Misconceptions
17July 26, 2012 by Cole Ryan
Recently everyone has been talking about “making Jesus famous”.. but isn’t He already? Don’t millions of people use His name in vain everyday? Don’t we even base our time around Him? Isn’t it roughly 2012 years from the day He was born? Isn’t His birthday the most celebrated birthday ever? Jesus really doesn’t need to be made famous, He needs to be made known, there’s a difference. I mean, plenty of people know His name, but how many people really know His character?
There are a lot of misconceptions surrounding who Jesus really is; hatred, judgment, hypocrisy, and condemnation are just a few things associated with Him, and these misconceptions and false understandings are a result of the way Christians behave, and we behave this way, we behave judgmentally, hypocritically, and condemningly because we don’t even know who Jesus really is.
John chapter 8, Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. The Mount of Olives is where the Pharisees and the religious leaders would gather so that Jesus could teach them. They were His followers, some might consider them Christians. The religious men brought in a woman, a prostitute, a home-wrecker, a sinner. They had her stand before the group, and they said to Jesus “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women.” They were right, by law they were commanded to stone her, which by definition is a form of punishment, or execution. They asked Jesus “what do you say?” what do You think we should do, Jesus? Well, He replied; “all right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” His followers, the religious men, left, they went away, one by one, because they knew that they had all sinned (Romans 3:23). If anyone had the right to throw a stone at the woman it would have been Jesus because He has never sinned, but even He did not condemn her, He did not judge her, He did not stone her. Isn’t that who Jesus is? Kind, compassionate, loving. Christians, Jesus’ followers, are the ones throwing stones at other sinners. While Jesus, the only person who has never sinned, isn’t even doing so. John 8 is a great example of what is going on today.
Even when Jesus was hanging naked on the cross – when He was being mocked, spit on, beaten, cursed out, laughed at on the cross – He said; “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). Isn’t that who Jesus is? Understanding, unconditional, forgiving. The cross is a perfect example of who He really is.
So who is Jesus? He isn’t a list of rules and regulations, He definitely isn’t a religion. He’s the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6), He is a God who wants a relationship with us, and He is not who everyone thinks He is. Once we begin to understand that Jesus came to save us from condemnation (Romans 8:1 – There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus), came to save us from hatred, and came to save us from the consequences of sin, it will revolutionize Christianity and the way people perceive it. Christians might condemn you, they might come down on you, but Jesus is nothing like that. As Christians we need to figure out who exactly we are following and begin to follow Him. You won’t hear that very much in church because it’s convicting, it’s uncomfortable, and it’s true.
“The single greatest cause of atheism in the world today is Christians, who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, then walk out the door, and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.” Brennan Manning
That was great! Im glad you spoke of the forgiveness and unconditional love of Jesus, because another misconception is that Jesus was just a really nice guy. Following Jesus doesn’t call us to simply be nice people, but to take on the hard cross of Christ, loving people so much that it hurts. Kudos, you got it right.
Thought provoking.
Wow that was an amazing word! Really showed how loving Jesus is and all the compassionate He has for us. Just a suggestion though: Christians do tend to be critics and you are very clear on that, but now its has changed from Christians vs non to Christians against Christians. You did a BEAUTIFUL job explaining who Jesus is, better than I believe I’ve ever seen, but not all Christians are falsely communicating who Jesus is. Most are, but even they need to be encouraged, not torn down. Just like when non-believers see us being compassionate, Christians see other compassionate christians and want to become more like Jesus. Edify your brothers and sisters in love. Beautiful blog!
I, who was not born a christian, know what you mean more than a Christian might. When I found Jesus, I found myself. And i found myself judging, condemning, hurting. But He changed me. He made me aware. He helped me. He restored me. He became the measure for my living. And even when i experience spiritual dryness, like right now, i know He’s right here with me. Loving me, holding me, encouraging me until I once again realise – What do I have if I don’t have You Jesus?
So very truthful.
As I am nearing the end of my life at 72 reading a young person like you, so passionate about the real Jesus, makes me feel confident that the church will somehow thrive.
STRAIGHT TALK – a good thing. Thank you. And I agree with “Christian Coping”. It makes my heart hopeful and confident in the future of the Christianity. Christianity is forever; but the more voices there are like yours, the more people will get their head screwed on correctly.
