Would Jesus ever go on Facebook?
Would he ever take to a public forum for the purpose of stirring up a red hot debate? No, he came to bring peace, didn't he? He would never want to get people all riled up? He wanted to smooth things over, end the ceaseless debating, and join arms within the brotherhood of man. Too bad they didn't have Coca-Cola back in the day, he could have brought a giant cooler to the temple and handed out the ice cold refreshments to all. Imagine him and all the fellow Rabbis joining hands, grabbing a Coke and singing: "I'd like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony..." But sometimes when I read the scriptural accounts, it seems like he would go to the temple courts almost to incite aggressive debate and not just merely to... (1)... respond with love, peace, patience, kindness, and gentleness. I mean seriously, wouldn't that be more productive than returning arguments of arrogance? (2) ... follow the proper protocol of Proverbs 15:1 and give a gentle answer to turn away wrath. Often, in the four gospels there were specific times when he was intellectually attacked by adversaries, the integrity of his teaching was impugned or his character was maligned. Did he back down to in order to keep the peace? Did he aim to not make a public spectacle? Or did he once in awhile lay down the gauntlet to get people thinking through the art of disputation? If you think he always aimed on the side of caution and tolerance you must have never really read chapters 22 & 23 of Matthew. I will bet, as you listen to his tone in those passages, he even sounds a bit arrogant to a casual passerby. In Matthew 22:29 (Mark 12:24) he has the nerve to tell those he is debating with, the sophisticated and highly cultured Sadducees, that they know nothing. Listen to his exact words, "You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God." And in Matthew 23 he certainly didn't always play nice. What would people nowadays say if someone used the same descriptive adjectives on Facebook that Jesus used towards the Pharisees? He would be excoriated by the tolerance police! Just listen to him... 23:13, 15, 23, 25, 27, 29 "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites..." 23:15 "...you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves." 23:16 “Woe to you, blind guides,..." 23:27 "For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. 23:33 "You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell?" Wow, was Jesus just having a bad day? Was he simply a hater? Or were people blaspheming his God in a public manner and he couldn't just sit by with a schmaltzy smile on his face while they think they won the day? Sometimes the point of public debate is to silence the critic that may be swaying the innocent and ignorant listening in the shadows. If the critic of our God goes unanswered without a whimper, the naive will often feel there is no defense against the smear of their God. "Is there no champion to stand up against the blasphemous Goliath?" Sometimes the only way to silence a fool is to expose their bluff. Did Jesus' methods in Matthew result in the "winning of friends and influencing the antagonists?" No, they killed him a week later -- but they did not get away with disparaging the scriptures and throwing mud on the majestic character of God. When someone tells me on-line that my God is a fraud or that he will no fulfill his promises, that is not an offer for friendship and goodwill. It is public challenge as they are ridiculing my God! If it was just an attack on me, that is fine, I have nothing to prove. But the same can not be said when people try to drag my Father through the mire of ridicule. Try going into the inner city and ripping on someone's Momma; they are not gonna play nice. Sometimes we Christians want so badly to look like the "stoic, dignified, reasonable debater online" in order to garner respect from the antagonist, that we easily brush off and ignore the dangerous smearing of the Name of our God. But at least they will like me and I will may have a chance to win over the alligator to be my friend. Remember what Winston Churchill said about the alligator, after it eats your friend it will come after you. What does it mean to take the Lord's name in vain? It isn't only a swear word, but it can also be allowing doubt to linger about his goodness and power. My God is coming back, he can rescue and he is not to be messed with. To say that strongly is not arrogance, but truth. One last thing: The majority of my purpose to be on Facebook is to inspire and try to educate those who like to wrestle in an honest dialogue. But every once in awhile you will have a wild boar whose only purpose is to trample the grapes of truth underfoot while mocking your God. It reminds me of playing tackle football: "Friday Night Lights!" I loved it. I can remember running out on the field and even shaking hands with the other team during the coin-flip before the game. I was a super-nice guy. But I also was a kick returner. I can remember catching the ball and then getting hit. The other team had the nerve to hit me! Hey, I just shook their hand, how dare they! Do I continue to smile, be peaceful and kind? Do I let them have the football back and go score on me at will? No! I snap on my helmet and "Hit Em back!" Sometimes we lose when we are always playing the nice guy. What is ironic to me is how we as a culture love the competitive nature football and UFC. We love the stiff competition in a world cup match, we love to see the Olympics and the incredible effort the athletes exert to win. But when it comes to debate and argument people get all up in arms when you voice a little bit of disagreement or use sarcasm and exaggeration to bring home a point. Apollos in the New Testament seemed to rather enjoy a vigorous debate (Acts 18:24-28). If you ask me, to call someone a child of hell directly to their face is about at harsh as it gets...and Jesus is the one who said it!
2 Comments
jeremy curtis
12/30/2014 11:02:19 pm
Thank you. It's encouraging to me to see somebody willing to speak the truth of what the Bible says especially now in these times where Christianity seems to be mocked regularly. Thank you for being bold and honest even if its unpopular because it's not nice and peaceful. Sometimes we have to be bold and firm and to the point and really stand firm in what we believe. I've been struggling a lot lately with wondering if I'm good enough or if I'm doing it right to the point I'm anxious and panicked. I have much more to say but can't figure out how to say it right now. Thank you for being willing to stand up for God and doing it boldly. Sadly I don't think there are a lot of Christians willing to do the same.
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Chris
12/31/2014 12:28:42 am
Jeremy, thanks for taking the time to read my blog and write me back. That really means a lot to me. I will pray for you today to be the voice God wants you to be!
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