The white-washing of Christ’s Christianity …

I’m tired of liberal Christians using the excuse of love to condone what they don’t do in the name of Jesus Christ.

Less than an hour ago, I finished reading a new blog post from a popular Christian writer who droned on about how he chooses to do what he does, and doesn’t do, based on love rather than duty. Then he gave the reasons why love is a superior motive to duty.

In the process, he completely missed the point of how much of what we read about in scripture has been done: by both motivations of love AND duty.

It doesn’t take a genius to conclude that it’s better for everyone involved when what is done for someone is done from a motivation of love. But the problem with human beings is that we aren’t always loving when we need to be. In those times, it is far better for us to do what should be done because it’s right (out of a sense of duty) than fail to do what is right simply because we don’t feel like doing it.

This writer believes in doing what he feels.

Another, similar view is something preached far and wide by “positive thinking” and success gurus and is also something I’ve seen posted broadly across social media. It’s the statement that the people in your life are either holding you back, or helping you move forward; they are either helpful to you, or a hindrance.

Again, that way of thinking completely misses the example of Jesus Christ and the larger point that life is not all about you or me! I’ve sat and listened to a broad array of leaders teach that we need to eliminate all the “toxic relationships” in our lives, divesting ourselves of anyone and everyone who doesn’t support our ways, and allow into our lives only the people who feed our doing what we feel like is good for us.

Such an ungodly, unbiblical concept! That’s the white-washing of Christ’s Christianity that is taught as the means to living a “successful” life.

It’s a good thing Jesus Christ didn’t think that way. If He had, humanity would be doomed! What human relationship for Him wasn’t toxic? Who really stood with Him to move His life forward? If Jesus were to eliminate all interaction with people who didn’t move His purposes forward, who really would be left?

God has not called us into a self-indulgent life that is to be lined with people who are there for our convenience. Instead, He has called us to come die to ourselves and wade into the midst of broken, “toxic” people who need the love and grace of God precisely because of their brokenness!

In order to reach these people, you have to go into difficult relationships in unsafe environments to serve unlikable people who will often use you. Following Christ is not about safe relationships with perfect boundaries where everyone is looking after your best interests. It’s about risking being hated and rejected by the same world that hated and rejected Jesus Christ himself.

In John 15:18-21, Jesus talks about what following Him can entail: “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you. Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you. They will do all this to you because of me, for they have rejected the One who sent me.”

So if you wait to serve those that you feel like serving, you’ll do little for the cause of Christ. If you wait to serve those who hate you only from a motivation of love, you’ll get little done. Sometimes it takes a sense of duty to stir us to express the love of Christ in the midst of sin-indulging, broken, toxic, boundary-stomping, selfish people.

There was a moment when Jesus didn’t want to wade into such an ugly situation. Look closely at this poignant scene in Luke 22:39-44:

“Then, accompanied by the disciples, Jesus left the upstairs room and went as usual to the Mount of Olives. There he told them, ‘Pray that you will not give in to temptation.’ He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, ‘Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.’ Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him. He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood.”

Jesus didn’t feel like going to the cross for undeserving humankind. But He loved the Father and us, and He certainly had a sense of duty toward the will of the Father over His immediate feelings. Both motivations helped Him through this time of struggle.

In spite of His great example, we continue to fill books telling Christians to eliminate relationships, erect boundaries, and stay true to self.

Which message are you taking to heart?

Scotty