looks like Jesus Archives - Page 2 of 9

I have a confession to make … I want to be waterboarded. Is that sort of twisted?

I have real trouble believing that it is as bad as people make it out to be.

In fact, I did a quick search, and found a guy who got together with some friends so they could all waterboard each other. How’s that for an evening of fun?!

One of the comments on that post point out exactly what I suspect is the real reason waterboarding is considered “torture” by some: the people doing it to you are your enemies and so there is no way to “tap out.” In reality, then, the real horror of waterboarding is almost entirely psychological.

Jesus and Violence

So as I write the occasional post about how Jesus wants us to respond to various themes in our culture and society, I found myself wondering how Jesus would respond to the current question about waterboarding our enemies.

I wondered, “Would Jesus waterboard His enemies?”

But don’t laugh too quickly at such a ludicrous question.

Last week I published a post called “Does Jesus drown babies?” and much to my shock, I had a couple of people leave comments to the affirmative, saying that they love and worship a God from the Bible who not only drowns babies, but slaughters them as well. Go read their comments…

I was talking with my wife about this, and said, “This is one reason there are atheists. If a baby-slaughtering god is the type of god we Christians present to the world, then it is no wonder that people want nothing to do with him.”

In my opinion, if god is a baby-slaughtering god, then rejecting him and facing the punishment of his hell is a more righteous act than worshiping him. If god is like Molech or Baal, then the atheist who rejects such a god is more honorable and righteous than the Christian who worships him.

But of course, I don’t believe that god is like Molech or Baal. I believe that God is like Jesus.

Jesus and Waterboarding

So anyway, this brings me back around to the seemingly-ludicrous question, “Would Jesus waterboard His enemies?”

Though there may be some Christians who would say, “Of course!” (Any of you out there? Please explain your position in the comments below!) I would answer the question negatively. I cannot imagine Jesus using “enhanced interrogation techniques” on his enemies, even if such techniques are primarily psychological.

Instead, it seems to me that Jesus would untie his enemy, hand him the bucket, and then get down on the waterboard himself, saying, “Go ahead. I forgive you.”

In fact, isn’t that exactly what Jesus did do in going to the cross?

We, who deserved to die for all the evil we have done in this world (and usually in the name of God), should have been the ones to go to one of the most painful and excruciating torture techniques invented by man – the Roman cross. But instead, Jesus got up there Himself and looked us in the face and said, “Go ahead. I forgive you.”

So would Jesus waterboard His enemies? Of course not. He would let them waterboard Him. And, they would likely kill him in the process.

Jesus, Governments, and Waterboarding

Now, having said this, we must recognize that Jesus is not a government and a government is not Jesus. The question “Would Jesus waterboard?” is very different than “Should a government waterboard?” There is a vast difference (as Jesus and every New Testament author reveals) between the Kingdom of God and the kingdoms of this world.

The kingdom of God is lived out as individuals and small groups of Christ-followers practice the enemy-blessing example of Jesus. But since the kingdoms of this world are under the sway and dominion of the principalities and powers, we should not expect them to naturally adopt the values of Jesus.

As members of the Kingdom of God, we can (and should) call our human governments to a better and different way of living in relation to others, but we should recognize that change takes decades—even centuries!—to occur.

This does not excuse our human governments for what they do, but it does help explain their actions. (There is so much to say here … about scapegoating, the myth of redemptive violence, and the role of religion in sanctioning state violence … but it simply cannot all be said. Instead, let me direct you to a few helpful books: The Myth of a Christian Nation, A Faith Not Worth Fighting For, The Powers Trilogy, and my own Dying to Religion and Empire).

So what can we say about our government’s involvement in waterboarding?

Look, violence of all sorts makes no sense when thoughtfully considered, but almost more silly are the politically-motivated objections to violence. Without the foundation of Jesus Christ, neither violence nor non-violence make any sense.

I find it quite interesting in the current debate about waterboarding and “enhanced interrogation techniques” that many of the same people who are condemning the practice of waterboarding as a means to learn information about what our nation’s enemies are planning, are the same people who, after 9-11, demanded to know why our nation’s intelligence did not know that the 9-11 terrorist attack was coming.

