What is the Church? Those with “Hard” Love for Christ
Dear Saints,
Can Jesus only be loved once He goes to finishing school? Does He need us preachers to play image consultant, brand manager for Him to be accepted? Has our Jesus been handled?
I love that Jesus wept (John 11:35), that He mother-henned (Matthew 23:37), called common folks to ministry (Acts 4:13), bid children come (Matthew 19:14), didn't pass by outcasts (John 4:9), was silent when reviled (I Peter 2:23), had a calming presence (Mark 4:39), whosoevered every tribe, tongue, people, nation (John 3:16). There's more.
Yet I squirm in puzzlement that Jesus brought out a whip & upturned tables (John 2:15), likened Samaritans to dogs (Matthew 15:26), that He could be a downer (Luke 6:24–26), will open the tribulation seals (Revelation 5:5), awkwardly put ppl in their place (Luke 17:10), will trample the winepress of the wrath of Almighty God (Revelation 19:15). There's more.
Most of us prefer the former. We want (demand?) sunny-side-up, topical preaching that skips over uncomfotable moments with Jesus. This is the norm in modern pulpits.
But there is an emerging trend. Mostly under 40-somethings. I call it the man-up movement or machismo Gospel. It shows up in certain, not all, forms of post-millenialism and Christian Nationalism.
(Note: Christian Nationalism is wide-spectrum, highly variable, with many iterations. Beware of blanket condemnation or blanket commendation. It takes “wise as a serpent and gentle as a dove to discern and navigate. More on that someday).
Anyway, they are tired of a saccharin, sanitized, simplistic Jesus. And though they see some real and consequential compromise going on—dear God!—the “corrections” are mostly severe, bizarre, and foul-mouthed.
(Let's see, rein it in Cook). I try not to approach this subject in terms of preference. Hmm, which “side” of Jesus do I want to lean on? For me it is a matter of Godly fear, not preference. I fear to somehow strip Jesus of His soft or stern. I fear to truncate the whole, all-surprising, complex Christ. I believe it when the Bible says: “Note then the kindness and the severity of God….” (Romans 11:22). I believe “God is love.” (1 John 4:8, 16). I also believe He is “a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:29). Indeed, I know the same fiery passion of His love both burns away dross and purifies silver in the self-same act. But even this rare balanced Jesus is still too much for o so many.
Now, mind you, this is one of many forthcoming missives on What is the Church? The church, that is the true church, is comprised of not-ashamed ones.
That is, they are not ashamed of the whole Jesus—soft/hard, forgiving/commanding, caring/correcting, promising/warning, both/and, not either/or. (Matthew 11:6). They embrace all the Red Letters, not merely the sanitized soundbytes. (Luke 9:26). And they are not ashamed of the whole Gospel, including the bad news (lost, sin-ner, perishing, judgment, hell) which makes the good news gooder (“Savior-grace”, forgiveness, belonging, purpose, heaven). (Romans 1:16).
To be clear: What is the church? Those who are not ashamed of the true Christ and the true Gospel.
Put another way: As we plan for the future of the church, there will be a temptation to present a Jesus a bit more palatable to modern sensibilities and culture. But Jesus isn't having it, for He said: “And I, when I am lifted up [as I AM, wordplay intended], from the earth, I will draw all people to Myself.” (John 12:32).
Said a final way: A handled Jesus, a managed Jesus, a brand-consulted Jesus is no longer Jesus, rather “another Jesus.” (2 Corinthians 11:4). And that is a big O Dear!
The Only Best is/in Jesus,
tIM