I recently heard about this documentary called The God Who Wasn’t There. It’s basic premise is to rip apart Christianity. I really want to see this documentary so I can refute it. For now, here’s what I had to say about the talking points:

…irreverently lays out the case that Jesus Christ never existed.

The existence and stories of Jesus has been proven to stand up in a court of law according to Harvard Law better than any case based on witness accounts. Most historians, atheists, and people who generally hate Christianity are not stupid enough to claim he didn’t exist. There is way too much evidence for him.

The early founders of Christianity seem wholly unaware of the idea of a human Jesus.

The early founders never comprehended Jesus might actually be divine. They knew he was “The Christ”, but they were wholly unaware that he was God until after his death and resurrection. Oh wait, faith critics will reject this point because they don’t believe the resurrection actually happened, or that he existed, and therefore they have to draw conclusions ONLY based on these assumptions.

The Jesus of the Gospels bears a striking resemblance to other ancient heroes and the figureheads of pagan savior cults

Ancient figureheads and pagan savior cults notoriously ripped off Jewish History. Christianity was born out of Judaism with Christ the Messiah (Jesus) replacing fulfilling the Torah (the Law) [Edited - See Comments]. Judaism still holds the messiah notion, but he has not yet been revealed. The Jewish tradition is what first brought on the messiah notion and these pagan cultures stole from the Jews. There is a whole lot of evidence that explores how much the Jewish tradition was mined for stories, meaning, ideas, rituals, etc. For this documentary to say Christianity rips off of pagan cults would be similar to an author who had his work stolen and then altered through gossip and then that author’s son later on in life is told he’s crazy for trying to set the record straight about his father.

Contemporary Christians are largely ignorant of the origins of their religion.

I think a lot of people of all faiths are largely ignorant of the origins of their religions. Atheists usually are very intimate with their beliefs because it’s largely a faith based on responding to religion than it is wholly its own framework of being.

Fundamentalism is as strong today as it ever has been, with an alarming 44% of Americans believing that Jesus will return to earth in their lifetimes.

This statement assumes that everyone should accept it to be “alarming” that even 1 person believes Jesus will return to the earth. Why? Why Why Why should THIS be more alarming than any of this crazy talk: Muslims believe they will be rewarded with 77 virgins in paradise, Buddhists believe they will achieve nothingness? Hindu believe they may become a tree or an animal, or if they are lucky a cow! They also over spiritualize everything and constantly worship everything as 1000s of gods litter the cities in India. Atheism: There is no god, you just end. All of these beliefs say something central to their faith:

• Muslims: Over obsessed with male dominance, patriarchy, sex, and submission
• Buddhists: Everything in life is a distraction and nothing has value
• Hindu: You will never rest in this religion as you are distracted to worship anything and everything and when you die it keeps going.
• Atheism: You just end, that’s it? This is just pride. It’s too humbling to say “well there might be a God and if so I should probably believe in Him”
• Christianity: We are humans, not perfect, and therefore need a savior to come back and help us.

Christianity cannot possibly be any more alarming than these notions, regardless of what you believe.

Consider the following two parables spoken by Jesus:

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Matthew 13:44

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it. Matthew 13:45-46

Both people in the parables are looking for something. Remember, “seek, and you will find?” What treasure are we after? If we do find treasure, do we understand its significance or have the cajones to sacrifice everything for it?

Consider these hidden “treasures”: The Kingdom of Heaven is the P-Wing of power-ups, the Ashbringer, the the Super-Smash Ball, the BFG9000, the seven chaos-emeralds, the Masmune sword, the Covenant Elite Energy Sword, Warmonger Sword of Borel, The Master Sword, the super gravity gun. The Kingdom of Heaven is like turning on the hacks, it’s overpowered. If you don’t understand any of these “treasures”, you probably haven’t played their respective games and you’d probably not succeed. That’s okay, they’re just video games.

In the context of describing His Father’s house, Jesus says: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” - John 14:6. And there’s your overpowered epic drop for this life. The Kingdom of Heaven is here.

Christians: What is your gospel? Initially, most everyone will explain God’s saving grace through Christ’s death and resurrection. A great answer indeed, but then something unspoken happens in relating to others, in Church, through word of mouth: we add more to our gospel than the gospel. Many of us have our own rogue gospels that help us feel comfortable or safe. The problem is that when we add anything to the gospel, Jesus gets nerfed, and we endanger the message of Grace. I see this happen primarily in two ways. The first addresses our actions and convictions, which Paul discusses this in Romans 14:

• One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind [emphasis added]. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. - Romans 14:5-9.

The second addresses who we follow:

• I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? - 1 Corinthians 1:10-13.

This passage in 1 Corinthians does not undermine our Church leadership nor those to which we esteem, but no person, action, or conviction (or anything) should get in the way of the gospel of grace, that Christ was crucified and resurrected for the whole world. Here are some modern rogue gospels with which I’ve been confronted:

• Our Church really is the best church to attend because of xyz theology. This is by far the most common rogue gospel. Somehow we believe the Church in which God has placed us is the Church that God should be placing everyone, or everyone in your city, and so on. Did you really just “should on” God? Churches are instruments used by God and we must look upon them and accept their value. The Church on the other side of town is doing a different work that your own lacks and yes, the Church you attend is likely doing a great work that other Churches lack.
• How can you be a Christian and not a republican? Conservative republicans have long felt they are the keepers of the evangelicals. This simply isn’t true as there are many faithful believers who land on both sides of the political aisle.
• All Christians should believe in creation science. Many Christians elevate creation science to Jesus. God is above creation and above evolution. He is way too high.

