Comments on: Jesus is not a Magic Wand

By: John Ragland

John Ragland — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 21:34:22 +0000

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.

By: Tripp Hudgins

Tripp Hudgins — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 22:40:51 +0000

Thanks for this post. I am with you.

By: Ranita

Ranita — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 13:01:32 +0000

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.

By: Mick

Mick — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:37:14 +0000

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.

By: John Munzer

John Munzer — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 03:36:39 +0000

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.

By: Dave H

Dave H — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 22:21:45 +0000

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.

By: Ernesto

Ernesto — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 22:13:08 +0000

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.

By: Alaina

Alaina — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:19:27 +0000

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.

By: Amy @ A Chase After Wind

Amy @ A Chase After Wind — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:52:51 +0000

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.

By: robyn

robyn — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:15:53 +0000

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.)