September 9, 2009
During a recent conversation with a young GRR Pastor he told me how his preaching
had changed. The point of each sermon was now to "get people to fall in love with
Jesus Christ." I think he is on to something. I have been conscious that my own
preaching the last 10 years has a more explicit Christ focus (at least when I am free to
choose text and topic). There are good reasons for such a focus.
First, Jesus Christ provides the definition of who we are and what we do, both
individually and corporately. As I have said before, the movement is Christology to
Ecclesiology (the community of faith around Jesus Christ) to Missiology (the community
of faith sent into the world as Christ was sent). We cannot hope to gather and nurture a
community of faith without attending to Jesus Christ. That is the task of discipleship.
Likewise, we cannot sustain motive, energy and focus for mission without Jesus
undergirding, informing and empowering who we are and what we do.
There is a second reason for the intentional focus of inviting people to "fall in love with
Jesus." We live in an age of paradox -- there is great interest in Jesus and at the same
time there great ignorance of Jesus. There is widespread biblical illiteracy, both inside
and outside our churches. Sometimes this is our own fault. We have been distracted to
the point of exclusive focus on any of a number of issues, good causes or personal
"needs." At other times our undiscerning culture sees Jesus as just one more offering
as we move down the serving line of a spiritual smorgasbord. We pick a little Jesus, a
little Buddha, a little Mohammed, a little Hillel, a little Confucius, etc., etc., but are
careful not get the plate too full or to pick things we dislike. At still other times, Jesus
has been presented in such a way that He is anything but inviting. People have been
unnecessarily repulsed by an incomplete portrait of Jesus that looks more intent on
punishing than inviting.
If there ever was a time to preach and teach Jesus plain and simple, clear and
unmuddled, compassionate and inviting, this is it.
To know Jesus, to preach Jesus, to teach Jesus, to follow Jesus, to reflect on what
Christian faith means for us in this time and this place demands that we begin with the
story of Jesus. We cannot presume that those sitting in our churches know it -- let
alone those who have not darkened the door of a church. More than that, how can
poorly-discipled Christians speak invitingly of Jesus to their friends and co-workers?
As I reflect on the story of Jesus, I cannot escape the fact that it begins in mystery.
Jesus was not rootless, but joined a human family "in transit." God had worked through
Abraham, Moses and the prophets to prepare a place of "intersection" in Bethlehem.
The story of Jesus moves through offense. Jesus was not (and is not) exactly who we
want him to be. He named our personal sin that we would rather deny or at least hide.
He challenged our social sin that institutionalizes economic disparity, violence, and
injustice. He preached and acted out a Kingdom -- but one not of this world, offending
violent revolutionaries.
The story of Jesus personalizes and practices grace. He ate and drank with real live
sinners, loving them without approving of sin. The greedy rich young ruler was
confronted with the same love and grace as the woman taken in adultery.
The story of Jesus models a life of sacrifice. Jesus was not just one more in a long list
of "victims." A lifetime of decisions climaxes in Gethsemane. Jesus surrendered his
will, choosing a deadly path that would result in the redemption of humanity. (Another
mystery!)
The story of Jesus explodes with hope. Death could not hold him. And because he
lives, we live.
The Region's theme for 2010 is Thy Kingdom Come. It will be launched at the Annual
Assembly in Peoria. Jesus inaugurated the Kingdom which is our prayer, passion and
purpose. I invite you to preach and teach Jesus in all His mystery, offense, grace,
sacrifice, and hope during 2010.
© American Baptist Churches
of the Great Rivers Region
Permission to copy for noncommercial use is granted
