The Murky Gospel
Having grown up in the church I can tell you the absolute truth on any given topic in five (or less) perfectly thought out phrases.
It’s sort of sad, really. One of the big 3 religions can be boiled down to five (or less) kitchy phrases…
“Having girl problems? I feel bad for you, son! I’ve got 99 problems but a Bit** aint one.”
Now that’s a phrase I can kind of get into. But it, of course, is not one of the five i heard growing up.
It’s just nice.
I suppose the problem with boiling down truth to simple sayings is the answers come off a little bit patronizing or childish. (Other than quid est veritas – the Latin for “What is Truth?” which seems a perfectly reasonable saying.)
What about, “The Lord works in mysterious ways.”
OK. Thanks. Now I’m really confused.
Could it be that the Gospel of Jesus is slightly more deep -even murky- than I was lead to believe as a child? Could it be that the little phrases have made it look deceptively shallow? – Like one of those clear pools in the mountains that look to be about 2 feet, but are actually 40′?
Here’s another good one (like the above also not found in the Bible.)
“Make Jesus personal Lord and Savior of your Life.”
Um, What?
I have absolutely no idea what that means.
I’m not advocating a new theology. I’m just saying maybe HOPEFULLY God is more than a bunch of phrases. (I hesitate to post this – only because Christians can be the most cannibalistic people on the internet.)
I hope God is really an independent agent who is sovereign to do whatever he wants.
The phrases don’t work anyways.
When Jesus instructed people to “come as a child” I don’t think he meant “be childish and hang your hope on kitchy phrases.”
Jesus is real and He is more than a feeling (Thanks Boston) of being in control because of the power to use phrases.
I hope Jesus hasn’t been abandoned as a result of the 5 (or less) answers to every one of life’s problems. It would seem a shame to dissuade an adventurous cliff jumper with the wrong information on just how deep the pool is.