Pastors, the Church, the very living Body and expression of Jesus on earth, has a problem.
And you and I play a role in the cause of this problem.
We are the cause because we preach a weak little Jesus, which produces Christian narcissism.
We preach “Jesus, the Divine Butler.” This Jesus makes sure we Americans are comfortable. If any hint of trouble comes our way, no problem; the butler (I mean, Jesus) will give us peace (not propitiation). After all, He is the Prince of Peace! God forbid that we should ever experience discomfort or suffering like the overwhelming majority of Christ-followers in the world today and throughout church history.
We preach “Jesus, the Short-Order Cook.” This Jesus hurries about, sweating to get us what we want, when we want it, just the way we want it. Whatever we need – presto, and good ole Jesus is at our beck and call to get it for us.
We preach “Jesus, the Dream-Provider.” This Jesus exists to make our dreams come true! If we pray, He will get us the dream job, the dream girl or guy, the dream cars, and the dream house in the dream neighborhood, all for our glory! He’s good like that!
And then we preach “Jesus, the Separatist.” This Jesus tells Christians to separate themselves from the culture because “those dirty sinners might infect them.” This Jesus produces Christ-followers who curse the darkness of our culture instead of lighting a candle in the culture (which is the Life of Christ in them).
The Jesus I just described is nothing more than a pocket-sized figurine not worth worshiping, and who is utterly incapable of transforming lives.
Okay. I’m going over the top. I thank God for all the faithful preachers in America. And by no means have I arrived as a preacher. When it comes to preaching, I’m still in diapers.
I just want to make a point. How often do we preach Jesus as the glorious, wonderful, magnificent, conquering King, who is peerless? Are our people in awe of Jesus? Are they overwhelmed with the magnitude of His greatness or do they just want him as a friend with benefits?
How often do we preach a Jesus that causes our congregation to long for and adore Jesus simply for who He is?
Do we preach a Jesus that inspires our people to say, “I count all things as a big pile of rhino dung compared to knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”?
Gaze into the graced-wrecked heart of Paul as he describes Jesus:
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything He might be preeminent. For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross. Colossians 1:15-20 (ESV)
Pastors, I covenant to explore and drink in the vast, even infinite, glory of Jesus and preach Him. Will you join me?
Marinate on that,
Pastor Derwin
