophobia, and patriarchy be damned. It angers me that these political positions have replaced Jesus as being worthy of praise and worship. It angers me that people now promote that salvation lies in accepting and affirming these political positions, rather than in the person of Jesus Christ.
What a sad, sad state of affairs the Western church has created for itself. In the memorable words of Steve Taylor, "True believers won't be snowed."
Pray for all of us who remain loyal to Jesus, that we won't be coerced into bowing to the idols set up by fundamentalism. It's getting really creepy out there!
A doctor may save your life;
A lawyer may defend your life;
A soldier can give you a peaceful life;
But only JESUS can give you everlasting life!
I have a bit of a problem with the line about the soldier, but overall I find nothing wrong with this little poster. Jesus is the source of everlasting life! He gives us life, and life more abundantly! That is the good news in a nutshell, and it is worth telling everyone the whole world over. The Author of life loves you, wants to dwell in and with you, live through you, and after this reality is over, receive you into an everlasting habitation, a place where you (finally and truly) BELONG.
I love Jesus. I love the gospel. We should proclaim the Lord's great love and sacrifice for us all, everywhere we go. To Jesus be the glory always.
Which is why, when I read the accompanying comment, it made me so mad. I absolutely loathe the idolatry going on in America today, where allegiance to the so-called "Biblical" political beliefs has replaced Jesus as the apex of our faith. The person writes under this poster:
After returning home from 10 days in the acute care section of the hospital quotes such as this are more meaningful than ever. What a comfort our God is. The Biblical Worldview is the only one with all the answers.See that?
She posts a poster claiming that Jesus gives eternal life, and then replaces "Jesus" with the words "Biblical Worldview" in her own words beneath said poster. It is not Jesus who has the answers to life's questions. No, it is the "biblical worldview" that she truly worships.
And that, in a nutshell, says about all there is to say about the state of American Christianity today, at least in my neck of the woods.
I will remain loyal to Jesus and to Jesus alone. Right wing politics, old earth creationism, misogyny, homophobia, and patriarchy be damned. It angers me that these political positions have replaced Jesus as being worthy of praise and worship. It angers me that people now promote that salvation lies in accepting and affirming these political positions, rather than in the person of Jesus Christ.
What a sad, sad state of affairs the Western church has created for itself. In the memorable words of Steve Taylor, "True believers won't be snowed."
Pray for all of us who remain loyal to Jesus, that we won't be coerced into bowing to the idols set up by fundamentalism. It's getting really creepy out there!
Good catch...I almost didn't catch it, myself. I've been thinking about that lately...I have friends who go to Mars Hill. They are great people...and it's such a strange feeling to know so many people who go there and whom I believe love Jesus but somehow this church is so elevated that whatever Mark Driscoll does is...fine. I don't get it.
ReplyDeleteBut she didn't replace Jesus with "biblical worldview," you did.
ReplyDeleteShe can believe that her "biblical worldview" explains everything without replacing Jesus as the center of her "biblical worldview." Her comment, in its context as you have given it, expresses the sentiment that Jesus is the center of "the" "biblical worldview."
I think you're right- there are some interesting posts lately about the mis-use of the word "Biblical".
ReplyDeleteFor example, that statement implies that Jesus is not enough- a high view of the military (the soldier brings a peaceful life, etc.) is also part of a "Biblical world-view" if you're not careful.
Even though I am pro-military and married to it(!), I have brother and sisters in Christ who are complete pacifists. I am happy to worship with both capitalists and socialists. Our worldviews will fail and fade away, but as you have said- Jesus is all that matters. Thanks for that.
No Tragedy 101, she plainly did. I was very clear about which wording was hers.
ReplyDeleteJesus in not at the center of the phrase "Biblical Worldview", nowhere near. Answers in Genesis the organization is in there; Focus on the Family is in there, hating gay people, Muslims, and non-fundamentalist Christians is in there, but Jesus is not included in their doctrines anywhere. It's all about right wing politics.
Which is so odd, because Jesus was all for loving your enemies and doing them good, giving more than was required by the government soldiers who made you carry thier burdens, and he was forever breaking the law- touching dead bodies, lepers, bleeding women, healing on the Sabbath, his disciples reaping and eating with unwashed hands. His only beef was with organized religion; all other comers may have been challenged but were never rejected. Only the goats- who, remember are so sure they deserve Him because of their religious advocacy- wind up rejected by the Savior.
It's plain enough to anyone who knows Jesus.
Thank you. Blog bites better than the Bullet, for your eloquent way of putting it. World views will fail and fade away, for sure.
ReplyDeleteI have been thinking a lot lately about Jesus' words to Pilate: "My kingdom is not of this world, otherwise my followers would fight."
Soooo, why are so many of his so-called followers fighting, ya know?