Jesus can’t catch a break.
He’s been misunderstood and misrepresented since the day He was born.
“If you’re God’s son, why were you born in a barn?”
One of my favorite distortions of Jesus’ teaching is “unconditional love”.
Or, as I call it, “The Gospel of Love Me Or Else”.
The GOLMOE turns Jesus into a narcissist.
This theology makes Christ’s message into a plea for Twitter followers.
“Like me on Facebook or I’ll send you to Hell.”
Personally, I’ve never been threatened into affection.
God knows He can’t extract my love with brute force.
I can’t even know what love IS without an example.
The GOLMOE ignores Jesus example of love.
While we were yet sinners…Christ died.
When we were rapists, murderers, thieves, and Fundamentalists…Christ died.
When we were writing insipid, mocking memes…Christ died.
He didn’t say, “Love me and I’ll forgive you.”
He said, “I’ve taken the blame for your wickedness. You’re free.”
It’s already done.
Unconditionally…
…almost.
You’re free as long as that’s what you want.
Christ doesn’t extract love with brute force.
He’s won’t chain you to a wall in the church basement.
You are free to chain yourself to any wall you like.
Jesus doesn’t need you to like his Facebook page.
He doesn’t need your love.
Because He’s the one who gave it to you in the first place.
56 Responses
I think many atheists are atheists because the view of God they had when they were children never grew up.
Is that the same as saying they lost their childlike faith?
From a comment above, “The most powerful motivator of all is FEAR. Nothing makes us more uncomfortable than fear.”
Actually it’s love. Most terrifying force on the planet. Love can cost you everything. It’s scary to pursue, scary to lose, and something many of us shy away from. We will actually wrap ourself in hatred and fear just to try and stay safe from love. Love makes you vulnerable.
Your words about love here are spot on IB. Unfortunately our atheist friend Nan has to say Christians are motivated by fear because that makes the faith about flattering a despot against one’s will because they fear punishment rather that what it is, a relationship motivated by love.
I will admit to being a non-believer, but I don’t consider myself an atheist so I would appreciate you not referring to me as such. Thanks. 🙂
A non-believer whose not an atheist… How does that work?
Trust me, it’s possible. And there are others like me, believe it or not. As for me, I explain it all in my book, but alas, I know you’ll never read it so I guess you’ll just have to use your imagination. 😉
Thanks for the conversation, but I think I’ll move on now. Any initial entertainment value has vanished. Have a nice weekend.
Just FYI, John has a book as well. (Also several DVDs.)
The link to get them is here: http://jbcomedy.webflow.io/john-branyan-store
Many happy returns to you as well!
She didn’t answer my question!
I’m shocked.
Wished me a nice weekend though. Where have I seen this before?
I guess there really are others like her.
Be nice! You’re going to be sending her a book as soon as she finishes her order!
(I mean, I’m sure she’s not the type who just shows up in a comment section, is rude for her own “entertainment,” and then plugs her book daring you to read it, while being someone who never reads other people’s books herself! Surely not.)
I would read your book. Will you send me a copy?
You can read about and order it through this website. There are several formats available.
Best. Analogies. Ever!
(An indoctrinated believer in reading Words.)
Words is you! You exist because of Words! Words said…by…Someone…
He’s been misunderstood and misrepresented since the day He was born.
But of course, you have the inside scoop.
How would you respond, if someone came to your blog–where you share your perspective on something–and left this comment?
No one said anything about having an “inside scoop.” But if you think something is wrong that WAS said, then feel free to share what and why.
You’re correct. No one said anything about having the “inside scoop.” But to make statements like the one I referenced certainly sounds that way.
You, John, and other believers may feel Jesus has been misunderstood and misrepresented … but has he? There are numerous scriptures that discuss the penalties awaiting those who do not put their faith in Jesus’ “love.” And I daresay, fear is a much more powerful emotion than love. In fact, Psychology Today says in one article, [T]he most powerful motivator of all is FEAR. Nothing makes us more uncomfortable than fear.
So while it sounds all warm and fuzzy to say Jesus is the source of love, one cannot deny that fear also plays a rather major role in the life of many believers and non-believers alike.
Ah, so YOU are the one with the inside scoop…
Got it.
@Nan – I guess I’m not quite understanding your point. Sure, we can probably all agree that fear is a stronger emotion than love in most instances – I suppose one could argue that they are two sides of the same coin…
Regardless, are you trying to imply that Jesus attempted to motivate people more with fear than with love?
MM, I’m not saying Jesus tried to do anything at all. The post discounts the GOLMOE theology. I’m just saying that many believers do live by this “gospel,” whether they admit it or not.
The love part is nice and yes, Jesus did attempt to demonstrate it through his actions (as expressed in the bible). But I question how many living under the “Christian” title don’t live with at least some trepidation. It’s all well and good to talk about love, but if one is honest with themselves, the GOLMOE is also present. Quite frankly, there are no “guarantees.” Every believer is living by “hope” (1 Peter 3:15).
