“We create a ‘convenient Jesus’ who fits neatly into our Sunday mornings but doesn’t intrude on our Monday meetings. . . . compartmentalize our faith, keeping Jesus in the sanctuary while our business practices, entertainment choices, and financial decisions remain largely untouched by his teachings. . . . We craft a ‘spiritual but not religious Jesus,’ who offers the wisdom of Yoda but makes no demands for committed community.”- Kyle Idleman and Mark E. Moore
“The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives.”-Luke 4:18 (ESV)
As Kyle Idleman and Mark E. Moore move on in Chapter 1 of The Missing Messiah, they talk about the consequences of creating a Jesus who affirms our comfort zone. Rather than challenges it.
Therefore, Kyle and Mark argue, we:
- imagine a ‘safe Jesus’ who offends no one. And, to appear winsome and relevant, we filter out His more challenging statements.
- mold a ‘middle class Jesus’ who blesses our pursuit of comfort and security; interpret His calls for sacrificial generosity as suggestions for occasional charity.
- sculpt a ‘success-oriented Jesus’; hence, we replace Kingdom metrics — faithfulness, service, and love — with attendance figures and fundraising totals.
- develop a ‘therapeutic Jesus’; who always affirms yet never confronts. A Jesus primarily concerned with our happiness, rather than our holiness. Thus, this version of Jesus calls us to self-care more often than self-denial.
In conclusion, Kyle and Mark underscore:
“The revolutionary Messiah who flipped tables in the Temple, who challenged the religious and political powers of his day, who demanded complete allegiance from his followers, and who called for a radical reordering of values and priorities — this Jesus is far more challenging than the customized versions we create. And it’s precisely this Jesus we need to rediscover.”
Today’s question: What best helps us to avoid keeping Jesus in the sanctuary? Please share.
Coming Monday: the August Short Meditation, “Turns our sighs into a song”
Tomorrow’s blog: “Build-A-Jesus: comforting”