Jesus Jr. of the pop culture
Our little Jesus is popular because he is useful. He makes us feel better while conveniently fitting into the margins of our busy lives. But he is not terrifying or compelling or thrilling. There is nothing to fear about our little Jesus. He is everyones buddy when you ask them.
When we hear the gospel of Jesus Jr., our casual response is “Yeah, that’s what I believe.” Jesus Jr. does not confront us, surprise us, stun us. He looks down on us with a benign, all-approving grin. He tells us how wonderful we really are, how entitled we really are, how wounded we really are, and it feels good. He tells how we can get rich, have better relationships, and have our best life now.
Jesus Jr. appeals to the flesh. He does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are ridiculous to him. He is not able to understand them, much less impart them, because Jesus Jr. is the magnification of Self, the idealization of Self, the absolutization of Self turning around and validating Self, flattering Self, reinforcing Self. Jesus Jr. does not change us, because he is a projection of us.
It is time to tear down Jesus Jr. It is time to rediscover the real Jesus. Still today, even to us, his invitation stands: “Come to me” (Matthew 11:28). Crossmark Church exists to make the real Jesus known. Not the safe Jesus that we remember from the childhood felt boards or the Jesus that is so popular in our culture and many churches today.
Interested in knowing more about the real Jesus? Visit us Sundays at Crossmark Church making the real Jesus known.
* Adapted from Pastor Ray Ortlund Jr., original at Acts29. The art is from David Clow on flickr.
