There is no separating the person of Jesus Christ from the God of Scripture. To suggest that Jesus Christ is divided against the God of Scripture is to create a fictional Jesus – one who does not exist. Likewise, the Bible affirms that Jesus is the Word made flesh and moreover, that Jesus is the revelation of (he reveals) the God of Scripture. To suggest that Jesus is divided against Scripture is also to create a fictional Jesus – one who simply never existed. Simply put, you cannot be “un-Biblically Christ-like.”

There is a growing segment of western “Christianity” that sure wishes God would be more like Jesus.

In the pictured tweet from our UMC General Board of Church & Society, this way of thinking is shown for what it really is: Neo-Gnosticism. Gnosticism is an ancient heresy that suggests only a select group of people has the secret wisdom necessary to understand and interpret the true meaning of scripture and ultimately attain salvation.

You most commonly hear it in comments like: “I don’t really read the Old Testament because God was really different back then. I prefer to follow Jesus,” or “I know what the Bible says, but I’m really more about what Jesus says.” These remarks and those of the same vain give the impression that Jesus disapproved of God and came to set things straight.

I suppose that in contrast to the God of the Bible who is just a little too concerned about passé concepts like judgment, salvation, goodness, sacrifice, atonement, righteousness, holiness, etc., Jesus is concerned only with love and serving as a life coach to people who are seeking self-actualization.

This “I know better” approach is so dangerous because it appeals to us so perfectly. Of course we want to fictionalize Jesus into who we want him to be! Of course we want to be the interpreters of wrong and right! Of course we want to perform scriptural yoga so that we can affirm our own sin! Of course we do, we are the children of Eden.

Though this subject certainly warrants more examination than this simple pastor can provide, I’ll make 3 observations about why the church must unapologetically reject this dangerous doctrine.

#1 There is no separating the person of Jesus Christ from the God of Scripture. To suggest that Jesus Christ is divided against the God of Scripture is to create a fictional Jesus – one who does not exist. Likewise, the Bible affirms that Jesus is the Word made flesh and moreover, that Jesus is the revelation of (he reveals) the God of Scripture. To suggest that Jesus is divided against Scripture is also to create a fictional Jesus – one who simply never existed. Simply put, you cannot be “un-Biblically Christ-like.” It is an oxymoron.

#2 I absolutely believe that Jesus was primarily on a mission of love. I reject the notion that love excludes judgment. I reject the notion that love excludes a call to repentance, holiness, sacrificially ascetic living or doctrines of righteousness, sin, and atonement. I believe that Jesus’ invitation to repent of sin is an expression of love. I believe his call to holiness to be an expression of love.

#3 God loves you way too much to care about your self-actualization. He wants way more for you than to become the best version of yourself. God wants to remove your sin – not help you cope with it. God wants to transform your identity – not make you feel good about your brokenness.

Don’t settle for a Jesus that someone has made up. That guy has no ability to transform your life, save your soul, or offer eternal life.

[Editor’s note: The link (URL) to the article source is unavailable and has been removed.]