I absolutely guarantee that if our country had not used the techniques it did to learn information that it did through techniques like waterboarding, and if another terrorist attack had occurred like the one on 9-11, the same people who are calling for an investigation into waterboarding today would instead be calling for an investigation into why our intelligence community failed to uncover this terrorist plot.

In other words, it’s “Damned if you do; damned if you don’t.”

I am not defending waterboarding.

All I am saying is that this world is a messy place, and various governments do various things to further their goals and defend their people. Sometimes what they do is good, and sometimes what they do is evil, but most often it is a sad mixture of both.

So when it comes right down to it, while I think we can safely say that Jesus would not waterboard His enemies, this does not mean that in a sinful and chaotic world, human governments should not. In my opinion, waterboarding (along with sleep deprivation and other such techniques), is a form of psychological torture. But, as bad as this may be, such “enhanced interrogation techniques” are better than physical torture techniques like flaying people alive, putting them on the rack, or slow-roasting them on a spit above a fire.

This is what we call progress.

Do you want to know why the world is seeing progress in how governments deal with their enemies? Because the rule and reign of God is expanding upon the earth. Because as Christians model the Kingdom of God in their own lives, and call others to do the same, the human kingdoms of this world see that there is indeed a better way, a more loving way, a way that does not degenerate into the vicious downward spiral of ever-increasing violence.

Believe it or not, the world is learning to look like Jesus by watching followers of Jesus live like Jesus.

Christians and Waterboarding

So should Christians waterboard others? Of course not! (Unless someone wants to come waterboard me…)

Should Christians call for our nation to treat our enemies with the dignity and respect they deserve as human beings for whom Jesus died? Yes!

Will our governments listen? No.

But they will observe our example.

Do you have Muslim neighbors or coworkers? Bless them. Love them. Serve them.

You see, the current problem the Western world faces with many in the Middle East has been centuries in the making. It will likely take centuries to correct it. And where do we begin? With you and me treating “them” with love, generosity, and forgiveness.

Jesus never called governments to conform to His values and ideals for this world. But He did call you and me to follow His example, so that we can proclaim and advance the rule and reign of God on earth.

Does Jesus Drown Babies?

By Jeremy Myers

47 Comments

Remember Andrea Yates? She is the mother who, in 2001, drowned her five children in a bathtub. She said that the devil had influenced her children, and so they needed to die.

A few years later, another mother, Deanna Laney, tried to kill her two children, claiming that God told her to.

Then there is the case of Victoria Soliz, who tried to drown her son in a puddle because Jesus told her to do so.

No Christian with their head on straight (or unless you’re John Piper) honestly believes that God actually told these mothers to kill their children. Nobody who really understands the message and ministry of Jesus, and especially His love for children, can imagine that Jesus wanted or commanded these mothers to do such horrific things to their babies.

And yet…

How strange is it that while we decry and condemn such actions by various people today, we turn around and tell the story of God drowning millions of babies (along with their mothers and fathers and siblings) in the flood story of Genesis 6-8?

Does this make any sense?

On the one hand, we say, “There is no way God told these mothers to drown their babies,” but then we turn around and say, “God drowned millions of babies during the flood.”

Oh, but they deserved it, you see. Those babies at the time of the flood were going to grow up to be the devil. After all, haven’t you read what Genesis 6 says about the Sons of God having sex with the daughters of men? All those millions of babies were devil spawn! God had to drown them.

Yeeeaaah … that’s what the mothers above said too. Go read those articles I linked to. You’ll see. They thought their children had been influenced by Satan and so Jesus wanted them dead. Sounds eerily similar to our “explanation” for the flood, doesn’t it?

If we really stop to think about it, if there is absolutely no way that Jesus would be involved in a mother drowning her baby today, then there is absolutely no way that Jesus would be involved in the drowning of millions of babies in the flood.

“What are you saying, Jeremy?”

I am just saying that the flood event, as recorded in Scripture, looks nothing like Jesus. Does anybody disagree with that? You cannot find anything anywhere in the Gospels where Jesus acts or behaves in this sort of way toward anyone—and especially not toward children.

I have talked about this with numerous people over the past couple years, and almost without fail, people who defend the divine origin of the flood point to Jesus entering the temple with a whip (John 2:15; Matt 21:12) as proof that Jesus was also involved in sending the flood.

