God Already Punished Jesus

In this chapter, Jeff writes that for a long time, he believed his actions were linked with his blessing/punishment from God.  What he came to realize, as the chapter title claims, was that God already punished Jesus completely and fully!  Any subsequent suffering can be used for good and growth, if we choose to allow it.

I was tired from emotional pain.

You ever had that? It’s weird how when emotional pain is

sharp enough, it almost feels like it physically hurts. For weeks

I couldn’t sleep—but the funny thing is, all I wanted to do

was sleep. Sleeping was the only time I didn’t feel depressed

or burdened. It was the only time the pain disappeared. It was

about lunchtime, and I had finished class and crashed on the

bed. That’s when everything flooded over me. It was in that

moment I had a scary but very concise thought. The easiest way

to take away this pain would be to put myself out of my misery.

Huh? Did I just think that? I thought only super-depressed

people had those thoughts. I snapped back into reality,

shocked I even had that thought. What was more shocking

was how attractive the thought was. It was a whisper that

promised something it couldn't give—peace (page 114).

We live in world where depression and suicidal thoughts are abundant.  And the pain is real! It hurts!

Jeff goes on to write that he had made idols out of people, relationships and things that weren't God!  And when those things would fail, he would feel the bottom pulled out from beneath him.  He learned: "I wanted God to give me an answer, but now I've found it is better when I just get him" (page 120). 

I've been here - sometimes I still slide back here!  I have made an idol out of many things in my life, not meaning to.  My experience has been that when I look to God, he makes ALL things good, just as he promised in Romans.  Even the most excruciatingly difficult times!

My dad left his earthly body four months ago.  This was an incredibly difficult time for me. I can't begin to put into words how difficult the last four months have been! I've never cried so many tears, felt such intense pain, and agonized over what had been, was, and would be, as a result of his passing.  At first, I didn't think I would ever feel better or have relief from this pain.  And there were definitely moments where I wished the pain would end. 

However, I chose, not too long after he died, that I was going to look for the good things God was doing in my grief and document them.  Even in the most pain I had ever experienced, I could see that God was already giving me hope and creating opportunities for massive growth!  I still have flutters of sadness, but God has worked many mighty miracles in my heart and mind ~ He made the most painful event I've experienced into something beautiful in countless ways. 

"The seasons when it’s tough, when it hurts, and when you hate it are bringing a season of sun and a season of life" (Page 119).  God isn't punishing you! You aren't getting what you deserve! "He owes us nothing, but he gives us everything" (Page 116).  And he will make ashes into beauty!  I KNOW this!

I appreciated Jeff's thoughts on how to best support people who are going through a difficult time. "If you can’t explain it or understand why, don’t try to. Be there, be gentle, be vulnerable, be involved, and let God’s grace do the talking. Because the truth is, no matter how ugly or how deep the scars, there is always hope" (page 126).

There is always hope In Jesus Christ who has promised to never leave us or forsake us! We have a GREAT God who loves us very much.  He works through our grief, suffering and difficulties to show us more love and more of Him!

  

Seek Jesus = Get God

"When you concentrate on God, you can actually enjoy his gifts in a meaningful way. But when you pursue just the gifts themselves, they become the product of despair rather than joy" (page 102).

In chapter six of Jesus > Religion, Jefferson Bethke points out that in a religious mindset, we concentrate on what we can get from God, whereas in seeking Jesus, we get God.  He refers to viewing God like Santa Claus and expecting not only to get what we want, but that it is a mentality of if I do good, I get blessed; if I sin, I do not. Jeff asserts that our focus on this sort of thinking becomes idolatry - making more of how we can be blessed than in knowing and loving God and being in relationship with him.

He goes on to share personal experiences of learning the "Santa Claus God" way of thinking as a child with the struggles and difficult circumstances he and his family faced.  This way of thinking was changed as he studied the scriptures in young adulthood and learned the truth of God, that "...we can’t measure ourselves by what we have or don’t have. We can only measure ourselves by the fact that we love and know Jesus" (page 101). 

I have definitely fallen into the trap of thinking I was being punished or blessings were being withheld due to my sin.  I have also had the mindset that if I was "doing all the right things" I should be blessed.  It was a freeing awareness to discover that I could let go of the mentality of both and just enjoy God's love and presence, knowing that there would be joy and sorrow, but I would be okay in both because he is with me.  Even in my sin, I can come to him and be loved.  Even on my best day, my focus can be on letting the joy of the Lord be my strength and give him gratitude for that.

The progression in my Christian walk went from => believing Jesus existed => believing what he said and did => believing it applied to me => believing it was for me to have an intimate relationship with God who completely loves me no matter what I do. Through that relationship, God will guide me to what his will is for me instead of me guiding him to what my will is.  

