A Generous Orthodoxy, Pt. II

From Chapter 3, “Would Jesus Be a Christian?”

“....Has he (Jesus) become...less our Lord and more our Mascot?

In Jesus’ day, “Caesar is Lord” was the political pledge of allegiance, required in a way not unlike, “Heil Hitler” was required in the 1930s and early 1940s in Nazi Germany. To call Jesus “Lord” meant that there is a power in Jesus more important that the power of the king of the greatest state in history. To say “Jesus is Lord” was then (and should be now!) a profoundly political statement - affirming the authority of a “powerless” Jewish rabbi with scarred feet over the power of Caesar himself with all the swords, spears, chariots, and crosses.” (McLaren, 90)

I found this chapter very insightful as McLaren examined our modern view of who Jesus was and how he called his followers to live. His conclusion essentially is that we’ve taken the things that suit us while ignoring the teachings that rub us the wrong way, ending up with a “Buddy Jesus” that we’re satisfied with while believing that the King/Master/Teacher knocking on our door is in fact the imposter.

We often live as though Christ’s teachings are mostly circumstantial. That he meant what he said, but only if certain rules apply. Yes we should forgive, but not if the person in question did something really wrong (murder, terrorism, etc). And certainly not if this is their third or fourth offense. Of course we should give to the poor, but not if its “their own fault” that they’ve become poor. And definitely not if the poor person is an alcoholic or drug addict.

We’re fine calling Jesus “Lord” as long as we’re referring to “Buddy Jesus”, the one whose rules aren’t absolute as much as they are guidelines that can be ignored if logic dictates a better way.

“Buddy Jesus” is not an option for the followers of Christ. We cannot mince his teachings. When he said to forgive, we must. When he said to love our neighbor, we have to, regardless of how unloveable they appear (or actually are). When he said to serve, this cannot only happen when it is convenient. It is our task to live as Christ, especially when it doesn’t make sense to do so in the eyes of the world. It is our choice to embrace a watered down gospel or to rise to the standard Christ placed before us, however hard it may be to accept.