Jesus-N-Me
The other day, I was following a truck that had as its vanity license plate, "Jesus N Me." I assume that's probably the driver's way of witnessing, of proclaiming his faith in Jesus. And it's popular American theology. Just Jesus and me. That's all I need. Jesus and me and I'm good to go. It's the sort of theology immortalized in that "classic" song, "I don't care if it rains or freezes, long as I've got my plastic Jesus sittin' on the dashboard of my car..."
The problem is...it's not Biblical theology. Yes, we need to meet Jesus in a personal way, to experience salvation of our own lives and transformation of our own hearts. But the Christian faith is not about "Jesus-n-me" because once we meet Jesus, he doesn't just call us to sit around and wait for heaven. No, Jesus sends us out. "Go and make disciples of all nations," he says (Matthew 28:19). Not sit and hope for disciples. Not drive and hope that someone reads your license plate. Not just wear a Christian t-shirt and see if someone it. Go...make disciples. Go...invite others to follow. Go...encounter others and help them encounter Jesus. "Go" is not a solitary activity. It implies that, when you go, you will run into others who need to become disciples. Far from "Jesus and me," this is faith that longs for "Jesus and all of us." God "wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:4).
When we slip into thinking that faith is just about "me" we've wandered from Biblical faith. Biblical faith is about community, being part of community, and reaching out to others to include them in the community. It's not enough to just be saved. We are saved from sin so that we can reach out, serve others and invite them to find that same salvation.
This is no time to be selfish. This is a time to share Jesus with people who need to know him. It's time. It's past time. He's calling us to go.
The problem is...it's not Biblical theology. Yes, we need to meet Jesus in a personal way, to experience salvation of our own lives and transformation of our own hearts. But the Christian faith is not about "Jesus-n-me" because once we meet Jesus, he doesn't just call us to sit around and wait for heaven. No, Jesus sends us out. "Go and make disciples of all nations," he says (Matthew 28:19). Not sit and hope for disciples. Not drive and hope that someone reads your license plate. Not just wear a Christian t-shirt and see if someone it. Go...make disciples. Go...invite others to follow. Go...encounter others and help them encounter Jesus. "Go" is not a solitary activity. It implies that, when you go, you will run into others who need to become disciples. Far from "Jesus and me," this is faith that longs for "Jesus and all of us." God "wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:4).
When we slip into thinking that faith is just about "me" we've wandered from Biblical faith. Biblical faith is about community, being part of community, and reaching out to others to include them in the community. It's not enough to just be saved. We are saved from sin so that we can reach out, serve others and invite them to find that same salvation.
This is no time to be selfish. This is a time to share Jesus with people who need to know him. It's time. It's past time. He's calling us to go.
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