More spiritual than Jesus, again

Excuse me, but I'm offended by people who wear the pretense of being more spiritual than Jesus! It's the all new mega-, super-, or hyper- version that takes license with Scripture and portrays Him in ways not totally consistent with the biblical record. All to often the result of this one- dimensional picture of the Lord is the church without teeth, or more eloquently, C.S. Lewis's characterization of men without chests. It happens when Christian leaders become more spiritual than Jesus! That is, they add to Scripture and embellish the biblical image of Christ with their own arrogant twists. Bad!

The theological implications of hyper-spirituality is dangerous in any context. Using a comparative idea from Leonard Sweet, to imitate Christ is one thing, to impersonate Him, quite another. Our best moves to follow Him are always going to occur with a severe limp, the flawed human in us always short of His ideal. To even think that we can become Him, like Him, or even remotely close to His perfection, even when motivated by our best instincts, is self-love that may border auto-idolatry.

Here's the deal. Over the past couple of years the "more spiritual than Jesus" group has basically tried to silence the Christian voice in the political arena. So, the torch bearers for the separation of church and state movement have drawn lines around political discourse, even when the talk crosses over into clearly spiritual topics. It's the acceptance, moderation, soft-spoken image of a Jesus, Jesus, Meek and Mild, like the one picture above, magnified by heavy does of personal piety. 

Of course, this tampering with Scripture is no different than the infidels who twist and use The Book for their own selfish purposes. Sure, Jesus the shepherd was kind and gentle, a healer who touched the raw places in human lives, a teacher with a word of comfort for the disenfranchised, a warm welcome embrace for those left on the outside of established social systems. The list of descriptives is long---Redeemer, Savior, Truth, Life, Way, Light, Life and so much more. He was winsome and loving and accepting.

But, that's not all. He also called the religious zealots a brood of vipers, and even worse, hypocrites, blind guides, white-washed tombs, leaven, sons of the devil, foolish ones, blind men, and more. The one who is the Truth always spoke truth. He didn't coddle those from whom much more was expected and never shied away from dealing with difficult people. This depiction of a reticent, faltering Jesus needs a fresh picture of the Jesus who endured the cross for the joy before Him. The same Lord who called Lazarus from the grave and took a meal with tax-collector Matthew also drove the money-changers from the temple complex. He is the Master who told people they were forgive and demanded that they go and sin no more. 

The fortress church of the seventies has become the church in retreat of the twenty- first century in great part because we, the preachers and leaders, have spoken this partial image of the One who disciplined Simon Peter, called James and John to account, and commanded the wind and waves to obey Him. His instructions for the church and the Kingdom aren't homely advice for living the stress-free life, but commands that should evoke instant obedience in us. He spoke truth to the simple people of the time, the religious maniacs and zealots, to the governor and to the religious officials who help the authority of life and death.

He loved them and loves us. He spoke to the first century culture and sent us to the world in the same way the Father sent Him (John 20:21) to flavor and light it. The image He used was salt, not sugar or sweeteners. To be His church in any age is to influence the times in whatever ways He modeled for us.

Any effort to be mega-, super-, or hyper- spiritual, more spiritual than Jesus, is just wrong. Jesus is Lord. The idea that He could be Savior and not Lord, absolute Master, is just flawed. To be like Him is our life goal, a promise that will only be realized when He moves us from this life to eternity.

The slave is not above the Master, or so The Book says. We're in dangerous territory when we pretend to be holier than Him.