There often seems to be a contrast between what people say the Bible teaches and what they actually do. How could some “Christians” condone racism if everyone is made in God’s image? How could some churches turn people away for not being "good enough", if we are all sinners in need of mercy?
I want you to know that, as a Christian, I see these contradictions, and I find them heart-breaking. Yes, Christians are only human, but we should be bothered by our own hypocrisy because it portrays a false picture of Jesus. Christians are sometimes judgmental, condescending, or even hateful, but Jesus is not.
Jesus is who it's all about, right?
So often, though, we make Christianity about us, and leave people wondering about Jesus. I, too, am guilty of leaving Jesus out of conversations. He's controversial, but if I'm honest, I'd say He saved my life. In a world that has many answers to who Jesus is, I want to show you the Jesus I know by sharing 4 things He is not.
1. Jesus is not partial to American Christians
Really, He’s not partial to “Christians” at all, in the sense that anyone can come to Him. James 2:5 says “Listen, my brothers and sisters, hasn’t God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith…?” God specializes in strengthening the weak, honoring the humble, and making small things great. He wants to do that with anyone who will let Him, regardless of nationality, location, or religious background.
2. Jesus is not waiting for you to "get your act together"
People often feel like they have to put on a plastic smile when they come to church, but Jesus says “Come to me all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). He knows that life is hard and that we will mess up on our own, so He wants to be the place we keep running to with our mess.
3. Jesus is not against thought or reason
In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Proverbs 15:14 says that “the discerning heart seeks knowledge.” The Bible doesn't call us to blindly accept things we don’t understand- it calls us to trust God with our questions. Faith is believing that God has plans and answers beyond our own understanding; it’s not an excuse to lack thought or concern for the problems around us. That would be inconsistent with the nature of a God who wired us to think, and Whose heart breaks for the hurting.
4. Jesus is not apathetic towards you.
I can’t stress this one enough. We often treat Jesus as something extra in our lives, something that’s not worth sacrificing for. But that’s not how He feels about us. 1 John 4:19 says, “We love Him, because He first loved us.” We all sin, and that sin would forever separate us from Him, but He wasn't going to let that happen. So even when we didn't love Him, even when we turned Him away, He took our punishment. On the cross, He made forgiveness a possibility- a gift of grace to anyone who trusts Him. If that’s not radical, life-changing love, I don’t know what is. When we come to Him, He replaces our dying, incomplete hearts with something alive and beautiful.
I believe this Jesus is alive and able to turn our world upside down with that same limitless love, if we'll let Him. So, instead of looking at Christians, look at Jesus: He will never disappoint you.
