His Name Is The Word of God: The Importance of Seeing Jesus From Scripture (Part 1)

Jesus once asked his disciples, “Who do people say [I] am?” and “Who do you say I am?” (Matthew 16:13-15). Their response highlighted the ongoing debate between Christians who take Jesus at his word and the speculations of those who do not. The question is just as relevant and controversial in our modern era as it was then. “Who is Jesus”?

Today Jesus is more universally popular than ever. His name is mentioned more often and more frequently with greater interest than ever before by believers and atheists alike. He is a favorite subject in all forms of media; movies, music, magazines, radio, television, t-shirts, tattoos, sculptures, paintings, pictures, placards, gift cards, billboards, video games, and pro-sports are among the many forums in which Jesus has been discussed and dissected. More books have been written about him than any person in all of history and as opinions about him continue to proliferate that number is increasing exponentially. As a result, his personality has never been more obscured by varying cultural perspectives as it is today.

The questions being asked about him and the answers being given are as diverse as they are numerous. They represent every ethnicity, gender, religious system, political persuasion, and sexual orientation. Practically every aspect of Jesus’ character and identity has been puzzled over and reinterpreted to the degree that there is hardly any consensus between those various sub-cultures as to who he really is. Here are some of the major questions regarding Jesus that have been expressed and are still being debated both in America and abroad:

Is Jesus alive today or dead in his grave?
Is Jesus a willing participant in his death or a case of cosmic child abuse?
Is Jesus a man or an angel or a god or God or God-man?
Is Jesus the brother of Lucifer or is he Michael the Archangel?
Is Jesus a Jew, or a Muslim, a Hindu, or a Buddhist or a Mormon?
Is Jesus fair-skinned or dark-skinned?
Is Jesus African, European, or Asian?
Is Jesus rich or poor?
Is Jesus a democrat or a republican?
Is Jesus a communist or a capitalist?
Is Jesus a sexist or a feminist?
Is Jesus happy or sad?
Is Jesus masculine or effeminate?
Is Jesus married or single?
Is Jesus gay, straight, bi-sexual, asexual, or transsexual?
Is Jesus countercultural or conformist?
Is Jesus a moral teacher/philosopher, a social/political rebel, a religious reformer and revolutionary, or the promised Messiah to the Jews and Savior to the Gentiles?

These questions effectively cover the gamut of possible identities for Jesus and they have all been answered and are still being answered by differing people-groups around the world. But one question still begs to be answered: where are they getting their answers from?

Recommended Reading and Sources Used:

The Bible (choose a reliable and coherent English translation such as the New International Version or English Standard Version, NIV quotations were used for this blog, however, the ESV is known to be a more literal translation).

American Jesus by Stephen Prothero
Vintage Jesus by Mark Driscoll

Welcome to the Next

Hey everybody! These are indeed exciting times. We have launched our new website, performed the first (to my knowledge) live Bible Study web cast, created Mp3 downloads of those Bible Studies and now we have created this blog. Right now we are set up to potentially be the first virtual church in all of church history. KURIOS has ventured outside of the walls of a church building and at this point in our history we are more virtual than actual. However, this has not distracted from the vision God gave me of a traditional style church with four walls and a pulpit. It has, though, taken the technology and tools of our computer savvy culture to best reach as many people possible with the provocative message of Jesus Christ.

There is some criticism that we are like a body-builder on steroids: overly defined with a small package. But I see the steps we've taken as the skeleton of the body God has created KURIOS to be, not the end result. The vision I have for this church plant is much bigger than me. And so, by using the tools we have at hand, KURIOS is striving to create a new church culture using anything we can to teach sound doctrine and proclaim the life and message of Jesus. There are greater things at stake here than edgy graphics and new evangelism gimmicks: our goal is to see people impacted with the reality of Jesus Christ and be saved from sin and death. As the culture and technologies change we are committed to adapting to better communicate the Gospel. One day the internet will be as obsolete as cassette tapes, but the Gospel will still be relevant. So we will find new mediums to share its message with other people. We will follow Paul's example and become "all things to all men so that by all possible means (we) might save some." (1 Cor 9.22).

The protestant reformers had a saying, semper reformanda (always to be reformed), which articulated the pursuit of truth over tradition. The evangelical and fundamental traditions have ignored the heart behind this conviction, which was not to be corrupted by traditions and religion, but constantly pursue truth even at the expense of institution. Many have turned away from the culture that consumes the people they are hoping to reach with the Gospel, and, as a result, they have become culturally illiterate and irrelevant.

Today, the rebirth of reformation is demonstrated by such movements as the Emergent and Emerging churches. And although these schools of thought are as equally diverse as they are similar, they try to address the same philosophical, spiritual, and cultural issues faced by the church in a post-Christian society. And although KURIOS leans toward the Emerging (theologically conservative) church side of the debate, the reality is that it would be a mistake to swear loyalty to any definition or theologian or successful pastor, no matter how cool the website is. These things are unimportant and can distract from the calling Christians have been given which is to proclaim the Gospel and make disciples out of people who do not know Jesus. This is the big E on the eye chart that most of us have missed. And we are just now repenting and getting back to the basics (hopefully with a little style).