Okay, that makes more sense. Thanks for the clarification!
I live without trepidation or fear Nan, only assurance.
God wants us to have assurance of our salvation. We should not live our Christian lives wondering and worrying each day whether or not we are truly saved. That is why the Bible makes the plan of salvation so clear. Believe in Jesus Christ (John 3:16; Acts 16:31). “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). Have you repented? Do you believe that Jesus died to pay the penalty for your sins and rose again from the dead (Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21)? Do you trust Him alone for salvation? If your answer to these questions is “yes,” you are saved! Assurance means freedom from doubt. By taking God’s Word to heart, you can have no doubt about the reality of your eternal salvation.
Jesus Himself assures those who believe in Him: “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand” (John 10:28–29). Eternal life is just that—eternal. There is no one, not even yourself, who can take Christ’s God-given gift of salvation away from you.
We hide God’s Word in our hearts so that we do not sin against Him (Psalm 119:11), and this includes the sin of doubt. Take joy in what God’s Word is saying to you: instead of doubting, we can live with confidence! We can have the assurance from Christ’s own Word that our salvation will never be in question. Our assurance of salvation is based on the perfect and complete salvation God has provided for us through Jesus Christ.
Gosh thanks, James, for all that preaching. You made my day. NOT!
If you don’t want people preaching to you Nan, stop trolling Christian blogs. Just a thought 🙂
I came here from a link on another blog … and decided to comment. You will not find me anywhere on the “follow” list and if you do a search, I’m pretty sure this is the only post you will find any comments by me. So no, I’m not a troll. Actually, I find Christian blogs rather boring … just as I imagine you and your friends would say about non-believer blogs.
Yeah, James!
Thanks SOOOOO MUCH for taking the time to write an encouraging comment, with quotes from one of your favorite books. Thanks a lot for sitting down and thinking about something you thought Nan could benefit from, and then expressing those thoughts respectfully…
NOT!!!!!
Nan’s response was actually about what I expected from an evangelical atheist so, oh well, no harm in trying I guess.
Nan,
/sarcasm begin
Oh yes. When we gather in church, we lift praise to the Lord because we fear that if we don’t, He will strike us dead where we gather. Some people even run from their cars into the church building to avoid the bolts from the blue that might come before they get to shelter.
When we share the Gospel, we tremble in fear, that if we don’t get it just right, the Almighty will smite us for our failure in producing results.
And unbelievers all walk around filled with fear of the immediate wrath of God, that manifests itself regularly, so He can fear people into belief. Happens all the time.
/sarcasm end
The only people who need to be afraid of God are those under His eventual wrath. And they should. But God is never fooled by someone professing a faith as “fire insurance” rather than possessing a faith that is a result of the overwhelming love from God.
Dave
(Who has the inside scoop… which we call Scripture… a not-at-all-hidden source)
Yep.
Going to an atheist to teach you about Christ is like; going to a person who doesn’t even believe that words exist to teach you how to read.
People with the inside scoop are the best teachers.
What if you go to someone who knows how to read–but just doesn’t like it and thinks that everyone who reads regularly is brainwashed?
Is that okay?
🙂
Oh, so you mean like taking a health class that is taught by an obese person?
“Here’s how to be healthy, kids, but that takes life-long discipline. It’s good to know how to be healthy, in principle, but being overweight is so much fun! You aren’t truly free unless you’re obese like me!”
I could never take that seriously.
Yeah, kind of like the Fat Acceptance movement…
Wait, before we continue this discussion, I need to know something: do you enjoy reading?
I do enjoy reading. I was “indoctrinated” into starting The Boxcar Children when I was young- never stopped reading since then.
Thank you for admitting your bias… I, also, was indoctrinated. However, now I use the circumstance for good and warn kids against the same fate. (Don’t do it, Kids! Don’t let them teach you to read!!!!)
When you teach kids that words don’t exist- that is “education”. You may teach them about the alphabet, you wouldn’t want to not give them a choice. But as soon as you start putting letters together to form words- you run the risk of them concluding that there is order behind it all.
Yeeeeeeessss!
Yeah, identity is a rough one too. I did enjoy that part talking about replacing the ship parts entirely and then rebuilding a ship from the replaced parts. I had heard that a while ago, but had forgotten about it. Fun thoughts!
I’m sort of down with “soul” as being the distinguishing factor between entities (that is, my soul is not God’s soul), even if God does have complete control over the way that my soul makes value judgments.
I think where I would differ with you is that I wouldn’t say that the soul is external in the same way that I was referencing external above. I’d say that soul is still “me” (if not the only “me”) and that our soul’s wants are still fully dependent of things outside of itself. The only reasonable alternative to this dependency is randomness, which is still (if not more) disconcerting than dependency
Disregard – was meant to be (and was reposted) in another thread.