Really? Overturning the tables of a few greedy moneychangers is the same thing as drowning millions of babies? I just don’t see it. The text doesn’t even say anything about Jesus using this whip on the moneychangers—or even on the animals! Oh, except for all the children. These Jesus whipped till they were bloody. NO! NO! NO!

In my conversations about this, people usually then turn to the book of Revelation and point out how when Jesus returns a second time, He is going to kill so many people that there will be a lake of blood 200 miles wide and as deep as a horse’s bridle (Rev 14:20).

Yeah… I’m thinking that if this is how we read the book of Revelation, we’ve probably misunderstood the book.

If Jesus is a God who drowns babies because “They’re the devil!” and then rides His horse through a lake of blood from His slain enemies because “They wouldn’t worship me!” (Duh! You drowned millions of their babies!), I’m just not sure this sort of God is worthy of our worship.

But I still follow and worship the God revealed in Jesus.

Why?

Because Jesus doesn’t drown babies. He doesn’t slaughter His foes and then ride horses through their blood. And He never, ever, ever tells us to do so either. And since Jesus reveals God to us, this means that God doesn’t do these things either.

So what about the flood? What about Revelation?

I’m working on it!

I can’t yet share what I think about these texts, but one thing I know for sure: We will never understand these troubling texts of Scripture, and we will never understand God, and we will never understand ourselves, unless and until we begin with the realization that Jesus does not drown babies.

Would Jesus agree with Obama about Immigration Reform?

By Jeremy Myers

32 Comments

Immigration is a huge issue right now.

One group wants all illegal immigrants to return to wherever they came from. Another side says, “No, we’re a nation of immigrants; let them stay.” Some from both groups want the government to secure the borders, and then figure out what to do with those who are in the United States illegally. Many from each group wonder about what millions of new immigrants will do our economy, our schools, our hospitals, and our welfare system.

All sides of the debate seem to have “God” on their sides, and all have their favorite Bible verses to quote.

This is one of those times that I wish Jesus was still around so that we could post the question to Him.

Of course, even if we did ask Jesus, I wonder if we would get a “helpful” answer. Jesus always had a way of sidestepping the big debate points, and focusing instead on what was really at stake.

Jesus would probably do the same with immigration reform and amnesty. Jesus would come up with an approach that looks like Him. That is, a way that somehow both abides by the law and provides jobs and care to those who need it.

So as I try to figure out what my stance on immigration and amnesty should be, I find myself trying to find an approach that looks the most like Jesus. Below is my attempt (please provide your OWN input in the comment section below).

Jesus and the Constitution

Jesus probably wouldn’t care too much about issues related to the constitutionality of amnesty for immigrants.

Frankly, according to the constitution, Obama had no legal right to do what he did. Everybody know this, as he himself has previously stated.

But Jesus likely wouldn’t comment on this. Remember, Jesus lived in an era when two Caesars in a row had effectively “wiped their arses” with the Roman constitution by removing all power from the Roman Senate and consolidating that power in themselves. The first was Julius Caesar and the second was Caesar Augustus.

It appears that Jesus pretty much just shrugged His shoulders and lived within the new order that had resulted from this fundamental transformation of the Roman Empire. I suspect He would do the same today were He an American citizen living under the reign of a “Constitutional Scholar” who ignores much of the Constitution.

You can probably see where my feelings lie, but we’ll put that aside…

What about the issue of money and the economy? What will happen if we add 5 million new workers to the system?

Jesus and the Economy

Again, one side of the debate says it will be good to have 5 million new tax-paying people. Right now they are working and not getting taxed. If we add them, then we can tax them. The other side of the debate says, “Tax them!? They won’t be taxed. Most of these immigrants have low-wage jobs. They won’t be making enough to get taxed. Therefore, instead of paying into the system, they will drain it. They will get the Earned Income Tax Credit, the Child Tax Credit, Social Security benefits, Medicare, and Welfare.”

If Jesus were asked, He would probably say something like “Give to Obama what is Obama’s and give to God what is God’s.” People would shake their heads and say, “Whatever that means…”

The point is that Jesus would probably not weigh in on the tax benefits or tax liability of granting amnesty to immigrants. Jesus’ basic approach to taxes seemed to be this: “It’s just money. What matters most is what you do with your life.”

