I’ve been drinking diet pop for a long time (that’s soda for you northerners, and the non descriptive, uber generic ‘Coke’ for you in the south).
I’ve been drinking it for so long, it not only tastes good, it tastes better than regular pop. I understand that the previous sentence is probably the single most controversial statement I have ever posted on this blog, but you will just need to deal with it.
It’s kind of a pattern for chronic dieters like myself:
- You make the decision to go lite
- You endure the transition
- You get used to it
- You get comfortable with it
- It becomes normal
You can do this with almost any habit, whether its food, drink, entertainment, political affiliation and unfortunately…even faith.
Yep, you can choose to go lite. It may feel awkward at first, but you’ll get used to it. If you try “Jesus-lite” it will eventually become normal.
Jesus-lite has become the new rage all around the world. All the love with none of the conviction. You can enjoy 100% of your daily requirement of feel good, with none of that commitment aftertaste.
Harvard University is a sterling example of embracing the Jesus-lite lifestyle.
The school motto is “Veritas,” the latin word for truth, but it wasn’t always that catchy little word. The University’s original motto was “Veritas pro Christo et ecclesia,” or “Truth for Christ and his Church.”
Hmmm…
So, Harvard decided to go lite, where ‘truth’ was still important, but Christ and His church were not?
We shouldn’t be too hard on this Ivy League liberalism. Lots of others have chosen Jesus-lite, too.
Maybe it’s just that we have found the need to seperate ourselves from the rigid standards and politically incorrect statements of Jesus and His church. I mean let’s be honest, if we were to actually let Jesus be the spokesperson for our lives and our institutions we’d get sued in a heartbeat.
Seriously, Jesus was a good foundation and He had some pretty revolutionary things to say ‘back in the day.’ But, come on, we’ve progressed, evolved, grown up… should’t we have moved past all this religiosity?
We can still love Jesus, but we don’t need to take Him that seriously, right?
Ok… let’s end the sarcasm here. There really is a problem.
If you accept Jesus-lite for too long, it’s just like drinking diet pop… you’ll get used to it.
He really is worth taking seriously. More than that, Jesus is worth everything.
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Matthew 7:12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”
Luke 10:27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”
Luke 23:34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
I am sorry Lord that our world has become so proud that we would dare to edit You.
I am sorry Lord, when we have not taken You seriously.
I am sorry when we call you Lord, and do not mean it.
Lord we know You love, but You also judge. We know You care as a Father, and You rule as a King. We will no longer consider you a buffet God and take only what we want.
You are God and Your Word is law.
We offer all of us to every bit of You.