I live you with a visual quote that jumped out at me as the summary of this chapter.

In Need of Grace

"God doesn't grade on a curve; he grades on a cross. Trying to be good enough to earn heaven is like trying to jump to Hawaii from the coast of California. Everyone looks like an idiot, some drown, some get three feet, some get ten feet, but no one even gets close to Hawaii" (page 78). 

While the chapter four title is lengthy, (With Religion, there are Good and Bad People/ With Jesus, there are only Bad People in need of Grace) it pretty well sums up the content Jeff is trying to get across.  As the above quote from his book notes, there is nothing we can in our own effort to "make it" to those pearly gates.

This paragraph jumped out at me and resonated on a core level: 

My identity, my worth, and my purpose in life were

wrapped up in my behavior and earning others’ approval.

Because of this I sacrificed my life 

trying to make others think I was a good person. 

Who cares if I actually was? 

I just wanted others to think I was. 

All my energy was devoted to

keeping people’s perceptions of me in good standing. 

I wonder how many others behave this way. 

(Page 79)

It wasn't very long ago, in the middle of intense grief over the death of my dad, that I realized my entire life had been what Jeff had written in that paragraph.  I had become a people-pleasing, approval-seeking, reputation-saving person. I didn't mean to be - I had just learned to function that way from a very young age. Coming into an awareness of this has only been strengthened in the words I'm reading from Bethke's book!

"The paradox of the Scripture is that it calls us way more sinful than we think we are, and it calls us way more loved than we think we are" (Page 90).  We are all in need of God's grace.  We are all in need of His love.  He offers us both through Christ.  We don't need to take matters into our own hands, but rest in Him.  

And so let’s be done with the comparison game. Let’s be

done with constantly fighting for the higher moral ground to

stand on and look down on everyone else. Let’s be done with

thinking we can actually earn something that is impossible

to earn. Let’s stop trying to be perfect and righteous because

those are not the people God is looking for. God is looking for

people who can admit their needs and surrender to a Savior,

because if the Bible is any indication, it doesn’t matter how

messed up you are. If you love him, he can and will use you.

(Page 90)

Part of why this book is so powerful in my life, at this time, is because of the truth that he speaks to MY heart and soul about the difference between having an authentic relationship with Jesus vs checking-the-box performance-based religion.  If no other person is impacted by my reading and reviewing this book, I'm still not wasting my time!

Jesus Makes Friends - Jesus>Religion

"The biggest difference between religious people and gospel-loving people is that religious people see certain people as the enemies, when Jesus followers see sin as the enemy" (page 63).

In the fourth chapter of Jefferson Bethke's book, Religion Makes Enemies/Jesus Makes Friends, he points out the difference between a religious response to the world's behavior and Jesus' example of how our response could look more like His.

He points out that our society helps nurture a competitive and enemy driven mentality. "We are trained to assert ourselves above and against each other" (page 61).  I recall a pretty big football game this weekend between two rival teams in their league - Seahawks vs. 49-ers - to which I witnessed a great deal of competitive mentality.  Of course, competition has it's place, but the aftermath and how people respond to it is the example here.  And that is what Jeff uses to draw out the difference between a religious mindset and a Jesus one.

He details some of the specific competitions among denominations and then how Christianity, as a whole, competes against anyone who believes differently. "...we can't honestly think any non-Christian will want to come into the family of God if we are just as - if not more - divisive than the rest of the world.  Sometimes how we dialogue in today's culture is just as important as why we dialog" (page 62).   The how is a big thing in my own experience with conversations and/or disagreements - it makes a HUGE difference to my receptivity of what is being said if the how is done in a respectful and loving way.  I can imagine that many people are like that as well.  I can't attack or "bible bash," as they say, if I want anyone to feel safe or comfortable enough with me to trust or hear what I'm saying.

"Religion, unfortunately, is notorious for making enemies... it can almost always be traced back to people who think their standing with God comes from their own righteousness" (page 62).  Or in other words, those who become self-righteous.  I have had many seasons where I got on my soap box and behaved as though I was god or I knew what was "right" - usually followed by a season of being compelled to be humble and reminded that God is God and I'm not!  I'm sure I made a few enemies in my self-righteousness, even though that has never been my intent.  Jeff points out, "When Jesus told the first disciples to love their enemies, he didn't add, 'as long as they look like you, talk like you, and act like you'" (page 63).

This chapter (and the book thus far) has definitely made me look closer at how I respond to people.  Do I detest their differences?  Do I show them healthy love, as I am able?  Even in the season I am in, I know I could use more of a love-based mentality toward my fellow man.  "Because I trust that if Jesus' grace has radically collided with a heart, I believe that person will begin to align themselves with Jesus' image, looking more like him everyday" (page 70).  Amen!

