In keeping with our theme of truth of the past couple days, I was shocked to see a modern-day application of who is Jesus and what is Christianity. John Stonestreet shared this on Breakpoint:
In a pair of tweets that recently made rounds on social media, a young progressive woman issued her doctrinal creed: “I am a Christian and I believe proselytizing is violence…I am a Christian and I believe LGBTQ+ ppl are divine and should lead us…I am a Christian and I don’t go to church. I am a Christian and I don’t believe the Bible is the word of God.” – Breakpoint, September 14, 2020
John correctly pointed out that a person can believe anything they want, but their beliefs don’t redefine what “Christian” really means. That’s settled, even with all its variations. It’s like my high school student’s opinions about math. He can have opinions, but don’t call it math.
Luke in writing “an orderly account” of the life of Jesus is very clear, as is Jesus in this conversation:
Are you ashamed of the revelation-truth I give to you? I, the Son of Man, will one day return in my radiant brightness, with the holy angels and in the splendor and majesty of my Father, and I will be ashamed of all who are ashamed of me. But I promise you this: there are some of you standing here right now who will not die until you have witnessed the presence and the power of God’s kingdom realm. (Luke 9.26, 27, Passion Translation)
The accounts are true. Jesus will one day “return in my radiant brightness.” The “presence and power of God’s kingdom realm” are real. One can choose to disbelieve, but John Stonestreet argues, and I agree:
We need to abandon the self-constructed, Build-A-Bear, buffet approach to religion that is so pervasive in our own hearts and our own churches.
Our task remains: know the truth, live the truth, help others to do the same.
For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel. (Ezra 7.10, ESV)
Anyone who does not know the teaching, you teach them! (Ezra 7.25, MSG)
Run away from infantile indulgence. Run after mature righteousness—faith, love, peace—joining those who are in honest and serious prayer before God. Refuse to get involved in inane discussions; they always end up in fights. God’s servant must not be argumentative, but a gentle listener and a teacher who keeps cool, working firmly but patiently with those who refuse to obey. You never know how or when God might sober them up with a change of heart and a turning to the truth, enabling them to escape the Devil’s trap, where they are caught and held captive, forced to run his errands. (2 Timothy 2.22 – 26, MSG)