“God did not intend for us to walk alone. The Church seems like it is going in this crazy direction of huge multimedia presentations ... but I really think that people want other real people."
Faith No More is a really interesting article that I just read on Relevant Magazine.com. I found it particularly engaging because it talks about an issue that I've been thinking a lot about lately... that people want, and need, other people who are willing to be there for them, love them, and walk together through the messy stuff of life. As a person who is involved in working with university students, aiming to see them encounter Jesus Christ as their answer to their questions of life, and working to help them grow in their life as followers of Jesus to serve and influence others, it's this tension that I struggle with... what is a relevant atmosphere and environment? How do we introduce young people to the reality and authenticity of Jesus - the man who was fully human, who ate, drank, partied, cried, loved, served, healed, related to others, taught, was tempted, was beaten up, who was perfect, who died and who came back to life... and who at the same time IS GOD!
I think that sometimes presentations, multimedia, events, concerts, music, cool lighting and things are cool. But sometimes I think we focus too much on having events that are "cool" and forget about those conversations in the street, or sitting around the kitchen table, or drinking coffee, or running together, or just being... together. I think that what Jesus came to do, and what we need to take note of, is to show people what God is like, and to save them from a life of ignoring God and rejecting the true Life that is God. He didn't run huge concerts, but he spoke to lots of people. He didn't just talk his message, he LIVED it. That's why he said "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."
Man, that's what's really cool. That Jesus IS God, and that he SHOWS us what God is like by BEING God right here with us, as a human being. That for me is good news. That God himself was prepared to come and BE human to show us that he's not just some far off diety, but he is a God that is personal and relational. And then, this Jesus, who is God, was prepared to die in our place for our crimes and brokeness and shame and dishonesty, our rejection of the perfection and life of God... our sin... so that we could be restored, forgiven, made new... but more than all that... so that we could be connected in a relationship with this God, through Jesus.
So I'm interested in your thoughts... what are your deep questions, that may be uncomfortable or unanswered? Do you connect with God through Jesus or think it's just a fairytale? What does it mean to be relevant? Hmmm...