So Called Christians - Jesus>Religion

"All the reasons my peers oppose Jesus are the same reasons Jesus opposed both the hyperfundamentalist and the fake" (page 38).

It's easy to see, especially with all that Jeff points out in Chapter Three, why so many people look at Christians and want no part of it.  Where we were meant to display love, we display judgement or hypocrisy, in many cases.  In this chapter, he points out how both keep us in a "religious" mindset and out of the relationship with Jesus that transforms our lives. 

He quoted Brennan Manning with this: "The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their mouths and walk out the door and deny him with their lifestyle."  

This notion builds on the last two chapters where the overall theme is showing the ways we have been more involved in religion than with Jesus.  How can we expect to share the "good news" with others if it doesn't look like good news? The good news is that God loves us, sent his son to show us that, and we can have hope in life because of it - and hope in the party that is to come!  Love, hope, party with God!  I would be all over that if I didn't know anything about Christianity other than that.

Prayed a prayer? Check

Regularly attended Bible studies? Check

Had a necklace or bracelet with a cross or fish? Check

Actually loved, pursued, and enjoyed Jesus more than anything?

Well, not so much (page 47).

I realized how much of my life has been about checking off the "good stuff" I've done and not as much about knowing Jesus personally.  There is no depth to my Christian walk if I'm not in relationship with Jesus.  It is my belief that without depth, there is no true discipleship.  The greatest teachers I have learned from had depth in the form of experience, authentic sorrow & joy, and above all else, a very connected relationship with God.  Without them, my walk would not have also gained some depth.  Discipleship would not have been as effective.  

He goes on to talk about the parable of the prodigal son.  We sometimes forget about the older brother in the story, but he plays an important role in understanding the entirety of the message.  The father in this story loved BOTH sons.  He invited BOTH sons to the party.  

The younger son was foolish.

The older son was prideful.

The younger son was physically lost.

The older son was spiritually lost.

The younger son didn't want the father's love.

The older son thought he could earn the father's love (page 56).

I've been guilty of being both the younger and older son, in my life.  But I love how Jeff wraps this up:

"Like both the older and younger brothers, we must learn that the joy of our lives is not in what we get from the Father, but how we get to be with him as his children. He's throwing a party and we are all invited" (page 57, underline added).

We can be with him always, because he promised to be with us always.  And that is where transformation and relationship happen.  That is the essence of following Jesus.  Beautiful things can happen when we allow ourselves to be loved - we chose to love ourselves and others for no other reason that love itself. <3

I Still Think Jesus Hates Religion - Jesus > Religion

So, the title of this second chapter really catches peoples' attention.  "Why I Still Think Jesus Hates Religion (And You Should Too)"  Pretty blunt, possibly offensive.  But if one takes the time to read Jefferson's thoughts that further elaborate, with an open mind, you'll see what he means.

"... what I am saying is that I hate any system that upholds moral effort or good behavior as the way in which we can have a proper relationship with God" (page 32).

Jefferson transferred from to a school in Oregon that was extremely liberal.  Here was this passionate, renewed in Christ, young man among many people who would cringe at the name of Jesus.  As a dorm R.A., basically a dorm counselor and friend to those staying there, he found so much brokenness.  But when he would bring up Christianity, he found people quickly shut down or zoned out.  He realized that they had associated Jesus with how Christianity behaves today.

"When on earth did 'hates gays, can't drink beer, and no tattoos' become the essence of Christianity?  It hit me that my friends weren't the ones to blame for their confusion.  They had gotten this idea from people they grew up with, churches they went to as kids, or preachers they saw on TV.  It was the church's fault that they thought this was what real Christianity was all about" (page 26).

I think about what the most notable, make-the-news kind of stories you hear about Western Christianity today might lead others to think or believe about Christian belief.  Judgement after judgement, rejection after rejection, should after should.  As I previously noted, motivated by fear, obligation or guilt.  Whatever happened to Jesus being the judge?  Whatever happened to "he who has no sin, cast the first stone"? (John 8:7).  I believe "we" as "the Church" are doing far more judging and much less loving. Jesus' example showed us the other way around.  I believe "we" look a lot different today than the original church He set up.

I've often wondered, if Jesus were to walk into a church gathering, if he would be rejected or accepted. Would we even recognize him? Would we be like the Pharisees and judge Him for what He is wearing or how He behaves?  Or despite His differences from what has become "the norm" would we show Him love? Would He observe a freedom of love among those in attendance?