He likely would not have cared too much that adding millions of low-payed workers to the citizenry would do very little to add tax revenue to the governmental coffers while at the same time, adding great expense and cost to the education, health, medicaid, medicare, social security, and welfare systems.

He would likely point out that these were all bankrupt anyway, and we shouldn’t put our trust in government programs.

Maybe He would wonder why new immigrants were only getting low-paying jobs. But when the “Raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour!” crowd starts cheering, Jesus would not side with them either, pointing out that requiring businesses to pay their workers more only puts more workers out of work.

Probably, Jesus would call on business owners and CEO’s of companies to become more generous with their money, for you cannot legislate generosity.

But the real question then comes back around to immigration reform…

Jesus and Immigration Reform

What would Jesus do about immigration reform?

I suspect that if asked, Jesus would bring out an family of illegal immigrants and say, “I forgive you.”

The liberals in the crowd would huff and puff and say, “He forgives them? What audacity! They haven’t done anything wrong! They are only here because they want a better life and our country has abused and misused them for far too long! Forgive them indeed! They should be forgiving us!”

The conservatives in the crowd would also be indignant. “Forgive them? You can’t forgive them. You have no right to forgive them. They have broken federal laws, which cannot be simply forgiven by some religious teacher. We can either enforce the laws or change the laws, but we cannot simply forgive people who break the laws!”

Then Jesus would turn and say to those on the left, “I have not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it. You believe they have a right to be here, to get jobs, and to feed their families. That is well and good. So you give them something to eat. You provide for their needs. Do not force others to take care of their needs; you take care of them yourself.”

And just as those on the right were starting to smile smugly to themselves, Jesus would turn to them and simply say, “Let him who is without sin take this family back across the border.” Then Jesus would pull out his iPad and start scrolling through Facebook messages and Twitter feeds of those who were standing by. He would load up items they had purchased on Amazon, and webpages they had visited. One by one, the conservatives in the crowd would melt away until none were left. Then Jesus would turn to the family of immigrants who stood nearby and say to them, “Are there none here to escort you back across the border? Then neither will I escort you. Go and live according to the law.”

What’s the point?

The point is this: Immigrants are already here. It is neither wise nor possible to round up all illegal immigrants and send them back across the border.

The liberals are right that these immigrants should be taken care of. But they are wrong in trying to force all people to take care of them. Jesus affirms their feelings about immigrants, but tells them to practice it themselves rather than force their feelings on everyone else.

The conservatives are right that the immigrants have broken the law. By the letter of the law, they should be rounded up and deported. But they are wrong in thinking that the law trumps love. It doesn’t. Jesus affirms their feelings about the necessity of obeying the law, but puts the law of love above the law of of man.

Jesus wouldn’t even speak about the constitution or the economy. These things change and shift all the time. But the love of God is eternal. Money comes and goes, as do rules, laws, and governments. But the love of God is eternal.

This is why Jesus would focus on love.

What to Focus on with Immigration and Amnesty

Will amnesty hurt our economy? Maybe. Maybe not.

Will amnesty cause unemployment to rise? Maybe. Maybe not.

Will amnesty create millions of new Democratic voters? Maybe. Maybe not.

Jesus does not ever address these sorts of issues, because Jesus doesn’t care about hypothetical “what ifs” about the future.

Jesus always and only cares about one thing: the person in need who is standing right in front of him.

However you feel about immigration reform and amnesty, Jesus invites you to do one thing: Keep your eyes open for immigrants in your community, and then look for ways to love them. Whether the government decides to legalize them or deport them, your only responsibility is love.

Immigrants arriving on our shores (whether legally or not) don’t need screaming crowds and waving signs (from either perspective). They need love, just like the rest of us. This is how immigration reform and amnesty look like Jesus.

Agree? Disagree? Have something to add? Let’s hear it in the comments below!

Would Jesus be a Ferguson Protester?

By Jeremy Myers

27 Comments

Would Jesus be a Ferguson protester?

I suppose it depends on what you mean by “Ferguson Protester.”

