I debated long and hard about writing this post.
Part of me really wants to sit back and ignore what other people think.
Their opinions are just that, “Theirs.”
And, if no one appears to be injured by that opinion, why not just leave well enough alone?
Then, there’s that other part of me.
You know, that part that causes the hair on the back of my neck to stand on edge when I sense injustice. When people, whether consciously or not, say or do things that may clearly impact others negatively.
Yeah, I think that’s the part that wins out today.
Truthfully, what I have to say today may not mean much to anyone reading this. It may simply seem like a minor disagreement about religious ideas.
Bear with me.
I’ll get to the point eventually.
Yesterday was Easter. Christian High Holy Day of all Holy Days.
It is the celebration of Messiah Jesus’ victory over death.
For this the entire Cosmos celebrates.
But, we must remember that the only way that we get to Easter is straight through Good Friday.
Most of us know that on that day, Jesus was stripped, beaten, and ultimately nailed to a tree and left to die. Gruesome? Yes. Heinous? Yes. Necessary? Also, Yes.
Jesus knew that his path lay along that path. His prayer the night before lets us in on that.
“Father, if this cup can pass from me.”
He knew what was contained in that cup.
Here’s the part that we don’t usually think of right away.
Jesus CHOSE to drink it anyway…to drain it to the dregs.
Jesus’ entire public life was characterized by this same self-giving.
The apostle Paul recorded this in the letter that he wrote to the Church at Philippi.
Jesus, he wrote, “emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.” Phil. 2:7.
Jesus also taught his followers that they must consider others more important than themselves. They must love one another with the Same Self-Giving Love that He had for them. That they must, “Take up their cross” in order to follow him.
Paul consistently told the early Church that they would need to suffer as they followed Jesus. And, that they should count that suffering as Joy!
These are the things that characterized the first followers of Jesus.
Distilled to the essentials, “Self-giving, self-sacrificing Love.”
So, yesterday I watched a half hour Easter presentation by the senior pastor of a local Mega Church Wannabe.
His message of “hope” revolved around how we can, because of Jesus, turn our graves into gardens.
Because of Jesus all of our needs can be met.
Our sorrow becomes joy as we kneel before Jesus.
We are “saved” from all kinds of evil because, yep, Jesus.
All of our tears may be dried and our hope and dreams come to fruition if only we trust Jesus.
Now, all of that sounds kind of ok, right?
It’s a positive message.
God’s love seems to be displayed in this kind of talk.
But, what is the primary thrust of this?
A close look reveals the lie.
Everything this person said was all about, “Me; My; Mine.”
It is all about what God will do for ME!
This is a self-centered false gospel that elevates my wants and desires above those of anyone, and everyone, else.
The danger in this kind of false gospel is that it is a reflection of, and a justification for, the kind of individualist exceptionalism that is far too prevalent in our culture.
From the Seven Mountains heresy to America First the idea of God pouring out blessings on Me becomes the main, and only, focus of what it means to follow Jesus.
We see this played out every day by people who claim that THEIR religious liberties are being threatened. They cry out that THEIR rights to do this or that should take precedent over YOUR rights.
This false gospel reinforces the Reformation ethic of my personal salvation is all that matters. It states that if I was the only person who needed saving, Jesus would still come and die…for ME.
I’m not saying that Jesus would not do that. I am simply pointing out where the focus of such a statement lies.
With ME.
I’m sorry.
That’s not the way the Gospel works.
That’s certainly NOT what Jesus and the early Church modeled.
Make no mistake.
The Gospel is all about God reconciling the Cosmos to God’s Self.
It states that God’s faithfulness is always trustworthy.
God has always loved the Creation and desired to share God’s own Love with it.
And, God took the initiative to make it so through Jesus.
That’s how the Gospel works.
You are such a hypocrite since your writings primarily focus around “you” and your feelings. You sound bitter, ego driven knocking anyone who doesn’t see the world as you do. What’s in your closet? How do you treat others around you? You can only wear so many masks.
Thanks for your reply!
I’ll be the first one to admit that I don’t know much of anything.
So, anything written here by me should be taken with a large grain of salt.
That being said, I write what I feel. I can do that. Just as you can, also.
We reinforce this everywhere you look, both in the secular and religious realms. At the trophy company, we used to comment regularly on the sheer number of trophies we were making for “participation”. Just so that no one would feel left out or feel like they weren’t worth anything. While I understand the intent, it also served to emphasize the “me-ness” that’s so prevalent – “see, I got a trophy!” Never mind the fact that you got it just because you walked in the door. And the commercialization of everything helps – the shampoos and body washes and cosmetics and clothing and cars – “because you’re worth it”. Because you’re so damn special. So why wouldn’t we market a God who fawns over His creation? After all, He made us this way – we’re all unique. We’re entitled to the best He can give us.
Yet, there’s a flip side to it – a lot of us don’t feel special at all. A lot of us do feel worthless. Many feel like no one would notice or care if they vanished tomorrow. And, especially now, there are so many who’ve lost jobs and don’t stand a chance (at least currently) of replacing it – it’s easy to feel worthless in those situations. It’s easy to feel lost when everything you knew is upside down and gone. It’s easy to feel alone when you’ve suddenly been cut away from friends, family, and routine. To feel afraid.
So there’s a fine line to walk between the Gospel of “Come to Christ and all your problems will magically go away because He loves YOU so much” and “Come to Christ, He who was also broken and alone, He who was also cut off from God, He who knows what it is to hurt and feel pain. He who did this because He loves you so much.” The former appeals to the “because I’m worth it” crowd – the latter appeals to those who are looking for someone who understands. The Cross becomes something to cling to – because He knows where you are, he’s been there, too.
Thanks for sharing! Yeah, there are lots of things to consider in this. You touch on few of them.