Looking at Jesus' example, we see how much he loved those who were rejected by the rest of society - he ate with them, spent time with them, healed them.  I'm not saying that "the Church" doesn't do that entirely, but as a whole, I agree with Jeff's assessment: "When you distinguish Jesus to God-man from the religion that developed around him, people investigate the person of Jesus rather than the rules of Christianity" (page 34). If we say we are following after Him, then there are no boundaries of who we can show love to.  "As I've heard said, 'Of 100 unsaved men, one might read the Bible, but the other 99 will read the Christian'" (page 26).

I hope that as I grow closer to Christ, learn who He was and is and is to come, that I will let that encourage and mold my character into becoming more like Him.  And as I do, even though I may fail, I hope to show that kind of behavior toward my fellow man to encourage them to look to Him above all else.  He will produce the love motivation I seek.  He will produce the love and acceptance that others seek.

Will The Real Jesus Please Stand Up? Jesus > Religion

I knew when I read this chapter title that this was going to be one full of conviction and one that would have me highlighting on every page!  Sure enough - there were so many nuggets of wisdom and poetry in detailing that, as a whole, Western Christianity has lost perspective of who Jesus really is.  I wish I could elaborate on each one, but I feel what is to follow is important to share.

"We've lost the real Jesus - or at least exchanged him for a newer, safer, sanitized, ineffectual one.  We've created a Christian subculture that comes with its own set of customs, rules, rituals, paradigms and products that are no where near the rugged revolutionary faith of the biblical Christianity." (page 9)

Once upon a time, I was all about ritual, rules, and activity that revolved entirely around me being a "good church girl."  The problem, I discovered after many years, was that my motivation was fear, guilt, and obligation.  There was no motivation rooted in love.

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives our fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. (1 John 4:18)

Somewhere along the way, through wonderful spirit-filled mentors, I was able to see that I had viewed the Father, Son and Holy Spirit as beings that I could not disappoint or let down through my sin and I had to work more diligently not to, but because I kept failing, I did not deserve to receive the gift of love and forgiveness.  Ugh!  That was gradually replaced with TRUTH - all I needed to do was seek God; to be in relationship with Him; to accept His love - and then be motivated by it.  He IS Love!

But Jefferson's words still resonated, because my ingrained behavior still veers me in the direction of people-pleasing to "look Christian," rather than to just love and let that love flow from above, through me, and towards others.

It seems, at times, my god is really other people - or myself - that being motivated by what other people think or focusing on how exalted I can become is the worship I engage in.  Ugh, again!

I recently had a conversation with a pastor I respect.  He shared that there is two views to one scripture that is often misunderstood found in John 14:15.  If you love me, you will keep my commandments.  This pastor admitted that he had formerly viewed this scripture through the viewpoint of believing that to show God love, he had to keep all of His commandments.  I have shared that view.  He then pointed out that if you read the entire chapter, Jesus is giving comfort, explaining blessings of oneness, and detailing the role of the Spirit.  No condemnation, no chastising - just love.  And this pastor concluded that what this scripture is really saying is: "Just love God and keeping his commandments will happen naturally, out of that love!"  What a refreshing insight.

The Bible isn't a rule book.

It's a love letter.

I'm not an employee.

I'm a child.

It's not about my performance.

It's about Jesus' performance for me. 

(page 7)

I pray that we will all be motivated by love - accepting of God's love towards us, passionate about our love toward him, and allowing that love to propel our actions with freedom, truth and grace.

Jesus > Religion

"Many people had been sold religion with a nice Jesus sticker slapped on it.  Many people had been burned by so-called Christians.  Many people had been abused, hurt, mistreated, and maligned all in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  But what their souls were craving was the true Jesus.  The One who heals.  The One who redeems.  The One who gives life." ~Jefferson Bethke

I can relate to this paragraph.  I lived this paragraph.  I am continuing to crave and find the true Jesus.  It is a cause I believe in.  That is part of why discipleship became so important to me and why I want to promote the case for finding HIM.

Jefferson Bethke's new book, Jesus > Religion, is due to be released in October.  But I have the amazing opportunity to preview it and share my thoughts about it.  For the next few weeks, I will be writing about what I'm reading and my thoughts and experiences as it relates to this book.   I'm very excited because I respect and admire Jeff's work, but I also believe that what he has to say can change lives!  I believe that even without the credentials of a pastor or theologian, God has used Jeff as a mouth piece for awakening truth in people's hearts.  I love that God is using him, an unlikely young man, much like David of old, to bring great things to the Body of Christ, His people.

This book was spring boarded off of his video, Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus, that was a viral sensation on You-Tube.  To date, it has over 25,000,000 hits, but within 48 hours of posting it, a casual effort of Jeff and his friend, it was viewed almost 7 million times!  You think it resonated with people?
It certainly did in my heart!

I hope some of the thoughts I share and elaborate on from this book will bring a greater depth and desire to follow the One True King, Jesus.