It’s All About Jesus
July 30, 2007
The Anchoress is a lot like my daughter. She asks, tilts her head a bit and I deliver. Kind of like a pizza guy.
After having been tagged with a ‘5 Reasons Why I Love Jesus‘ meme, it was clear that 5 reasons could barely contain the idea of Jesus Christ.
Reason 5: How could you not love a guy that has been the cause of so much debate, argument, frustration and outrage? Jesus made people think. Jesus challenged mankind not to be ‘all they as they could be,’ but rather, he challenged all of mankind to be better than they ever thought they could be. He overturned more apple carts than any other person in history. Christianity is a living, breathing and ever growing faith that has positively impacted the lives of billions. There have been false starts and missteps, to be sure, but so what? Those cultures and nations that have embraced the true meaning of Christianity have evolved into free and productive nations and will continue to evolve into an ever more profound spirituality and faith.
Reason 4: Jesus is as easy to talk to as a favorite uncle. For believers, he is always there, always listening and never gives up on you. He is with you when you laugh and more so when you cry. He never abandons you, no matter how hard you curse at him or try to cast him from your life. The great lesson we learn from Jesus is clear: ‘God treasures our spiritual achievements. He treasures our failures along the way even more, because in facing and overcoming our failures, we have shown that we are indeed worthy of the humanity He bestowed upon us. We are not meant to become perfect in our struggle and search for meaning and faith- we are meant to overcome the limitations, imperfections and obstacles along the way.’ He is there to accompany us on the journey, to offer us the map we must follow and act as a support when we stumble and fall. When we think we have no more strength, he offers respite and nourishment until we can gather ourselves again. Jesus is a kind of spiritual, prepaid credit card with no limit.
Reason 3: Nuns. Jesus inspired generations of women to teach those who would otherwise be lost. Legions of kids finished High School and went on to trade schools, colleges and universities only because nuns made them believe in themselves. Sure there were good nuns and not so good nuns- so what? The bad nuns were weeded out, the good ones stayed and flourished in schools, hospitals and missions. The really cool nuns, like Sister Wendy, went on TV to teach the rest of us about art. Mother Teresa, no less beautiful than her contemporary, Diana, Princess of Wales, went on to teach us how to live.
There are legions of parents today that want their kids to go to Catholic school. Says something, you know?
Reason 2: Jesus made faith easy and less mysterious. Union with God was to be within the purview of every man, saint and sinner alike. Jesus made the ground rules easy. I always thought a closer listen to the lyrics to the Four Tops ‘Reachout, I’ll Be There‘ hit the mark.
Now if you feel that you can’t go on (can’t go on)
Because all of your hope is gone (all your hope is gone)
And your life is filled with much confusion (much confusion)
Until happiness is just an illusion (happiness is just an illusion)
And your world around is crumbling down, darlin
reach out come on girl reach on out for me
reach out reach out for me
I’ll be there with a love that will shelter you
I’ll be there with a love that will see you throughWhen you feel lost and about to give up (to give up)
Cause your life just ain’t good enough (just ain’t good enough)
And your feel the world has grown cold (has grown cold)
And your drifting out all on your own (drifting out on your own)
And you need a hand to hold, darlin
reach out come on girl reach out for me
reach out reach out for me
I’ll be there to love and comfort you
And I’ll be there to cherish and care for youI’ll be there to always see you through
I’ll be there to love and comfort you
I can tell the way you hang your head (hang your head)
Your not in love now, now your afraid (you’re afraid)
And through the tears you look around (look around)
But there’s no piece of mind to be found (no piece of mind to be found)
I know what your thinking,
You’re alone now, no love of your own, but darling
reach out come on girl reach out for me
reach out reach out………. just look over your shoulder
I’ll be there to give you all the love you need
And I’ll be there you can always depend on me
I’ll be there to always see you through
I’ll be there to love and comfort you
Sometimes, one size really does fit all- and yes, here’s the video. Feel free to crank up the volume and get up and dance.
Reason 1: That’s personal and I won’t tell you because you only watched and listened to the video once.
Shame on you.
July 30, 2007 at 7:06 pm
Why not include the tooth fairy, santa claus and the easter bunny too?
After all they are part of the same childish mindset that children are taught when they dont have the capacity to exercise discriminative intelligence.
Each of these figures, and “jesus” are projections of the childhood parental deity. Bid daddy who is going to protect me and give me all sorts of goodies if I am “good”, and give “me” the ultimate “goodie” of going to “heaven” when I die if I am really, really good for my entire life.
Perhaps/maybe they were/are useful stories to convey to infants and children but they are a rediculously one dimensional standpoint on which to ground a truly mature adult intelligence.
And besides which they dont even begin to take into account that every body dies or that death rules to here.
July 30, 2007 at 7:11 pm
“Why not include the tooth fairy, santa claus and the easter bunny too?”
Irrespective of your beliefs are you seriously equating the historical global impact of the Easter Bunny as opposed to Jesus Christ?
As an aside, Einstein too, was a believer.
Of course, he wasn’t as smart as you.
July 30, 2007 at 7:31 pm
Funny, don’t you think – “John” was one of Jesus’ brothers. He’s a brother – and doesn’t even know it.
Those “without” are always jealous of those “within.” Even though they will deny to the death that they heard the invitation!
Great post.
July 30, 2007 at 7:33 pm
And I’d always thought that about that song, too…
July 30, 2007 at 11:55 pm
Bid daddy who is going to protect me and give me all sorts of goodies if I am “good”, and give “me” the ultimate “goodie” of going to “heaven” when I die if I am really, really good for my entire life.
As a world religion, Christianity is unique in that being good isn’t a requirement of being saved…which is kind of paradoxical given the result it yields in people. Still, it’s an understandable misunderstanding.
July 31, 2007 at 7:25 am
[...] has a post up, answering a meme from The Anchoress, about “five reasons I love Jesus”. (Post Here) Overall it is a nice post, but SC & A leaves the main reason I love Jesus out – He died on [...]
July 31, 2007 at 10:20 pm
As CS Lewis might have said, the most baffling of Christianity’s mysteries is its insistence that it is not possible to be morally and ethically perfect, but it is still possible to be saved anyway.
August 1, 2007 at 3:00 pm
Sorry Buzz, but your comment wasn’t on topic, so it was deleted.
August 1, 2007 at 3:02 pm
Cover-up all you can.
August 1, 2007 at 3:03 pm
The truthful have nothing to hide or fear.
Which is why you have so much to hide and fear.
August 1, 2007 at 3:05 pm
ps. those Methodists are WHY I LOVE Jesus.
Which IS on topic.
It just means you have to back further and further into your underground compound to flee from the truth.
Come out into the light Siggy and cease your hateful screeds.
August 1, 2007 at 3:06 pm
LOLOL
Buzz, the post was a personal response to a meme forwarded my way- no more, no less.
Save the drivel for when I write a political post.
My house, my rules.