Of course, you already know that Jesus wasn't an American. And we cannot really claim He was a Christian either since the word Christian means to be like Him. But, here are three ways Jesus, the Son of God born to a Hebrew teen girl, differs from many American Christians like me. In writing this I hope to reverse this, so that we will become more like Him instead of how Western Christendom tries to shape us.

First, Jesus did not focus on being personally attractive. That's a big difference between Christ and the usual American Christian; don't you think so? Check out these two scriptures:

"Like a young plant or a root that sprouts in dry ground, the servant grew up obeying the LORD. He wasn't some handsome king. Nothing about the way he looked made him attractive to us." Isaiah 53:2 (CEV)

Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens, and birds have nests. But the Son of Man doesn't have a place to call his own.” Matthew 8:20 (CEV)

Throughout the Bible when we read about Jesus we see that physical or material attractiveness was just not important to Him; trying to impress others, or using his appearance or his possessions to earn respect from others was not in his character. Jesus relied simply on sincerity, compassion for others, and trust in God. If people didn't like Him, so be it; He didn't let rejection cause Him any emotional handicap. That's not to say He didn't feel sadness. Jesus was a deeply tender and caring friend, even to strangers. But He did not focus on being attractive to others. He only focused on helping others.

If you compare that to American Christians like me who focus daily on making ourselves attractive in one way or another, or many ways, it makes us look rather not Christ-like. We should spend little time trying to pretty ourselves or our possessions and more time loving our neighbor, feeding the poor, and teaching the willing.

Another way we contrast with Jesus our Savior is by how much time we focus on trying to bring people to us instead of going to them. Know what I mean, Vern?

"Jesus went to every town and village. He taught in their synagogues and preached the good news about God's Kingdom. He also healed every kind of sickness and disease." Matthew 9:35 (CEV)

Compare that with today. Look at the amount of money we spend on fancy buildings and cappuccino machines and the best sound systems and how we invite, invite, invite but we hardly ever go out there to do ministry; we hardly spend time with people out in the community or wherever they are. Jesus had dinner with people in their homes. He went to where they prayed and studied. He went through the marketplaces and the countryside. I dare say if Jesus was here today He would be in the bars, at Lowes and Wal-Mart, and maybe even the strip club parking lot. Jesus went to the people.

I'm not against making nice, safe, and fun places for people to come together and worship and learn. I'm about to do the same thing by launching a local church that is unconventional and modern. But I still believe that although those things are okay and have some success, the success is limited. True Christ-like ministry happens best outside of a church building or Worship Experience. It happens where the people are living and working and eating and hanging out.

Thirdly, American Christians differ from Christ by how boxed-in our compassion is. What I mean is, look at how many evangelical and Catholic Christians in America are pro-life, preserving the baby while in the womb, but are all-in for the death penalty. Look at how many of us cast judgment on those who have homosexual or transsexual relationships, yet how many of us have heterosexual sex outside of marriage? Look at how the majority of us literally hated the Democratic candidate for President this year, Hillary Clinton, because her political ideologies are so different from our own. In what universe does God ever condone hate for anyone? He doesn't.

I'm not saying we sing around the campfire and hold hands with everyone who disagrees with us. We must defend and explain our principles, but having compassion on everyone, regardless of similarities or differences, is a highly Christ-like behavior that we need to do better. Whether the death penalty is good or bad, I'm not saying. Whether Trump was better than Hillary, I'm not even saying that. All I'm doing is trying to get us to think for a moment. If we are Christians compassion must be so much a part of our character that it comes out in every area of our lives - just like Jesus.

"Therefore as God's dearly loved people, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, tenderness, and patience." Colossians 3:12

I don't believe in calling people hypocrites because we are all hypocrites in so many ways. We all sometimes believe something to be true but our behavior doesn't reflect it. No worries. God's grace is sufficient. But let's try to be more Christ-like. Let's focus less on being attractive and what we find to be attractive or who we find to be attractive. Let's focus more on going out of our way to love and be with people than trying to bring them to where we want to be. And let's really be the most compassionate group of people in the United States, and around the world. We are only good because we are saved, but that doesn't mean we can't grow to become better people and more like Jesus.

Do you have any comparisons you'd like to make? I'd be happy to read your comments.