Why Evangelicals Hate Jesus

This post comes straight from my core. It's a passionate cry to millions who call themselves Christians, but who seem to live their lives in reverse of the words and example of Jesus.

For this reason, please allow me to express what I feel in English. I'm hoping my many Spanish-speaking readers can follow along.

A sticker seen on the backs of cars in the USA summarizes much of what I wish to express, with great sadness:

JESUS, PLEASE PROTECT US FROM YOUR FOLLOWERS

It's a telling jab at the Evangelical (and not so moral) majority in my country. That one sentence puts in stark contrast Jesus' message of unconditional love with the close-minded and cold-hearted "Churchianity" that is marketed non-stop in the United States.

This indictment fills me with great sadness. For now is the time, in the midst of economic and moral crisis, for people to finally discover the TRUE JESUS as never before. Yet the obstacles that prevent millions from knowing Jesus Christ are myriad and often created by those very ones who claim to know Him.

But let me tell you a secret. (Come closer, I'm going to whisper it to you...)

Now, as then, a seeker is not likely to find Him at church, nor snoring through a long-winded Mass. It's not impossible, but often improbable.

He will be most easily found where His evangelio, His truly Good News, will be most welcomed. His love manifests itself "out there": on the streets, with the single mother, in the cancer ward, calling after the pushers and the pimps. Because they understand forgiveness. And the need for a new life. Oh yes: sometimes His message pursues and captures a few lost yuppies and professionals like myself.

It is to these He comes. THEY WILL FIND THE JOY. They will find the peace. The Kingdom of Heaven, surprising many, in the destiny-fraught days to come, might just be revealed more quickly to a lesbian couple seeking God, that to a legalistic bishop or priest.

As my friend John Crowder puts it, Jesus' message and sacrifice is so real and freeing that His followers should be the epitome of joyous celebration. In John's words:

CHRISTIANITY IS NOT A FAST. IT'S A FESTIVAL!

To meet the laughing Host of the Eternal Party, you'll need to steer clear of a lot of religious folk. Seek His smile, expect His touch in the lives of those of His followers who move in grace, and live in love.

It may hurt some to read words such as those of Phil Zuckerman in the Huffington Post: "Why Evangelicals Hate Jesus". Yet it's of vital importance to do so. Because the Jesus they sell you on Sundays and on TV is a frayed, flannel-board faux Saviour, homogenised for the drive-thru, sofa-centered life of many Americans. In Zuckerman's words:

"Evangelicals don't exactly hate Jesus ... They do love him dearly. But not because of what he tried to teach humanity. Rather, Evangelicals love Jesus for what he does for them. (emphasis mine).

Through his magical grace, and by shedding his precious blood, Jesus saves Evangelicals from everlasting torture in hell, and guarantees them a premium, luxury villa in heaven. For this, and this only, they love him. They can't stop thanking him. And yet, as for Jesus himself -- his core values of peace, his core teachings of social justice, his core commandments of goodwill -- most Evangelicals seem to have nothing but disdain."

If you're seeking Him don't give up, despite the confusion and cold-heartedness you may have experienced in "Religion". He has clearly promised to be "the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him". Keep seeking, keep knocking, keep asking...

For, as the saying goes, to know Him is to love Him.



PHOTO CREDITS: Meryl Streep in "Doubt" (Miramax Films) / Cover of Phillip Yancey's amazing book, "What's So Amazing About Grace?" (highly recommendable!)

Despierta, tú que duermes

"Despierta, tú que duermes,
y levántate de entre los muertos,
y te alumbrará Cristo."

Llevo días ya con esta frase rondando por mi mente.
Me persigue. Me ilumina. Y me fortalece.

En muy pocas palabras describe nuestra situación,
la de los seres humanos perdidos y separados que somos.

Separados los unos de los otros,
por ignorancia, egoísmo, ira o indiferencia.

Perdidos y separados de Dios,
por nuestro orgullo, rebelión, prejuicios y pecados.

Pensé en esta frase al escuchar a uno de mis mejores
amigos decirme el otro día,

"Es que tú tienes sensibilidad para
temas espirituales, pero yo no.
No lo necesito, ni lo siento."

Creo que sí puede sentirlo. Sólo que, por ahora,
es algo dentro de él que está dormido.

Si no logras oír esa dulce voz
que te susurra por los vientos,
en la noche y desde cada rincón de su Creación:
Te amo..., te busco, te necesito...

"Despierta, tú que duermes
y levántate de entre los muertos,
y te alumbrará Cristo."

Si aún no te has dado cuenta
de que el consumismo, el Sálvame Deluxe,
la adicción al sexo-dinero-poder-fama del Matrix,
los variados apats de esta vida fast-food
tan fácil y seductora nunca te saciarán:

"Despierta, tú que duermes
y levántate de entre los muertos,
y te alumbrará Cristo."

Y por si el "Circo Bilderberg" en Sitges [ver + info]
y el 'performance' bis en Bruselas de estos días
no te hace llorar la muerte silenciosa
de nuestros parlamentos
y de democracias erigidas sobre el sacrificio de millones,
mientras los representantes del pueblo
rinden cuentas de manera humillante y servil
a los banqueros de este Mundo:

"Despierta, tú que duermes
y levántate de entre los muertos,
y te alumbrará Cristo."

Se apodera de nosotros una ceguera
que nos confunde, nos aísla y nos miente:
esconde de nosotros la terrible verdad
sobre nuestra auténtica situación espiritual

y el peligro de los tiempos en los que vivimos.

Y ni el humanismo mejor intencionado

será capaz de salvarnos.
Ni de nosotros mismos, ni de las trampas
en las que hemos caído.

Pero no todo es oscuro.

Pese a todo, ahí está:

una llama de esperanza
que se manifiesta en esas palabras tan frágiles
y sin embargo, tan poderosas:

"Despierta, tú que duermes
y levántate de entre los muertos,
y te alumbrará Cristo."

Créditos foto: [Kren]

Entrevista con la Ama del Vampiro

Sus libros son bestsellers mundiales.

Tom Cruise encarna uno de sus protagonistas

más famosos en la película "Entrevista con el Vampiro".

Y sin embargo,
el tema más importante durante casi 40 años
para Anne Rice no dejó de ser su pérdida de fe,

sus luchas con las dudas que le robaban la paz interior...
su búsqueda por Dios.

Te recomiendo esta entrevista (en inglés) con la Autora de la serie original de los "primeros vampiros" que ha cautivado a medio mundo.

Es una charla cándida, personal y muy real.

I Am Second.com