Dialogue with a Friend – Part 2

FRIEND:

You said: “I believe the Jesus Event to be the pivotal moment of history. And I believe that wherever you search for him, you will find him (regardless of your religious orientation).”

I’m not sure what this means.  In your mind does it apply to any spiritually seeking person?  a Buddhist?  A more native (stereotypical “jungle”) person and his religion?  They will come to know the name of Jesus, or more of an intangible feeling or connection with him that is different than some connection to God?

For Christians, Jesus is big.  For the rest of the world, probably not.  There are many, as you know, who would argue that the actual historical Jesus is nothing like what Christianity has written and portrayed him to be over the centuries.  They cite evidence to say he was just a mortal man.  A good dude, for sure, but not the son of God, not born of a virgin.

In fact, the Jesus story (born of a virgin, sacrificed, rises again) is a re-telling of ancient myths told many times before the Christian one.  I’m sure you are aware of this and yet the Christian story continues to have meaning for you.  When I learn about how Christianity as a religion or a story fits into the larger context of all ancient myths and world religions, it becomes just another option to use to try and seek God.  It is not a totally invalid option, but like I said, just one of many.

And I don’t know where you stand on the exclusivity of Christianity being the “only” option, but I know my parents believe that, and thus this is harder for them to sort out in their mind than it would be for a more liberal Christian.

So for you Jesus is pivotal.  For many others it is a curiosity to consider on their journey to meet with God.

I guess I didn’t send the original note intending to get into a long discussion with you, but those are a couple thoughts that I have as a reaction to what you wrote.

As for your comment about not stopping to seek the truth, I agree with that.  Trouble is, when my dad says the exact same thing (which he has), I already know the narrowly defined truth that he hopes I end up finding.  In a multiple choice question, for him at least, it might go something like, “the truth is….:

A.  Jesus

B. The Bible

C.  traditionally practiced Christianity

D.  all of the above, or at least some combination thereof.

MY REPLY:

I am not sure how to reply to this without getting into a long discussion, as well, but I will try to be brief.

First, it is obvious that people who are not Christians believe something else about Jesus other than that he is the Son of God. But everybody believes something about him – he was a prophet, a teacher, a leader, whatever. One only arrives at the conclusion that Jesus is God through faith. I believe there is good empirical evidence that verifies this claim, but I acknowledge that such understanding is ultimately a leap of faith. However, what I would argue is that faith is just as valid way of knowing as any other means of knowing – cognitive, emotional, etc. Ultimately, everything we know in this world we believe on faith. We may have sound data to support our beliefs, but ultimately we are making a faith decision that the data is not deceiving us and that we can trust our understanding.

Second, yes, there are some other peculiar myths that parallel the Christ event, just as there are other stories of creation, fall, a great flood and redemption. But none of those other myths involve God himself becoming the created to save his creation. Even if they did, it wouldn’t invalidate the Christian story. Many of the events and stories in the Bible are just as you describe. They are reactions to the cultural/religious myths of their era. As Paul points out in Acts 17, the Christian Story isn’t just one story competing amongst dozen of other valid stories, but is The Story to which all other stories point.

Third, it seems you have read some of the more “liberal” scholarship – Probably some Crossan; maybe some Spong, Borg, Horsley and Pagels. I’ve read them too. But have you read Wright, Witherington, Boyd, Habermas and Luke Timothy Johnson? I would encourage you to. As you know there are two sides to every story and as a seeker of truth, I would think you would want all the information.

Fourth, as far as the exclusivity of Christ, I believe that God’s plan of redemption runs through Jesus Christ. I am not sure if this means, however, that one has to consciously and verbally confess Christ in this lifetime, but I wouldn’t want to take my chances. But the significance of Christ isn’t just for life after death, but for life BEFORE death. In what I have called the “Jesus Event” (the life, death and resurrection of Christ), God began making all things new. Jesus didn’t just usher in a new way of dying, but a new way of living. And this re-creating involves all of creation, not just humanity.

Finally, it is apparent that you have been hurt in some fashion by the faith of your family. And your current spiritual quest seems to be largely reactionary to that. I don’t blame you. I’ve been there. But what happens in reaction is that we usually tend to swing from one extreme to the other because we want to distance ourselves as far away as possible from the thing that has hurt us. This is only natural, but it does not make it right or true. What I think you really need is not more intellectual stimuli, but deep inner healing. Have you read The Shack? If not, I would recommend it, although as a conossueir of fine literature you may not find it up to par.