Comments on: Do You Trust The Abbreviated Jesus?

By: Joe B

Joe B — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 21:32:46 +0000

Do you actually mean to say that Jesus is not quite the real Jesus without “church history” and “theology”?

No abbreviations; no extensions.

Oh, and by the way…good luck!

By: Joe B

Joe B — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 21:17:10 +0000

You were on a roll there, iMonk. But be beware of adding iAppendices when unAbbreviating Jesus.

By: Clark

Clark — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 04:11:17 +0000

I think perhaps the Pharisees of John 8 were looking for abbrieviated Jesus. When the real Jesus told them he was the I AM, they picked up stones to kill him.

By: nAncY

nAncY — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 21:48:32 +0000

no one really has a clue

By: Matt Svoboda

Matt Svoboda — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 01:47:39 +0000

Michael IM Spencer,

The more I read you the more I like you! I appreciate your genuine, convictional mind and heart.

Matt

By: Headless Unicorn Guy

Headless Unicorn Guy — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 01:22:29 +0000

The abbreviated Jesus is everywhere in the name of relevance… — T.C.

Don’t they know that nothing gets stale faster than over-relevance?

By: Kris

Kris — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:41:38 +0000

Praise HIM !!!!!!! LORD we praise YOU for the awesome GOD that YOU are. Forgive us O GOD for failing to always see YOU as YOU really are. Help us to behold YOUR glory, and to live to that end always and forever. Search us O GOD, cleanse us, test us, strengthen us to live for YOU alone JESUS, LORD of all. WE give YOU our lives. Bless YOU LORD JESUS.

By: dumb ox

dumb ox — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 19:41:43 +0000

“He’s the creator. The mediator…the passover lamb” – iMonk.

It’s weeks like this that make me jealous of Roman Catholics. The daily readings from the Missal are building toward Christ the King Sunday. Today’s reading is from Revelation 5:1-10, where the hosts of heaven fall down to worship…not a ferocious lion, not a snarling bull, not a fire-breathing dragon, not a super hero…but a lamb. Not just a lamb, but one that “seemed to have been slain”. Behold the unfathomable ways of God! We try to make Jesus into a weak, anemic, conciliatory lap dog. In doing so, we entirely miss the point. Jesus became far weaker than we can ever imagine: conceived, born, suffered, crucified, died, buried, descended. But as Paul proclaims: “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11). From utter weakness, the Father raised Jesus above all powers, so that Paul also can proclaim, “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me” (2 Corinthians 12:9). To make the point painfully clear, the resurrected, ascended, and soon to come Jesus is portrayed still as a helpless, powerless, slain lamb. Those who know the ways of God fall prostrate at the site, rather than fear the prospect of stadiums full of hungry lions. To say the least, looks can be deceiving.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

By: Rose Mawhorter

Rose Mawhorter — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 19:15:45 +0000

Thanks for another great post. I hear you loud and clear. The main abbreviate version of Jesus that I run across is one that wants all his children to be healthy, wealthy and powerful. In one form or another I see Jesus stripped of his cross. The passage about denying ourselves, taking up our crosses and following him have been whited out. All talk of suffering for him is completely absent.

Thanks again. Keep writing.

By: Nathan Meierbachtol

Nathan Meierbachtol — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:17:54 +0000

I grew up in the church. I worked in the church. I am now finishing seminary. I have gone through the struggles of becoming a post-evangelical. I am now wondering what it mean for us to BE post-evangelicals.

I understands the emotions of this discussion. I am there every day. At the same time, I am cautious about how quickly many of us want to echo agreement and yet, we are all still wandering in the post-evangelical wilderness.

I want to know what happens next?

Are we doomed to wander? What does it mean for us that so many feel akin to post-evangelical sensibilities but are still lacking kinship with each other? We may have the courage to leave a bad situation (if one can call this courage). Do we have the courage to embody a healthier alternative?

Will there be a remnant? What do we do now?

I would love to hear your thoughts.