I read two articles online today that made me reflect on changes in culture today. The first is this one from Yahoo: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100817/ap_on_re_us/us_mindset_list
If you’re lazy or you’d rather not read it, I’ll summarize (otherwise reading the rest of this blog will be pointless). Beloit College Mindset List is distributed every year as a way of helping its faculty understand the culture of the incoming freshmen. This year, it points out that these freshmen have likely never seen a phone with a cord, don’t use email because it’s too slow, and think of Clint Eastwood as a sensitive director rather than as Detective Harry Callahan growling, “The question is, do you feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?” (I need to confess, I’ve never seen a Dirty Harry or Man with No Name movie.) The culture around us continually evolves, and if we think that everyone has the same experience we have had, we will likely be as relevant as a rotary phone to most people (a rotary phone has a circular dial rather than buttons…You know what, just go ask your grandparents).
The second article was a little more revealing (please feel free to read it here: http://inewp.com/?p=4679). Simply put, the article points to a number of studies and some reported data that shows the decline of “evangelical” churches in America, and the low opinion non-Christians have toward “evangelicals.” While some of the data presented does not seem well researched, the article raises a few questions. First, what is an “evangelical”? Most anyone you ask might have a different answer to that question, causing a skew in their response to questions about “evangelicals”. Second question, and more important: By “evangelical”, do they mean all Christians? Or at least those that when they think of Christian first pop up in their mind? If so, are Christians going the way of rotary phones and Dirty Harry? Irrelevant and unfamiliar to the world we are called to love?
As a person who has given his life to following Jesus and inviting others on that journey with me, these articles make me stop and think: What am I doing to represent Jesus and his message of grace and love to the world in a way differently than the negative stereotype people have? Am I living the message of Jesus in such a way that something different is seen than seems to be typical?
I think the big problem is that too often I hear Christians (often labeled “evangelicals”) get caught up trying to make it clear what they are against rather than what they are for. I think the entire planet has gotten an idea what they is against. The question we need to ask ourselves is has the Church made it just as clear what we are for? Are followers of Jesus going on talk shows ranting about how we love people no matter what, or are we (they are my brothers and sisters, no matter how crazy I find them) ranting about the decline of “American” values?” Too often “evangelicals” would rather bark about the need to repeal Roe v. Wade than to go and walk alongside an unwed mother and let her know she’s not alone. Too often we’d rather vote on what is and isn’t “legal” marriage than to walk alongside people to help each other build healthy relationships.
The question is this: Is following Jesus going the same way as the wristwatch? Is it getting left behind (pun intended)? If so, is it because we’d rather tell people what we’re against rather than living what we’re for? But Jared, Jesus doesn’t approve of… Maybe so, but what is Jesus for? But Jared, the Bible says God hates… Maybe so, but what does the Bible say God loves? Are we sharing what God is for? This by no means compromising the gospel. I think it really means finally grasping what the gospel (Good News) is really all about.
So, what do you think? Is following Jesus becoming a relic to our culture? Is it becoming a relic to you? If so, what would it mean to begin living your life in such a way that you’re living out what Jesus is for? How would that change you?
To me, “following” Jesus is what I consider lip service. Being a Jesus “doer” is more to my liking. I look at Jesus as more of a teacher, healer, and a person who opposed social injustice. I like to see myself as a student of Jesus and to carry on his work to reflect his teachings. To me one relic is that Jesus saves and washes away all sin; all you have to do is accept Him, which for me is the wrong message…that is what the church says, I’m not so sure Jesus said that. Another relic is Paul. Paul’s works (written) are from a vision. The Mormon Church started because of a vision of John Smith. A bunch of folks killed themselves in Johannesburg because of Jim Johnson’s (I think that is his name) vision, and the list goes on. I think much of the dogma and ideologies of the church came from Paul, which smacks of fundamentalism. So if someone asks me if I’ve been saved or need to be saved to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, they have turned me off. It’s not about me or my salvation, or even yours or their salvation; it is about helping others, not saving them or judging them, but to love, to share and teach love by our actions every day of the week. What exactly are we being saved from? Hell? I doubt it. Maybe we all need to be saved from ourselves.
Sodbuster, I hear what you’re saying, and your post highlights some of what I’m talking about. Sharing what you think by saying how others are wrong often shuts down dialogue. I think it’s important that we communicate our values not in relationship to how they stand against another set of values, but on how they are valuable to creating a better world in and of themselves.
I’m sorry to hear that you consider “following” Jesus as lip-service. To me it is a responsibility I take quite seriously. I follow Jesus in seeking to live out His way in the world, in seeking to love humanity (even those I can’t stand), and to love God with ever bit of who I am. If it is lip-service to you, then by all means, don’t talk about it. But for me, it is never lip-service, it is living to bring about the kingdom in some way every day.
Jared, you stated in this blog, “I think it really means finally grasping what the gospel (Good News) is really all about.” You’ve hit the nail on the head! In my experience, there seem to be two “gospels” — the gospel about Jesus and the gospel of Jesus.
Most traditional Christians of my acquaintence appear to strongly emphasize the former — the gospel about Jesus, which concerns itself primarily with believing in Church doctrines and creeds about Jesus, which in turn seems to lead to a self-absorptive preoccupation with personal salvation, with converting others, and as you point out with such things as “ranting about the decline of ‘American’ values.” Although they may be very devout and well-intended, I do not think of these folks as truly “followers of Jesus”, but rather as “worshipers of Christ.”
Then, there is the gospel of Jesus:
The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ…” [Mark 1:1 NRSV, italics mine]
…Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the good news of God, and saying “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news” [Mark 1:14-15 NRSV]
Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom… [Matt 4:23 NRSV]
Jesus went on, as related in the synoptic Gospel books, to teach about, to exemplify, and to live out the good news of the kingdom — that kingdom not being a physical domain on earth, nor an ephemeral domain in the hereafter — but a radically new way of thinking and living in the here and now. A spiritual and ethical Way that would truly transform the world. For me, to be truly a follower of Jesus is to begin to walk his Way of radical and generous compassion, service, forgiveness, inclusion, and social justice. The narrow and rugged road less taken. A transformational path.
Jared, this gospel of Jesus is for me what it’s really all about. You ask, “Is following Jesus becoming a relic?” I think I tend to agree with G.K Chesterton who said, “Christianity hasn’t been a failure; it just hasn’t been tried yet.” I believe he was referring to this distinction between the gospels about Jesus and of Jesus. The Church for the last couple of millenia has been mostly concerned with the gospel about Jesus.
I would refer those interested in this point of view to a couple of short, thoughtful and articulate, video presentations by Brian McLaren on Jesus’ gospel of the kingdom:
“The Secret Message of Jesus” at:
“Rethink Everything” at:
Thanks, Jared, for this MPB (most-provocative blog.)