In case you do not live in the United States (or even if you do and have been living under a rock), let me summarize what happened. On August 9, 2014, a Ferguson police officer named Darren Wilson shot and killed a young man named Michael Brown. Since Michael was black and unarmed, and the police officer was white, many are saying that this killing was racially motivated and that officer Darren Wilson should be condemned for murder. Darren Wilson contends that he was being attacked by Michael Brown and shot him in self-defense.

Protests in Ferguson have been occurring nonstop since August, most of which have been non-violent. On Monday, November 24, however, the Grand Jury announced that Officer Darren Wilson would not be indicted for the shooting of Michael Brown. In response to this verdict, many in Ferguson, MO turned to further violence.

In the following post, I have tried to imagine what Jesus would say and do if He lived in Ferguson, Missouri.

My thoughts are below. Feel free to agree or disagree in the comment section.

1. Jesus is deeply saddened by the death of Michael Brown.

This is the beginning place. God does not desire the death of anyone, whether they are innocent or guilty, young or old, male or female, black or white. God does not have a favorite race, a favorite age, a favorite gender, a favorite political party, or even a favorite class of people. He loves sinners as much as He saints.

It makes no real difference to Jesus whether Michael Brown was guilty or not. Jesus loves Him and is terribly saddened by His death.

For this reason, Jesus would be found among the mourners of Ferguson, Missouri.

Jesus would be deeply saddened by everything that has happened in Ferguson. He would mourn with the friends and family of Michael Brown.

2. Jesus is opposed to brutality wherever it exists.

Many are decrying officer Wilson’s actions as another example of police brutality and the over-militarization of our domestic law enforcement. Jesus is opposed to brutality and violence wherever it is found, especially among those who exist to “serve and protect.”

And yet…

Regardless of the decision reached by the Grand Jury, Jesus is deeply saddened that violence resulted in the death of a young man, and Jesus is deeply saddened by the violence and brutality that has been carried about by those who do not like the decision of the Grand Jury. Jesus would not call upon the people of Ferguson to riot or engage in any sort of violence toward the police or toward other people in town.

One thing Jesus definitely would not do is to offer a $5000 reward for anyone who kills Officer Wilson and his family members. This sort of blatant criminal activity only pours gasoline on an already raging inferno, and Jesus would condemn such calls to brutal violence.

Instead, Jesus would invite the people of Ferguson to love and forgive, and maybe even to do the most shocking thing of all — to give that $5000 to Officer Wilson and his family. Can you imagine the worldwide news stir that this would create? Instead, all we get is news about escalating violence.

Even when reporters try to allow the looters to provide their perspective, they receive only violence in return. Here are two examples:

This looks nothing like Jesus.

Whether or not Officer Wilson truly is guilty of brutal violence, more brutality from the people of Ferguson is not what Jesus would support. He would call for love and forgiveness, as these are the only things that can heal this broken community.

3. Jesus hates racism in all its forms.

Related to violence is the issue of racism. Was the killing of Michael Brown racially motivated? Nobody really knows, except for Darren Wilson.

And again, maybe the Grand Jury will uncover some evidence which proves that Darren Wilson was racist, and if so, such actions and behavior can be rightly condemned by those who follow Jesus.

But again, just as Jesus would never call His followers to engage in brutal violence as a response to violence, so also, Jesus would never engage in any sort of racism as a response to real (or perceived) racism toward Him.

Jesus would not condone racist chants against white people (Warning: there is lots of profanity on that page). Racism is evil, whether it is white people hating black people, or black people hating white people.

Again, Jesus would call for forgiveness and love, not hatred and violence.

4. Jesus would point to the root of the problem.

Ultimately, if Jesus lived in Ferguson, Missouri and was taking part in the protests, He would point the root of the problem.

The root problem is not violence. The root problem is not even racism. It is definitely not the over-militarization of law enforcement in response to the militarization of gangs.

The real problem is scapegoating.

Scapegoating is done when we blame other people for our own problems. Scapegoating is when we believe that yet another death will atone for the evils of the past. Scapegoating is when we refuse to admit our own failures and sins, and instead blame others for the way our lives turn out or our actions unfold. Scapegoating is when we refuse to take responsibility for our decisions, and instead blame others for our behavior.

What Response in Ferguson Looks Like Jesus?

