When Jesus came 2,000 years ago, he built a Jesus community. He did not just offer a message of salvation that resulted in a different belief structure. He offered a different way of life—called the kingdom of God—that included a different kind of vision for community. The Jesus kingdom was not something anyone would have expected. No one—this cannot be reiterated enough—no one could have predicted that God’s way would look like self-sacrificial love hanging on a cross. The king the nation of Israel expected was not supposed to die.
The Israelites of the first century expected a normal king—their word for this was “Messiah,” which is christos in the Greek New Testament—but that’s not what they got. And most did not see what was going on. John put it this way: “The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him” (John 1:9-11). They did not have ears to hear Jesus and his way.
Jesus Community: The Goal of Every Church and Small Group
The people of Israel had a different imagination for the kind of kingdom God would bring, and this included a specific vision for community. Four popular versions of community of the time illustrate this point:
A realistic vision for the kingdom: This was the strategy of the Sadducees and the Herodians. These two groups, each in their own way, asked, “What is possible within the circumstances at hand?” Since the Romans were in charge, they tried to make the best of things and work within the rules of the power brokers.
A radical vision for the kingdom: The Zealots took this approach. They sought to establish Israel by meeting the violence of the Romans with equivalent violence. They were training to drive out the Romans with power.
An exclusive vision for the kingdom: A group called the Essenses adopted this strategy. They withdrew to the desert to escape the pollution of the culture so they could set up the new kingdom of God in pure form.
An ideal vision for the kingdom: The Pharisees followed this pattern. While they lived among the populace, they established an ideal way of doing “church” that separated themselves from the culture at large. Their goal was to find the right way to serve God so that others would join them and thereby usher in the kingdom of God.
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Why Christians Must Watch Their Tone on Social Media
We’ve all had our moments—when someone attacks us with a comment of such sheer stupidity that you just can’t let it slide. So rather than be outright mean, we just answer in a condescending, snarky way that nails them—and at the same time puts them in their place. (And firmly establishes our intellectual superiority.)
I could name a few very intelligent Christians who do it regularly. It could be those who are so sure of their theology, they just can’t let any of those heretics get by. It’s also a regular tool for Christians who are trying WAY too hard to appear liberal and broadminded – and are happy to put those of of us who are just too narrow in our place. And it certainly happens on a wide range of topics from politics, to culture, to theology, to movie reviews.
They can often be very funny, but is that really the way Christians should respond?
Like I said, I’m as guilty as anybody, but in almost every case, I immediately feel badly about it. I may feel great for a moment, but the minute I hit “Send,” conviction starts creeping in.
And I hate seeing people I know end up on the losing end of the stick when they simply brought up an honest question to someone they admired—only to get slammed for it.
Looking over a number of those posts recently, I just wonder what the rest of the world thinks. When our answers to each other (and to non-believers) are so condescending—even hostile—I can’t help but wonder if outsiders look at us and see no difference between us and the world.
I’m not making a point here, I’m just thinking out loud. And in that process, thinking that I could do a much better job of responding to questions and even criticism with a little more grace.
After all, there’s a difference between answers that make people think, and answers that humiliate.
And I’ve never met anyone who accepted Christ because he or she was embarrassed into the decision.
This article originally appeared here and is used by permission.