Which Jesus?

Which "Jesus" does your spiritual advisor preach? What "Gospel" (or Good News), if any, have you been taught?

These questions come to mind because of recent political doings. Senator Obama has famously distanced himself from certain teachings of a man he has called pastor for more than 20 years. That man officiated at the Senators wedding, baptised his children, and led the Senator to Jesus. I'm wondering which Jesus. From what I've researched, Jeremiah Wright preaches a "Social Gospel" and worships Jesus the Social Reformer. That's a very sad thing.

This "Jesus the Social Reformer" was pretty pitiful. He didn't lead any uprisings. He led no hunger strikes, indeed he was accused of being a glutton and a drunk by the religious establishment! (Matthew 11:19, Luke 7:34) He gathered up a large number of loose followers, seventy odd committed followers, a dozen disciples, a core group of three men, and a right-hand man. Of these, the right-hand man denied him three times and ran away, of the twelve one of them turned him into the authorities and then hung himself, rest of the twelve and the seventy all ran away, and the larger group were part in same with the crowd chanting "Crucify Him!".

Further, the "social ill" of his time was the "Roman Oppression". When the people were ready to revolt and make Jesus king, he slipped away. (see John 6:15) When asked if the people should pay taxes to the Roman Oppressor, he said yes! (see Luke 20:22-25) Although the religious authorities accused him of forbidding to pay taxes when they later set him up for execution. (see Luke 23:2) When he was executed, the Romans didn't even know who he was, it was the very people who he supposedly was trying to socially reform that chanted "Crucify him!" to the Roman Governor who would have released him.

No, Jeremiah Wright and his fellow Liberal Church leaders have missed the boat. This "Social Jesus" and "Social Gospel" they teach has no power. The historical and Biblical Jesus is the Son of God, very God of very God, He is the Living Word who spoke the universe into existence. And He didn't come to this Earth to bring social justice; He came to make dead people live. He came, not free men from the bondage of other men, but from the bondage of their own sins. “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21) He didn't come to put down the despotic human powers that oppress their fellow men, but rather the demonic spiritual powers that oppress our souls. (see Genesis 3:15)

That said, Jesus promised to return. And when He does return, He is coming to take the reigns of His kingdom. Then and only then will there be complete justice (social and other wise), and peace.

Pray for the Liberal Church, that they might come to know the true source of Social Justice, not their "social Jesus" but the scriptural Jesus who gave His life a ransom that many might live. For when the Lord God, brings peace and love for all men to your heart, then you might reach out to affect change for the social good.

The "Social Gospel" is just another, do good and work hard enough, then God will accept you, lie. It specializes in public good works. The Pharisee's would have approved. Make your prayers long, loud, and public so men (both the oppressed and the oppressor) can see your (self) righteousness. Do you works in the sight of men so they can bring glory to you. That is the way of the Social Gospel of the American Liberal Church. It is the opposite of what Jesus taught.

Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.' And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
(Luke 18:9-14 NKJV)

The Pharisee's were the most renowned religious leaders of their day. They taught against the Roman Oppression, but were careful to not provoke the Roman Authorities too much. The tax collectors were fellow members of the oppressed society, but they had sold out to the oppressor for money. The tax collectors accepted government jobs, they were given a quota of money to raise and were to keep any excess that they were able to collect as their wages.

The words of Jeremiah Wright and his fellows are those of bigotry and racism. But are any of us perfectly clean of this stain? Father God in heaven, convict us all (Reverend Wright and his compatriots as well as myself) of the the bigotry and racism in our own hearts. Purge us as individuals and purge your church of this hatred. Ignite in our hearts a true love for you O Lord, and for our neighbors, and especially for our enemies, as you have taught.
In the name (the very nature) of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah. Amen (Let it be so.)