We decided to partner with our friends at #StuffJesusNeverSaid and have a proper detox of… well… Stuff Jesus Never Said!
Below are the Top 10.
Some are shocking. Some are intentionally controversial. And some are so obvious, it’s slightly embarrassing to think that I have preach them (Sorry Jesus) (Sorry church).
Enjoy:
1.
God’s presence is not limited by our bad behaviors or good theology. God’s love is not conditional or fickle. And Jesus proved that over and over again.
Over and over again.
2.
It’s a sweet statement that kinda makes us feel better when things don’t go our way. And it sounds biblical because it was part of Job’s process in surrender. But Jesus came to reveal the Father… and that Father is in Luke 15 (the story of the prodigal son). That Father runs, kisses, restores, forgives, throws parties and feeds us the best meals. All while restoring the inheritance we took and wasted.
WE give and take away. He gives and keeps on giving.
3.
Jesus declared on the cross, “Father forgive them for they do not know what they do.” Yes, he literally prayed that while they were punching him and mocking him and spitting on him. Forgive them.. not punish them (and that prayer included all of us).
4.
Yes, there is much sin in us, but there is more grace in Christ. And he showed us that grace by healing the sick and never making the sick feel like it was their fault that they were sick. He healed. He loved.
He’s God.
5.
If you ever meet a abusive-sicko-evil father who thinks that cancer is a good tool to teach his kids a lessons, and then actually gives his kids cancer to teach them a lesson… please call the police immediately!
That man is an abusive-sicko-evil father… and I pray the church would never compare God to that guy.
6.
Yeah, we can love the law… or like Jesus… we can live in the law of love. In the story of the woman who was caught in the act of adultery, Jesus was the only man in the crowd who could have actually thrown a stone (he was free of sin) but he did not condemn the woman… he saved her from death and then invited her into his life; Go and sin no more.
Read more on dealing with sin.
7.
The church would do well to learn this quickly: “With Jesus there is no us and them – there is just us.” – Father Greg Boyle in Tattoos on the Heart / The Power of Boundless Compassion.
And anyway, John 3:16 is pretty clear.
8.
We like putting limits to the grace of Jesus because that way we feel in control of the grace of Jesus. Good news though, those efforts are useless. God’s love is limitless. And he will always restore those who humbly embrace his incredible love.
Always.
9.
I’m a pastor. And I love the perks. But I know for a fact (and Jesus keeps reminding me) that our role as leaders is to serve. The privileges that leaders in western Christianity get are not the privileges that the disciples of Jesus got… they were more like going to prison and being martyred and taking up their cross.
#Gulp
10.
The ministry of Jesus is beautiful and eternal. And he promised us (his followers) that we would do even greater things than the ones he did. So yeah, maybe it is time to start believing again and not allow our current (lack of) experiences determine our faith for what’s to come.
Happy week everyone! Enjoy the reminders of everything Jesus actually did say. And celebrate the beauty of his life, his death, and his resurrection. It was all for us!
Or as Jesus actually said in John 3:17:
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
Share this list with your friends and lets enjoy together the journey of discovering the true Jesus.
Peace.
PS. I like you tons, so here are three more Stuff Jesus Never Said 🙂
* Follow #StuffJesusNeverSaid on Facebook or their website at http://stuffjesusneversaid.com.