Would the Radical Jesus Like You?
Jan 25th, 2008 by John
Would the radical Jesus like you? I asked myself that question and thought about it. I let the question sink into my soul. I didn’t give the candy-coated answer like, “Well, Jesus loves everyone so he surely must love me, too.” Would he like me?
In the Gospels I usually identify with all the people Jesus serves. I think that he both liked and loved them. But if I am honest, I should see myself in those groups that didn’t like Jesus and I don’t think he liked them very much, either.
Blessed are the poor, Jesus said. I am not poor. God, I am so rich compared to 95% of the world’s population. I believe I need to slap myself into reality and acknowledge that I live under some sharply stern warnings about money that Jesus voiced.
I think Jesus weeps over my callousness toward the oppressed and vulnerable. I think he emotionally resists how I can be so self-absorbed in the face of starving children, lonely widows and widowers, wayward teens, ignored minorities and deeply wounded gay people.
I can spend more money on one cup of “really good coffee” than most in the world make in a week. I happily sip away oblivious that many are dying of hunger or disease that my coffee money could have fed or medicated. I will not be let off the hook because “Well, I just didn’t know.”
I think Jesus would rub me the wrong way. I think his gaze and his words would rip away my facade of being a nice guy. I think he would take me to a high mountain and show me all the kingdoms of suffering he sees and he would open my ears to all the cries of terror and pain he hears. Many of the voices would be those of children. Then he might walk me back to my favorite coffee place and sit beside me and just watch me sip at my really good coffee. I think I would feel at least awkward and probably very uncomfortable. I think I would want Jesus to get up and leave. And I am not trying to poop on myself here. I am actually wondering if Jesus and I would get along.
And if he does get up and leave, what do I do?
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I would like to think that Jesus and I would get along some of the time at least. I probably would get bothered or even pissed when he showed me the suffering around me in contrast to my own ease, but I also think that he would tell me that if I will follow him, he will show me how to serve those who are hurting. I see his prodding to be an encouragement to see the world as he does.
But then again, if I started to fall back into some old Phariseical patterns, I think he would probably jump on me with both feet.
That’s a tough question to ask honestly. Would he look at us like Pharisees? Or would it be more like the Rich Young Ruler, whom Jesus genuinely liked? There was just all that money in the way, and they both went away sad.
Fred,
I like the grace in your words, “…he would tell me that if I will follow him, he will show me how to serve those who are hurting.”
Post Song Blackbird,
I still wonder if I have probed the depths of the question yet.
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John-
It is really refreshing to see someone conclude that Jesus wouldn’t automatically be their best pal and like all the things they like and hate all the things they hate. Far too many people think that by merely saying they ‘believe in’ Jesus and adopting a smug, self-satisfied attitude they are ’saved’ or whatever. The rapture-obsessed among us aren’t much different from Scientologists when you come down to it, and I’ve actually encountered contemporary Christians who actually think being a Pharisee is a good idea. You seem to understand that Christ is challenging us to live by his words, not congratulating us for paying lip service or encouraging us to believe in elaborate metaphysical claptrap. Thanks for the great post.
WD
[...] Ouch. [...]
[...] Posted in food for thought at 9:26 am by Wisdom Moon This is a provoking post that I came across today by a senior pastor: Would The Radical Jesus Like You? [...]
Winston,
I am tracking with you. You offered some great thoughts here. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
John
[...] September, 2008 by glenscriv Do you ever wonder, like this blogger, if Jesus would actually like you? Not whether some abstract principle of grace covers you. But the question, How would the [...]
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Simple answer: Jesus liked everyone. He may have demonstrated anger at some folks that hung out at the temple…but how could he love us all if he didn’t like us? I don’t think that the saying “you have to love but you don’t have to love the person.” is incorrect.
However, just because he likes me doesn’t mean he likes how I act at times or what I did in the past or how I may treat people on occasion.
Anyway He likes me…consequently I like me.