There is so much to say about Jesus. The absence of Jesus from (Post-Christian, Modern to Millenial and Beyond) pulpits is a dramatic (some would say drastic) change in the subject matter of the Church.
In a period of six months I attended a series of worship services for various reasons. I heard a great deal of garage band praise music (most of it pretty good). When it got to be time for the gospel presentation we got to see creative efforts bordering on the fantastic.
What did not happen was a mention of Jesus. There was really no explanation for why a worshipper/seeker should be present at all. There are better shows for other reasons. Why bother, if the main spokesperson for the Christian purpose does not (cannot?) articulate a reason for Christians to seem, well, Christian?
In this long series, which is nowhere near done, I hope to point to some good reasons to know about Jesus. I am weary to death with the half truths of the accommoodational gospel, wherein Jesus is diminished to the point of being unrecognizable.
Scripture, on the other hand, spends a great deal of papyrus explaining Jesus. John’s long, theological gospel ends with the admonition that Jesus did so much in His three year ministry all the books in all the libraries of the world could not contain it all. John the Baptizer says he needs to decrease so that Jesus could be seen to increase. Paul wrote the preaching of the cross was to those who perish foolishness (where does this leave the Jesus-empty modern pulpit?) but to those who believe it is the very power of divine presence.
So, do we spend our time on where we went wrong? Or shall we just acknowledge we went off the rails and then decide what we do from here?
I opt for the latter proposition.
“Jesus is King,” some folks have begun to yell at persons fumbling their way along in national elections. One candidate accepted the assertion. The other chided the witnesses and directed them down the street. Each one received the loud approval of their crowd.
This is the current crisis “in a nutshell.” We need to decide what we actually think about Jesus. Then, we have to proclaim what we believe about Him. Is Jesus just a nice guy and a good teacher?
Or, is He something more? Is He really someone special?
My mind is composed on the subject.