The world sees Christians as crazy hypocrits and I get why. When we get more stirred up over Starbucks’ seasonal cup than injustices all around us we speak a lie about the gospel. When we care more about being right than listening to and loving our neighbor, we fail to see the sin of our own pride. When we make ourselves out to be perfect, we negate our need for Jesus. We aren’t just hypocrits, we are confused. Confused over what the gospel is and what it isn’t and inadvertently give Jesus a bad name.
But, Jesus would take that red cup and sit down at the table to share a scone with you over coffee. What you did last night, what you look like or who you associate with wouldn’t scare him away, nor would the fact you celebrate Kwanza, Winter Solstice, HumanLight or Hanukkah instead of Christmas. No, Jesus is a lover of people who would give his undivided time to know you.
You may think you couldn’t possibly have anything in common with him, but that’s because you have assumed he is like the people who poorly represent him. I think you’ld be surprised to find he actually could identify with you quite well.
The truth is he came into the world not to judge, but to be judged. That’s right – he left the perfect peace only heaven holds to experience fully the sinful chaos that is ours. Stepping into the broken broke him so he knows first-hand what it is like to be ignored, laughed at, mistreated, gossiped about, abused and rejected. Because he knows, he can identify with you in all things and this makes him a great friend.
But the reason he left heaven to make friends with us is what makes him an even greater God. All the baggage we carry around, from the worst of sins (according to our standards) to the ones we fail to even see as sin, he took from us and made them his. He received the condemnation that should’ve been ours and we received his righteousness that could never have been ours any other way. That is the crazy love of Christ for people like us!
The world misses meeting this Jesus I just described though because his followers don’t represent him well. The problem is not that is followers are sinners, but that they pretend not to be. Thus the reason the world sees us as hypocrits.
How different Christianity might look if we really lived like we believed the gospel and saw our own need for it. Instead of judging those who are different, we sought to understand. Instead of withholding grace, we were quick to forgive. Instead of trying to cover up, we were transparent about our own sins.
When this is what the world sees, the world does take notice. But as long as we make a big ordeal out of things such as a red cup instead of making much of the One who took the cup of God’s wrath as the sacrifical lamb we will not be salt and light.
Kristen, I do agree that we need to live as ones who truly believe the Gospels and to do what God did “For God so loved the world…” We forget about the “LOVE” part. On the part about “The truth is he came into the world not to judge, but to be judged. That’s right – he left the perfect peace only heaven holds to experience fully the sinful chaos that is ours.” – I need to humbly disagree with you on the first part. In John 9:39, it’s written “And Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind.” So he DID come into the world to judge and only HE can be in the judgment seat – not us. But I think it’s important for others to know that while Jesus brought his love and took our punishment, that he did come to judge and he will again judge all at the end of time.
Thank you for your comment as it makes clear perhaps some needed clarification. The Bible seemingly contradicts itself on whether Jesus came to judge or not judge, but we know all of Scripture is in agreement as the infalliable Word of God. The best way for me to clarify is by pointing to John Piper’s Desiring God piece, For Judgment I Came into This World. I have reposted a portion of it here:
“Did Jesus Come to Judge or Not? Verse 39: “Jesus said, ‘For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.’” This is at first jarring because Jesus said in two other places that he did not come to judge the world. In John 3:17, he says, “God did not send his Son into the world to judge the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” And in John 12:47, he says, “I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.”
But the contradiction is only apparent. It’s not real. When Jesus says that he did not come to judge, he means that condemnation is not his first or his direct purpose. He is coming to save. When he says, “For judgment I came into the world,” he means that inevitably, as I save people by truth and love and righteousness, a division happens and rebellion is revealed and people are confirmed in their unbelief.
It’s like a doctor being called to amputate a man’s arm, because of a horrible infection, in order to save his life. Just before the sick man goes under the anesthesia, he asks the doctor, “Did you come to cut off my arm,” and the doctor answers: “I didn’t come to cut off your arm, I came to save your life.” And we would all know what he meant.
Or it’s like a military special forces team being airlifted behind enemy lines to rescue of POW from certain death. They have grenades and guns and knives, but the commander says, “Your mission is not to kill. Your mission is to get the prisoner out. Do what you have to do.”
The mission of Jesus was not to condemn. It was to save. But he saves by being the truth and speaking the truth and doing the truth. And those who are not “of the truth” (John 18:37) refuse to embrace him as Savior, and therefore are condemned. The ministry of Jesus, which aims to save, inevitably reveals and confirms the blindness and unbelief that condemns.
So in the second half of verse 39, Jesus explains how he has come for judgment. He has come for judgment “that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” On the one hand, the judging sword (or scalpel) of Jesus is going to cut away the blinding calluses of the heart, and the blind will see. But on the other hand, there is a blinding effect of this saving work. Verse 39 at the end: “and those who see may become blind.”
Maybe that better explains what I mean by 🙂
Well put!
Well Said Kristen Hatton!! I applaud you for stepping out in faith and speaking truth! The Jesus I love and serve would sit and show love to anyone. There are many Christians that miss the great commission.
” You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this, you shall, LOVE YOUR NEIGHBORS AS YOURSELVES. There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31
How do we miss the last part of this verse… over and over again. Oh that we would know how to love as he has called us to. We so need your help with this Jesus! Amen
So thankful for you friend!