My Jesus

I've been trying to blog for some time about some issues I've been having since I returned to Dallas two years ago. For two long years, I've been looking for a church home. You'd think in a city the size of Dallas I'd be able to find one. But I can't find a theology I agree with... at least not in any of the traditional Baptist churches in the area.

See, I'm fed up with the way Jesus is presented in a lot of churches these days. Most churches present the Gospel as an open-ended invitation to come to Jesus, ignoring the fact that the Bible clearly states that He calls some and not others. When He says, "Come to me, you who are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest," those that come do so at the leading of the Holy Spirit. I've heard many stories of people who go almost literally kicking and screaming (Augustine, C.S. Lewis, Josh McDowell, Lee Strobel). And yet most churches don't present it in that way. They talk of leading someone to Christ, when in reality we have absolutely nothing to do with it. It is entirely the leading of the Holy Spirit. Dead people can't raise themselves, and Romans says we are dead in our transgressions, made alive in Christ.

I'm also fed up with the presentation of Christ as only for those that have their lives straight. I know I'm guilty of this too. In most churches, they preach of forgiveness and repentance to people who hide their sin incredibly well. But Jesus ate dinner with thieves and prostitutes and tax collectors - the lowest of the low. How often do we invite prostitutes and strippers and homeless people to our churches? If they came, would any of us talk to them? Would any of us sit by them?

I heard this song by Todd Agnew yesterday, and it convicted me so much it hurt. I don't usually like a lot of Todd Agnew's stuff (musically speaking anyway), but check out the words to this song.

My Jesus - Todd Agnew

Which Jesus do you follow?
Which Jesus do you serve?
If Ephesians says to imitate Christ
Then why do you look so much like the world?

'Cause my Jesus bled and died
He spent His time with thieves and liars
He loved the poor and accosted the arrogant
So which one do you want to be?

Blessed are the poor in spirit
Or do we pray to be blessed with the wealth of this land?
Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousness
Or do we ache for another taste of this world of shifting sand?

'Cause my Jesus bled and died for my sins
He spent His time with thieves and sluts and liars
He loved the poor and accosted the rich
So which one do you want to be?

Who is this that you follow?
This picture of the American dream
If Jesus was here would you walk right by on the other side
Or fall down and worship at His holy feet?

Pretty blue eyes and curly brown hair and a clear complexion
Is this how you see Him as He dies for your sins?
But the Word says He was battered and scarred
Or did you miss that part?
Sometimes I doubt we'd recognize Him.

'Cause my Jesus bled and died
He spent His time with thieves and the least of these
He loved the poor and accosted the comfortable
So which one do you want to be?

'Cause my Jesus would never be accepted in my church
The blood and dirt on His feet would stain the carpet
But He reaches for the hurting and despises the proud
I think He'd prefer Beale Street to the stained glass crowd
And I know that He can hear me if I cry out loud
I wanna be like You, Jesus!
I wanna be like You, Jesus!

Not a poster child for American prosperity, but like my Jesus
You see, I'm tired of living for success and popularity
I wanna be like my Jesus, but I'm not sure what that means to be like You, Jesus
'Cause You said to live like You, love like You, but then You died for me
Can I be like You, Jesus?
I wanna be like my Jesus.