Friday, May 02, 2008
What Would Jesus Say?
The essential job of a pastor on Sunday mornings is to deliver the word of God and then to expound upon it for the edification of the faithful and the understanding of the seekers. Every pastor must ask himself the key question as he prepares his message; what would Jesus say?
Therefore, where do the sermons of Jeremiah Wright fit in? Would Jesus Christ use the precious time given a pastor each week to speak the words Wright spoke?
To answer the question it is best to go directly to the sources we have that provide an indication of the thoughts of Jesus, the Gospels. The red letters give a quick reference to the words of Christ and a fairly good indication of his priorities. Note that Jesus speaks directly to the actions of individuals and is the most concerned about their personal growth. When challenged on his views of the government, he makes it clear that moral laws must be obeyed and immoral resisted (immoral being those that are contrary to God’s laws). Jesus was constantly occupied with individuals growing in their faith and not in giving them excuses for failure such as a repressive government or a bitter neighbor. He provides principles for how a person can overcome the obstacles and not for how to forcibly remove them.
In other words, Jesus tells people to look within themselves for change when faced with difficulties. Seek the power of God to conquer from within not physical force to move aside the exterior barrier. There is only one realm in which the individual has complete control, his/her own spirit. Jesus instructed people how to change that spirit as the weapon against that which oppresses a person.
That is how Jesus taught the believer to live. The reliance on the internal purification of the soul as opposed to the external excavation of obstructions to life.
But human nature is to search out others on which to place the blame for personal failure. In our victim mentality society, we want to cast dispersions on others as an excuse for our actions or faults. If we can shift culpability to anywhere but our own persons, we cannot be held responsible.
Jeremiah Wright is just such a facilitator of the blame game. His messages are designed to throw off personal responsibility and heap it on others. Conscience clear, it’s not my fault but that other person. The Bible and Jesus specifically spoke of judgment following life. But a judgment that will be between God and the individual. Nowhere in the Bible does God even hint that the best defense for life’s failings will be to point a finger at others and claim them as responsible. No, the judgment will be personal. And for that judgment, Wright has done his congregation a great disservice in preparing them to stand before God.
Oddly enough, there was one group upon whom Jesus did cast blame for their failures. It was the religious leaders, the pastors of his time.
Therefore, where do the sermons of Jeremiah Wright fit in? Would Jesus Christ use the precious time given a pastor each week to speak the words Wright spoke?
To answer the question it is best to go directly to the sources we have that provide an indication of the thoughts of Jesus, the Gospels. The red letters give a quick reference to the words of Christ and a fairly good indication of his priorities. Note that Jesus speaks directly to the actions of individuals and is the most concerned about their personal growth. When challenged on his views of the government, he makes it clear that moral laws must be obeyed and immoral resisted (immoral being those that are contrary to God’s laws). Jesus was constantly occupied with individuals growing in their faith and not in giving them excuses for failure such as a repressive government or a bitter neighbor. He provides principles for how a person can overcome the obstacles and not for how to forcibly remove them.
In other words, Jesus tells people to look within themselves for change when faced with difficulties. Seek the power of God to conquer from within not physical force to move aside the exterior barrier. There is only one realm in which the individual has complete control, his/her own spirit. Jesus instructed people how to change that spirit as the weapon against that which oppresses a person.
That is how Jesus taught the believer to live. The reliance on the internal purification of the soul as opposed to the external excavation of obstructions to life.
But human nature is to search out others on which to place the blame for personal failure. In our victim mentality society, we want to cast dispersions on others as an excuse for our actions or faults. If we can shift culpability to anywhere but our own persons, we cannot be held responsible.
Jeremiah Wright is just such a facilitator of the blame game. His messages are designed to throw off personal responsibility and heap it on others. Conscience clear, it’s not my fault but that other person. The Bible and Jesus specifically spoke of judgment following life. But a judgment that will be between God and the individual. Nowhere in the Bible does God even hint that the best defense for life’s failings will be to point a finger at others and claim them as responsible. No, the judgment will be personal. And for that judgment, Wright has done his congregation a great disservice in preparing them to stand before God.
Oddly enough, there was one group upon whom Jesus did cast blame for their failures. It was the religious leaders, the pastors of his time.
