Jesus is not a Magic Wand
So I know this post will be completely misunderstood by certain people. But I’ve been more and more disturbed recently by the tendency to fetishize Jesus by turning him into some sort of strange magical object. It’s nothing new – chanting the name of Jesus as if it were some sort of charm is quite ingrained in the Christian faith. What is disturbing to me are the people who call me unchristian if I dare question that practice.
What do I mean by Jesus as magic wand? It can be as simple as needing to surround ourselves with the idea of or name of Jesus as if it is a charm. It’s the Christian radio stations that have quotas for how often the name of Jesus must be repeated in songs each hour. It is the churches that insist that the only proper Sunday service is endless repetitions of an alter call where the name of Jesus is to believed in. I’ve heard sermons that dig deep into scripture or help develop spiritually whole people derided because they didn’t include the magic gospel formula. Or the responses to the recent Sparkhouse video about sparking new life in faith communities that criticized it because Jesus wasn’t mentioned enough. Or when a book comes out on say social justice issues and it gets negative reviews because it doesn’t include a gospel presentation as its main focus. I’m sorry that’s like criticizing Calculus textbook for not including a full history of mathematics. Such things are assumed as given. (And btw, I did include a (brief) summary of the gospel message in Everyday Justice – so, critics, back off.)
But as amusing as quotas and shallow baby food sermons may be, where I find this fetishization of Jesus to be most dangerous is in the realm of personal faith. It’s when people are told to “claim the name of Jesus” or to “believe in the healing power of Jesus” in order to deal with depression or marital problems or whatever. I’m all for mystery and the power of prayer and all that – but seriously what do those phrases even mean? By claiming the name of Jesus do I just expect him to work like a magical spell – I say his name with enough conviction and poof everythings better? If it doesn’t work then I just must not be doing it right (i.e. I don’t have enough faith or I’m living in sin). I get it that Jesus heals – I fully believe that. What I can’t buy is that it happens by magic. Healing takes work – it hurts and it requires our effort. I’m reminded of that cliched sermon illustration of the people caught in a flood waiting to be rescued. Each time a boat or helicopter comes to get them, they turn them away saying God will take care of them. Of course they die and in heaven challenge God as to why he didn’t care for them. He replies that he sent boats and a helicopter, why didn’t they take them. People are so convinced that Jesus is so hyper-spiritual and other-wordly that we’ve forgotten that he has to work through the real world. That we are his servants, caring for others and for ourselves. Sure, he empowers and guides us, but not so that we can be lazy and expect fairy-godmother-like intervention. I hurt for those who have been sold that lie. Those they reject therapy or treatments or services because they are waiting of Jesus to suddenly deliver a better life.
Jesus is not a fetish. Jesus is not a magic wand. Following him takes work. His name shouldn’t just be a charm or a mantra. We have to actually look at him and choose to do the dirty work of being like him. That means taking responsibility for our actions, for our hurt, and for the hurt in the world. We are following a guide not clicking our ruby-slippers together waiting to be whisked away. Jesus is real and powerful – we shouldn’t cheapen him by reducing him to trite nonsense. Getting our panties in a bunch because his name isn’t mentioned enough on the radio or a sermon or book doesn’t list the magic formula to get to heaven is a waste of time. Praying for Jesus to save your marriage is pointless unless you take steps to make it happen. Asking Jesus to comfort the poor is mockery unless we are out there being his hands and feet.
So I’m sick and tired of people saying I don’t care about Jesus because I don’t treat him like a household idol to be invoked and ignored at whim. I want to actually follow Jesus – which takes a lot more work and looks vastly different than flicking my magical Jesus wand.
julieclawson(at)gmail(dot)com 
amen.
Bravo..
I had a similar concern a few years ago. I wrote a piece called “Abracadabra, Hocus Pocus, Jesus!” I was distraught about how people thought Jesus was a rabbit they could pull out of their faith hat to do their bidding. They always cited that “whatever you pray in my name..” business to teach we could have anything we want if we just tagged Jesus’ name to the end of the prayer. I think the misunderstanding of this verse is that praying “in Jesus’ name” is NOT about tagging his name to the end of our prayer, but praying IN His character and spirit. Which doesn’t give us whatever we want, but transforms the prayer itself…
I hear ya! Case in point, a webpage discussing the recent Christianity 21 conference in Minneapolis included someone’s comment that “Where was Jesus Christ mentioned? Where was there an altar call?”
Aside from the fact that Jesus was in fact mentioned dozens of times during that event, even though there was no altar call, I for one found myself being born again and believing in Jesus again as a result of my experience in that amazing conference. I even said so from a microphone. Sometimes people forget the following truths:
“less is more”;
“preach always, use words if necessary” (St. Francis);
and that limiting how God can work (e.g. saying that one has to say “Jesus Jesus” all the time, etc.) is in fact idolatry. It is humans having the gall to limit God. I for one would rather not engage in that sin.
