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.