Christianity – No “Buts” Allowed
“Dear World, I Am A Christian But…” That was the title and I read it anyway.
The author pretty much said he is embarrassed to be lumped in with Christians who are speaking out on the news and social media. He did not mention specifics, so I can only guess what topics offend him.
He says he really misses his “Kid Christianity.” I could not help wondering if he was saying he still wants milk instead of meat. He then listed many of the things Jesus did or said that he found so inspiring.
Here are examples he used regarding Christ (there were more):
The one who defied rules of decorum and purity and tradition in order to bring healing and comfort and hope.
The one who preached about the Kingdom of God; a way of being rooted in selflessness and sacrifice; one in direct, defiant opposition to the greed and power and inequality of the day.
The one who spoke unflinchingly into injustice and corruption and religious hypocrisy, and into the hearts and the systems that created and nurtured them.
The one who regularly ate with the priests and the prostitutes, treating both with equal dignity.
The one who endured wrongful imprisonment, brutal violence, and excruciating execution to show the world what love looks like when it pours itself out completely for others
Examining these statements I thought that from the perspective of the Pharisees Jesus was a defiant, heretic who was trying to change their culture into something they did not want. When He defied the “rules of decorum” it caused men to want to kill Him. (Matthew 26:4)
When He preached the Kingdom of God there were more people who wanted to kill Him because of the threat He brought to the existing governments. (Matthew 22:17)The Kingdom of God only pleased the believing few of His day.
When He “unflinchingly spoke into injustice and corruption” (Matthew 23:23) He was using God’s Law – God’s justice – to make His arguments. His Law clearly calls the sinful to repentance, without apologizing for what He considers sin. (Read some of what the prophets said to people. They had no “buts.”)
He did eat with priests and prostitutes. The “equal dignity” was also equal expectations. He was not supporting sinful lifestyles. He was giving them opportunity to know Him and speak of the blessing of obeying God’s Word. (Matthew 21:31-32) He was, in love, taking opportunity to speak Truth about sin into their lives.
And, of course, He did “endure wrongful imprisonment, brutal violence, and excruciating execution to show the world what love looks like when it pours itself out completely for others.” In doing so, He took the punishment for all of our sin. (Hebrews 9:25-28) He took the punishment for any Pharisee who would believe. He took the punishment for the greedy and the powerful, the priest and the prostitute, who would turn from their sin and follow Him.
He had no “buts” in His obedience to God and He accepts no “buts” for our entrance into His Kingdom. If we love Him, we will obey His commands. (John 14:15) He says we are to speak the truth in love. If that falls on the ears of those who are in sin and they are convicted so that they turn to Christ, that is love.
No buts about it.
The article: http://johnpavlovitz.com/2015/09/10/dear-world-im-a-christian-but/