What's the bottom line on the Jesus thing?

It seems to me that despite the passage of 2,000 years Christians are still working out what a friend of mine calls, 'the whole Jesus thing.' 

What's up in the air? Well, the Jesus is fully God, fully human explanation and the exclusivity in these claims. . The exclusive claims about Jesus being the 'only son of God' and a savior. Asking individuals to 'follow' Jesus. The whole 'lamb of G-d' and atonement interpretation. And, asking folks to believe that Jesus was literally resurrected and will literally come again.

Sharing all of this with friend of mine a while back, she pointed out to me that in order to be Christian I have to believe these things. It's the essence of Christianity, she says, "You have to believe in Jesus."

The problem is I just can't believe these things and I can't seem to convince myself that believing them would be helpful. And I think I'm not alone here -- read Borg, Crossan, etc. I think the Christian Church's Christology is at least part of the explanation behind the decreases in participation in the institutional church. As we continue to live more fully into our human experience - and to live more fully in a global and plural world -- Christianity absolutely has to consider a new way of defining and talking about 'the Jesus thing' that would actually make sense in today's world. 

I believe that about 2,000 years ago a man named Jesus (really, Yeshua) was born a Jew, lived and died and in between said and did some extraordinary things. I believe that Jesus was the central figure in an extraordinary event at a pivotal time in history. I believe that Jesus' friends and community took this really good story, interpreted what they had seen and heard, and crafted even better and more meaningful stories about Jesus -- now Christ -- after his death. I believe that the truths underlying the stories are timeless and timely (even 2,000 years later). I believe that following G-d in the way of Jesus sets down some great guideposts for living a respectful and meaningful life. 

Is Jesus the central figure in my faith journey? No. Do the stories of Jesus inform my faith? Yes.

Is that enough to be Christian? I believe it is.

Comments

[susan moss]

of course it is enough. of course. if you haven't yet read Borg and Crossan you might want to begin.