It’s good to have convictions and be “convinced in our own mind” as to how we should go about our business, teach our children, and even to teach others your secondary beliefs. However if we lace the gospel with these things, or they become as important, or we are not careful with our language around these subjects in proximity to the gospel, we risk rejecting our brothers and sisters and we risk rejecting seekers who might have otherwise chosen to believe. Paul addresses this specifically:

• For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel [emphasis added], that I may share with them in its blessings. - 1 Corinthians 9:19-23

Paul sets himself aside, he chose to lose himself for the sake of Christ. In turn he was able to “share with them in its [the gospel's] blessings”. This is another topic for another post. What are some rogue gospels with which you’ve been confronted?

Okay, you can nerf Jesus, but OMG what are you doing?!

 
I can’t do life.  I’m not immune to the realities of life, so when life’s crap rains down (because it rains on everyone), I could really use some help.  This is why I choose Jesus.  I know I should pray, but I don’t pray enough.  I know I should love my neighbor and help those around me, but I don’t enough.  I know I should be kind, generous, aware, working hard, fight enough for justice etc., etc., but my own mind testifies against me constantly: “You know you should do more, you know this doesn’t feel like it’s enough”, so we say “good enough.”  

I dunno, but I don’t think God is the type to say “well you did good enough, come on into Heaven.”  You either did it, or you didn’t (”For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23).  I think those of us who are honest with ourselves would admit: “EPIC FAIL.”  I rarely meet anyone who says “I have it altogether” and who never doubts their life performance.  If I do meet someone of the kind, there’s invariably something “off” about this person and they clearly don’t see their humanity.  You may excel in work, but what about relationships?  Or vice versa?  Or what if you just suck really bad?  (God has a special place in his heart for types like you: like Moses, yes he sucked at life all around until he met God).

God knows all of this….durrrrr, He’s God, so I believe he sent Jesus to handle the shortcomings of what I just described.  Instead of having to achieve XYZ, or meet quota ABC, or do enough to get to Heaven, you can just commit yourself to Him and He will handle the rest.  When I say “commit yourself” that doesn’t imply slacking off like a freeloader, it just means you commit going towards Him,  you commit yourself to be ruled by His Spirit.  It implies walking a path or direction.  You might be going slow, you might trip and fall, you might get tired, there are people way ahead of you, there are people behind you, but you are still going a certain direction.  The path leads to Heaven, but you’d never make it on your own.   Our enterprising minds would rather choose:  ”if I just do some basics, that will be good”.  This algorithm of living is easier to accept.  If we reason that we only have to do the basics, that’s a whole lot easier than dedicating our lives to a certain direction.   Doing the basics and calling it good is not flawless and I won’t allow myself to be deceived. By committing ourselves to Him, we become His, we are made heirs with Christ, we inherit his perfection. “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.” (Philippians 3:12).

So, when Jesus gets nerfed in speech, teaching, writing, etc, the true expanse of His power is hidden…and it frustrates me.  If Jesus gets nerfed, then it puts the burden of meeting the quota and the achievements to be accepted on me.  Perfection is unrealistic.  When I read something in the Bible I’m unwilling to do or I feel like God himself  has asked me to do things I often resist them because they are difficult challenges or I’m downright unwilling to do them.  I know most of you can identify with me, Christians or not.  How many of you want to lose weight, but just won’t do it?  How many of you would like to be bold, courageous, etc, but are afraid to actually try being that way?

I’ve prayed “change my heart,” “help me,” “I can’t do this”, and have literally walked away from prayer saying to myself “I’m not going to care about doing what I should do because I know I won’t do it”.   Then in time I’ve seen growth and stretching into these areas of life I’d never thought I’d reach.  I hate white-knuckling myself into these things.  I’ve tried that before.  Neither my heart or desire is into it and soon enough I quit because it’s only an example of short-term discipline versus real change.  So again, it really bothers me when Jesus gets nerfed.  Examples of how Jesus frequently gets nerfed:

• “Jesus is not God (fully divine)” - If He’s not God, then He’s not perfect, and He’s no help to me or you.  Some sects say “He’s only the Son of God, not God”. Why believe in a “Son of God” who is not God?  I learn from the Master of Life, not a “n00b of life”, or the “I kind of mastered life” person, or the “I mastered life better than all of you” man.  What an “asshole Jesus” the latter is.  I’d rather Him be God, then at least we’d have good reason to trust in Him and believe in Him.    
• “Jesus was just a Good Teacher, Prophet, etc” - See above!  Then you’re calling Jesus a liar or a crazy man because Jesus himself said he was God.  Why do you trust anything a liar or a crazy man says? 
• “There are many paths to God, Heaven, salvation, etc” - Then is Jesus necessary?  Guess not if this is true.  If He’s not necessary, then His power is not that big of a deal.  Other religious leaders’ powers are of equal or greater nature and can make us perfect to reach Heaven and can perfectly judge the earth to make all things right…You either are God, or you’re not.
• “Jesus did not exist” - Srsly?  The evidence is overhwelming that He was historical at the very least.

If you nerf Jesus, then He’s just not worthy to be savior or of any help.   Christianity is an all or nothing reservation of the heart, but thankfully it isn’t a call for us to be perfect while on this earth.  I believe He’s everything he says He is and I’m forever thankful.

If you have any comments, please leave them on this post, thanks!