For the progressives, Jesus is only about love and acceptance, ironically enough given that they often do not accept His teachings on topics like morality, sexuality, hell and Jesus being the only way for salvation. For the fundamentalists, Jesus is exclusively focused on truth, even though they may ignore the truthfulness of His showing grace, extending mercy, pursuing justice, and calling for us to live lives of sacrificial love.

The modern age may be described as a quest for the authentic self.

Watch any amount of television aimed at children and you will be inundated with calls to “be yourself.” The hero discovers who they really are and their true identity is what they needed to achieve success.

But it’s not only on cartoons and kids’ shows, adults are overwhelmed with the message as well. The term “authentic” has doubled in usage among books since the 1920s and “authenticity” has nearly tripled.

But in this age when everyone is allowed to be themselves to the fullest extent imaginable, there’s one person who constantly doesn’t get that opportunity: Jesus.

We don’t give the Jesus the one thing we demand of others. We refuse to accept Jesus without trying to change Him more to our liking.

We read His words, but explain them away to fit our preconceived ideas. We sand off his rough edges to fit our mold.

For the progressives, Jesus is only about love and acceptance, ironically enough given that they often do not accept His teachings on topics like morality, sexuality, hell and Jesus being the only way for salvation.

For the fundamentalists, Jesus is exclusively focused on truth, even though they may ignore the truthfulness of His showing grace, extending mercy, pursuing justice, and calling for us to live lives of sacrificial love.

Elton John says he sees Jesus as “a compassionate, super-intelligent gay man who understood human problems.”

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