Introducing the Real Jesus

Introducing the Real Jesus
Flip Benham

A sizeable number of North Mecklenburg High School students claim to know Jesus. In fact, they've been enthusiastically speaking for Him when they call and email OSA, informing us that this “jesus” is never ever judgmental. He just luvs (“luv,” that's 'Love Lite'). Their “jesus” is tolerant of all sins. The only thing he absolutely will not tolerate is any form of judgmentalism. Their “jesus” is the friendly bellhop in the sky, ready and eager to meet their every need. He's kind of like Santa Claus, only better, because he's available to kowtow 24/7. This must be the same “jesus” that Rebecca N Ruhlen refers to in her article Fight signs, slogans of hate. Her “jesus” would never be so hateful as to point out sin. In her words, “Faith needs to be reclaimed for the purpose of peace and love.”

Little wonder students didn't recognize Him when the real Jesus, the Jesus of the Bible, showed up at their school this week and theology became biography on the sidewalks of North Mecklenburg. Our job as Christians is not to change the words of the Living God so that there is no offense. We are simply called to hold forth the words of life in a dark generation. Darkness prevails when lies that destroy people's lives (abortion, homosexuality, false religions) are taught as if they are basic human rights to be protected at all cost. When the Light shines, it can be blinding and painful, but ultimately it leads to life and restoration. Now that they've met the real Jesus because Christians were willing to take His truth to them, they can say with C.S. Lewis: I now know that God is not a figment of my imagination for He is not at all what I imagined Him to be.

These students came face to face with the Jesus of the Bible and instantly called it hate. Why? Because He testifies to the world that its deeds are evil (John 7:7).

John 3:16 tells us God loved the world so much that He gave His only begotten Son for us. Interestingly enough, verse 17 says the Son did not come to condemn the world, but to save it, yet, at first, God's love always seems like condemnation. John 3:19 explains that this is the condemnation, “the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their deeds were evil.”

The world hates those who speak the truth about its wickedness. Christ said the world hates you because “it hated Me first,” (John 15:18 ). What got the Jesus of the Bible crucified on the cross was His speech. The ones who said they knew and loved God the most were the ones who nailed Him to the cross. (It is no different today.) Pilate didn't want to crucify Him. He was crucified because He testified that their religious hypocrisy was abhorrent to God.

Everything is tolerated, every evil including abortion and homosexuality, every pagan belief - witchcraft and reincarnation, etc., every god is welcome at N. Meck.- Buddha and Allah, everything is tolerated except the one true God whose name is Jesus. This is what we were revealing at North Mecklenburg this week, the real God of the Bible.

Many people believed in the miracles Christ was performing, but John 2:24 says He didn't entrust Himself to them. He knew they weren't going to follow him to the cross. He knew that the world was wicked and He wanted repentance. God will not dispense His mercy until justice is done. Justice comes in confessing my sin and turning from that sin. It was not until I admitted that I was a sinner that God granted me forgiveness through repentance. The only way I can draw near to the Lord is to confess “homologoe,” meaning “confess with the same confession,” that what God says about me is true. “…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23.

This week we lived out the Scripture in John 15:12. “This is my command that you love each other as I have loved you.”

“As I have loved you, so you must love each other. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)

How does Jesus love us? He confronts us with our sin so that we might repent and find freedom. He shows us that real love does not look the other way when others believe lies that will destroy them. He showed us most perfectly by despising the shame and laying down His own life down so that others might live.

-So love came to North Mecklenburg High School.

“Tolerance” is what the world calls love. The opposite of tolerance is biblical love. Tolerance will sit back and let a friend die in their sin. If your friend is taking drugs, tolerance says, “Don't get involved. Don't be judgmental.” Biblical love demands that you get involved. You only have to look at the One who is our example to know this. Christ got involved. He took up His cross. That's love!