Jesus came to save us from condemnation. Really? He came to bring light to the world. That light is love. He didn’t come to save me…I am not a victim waiting to be ‘saved’. I am transforming into the light of the world, like him. Didn’t he say….and you would do even greater things than me (something like that…I’m not a christian). He didn’t play it small…Mary Magdalene doesn’t get a look in here I notice. Where are the great players in this story? The Marys were big deals, playing big parts.
Yes, really.
Romans 8:1 – “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
If there is not condemnation for those who are in Jesus, that means there is condemnation for those who are not in Him. Literally meaning He is saving us from condemnation.
He did come to save us because we desperately need saving from sin and death. We are flawed, lost, and broken. We need saving and Jesus is our savior, not just a teacher.
I always stress in my sermons that Christ is about relationship and not about religion….Christians need to be more dedicated in their lives and live them for Christ as fully as humanly possible…Keep up the good Work…Be Blessed Pastor Mike
kingkohl:) love your thoughts! was just reading Romans 8:1 myself last night while working on some content! Glad to see He is reminding us all of how great & powerful His love is! Be blessed! ~ the7thdegree!
Christians, mainly those who had identified themselves as Roman Catholics were the ones who had spread the message of hate to the world. Their followings are no longer of a religion, theirs are more of a cult, although I believe there still exist Roman Catholics who do not think of the same way as their cult did – they were Catholics just because of their parents devotion to the Catholic church.
However, one reason to make me love Jesus although I disliked radical Christians was because his teachings are almost similar to Siddhartha Gautama – particularly in compassion and love, although the Buddha was able to preach without using riddles and there was little to no threat during his time for him to preach his ways. Difference between the situations that Jesus and Buddha was in is that Buddha was in a place where people was hungry for knowledge, while Jesus was in a place, a large group of Jews who was totally ignorant and corrupted, hence the difference in ways of preaching. Although both teachings had different views about God, let’s just leave it at that because that’s where our worlds started to differentiate. What’s important is that love and compassion are essential to the human being, and it should be the most stressed subjects when teaching knowledge to the people.
Like Pastor Mike just said – Christ is about relationship and not about religion.
Powerful words in five neat paragraphs! I could not have added more. Except on thing…
For the Christian faithful is a promise from God: Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you (Jeremiah 1:5). Many thanks for your post. http://onetenthblog.wordpress.com
Amen brother!
Reblogged this on Along The Way and commented:
Check out this great blog from @KingCohl
Wow!!! Such thoughts. It came across well to me and I found something to hold unto there -being just as Christ was; having his basic mindset.
Jesus did not condemn the woman for she stood condemned already. Yet He did not condone what she had done, nor give her license to go on doing it. Rather He told her, neither do I condemn thee, go and sin no more.
You are correct, Jesus is not here to condemn as Jesus said in John chapter 3: “God sent not His Son in the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:17).
What are we to be saved from? The condemnation of sin? The consequences of sin? No. That’s what the bulls and goats did in the old testament. If all Jesus coming for was to do that, Why should God send Him?
John 8 gives us the answer more correctly. Read John 8:32-36. Jesus said, the truth shall make you free. The Jews were confused, but Jesus clarified: Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin… If the Son shall make you free you shall be free indeed.”
We are forgiven for past sins and therefore there is no punishment for them, but we are freed from the power of sin therefore we have no condemnation because we are not still sinning. We are free to serve God. Romans 6:22 says, But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
Back to John 8. Jesus let the Pharisees know: ye shall die in your sins and where I am you cannot come. He also later called them children of their father the devil and told them the lust of your father you will do.
This is also who Jesus is. Jesus is the one who cleansed the temple in John the 2nd chapter also. Jesus is the one who said how hardly shall a rich man enter into the kingdom of heaven (ref. Matthew 19:23). He’s the one who said unless you receive the kingdom of God as a little child you shall in no wise enter into it (ref. Luke 18:17). Jesus is loving, forgiving, with His arms outstretched to save us FROM SIN (ref. Matthew 1:21). If you love sin or have a mind to continue on in your sin, where Jesus is you cannot come (ref. John 8:21).
Yet we desire like Jesus, like as Paul wrote of God: He desires that all men be saved and come unto the knowledge of the truth (ref. 1 Timothy 2:4)… whosoever will, let him take of the waters of life freely.. (ref. Revelation 22:17).