Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Jesus...
So, I wonder why we think Christianity has to be so civilized. I mean, many times it seems to me that we have been satisfied to label someone Christian simply if they dress well, act good and eat healthy...oh wait, we never really pay attention to what we eat as a spiritual issue. Anyway,...So I wonder if we ever think about the fact that Jesus many times slept w/out a roof over his head. As He said, "The Son of man has no place which He can lay His head." From what I understand, if we follow Jesus, we may not sleep on the same pillow two nights in a row. It just amazes me how we don't like to think about the truth. Here is one for example...I don't think that Jesus always smelt very good. I mean think about it, I take a shower every day and put on deodorant every day...nether of which Jesus did. Does it make you uncomfortable to think about the fact that Jesus was musty quite often...I know that it makes me a little uncomfortable. We should never ever dumb Christianity down to simply dress well and act good and tell people about Jesus. I think I want to write a book... I'll title it "Untamed Christianity" Oh wait maybe that one has already been written... Barbarian way...Erwin McManus...check it out if you get a chance. Comment some thoughts if you get some time...
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I fully agree with your assessment. But, you must remember that "Cleanliness is next to godliness" (2 Opinions 3:16). Also, we are in a different day and time now. What was true for Jesus was true for the majority of people in that day. So, I believe and this is complete speculation that Jesus would have been a showerer today. So, should our Christianity be civilized and reduced to nice clothing and being decent smelling? No, but we must be as Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9:19-22 For although I am free from all people, I have made myself a slave to all, in order to win more people. (20) To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win Jews; to those under the law, like one under the law--though I myself am not under the law--to win those under the law. (21) To those who are outside the law, like one outside the law--not being outside God's law, but under the law of Christ--to win those outside the law. (22) To the weak I became weak, in order to win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I may by all means save some.
ReplyDeleteWe have to be all things to all people. We have contextualize the Gospel. Stinky homeless men, today may not reach the upper-middle class very well. Jesus transformed culture and those around them by obedience to God''s word. We likewise can should transform the people around by obedience to God's word as well.
But, not showering and smelling could help attract an audience!
Great thoughts Curt, and I will have to check out Barbarian way by Erwin McManus. A friend of mine down here loved it.
Phillip
I totally agree with everything that you say Phillip. I do however have to state that Jesus could have come to this earth as royalty, who even in biblical times were very clean, so honestly, Jesus chose the less clean life...Of course He chose to die on a cross too, and that's pretty gruesome...and that gruesome Cross is what we hope in. I really do want to come down there and MB with you some time. I hope that you are healing well. I don't want to hit any trees though, I imagine that I would be a much more conservative rider than I was in college, so you would have to wait on me a good bit...I'm out of shape too. Keep up the great work for the Lord down there in the Edge.
ReplyDeletethanks for the words of encouragement Curt! and the Barbarian Way is great!
ReplyDeleteyou know erwin is a friend of mine
because i met him once.
Curt, Great Blog! i agree and the book Barbarian Way is a great book! The blog you wrote makes you think about what we need to do to spread Jesus name. We need to be uncomfortable if we aren't we are not doing somthing right. Thanks For all you do!
ReplyDeleteVery good point on the matter of Jesus choosing to come as a man of humble regard. Then, there is more than my first simple assessment implies. Why do you think he chose to have no possessions, live on the kindness of others, and do without the material enjoyment of even most people in his day? Jesus appears to be even below middle class for his day. Why?
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to hearing your thoughts. Phillip
Being the Bible scholar that am...cough, cough...Phillip (hey Phillip!) has made me wonder why did Jesus come as he did? I'm also reading SEARCHING FOR GOD KNOWS WHAT by Donald Miller and it goes along with this. I think he came as he did so that we know he loves us just because we are His. He didn't have fancy things, so we don't have to have "things" for him to love us. He wasn't treated well, to say the least. We get hurt and are not always treated as we would like to be. But we can know he understands on our level. And the Bible even says there was nothing in his appearance that actually stood out. He was ordinary looking. So we don't have to be beautiful for him to love us. He thinks we are beautiful, but the world has views on what is beautiful and what is not. The world has views on who has the most toys and who has the biggest house. God just wanted to show us He loved us because we are His. He looks at the inside, not the outside. And if Jesus is to be our example as how to live, it would be extremely hard to live up to a Jesus who had a bunch of stuff. (Adam and Eve didn't even have fig leaves until satan told them.) Jesus was also born into a family that was ordinary, but loved God and trusted God. By that, we know that God can do extraordinary things through ordinary people. Well, that's my thoughts. I'm enjoying reading your blogs. Thanks for making me think on this and know how much God loves me ...ordinary me, just because He made me, no other reason. And THAT is awesome. You guys keep spreading the gospel!
ReplyDeleteI don't have but a second. I've got kids rushing the doors for band practice. I love the comments Phillip. My next blog will give my thoughts...Some really cool thoughts everyone!
ReplyDeleteSave your time Curt, Diane has spoken! Great answer very thoughtful. But, I do look forward to "some really cool thoughts" Curt.
ReplyDeletePhillip