Jesus Christ, Him crucified AND...
For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 1 Corinthians 2:2
I was reading 1 Corinthians tonight and so here are some thoughts from my reading.
The temptation is very real to abandon “Jesus Christ and him crucified” as the sole message one ought to devote themselves to preaching. As I look out to the evangelical landscape I wonder if what appears to be ministry in the name of relevance is actually a succumbing to the temptation. Unlike Paul we have “resolved” to know many other things besides Jesus Christ and him crucified in order to be seen as credible, relevant, likeable, sensible and cool e.g.“Look at my MySpace page and see how I listen to secular bands too!” (No, I am not a legalist). Pastors have determined to “be in” and “with it.” We want the hearers to know that we too can dress cool. We can highlight our hair. We too can wear $200 jeans. We’ve resolved to know many things besides Jesus Christ and Him crucified and call it ministry, but Paul said “I resolved to know nothing…except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” All I’ve got for you is a bloody Messiah. I know this is foolish to you because you wonder what Father would do such a thing to his son. I’ve heard it called “cosmic child abuse”, but that, my friend, is what God calls “the power of God.”
Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:22)
What would Americans demand of Christianity if they are to believe? The Jews demanded a sign. The Greeks of the day wanted to be wooed rhetorically and intellectually, but what criteria would Americans demand? I would suggest that maybe this self-help consumer driven generation would demand to be shown how Christianity is practical. The standard by which they will judge the word of God is primarily a pragmatic one. “How does this help in my daily living? How does your religion help me get through with what I have to deal with daily?” and “Christianity must fit into what I am currently doing.” Jesus in such a case becomes kind of an “add on.” He is no longer a Savior i.e. “one who saves”, but rather one who conforms. No thanks. I’ll take the Jesus of the Bible.
I was reading 1 Corinthians tonight and so here are some thoughts from my reading.
The temptation is very real to abandon “Jesus Christ and him crucified” as the sole message one ought to devote themselves to preaching. As I look out to the evangelical landscape I wonder if what appears to be ministry in the name of relevance is actually a succumbing to the temptation. Unlike Paul we have “resolved” to know many other things besides Jesus Christ and him crucified in order to be seen as credible, relevant, likeable, sensible and cool e.g.“Look at my MySpace page and see how I listen to secular bands too!” (No, I am not a legalist). Pastors have determined to “be in” and “with it.” We want the hearers to know that we too can dress cool. We can highlight our hair. We too can wear $200 jeans. We’ve resolved to know many things besides Jesus Christ and Him crucified and call it ministry, but Paul said “I resolved to know nothing…except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” All I’ve got for you is a bloody Messiah. I know this is foolish to you because you wonder what Father would do such a thing to his son. I’ve heard it called “cosmic child abuse”, but that, my friend, is what God calls “the power of God.”
Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:22)
What would Americans demand of Christianity if they are to believe? The Jews demanded a sign. The Greeks of the day wanted to be wooed rhetorically and intellectually, but what criteria would Americans demand? I would suggest that maybe this self-help consumer driven generation would demand to be shown how Christianity is practical. The standard by which they will judge the word of God is primarily a pragmatic one. “How does this help in my daily living? How does your religion help me get through with what I have to deal with daily?” and “Christianity must fit into what I am currently doing.” Jesus in such a case becomes kind of an “add on.” He is no longer a Savior i.e. “one who saves”, but rather one who conforms. No thanks. I’ll take the Jesus of the Bible.
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