Jesus would invite the police to revisit their recruitment process and training procedures so that people of all backgrounds and races are treated fairly and justly.

Jesus would invite the people of Ferguson to forgive Officer Wilson, knowing that although the death of Michael Brown was wrong, nothing will bring Michael Brown back, and seeking the death of another person only amplifies the problem and perpetuates the violence.

Jesus would remind the people of Ferguson that death does not do away with injustice. Only forgiveness does that. That the proper response to racism is not hatred, but love.

Jesus would invite all the people in Ferguson, whether they are black or white, rich or poor, in power or without, that “other people” are not the problem. “We” are the problem. Each of us is responsible for our own actions. And while we cannot, should not, and must not force others to relinquish power, to be generous with their money, or to love and forgive in return, we can love as we want to be loved; we can forgive as we want to be forgiven; we can serve as we want to be served.

So would Jesus be a Ferguson protester? Yes, but He would also be protesting the protests. He would be a friend to the Brown family in their loss, and He would also be a friend to the Wilson family in their fear. He would call for racial reconciliation, for peace, for love, and for forgiveness.

This is the response that brings hope and healing. This is the response that looks most like Jesus.

Concluding Thoughts

In the end, I agree completely with what Alan Cross wrote yesterday about the Ferguson Protests:

I have seen quite a bit of vitriol, mocking, and derision directed their way today from white Christians in social media who have reposted racial jokes and memes and have condemned them heartily. I do abhor violence and destruction of property and am praying for peace and for those whose businesses were destroyed. It is wrong and it should not be happening and those breaking the law should be arrested and brought to justice. There is really no discussion on that point. But, not all who disagree with what was decided are violent or want to do destroy things. And, even worse, what has affected me today is the energy that some people have exhibited in making fun of the crowds and mocking them and saying that they would never be them.

Then, I saw a tweet from David Fitch, professor/writer, that referenced Mark 6:34 and it got me thinking. I turned to the parallel passage in Matthew and it says this:

“And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.'” (Matthew 9:35-38)

Christmas is the season that we celebrate the coming of Jesus, born as a baby in Bethlehem to Mary and Joseph. We call his birth the Incarnation because the Son of God came and put on flesh and made his dwelling among us. He came and lived among US. He taught and healed and told us about the Kingdom of God. His Kingdom invaded our own little kingdoms and he told us a better story – a True Story. He gave us life. He did not stand afar off from us in our sin or misery or destructive ways. He did not mock us or make fun of us or declare how stupid we were. He didn’t reject us. He became one of us and in so doing, saved us all – all who will come to Him.

WE were the crowd. Harassed and helpless. Sheep without a shepherd, not knowing where to turn, where to go, or what to do. So, we followed the loudest voices we could hear – the voices of our culture or our past or of temptations or seducing spirits or ourselves. We went after them looking for life and answers and we became harassed on every side. Helpless to do anything to save ourselves or change our situations. Some turning to violence. Some to pride. Some to greed and anger and some to judgment and condescension so they could establish themselves as better than others. But, Jesus came for us all. The privileged and the powerful, the poor and the angry. All of us, even those whose sins look more respectable than others.

Agree? Disagree? Share this post with others and weigh in with your own comments below!

You Look Like Jesus!

By Jeremy Myers

13 Comments

I have long hair.

Recently a Christian man came up to me and said, “Don’t you know that it is an abomination to God for a man to have long hair?”

I could have argued with him by correcting his misquote of 1 Corinthians 11:14. I could have showed him the cultural reasons why Paul’s words don’t really apply to us today. I could have stated that even if long hair was dishonorable, maybe the reason I had long hair was that I wanted to be dishonored. I also could have brought up the fact that in most artistic renderings of Jesus, He had long hair, but nobody thinks that it was an “abomination” for Him.

But I said none of these things. I have learned that sometimes, it is best to just laugh off such outlandish accusations, and move on.

So instead of trying to show the man how wrong he was, I just cracked a joke. I said, “I have long hair because I’m trying to look like Jesus!”

He stared at me for a second, then shouted “Blasphemer!” and stalked away.

I am not exactly sure how my words were blasphemous, but then, nothing this man said made mush sense.

