“Jesus is the Answer”...”Vote Jesus 2020!” You’ve heard it; maybe you’ve said it. Is it helpful?
Honestly, sometimes when I hear it, and I’ve heard it a lot lately, I can feel like it’s not that helpful. At best, it seems oversimplified. At worse, it’s just corny religious talk...But I think there’s something important to consider here.
Many attitudes, words, and actions are destroying us right now, destroying our families, our communities, our nation, and our world, but the most subtle and seductive of all is the self-righteousness that justifies each and every destructive impulse we have.
The policeman who uses excessive force feels justified in that moment...as does the rioter who assaults a different police officer the next day. It all feels right in the moment.
And you and I, when we react with hate, which we all do, we feel justified too.
Take a look in the inside…that evil stuff is all there. We’re all capable of the things we see and despise in other people. And when we commit our versions, we feel justified.
While it can feel like an unhelpful, oversimplification when people say “Jesus is the Answer,” I honestly know of no other antidote for our problem than a God who says to us, “I see your evil. I see how each of you are contributing to the problem. And, I have compassion for you. I forgive you.”
Contrary to what many say, or imply, that’s the actual message Christ came to communicate and embody in this world, and I believe it is the hope of the world. It is the only message that can inspire true love for others.
The Bible is a difficult book. I’ve studied it for decades to make sense of God and this world and it is not always easy. I have questions about aspects of Jesus teaching. I can’t always make sense of it. But, this message is clear: God loves us. He sees our sin and He forgives us.
He is the hope of the world, not some politician, or talking head, or Youtuber.
He has let things go wrong for now, but in the end, He’ll finally make all things right.