Jesus for reals

Jesus for reals

By Bonar Crump

Let me just say this right up front—if you cannot imagine a Jesus that was charismatic, lively, likeable, engaging, and smart COUPLED WITH sometimes agitated, melancholy, sorrowful, angry, woeful, and frustrated then you don’t have a relationship with the REAL Jesus. If your image of Jesus is wholly beatific then you don’t understand what’s going on in the Gospels. 

One more thing before I blow into full rant is that in order to have a relationship with someone you’ve never physically met you have to contemplate, meditate on, and understand the information that they have put forth. For instance, in order to relate to C.S. Lewis one must read, contemplate, and contextualize his ideas. That’s the only way to claim a relationship with a dead person. Likewise, if you want to get to know someone that you will probably never meet like Anne Lamott you have to discover her personality, humor, and views of truth through the study, contemplation, and appreciation of her writings. 

Why, oh why, does the RELIGION of Christianity place prerequisites on each and every access point to Jesus? Don’t answer that. It’s rhetorical. If you feel the sudden kneejerk reaction to answer that question you aren’t going to get what I have to say so save us both some time and stop reading now.

Why can't we just let Jesus be Jesus?

by Martha Woodroof
The Washington Post: On Faith

"I cannot imagine a better role model [than Jesus] for a person of faith; for anyone who also tries to live a relationship with God, rather than just talk about it.

If I'm so into Jesus, why am I not a Christian?

Because the magical deification stories seem both silly and unnecessary - beginning with Jesus being the hybrid son of Mary and God. Could someone please explain to me what, exactly, that's about? And why it's essential to believe it in order to follow Jesus?

It seems to me we owe God more respect than to pussyfoot around with the truth, even if that pussyfooting gives us communal or personal comfort. As I see it, if my relationship with God cannot be based on what I've experienced and so know is true, then - pardon the expression - but to hell with it."

~ ~ ~

"What I want so badly is for all persons of faith to recognize the irrelevance of the magic of Jesus in the face of the mission of Jesus. I want us to stop worrying about what we say about Jesus, and start worrying about how we can most effectively follow his example. Therein, to me, lies the true power of the guy who is, arguably, western history's most fully-realized person of faith."

 [Full Article]