“I can’t even know what love IS without an example…You’re free as long as that’s what you want….He doesn’t need your love. Because He’s the one who gave it to you in the first place.”
Are you sure you’re not a Calvinist? These statements kinda sound like there’s a little Jonathan Edwards deep down your innards ^_^
These statements pass for Calvinism?!!
I expected some push-back on this article from the TULIP folks.
I mean, they aren’t thoughts directly from Calvin himself, but they sound like someone who could easily transfer from DAISY to TULIP. The ignorance of love without example sounds more like Total Depravity than Diminished depravity.
No Calvinist would ever say that the elect don’t want to be saved or that the non-elect want to be saved, so “freedom” based on wants is consistent.
And God giving you love? well, That certainly rings true to the TU and maybe even the I
http://thewardrobedoor.com/2010/08/theological-flower-bed-tulip-daisy-roses.html
“No Calvinist would ever say that the elect don’t want to be saved or that the non-elect want to be saved…”
Don’t Calvinists say that God’s sovereignty gives us our “wants”?
Yes.
That would be where I deviate from Calvinism.
The elect actually ARE chained to a wall but programmed to enjoy their captivity.
Yeah, I get that. I’d still say that without God giving you your wants, your still chained to them and have no actual “control” as to what your wants are.
Put another way, you can’t do anything you don’t want to do and your wants originate externally regardless of if they come from God.
Yep. I don’t have a firm handle on any of this.
I’ve suggested that ALL our thoughts originate externally. The brain receives these thoughts and our souls make value judgments.
The question we asked on the podcast was: “What is you?” What is the thing that grants autonomy? Where does God stop and I start? Calvinists would say that God doesn’t stop. If that’s true, there really is no ‘me’.
Yeah, identity is a rough one too. I did enjoy that part talking about replacing the ship parts entirely and then rebuilding a ship from the replaced parts. I had heard that a while ago, but had forgotten about it. Fun thoughts!
I’m sort of down with “soul” as being the distinguishing factor between entities (that is, my soul is not God’s soul), even if God does have complete control over the way that my soul makes value judgments.
I think where I would differ with you is that I wouldn’t say that the soul is external in the same way that I was referencing external above. I’d say that soul is still “me” (if not the only “me”) and that our soul’s wants are still fully dependent of things outside of itself. The only reasonable alternative to this dependency is randomness, which is still (if not more) disconcerting than dependency
Edit: Screwed up the post again >_<
John,
No push back…
What the Holy Spirit does with that inward call is “overwhelm” our sinful mind and will, (which is indifferent at best and hateful at worst toward God), with His immeasurable love and the Truth of Who He is. We have at that moment, full knowledge of our sinfulness and equal full knowledge of our forgiveness because of that love.
With this internal revelation, we have no “choice” but to know the truth and be changed. Like Paul was in the New Testament. He was headed to persecute Christians when God grabbed him as His chosen instrument and changed him.
The whole situation was “so like God.” Paul was blown away, Ananias was trying to remind God who this Paul guy was, and Paul even has to have people vouch that he was the real deal. It would be like Madalyn Murray O’Hair not only having become a believer, but starting a ministry. A true miracle of God.
Now that we have Scripture, we don’t often have people claiming that God directly audibly converted them, but the Spirit still is “doing His thing”.
Dave
You also don’t need to “Like and Share this picture” to show that you love Jesus or get into heaven.
One day we’ll get to see all the ways God has showed His love to us without us ever knowing. Minds will be BLOWN!!!
On the flip side…we”ll get to see all the ways we’ve taken His love and set it aside/cast it away. Anyway…just had to add that.
Interesting conversation.
Hallelujah! 🙂
I always got a kick out of that objection anyway:
“I’ll hate you just because you gave me the ability to choose to hate you.”
“Forced love” is an oxymoron: God is something to freely choose- so choose Love.
“If you allow me to love you- I’ll hate you for it”.
“The only way I’ll love you is if you make me.”
I guess that’s what happens when they’re so determined that they can’t choose 😉
Well said! I really appreciate this. I sometimes say, there is no such thing as salvation by liking all the right facebook posts. You can’t friend Him on Twitter!
Freedom is a funny word, it’s very positive in the Western world, we all want freedom. When I think of it in terms of faith however, the last thing I want is to be free of marriage or free of a relationship with Jesus Christ. In that context, it’s captivity all the way.
God IS love.
Love IS God.
They’re synonyms.
The problem is, people want to refuse God, while still “loving” others (especially themselves). It doesn’t work that way.
Plus, only a jerk says, “I still hate you, but I’ll keep the presents you bought me.”
And boom goes the dynamite! Couldn’t’ve said it better myself, Branyan. This simple and powerful message gets twisted so often and it’s sad to see people so convinced that GOLMOE is true that they won’t let it get near them. Keep em coming, dude!