What a friend we have in Jesus

Hymns from my childhood will often pop into my head. Without noticing the words, I'll repeat the melody in my head for hours - almost subconsciously. I realized today I was singing "What A Friend We Have In Jesus," and it made me wonder what having Jesus as a friend would be like. Not in a theoretical way but literally. What would Jesus be like if he were physically present right now and my friend?

Would he be the guy I don't want to hang out with because he's always steering the conversation to something serious? The guy who makes me feel judged or inadequate? Would I feel like I need to watch what I say and do and joke about and what I wear and hesitate before ordering a beer at a restaurant because this guy might be one of the friends who doesn't drink and he might think less of me or I might be making him "stumble" or he might say he doesn't mind, but he'd be judging me anyway?

Throughout all of scripture I don't think there is one instance of someone feeling judged when they interact with Jesus. Even the woman at the well, whose life is completely exposed by Jesus' words doesn't feel judged. Christ makes it's clear he is not cool (to say the least) with sin, but he came to redeem the world not to condemn it (John 3:17).

So Jesus would not be out to make me feel lousy. I realize this - and I've got plenty of sin to do that anyway. But when I think of Jesus in a positive light, he still seems to take the form of a counselor, a mentor, a caring older brother. And that's beautiful, but I limit him by thinking that every time we would hang out he would immediately go super deep and we'd have to talk about my issues or talk about cosmic life and death ethical matters.

What if most of the time we spent together we were just being. Living life together. Isn't that what you want in a true friend? Can Jesus be my Lord, my savior, my closest counselor, and also the guy I call up to help me move a couch? Somehow I've developed a false understanding of Jesus. One that says he is too busy and too important to help me move furniture or pick me up from the auto shop. Like using a diamond for a doorstop or paying your therapist by the hour to help you garden, it just seems irresponsible and petty to ask GOD to drive you to the airport or grab coffee with you.

But that's what he wants to do. He enjoys us because he is good, not because it's his job. Nobody wants a lover that's not a friend or a counselor that doesn't actually care about you. The warm embrace of Jesus the lover and the wisdom of Jesus the counselor are made immensely sweeter and more genuine because Jesus is also our friend. The only true, faithful, and unconditional friend.

Why follow Jesus?

I'm meeting many people from Sikh, Muslim, and Hindu backgrounds; also conversing with some Mormons and atheists. It's not hard to notice a trend among nominal (casual, loosely committed) followers of any religion or worldview: all theological, existential, scriptural, mythical, and intellectual differences aside, they unsurprisingly overlap on a watery middle ground of humanistic post-modernism.

At some point I've heard the same basic thing from Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, and Atheists: No one ultimately knows what's on the otherside of death or has the spiritual realm sorted, so do your best to be happy, be kind to others/don't try to change anyone, and be true to whatever you do believe.

As a committed follower of Jesus, this is disturbing. It causes me to reflect and wonder what the core distinctive of my “religion” or way of life is. Why follow Jesus?

Most everyone will tell you they want the truth, but in reality they want comfort and pleasure - myself included. To self-centered humans, much of the truth is not pretty or easy to swallow. No one wants to submit and say, “God, I'm not you. Your will be done.”

The atheist who declares “there is no God” and the nominal-theist who claims to serve God (or several gods) but is actually a moralist or materialist or humanist are equally arrogant. The atheist's arrogance lies primarily in their absolute claim that God does not exist – a claim that basically positions them as God/the ultimate knower and authority. The arrogance of the nominal-theist, a Christian for example, lies in the fact that their happiness and glory are their ultimate pursuit – so instead of worshiping God, they worship themselves via material things, temporary pleasures, acts of righteousness.

Forests have been wiped out discussing such things; I'm sure I'll have more to say in future posts. For now I'll end with an excerpt from a book I just finished:

“Jesus is God coming to us in love. Sheer unadulterated, unfiltered love. Stripped of everything that could get in the way. Naked and vulnerable, hanging on a cross, asking the question, “What will you do with me?

...It's God making the first move and then waiting for our response. If you have ever given yourself to someone and had your heart broken, you know how God feels.

If you have ever given yourself to someone and found yourself waiting for their response, exposed and vulnerable, left hanging in the balance, you know how God feels.” - from Sex God by Rob Bell, p105

And that's the distinctive. Jesus humbly initiates a love relationship with us. But it only matters if we respond and submit to the lover, His humility and vulnerability compelling us to lay down our pride and worship Him.

"The greatest place on Earth..."

Joined some guys for a Football Match (Soccer Game) Saturday at Lampton Park here in Hounslow. My friend Jonathan invited me. Noticing I was one of three white guys, I looked at the field (probably 12-15 players total) and noted to Jonathan, "We've got guys from India, Nepal, Nigeria, England, Brazil, and those two guys showed up from Oklahoma and Texas! haha. What a mix!"

Jonathan smiled, "That's Hounslow, man! The greatest place on Earth!"

It was an awesome match! I'm sore.

I'm Here!

After months of planning and support raising, days of waiting for my visa (which felt like years), and hours spent vacuum sealing my clothes so they would fit in ONE suitcase, I have made it to West London where I will be living and learning among South Asians while working with a church for the next 15 months. I'm excited to be here, but it also feels a bit surreal - especially since I haven't seen it rain once since I've been here (two weeks!). But also surreal in the sense that I have been looking forward to this for so long, and now that I'm here there are just too many emotions to process. It's especially hard leaving behind my friends and family in the States, but I know that that is forcing me to rely on Jesus as my closest friend and grow stronger as a child of God.

Had some awesome Indian food at Mirch Masala in Southall last week. FANTASTIC curry. It's like they just find excuses to put cilantro in everything. My mouth is watering just writing about it. =)

Anyway, I'll be updating this blog somewhat periodically with thoughts and pictures. Please check back!