.. My poor attempt at a joke got me thinking.

Yes, we Christians are supposed to look like Jesus. In fact, “Christian” means “little Christ.” Yet I fear that we have misunderstood what it means to look like Jesus.

It doesn’t mean that we grow long hair, wear long robes, and go about with a holy half-smile on our lips, saying things like “Verily! Verily!” (On three different occasions over the past three weeks, I have had people come up to me and tell me that I look like Jesus. I am now thinking of cutting my hair…)

Looking like Jesus doesn’t mean that we set up a Jesus statue in our front lawns and point spotlights at it.

Looking like Jesus doesn’t mean that we shout his name at people through a bullhorn.

Looking like Jesus doesn’t even necessarily mean that we feed the hungry, heal the sick, and perform miracles.

What does it mean to look like Jesus?

Looking like Jesus means, among other things, that people will want to hang out with us for the same reasons they hung out with Jesus.

Looking like Jesus means that we will see what God is really up to in this world, and will seek to join Him in His work.

Looking like Jesus means that we will not stand out in a crowd for how we are dressed or what we are saying, but will get noticed because of what we stand up for—or more precisely, who we stand up for.

Looking like Jesus may mean that we don’t get our “rights,” but instead end up sacrificing our rights–and maybe our very lives–for the sake of others.

Jesus doesn’t want us to look like Him. He wants us to look like us, but to live in the way that He lived, with His values, His goals, and His approach to God and people.

It used to be popular to attempt to live life by asking ourselves all the time “What would Jesus do?” In more recent years, I am not sure that this is the best way to live. I don’t think Jesus wants us to ask “What would Jesus do?” and then seek to do it. No, I think Jesus wants us to ask, “What would Jesus want me to do?” and then go do that. This means that while we may not look like Jesus, we will act and behave how Jesus wants.

That Looks Like Jesus….

My friend Sam Riviera often weighs in on church activities or theological topics by saying “That looks like Jesus.” Over the past several years, I have been reworking a lot of my life and theology, and have discovered that this “Jesus lens” is a good guide to making decisions about life and theology.

While Jesus may not have said anything about the social/political/theological topics of homosexual marriage, immigration reform, or mega churches, we do know enough about Jesus from the Gospels to get a general tenor or trajectory of Jesus’ life to make an educated guess about what He might have said.

Toward that end, I am starting a new blog series called “Looks Like Jesus” in which I will try to apply this “Jesus lens” to various passages of Scripture (like the flood in Genesis 6), theological topics (Does God’s grace extend to gay people?), and social issues (What would Jesus say about immigration reform?). As I write these posts, I will publish them here on the blog for your input.

(And no, I am not giving up on my current series on Calvinism. The two series of posts will run concurrently. If you prefer one series over the other, please “vote” for it by sharing posts from that series on your social sites and by leaving blog comments.)

I am going to post my first (well, second I guess, since this is the first) post in the “Looks Like Jesus” series tomorrow. I will be looking at how Jesus would get involved in the Ferguson protests.

In future posts I will be looking at various theological and social topics through the lens of Jesus so that our response to these issues looks like Jesus.

Do you have ideas for this series of posts you would like to see covered in the future? What Bible passages do you want examined through the lens of Jesus Christ? What theological topics and social issues should be considered?

Leave your ideas in the comments below. Thanks!

Would Jesus waterboard His enemies?

Jesus and Violence

Jesus and Waterboarding

Jesus, Governments, and Waterboarding

I am not defending waterboarding.

Christians and Waterboarding

Does Jesus Drown Babies?

Does this make any sense?

So what about the flood? What about Revelation?

Would Jesus agree with Obama about Immigration Reform?

Jesus and the Constitution

Jesus and the Economy

Jesus and Immigration Reform

What’s the point?

What to Focus on with Immigration and Amnesty

Would Jesus be a Ferguson Protester?

1. Jesus is deeply saddened by the death of Michael Brown.

2. Jesus is opposed to brutality wherever it exists.

3. Jesus hates racism in all its forms.

4. Jesus would point to the root of the problem.

What Response in Ferguson Looks Like Jesus?

Concluding Thoughts

You Look Like Jesus!

What does it mean to look like Jesus?

That Looks Like Jesus….

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