What was Jesus really like?
A well-known Christian author said that men Prefer a 'Leader' Jesus Over a 'Warm, Fuzzy' One. He further said that men are leaving the Church in increasing numbers, and it's a problem the Church needs to solve.
If one searches the scriptures, he'll find that the Lord is knowable and has certain 'traits. For instance, God (Jesus is also God) exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth according to Jeremiah 9:23-24 God is approachable, and he's near by. See Psalms 145:18 Of course, we know he is creative! That's how WE got here, among other things. He's forgiving and honest and trustworthy. He keeps his promises. There is so much more to know about him.
But back to the question of men wanting a 'leader' over a 'warm fuzzy Jesus.' How do you see Jesus? Do you see him as a super sensitive man, a party goer, a ladies man, a 'wimp?' I've read articles that said all those things about him. Rarely, do people talk about his leadership abilities. Yet, he gathered twelve men about him and changed the world forever. I think that's pretty good leadership!
Do you prefer the 'tough' Jesus who whipped up the crowd while cleansing the temple, the Jesus who stoically endured the many lashes before the cross, or the 'warm fuzzy Jesus' who 'wept?' Do you think Jesus has been misrepresented in most literature, movies, etc? When you close your eyes, do you see the Jesus with blue eyes and light brown hair with caucasion features and soft hands as in depictions popular 60 years ago or do you see him as he probably was, short, darkish skin, muscular from tent making and carpentry, with nappy hair? Does it matter how we 'see' him in our minds?
What would you say to the men who are leaving churches in large numbers?
If one searches the scriptures, he'll find that the Lord is knowable and has certain 'traits. For instance, God (Jesus is also God) exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth according to Jeremiah 9:23-24 God is approachable, and he's near by. See Psalms 145:18 Of course, we know he is creative! That's how WE got here, among other things. He's forgiving and honest and trustworthy. He keeps his promises. There is so much more to know about him.
But back to the question of men wanting a 'leader' over a 'warm fuzzy Jesus.' How do you see Jesus? Do you see him as a super sensitive man, a party goer, a ladies man, a 'wimp?' I've read articles that said all those things about him. Rarely, do people talk about his leadership abilities. Yet, he gathered twelve men about him and changed the world forever. I think that's pretty good leadership!
Do you prefer the 'tough' Jesus who whipped up the crowd while cleansing the temple, the Jesus who stoically endured the many lashes before the cross, or the 'warm fuzzy Jesus' who 'wept?' Do you think Jesus has been misrepresented in most literature, movies, etc? When you close your eyes, do you see the Jesus with blue eyes and light brown hair with caucasion features and soft hands as in depictions popular 60 years ago or do you see him as he probably was, short, darkish skin, muscular from tent making and carpentry, with nappy hair? Does it matter how we 'see' him in our minds?
What would you say to the men who are leaving churches in large numbers?
posted by Johnny at
10:51 PM
10 Comments:
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Come baaaaack!!!!
Since churches are mostly led by men, why is the warm fuzzy version of Jesus so popular? Don't the men who preach from the pulpit have the power and vision to present Jesus in a way that is powerful, truthful, and will draw other men in?
I do experience Jesus as love, mercy, grace. But I also imagine him like a General - firm, clear, honorable as Lee, solid as Longstreet, and a little mad like Jackson. I don't really "visualize him" at all, honestly. I think I lack visual imagination.
By
Hopeful, at 3:48 PM
I guess it's a guy thing, but I don't like the 'wimpy' Jesus version myself, but I've never heard it in the pulpit. In fact, it's usually nonChristians who preach the 'Jesus is love' sermon and nothing else, how the Lord would never send anyone to hell and how he was all about peace and light. He is love and peace and light, but he's so much more.
I seriously doubt, not to discredit whoever the author is, that men are leaving because of the depiction of Jesus as a non-leader. People are leaving mainstream churches by great numbers, and I believe it's just a sign of the times.. secularism, sin. It was foretold that there will be a great 'falling away.'
Carl
By
Anonymous, at 6:15 PM
I don't care for Jesus being depicted as effeminate. Feminine traits are great on women. :) I have always 'pictured' Jesus as a strong man, short, stocky, swarthy, muscular from working with Joseph and all that walking they did in those days. I liked knowing that he enjoyed everyday life such as conversation and weddings and temple gatherings, etc. He is God but he was also man here on earth with all that entails. I agree with Carl. I doubt Jesus' depiction as a non-leader is that worrisome. There's a lot more to nonattendance at church than that.
By
Jim, at 6:33 PM
God loves you.
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Anonymous, at 6:42 AM
Jim? Such as?
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Johnny, at 7:10 PM
I do not know all the reasons men are leaving the church, of course, but I do know why some have left.
At one time, a man who was a leader in church was respected. It was a good thing to live an upright life and lead others to do the same. After the Jim Baaker's and Jim Swaggart's and pedophile priests and many other crises and crimes in the church, being a church leader is not so respected anymore. In fact, just becoming a minister these days makes some 'suspect' in the eyes of the unchurched. The percentage of men who do such things is very small, but the media plays it up and sinners use it as one of their many excuses for not obeying God, not going to church.
Another reason some men have left is because it has become another feminist playground for some people. The bible is ignored as to the roles of men and women and women wish to be priests, ministers, preachers, as well as deacons and in other positions once held by men. It's not that these men don't want women to 'progress' in the world. It's that they tire of being made out to be the bad guy for teaching what the bible says. They end up figuring it's just not worth it. Let the women run the church, they say to themselves. Let them run it all, and we'll just lay back and live how we wish anyway. I've actually heard men say that. Some men just don't want any more of the 'in your face' gender battles. Men who like aggressive women will seek them, and those who don't won't. My pastor figures the only men who will be left in the church, except ministers who are male, eventually will be the hen-pecked ones. lol
One study I read recently shows that most Christians become Christians before the age of 25. If we don't reach them by then, we're not likely to reach them at all. Once the secular world gets hold of them, it's over. Very few homes have Christian training anymore. Gone are the homes where children were required to read the bible and memorize verses, required to go to Sunday School, etc. So, no one teaches them and they reach that age or whatever age it is that it would be rare to reach them for Christ.
By
Anonymous, at 11:21 PM
Thanks, Jim. Interesting comments.
By
Johnny, at 5:58 AM
The spammers have hit the blogging world. I just deleted three spamming posts.
By
Johnny, at 10:25 AM
So, Jim? Have you ever sat in church and listened to a female preacher?
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Anonymous, at 9:50 PM
My view of Jesus is ever evolving. I don't see him as wimpy or as tough. I see him as a father who wants to surround us and protect us, but we often sneak out from under his wings and get ourselves into trouble. When I think of what the bible says of him I see him as a frustrated father, he lovingly dotes on his children, trying to teach and nurture but in the end his children have to decide what they will believe or who they will follow. When I visualize Jesus weeping, I imagine frustrated and angry tears, not at us but at the world that we have to deal with. I also imagine those tears are from release as he prays and lets go of his earthly fears because he was a man. In his anger and when he stormed the temple I imagine he felt so frustrated that his children could take such a simple message of love and care and twist it all up and make it so complicated that his love got lost in doctrines and laws and that his children could not find him anymore.
By
Anonymous, at 8:00 AM
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