I would much rather have someone ministering to me with God’s real, tangible, incarnational love, than to have someone simply saying “Jesus” and other such magical churchy things at me.
Granted, it doesn’t have to be either/or, but saying the word “Jesus” doesn’t necessarily make a particular instance of my being loved or ministered to better. Sometimes what I need is a hug from someone who I know represents God in the world and who is letting God shine through them.
Although probably unintentional, I think “alter call” is a good description for the mental/emotional manipulation that happens at most of the “altar calls” I’ve experienced.
But Julie, your book IS a gospel presentation.
Your book teaches and inspires to set the captives free.
Your book (gently and kindly) calls Jesus Followers to do as he said and did, and set the captive free.
And this setting of the captives free is a beautiful, tangible metaphor for the work of Christ in a perfectly created but sadly broken world. Restoration. Redemption. Freedom.
Your book certainly addresses these themes.
There are people out there who have been trained to think in a more narrow way, and that is unfortunate. It leads to terrible theology and narrow minded churches defaming the Church at large. But your book, Julie, sets us free of much of that. I can give it to my friends who aren’t interested in Jesus, and they can see a Jesus and his followers who care about the things of freedom, redemption & restoration. And I can give it to others who follow Jesus, but don’t have these things on their radar because they have been narrowly taught.
Your book certainly teaches the gospel. And while I agree that such a meter is not a litmus test for whether a book is of Godly concern (hey- dictionaries are great! We need words with which to speak/ write!), your book is deeply in step with the heart of God.
And I hadn’t yet found my angle for my review, as I felt everything was already being said over and over again. But now I know what I’ll write. Just as soon as I get over the H1N1 and can think straight
Oh, and agreed. The wand thing: Madness. (Sigh.)
For the most part I agree with you! Except, what do you make of Scripture passages, particularly in Acts 3 and 4, that make it clear that doing something in Jesus’ name really does carry power. Or when Scripture says that his name is the name above all names. What does that mean exactly. You are so right to be wary of superstition or of using Jesus to get whatever WE want. But Jesus is NOT just another idol or magic spell, he really is Lord over Heaven and Earth.
I think this is right on, specifically when people are in the middle of difficult times. I am currently in the midst of an intense life struggle and feel as though God is very far away. It is a doubting, searching time for me. I am okay with the pain, the searching, and the wondering. However, people around me seem to think all can be fixed if I just ’spend more time with Jesus’. What does this mean? It really is like if I just wave the magic Jesus wand in my life I will be fixed and will never doubt again. Drives me nuts.
I have no idea why Altar calls have become a sign of orthodoxy. The are only about 150 years old and where a product of Charles Finney. They are powerful, as seen by how many non-church and Christian groups use similar tactics. (Amyway, and many multilevel marketing groups use it as well) I find it a weak point about not mentioning Jesus enough, because most Christian self-help seldom mentions Jesus, either, but since it just affirms current middle class American values (some of which are at best unchristian) there is no challenge.
Julie, Thank you for posting this. Your frustration speaks for many of us: we who are devoted to Jesus, but refuse to take his name in vain just because a trivialized cultural discourse demands it. “Fetish” is a good word for it. I’m very grateful for your voice.
Tia – I’ve had similar thoughts about what it really means to pray in Jesus’ name, but wasn’t able to articulate it to myself as clearly as you did. Thanks for putting words to my vague inkling that “Lord, fix my problems for me” is not praying in Christ’s name, but “Thy will be done – and help me to do it” is.
Interesting forum for complaining about other believers. I guess that fills a days worth of thought . ;0)
But I see this on BET TV with people selling forumlas of worshipping Jesus to increase their personal wealth . Or on TBN TV. I think many have a hard time with the understanding you DON’t have to work at having miracles in your life . Its more of allowing the Lord to have reign and doing it . So when Julie says healing takes work I have to wonder what she means . Work by who ? The believer , I really don’t think we as believers can help the Lord Heal . So I guess I would need her to clarify that . There is nothing in me that God needs to perform a miracle .
I recoomend Good Bible Studies with friends and well grounded teachers . But what I have seen happen to Christianity by Western Civilization is the consistent creep of many today that preach a strong religious message but cessenist or minimize the gifts of the Spirit or ministering healing to an extreme.
Europe has done that to the point where the church is in hiding . Go to Africa and people expect miracles in places, people are expecting the Lord to move . Not because of formulas or how you say Jesus , just that Jesus is here.
I see it more as separating the wheat from the chaff, let God deal with those who think they have the magic formula , but do not allow yourselves to be limited to the view that God
can not work His miracles in your life as when He walked 2000 years ago.
Interesting post. I remember listening to a sermon once where the pastor said “It works” in reference to some formula he had derived from Scripture. Relationship with God is not formula. It’s a tough give in take with God much like Jacob’s struggle with the angel that left him with a limp.
Thanks for this post. I am with you.
Great post. We endured a musical number this morning (I won’t dignify it by calling it a hymn) that openly suggested that there is something supernatural about the name Jesus. Thanks for your clarity and sanity.