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.