Well written. I agree completely with your understanding of Christianity. The teachings of Christ are found in the New Testament. With all of our failings (and I'm near the top in that category) we need to read and study the NT to understand what Christ is saying to us.
I believe there’s a very basic distinction being drawn here.
On the one hand we have a “lived faith”, based in love; embodying the principles by which Jesus himself lived; recognizing the divine within oneself and others.
On the other hand we have ideology based in fear and disguised as religion. A device of separation and hatred, and a tool for control.
That both of these are labeled “Christianity” is why I distrust labels.
I think this is well said, Jim. The "lived faith" centered on love and the way of Jesus vs. ideology centered on fear/control and undergirded by religious language is a helpful dichotomy.
Zach, thank you for giving us the great message in print form. In your sermon, I was positively struck by the story of the man who was repeatedly asked if he was really a Christian- he answered by saying," You should ask my neighbors."
This historical review of Christian history was enlightening. It certainly speaks to our current situation as being part of a much larger picture. Seeing how Christianity became entangled with empire and the status quo helps frame our response. I have read Walter Wink and the concept of powers and principalities being present in our human government and corporations. It is important that we remember that we are fighting spiritual powers, not people. Perhaps this terrible time we are experiencing is important so that we can reject trust in human institutions and remember to rely on God alone.
This may be confusing because words are not adequate to express what your words have woken in me. What I sense is that once we have seen the truth that is revealed by God,we can not unsee it.
Wow…that was a fantastic historical account of how we as “Christians” began…and how/why we still are in this same legalistic mess. Thanks for this, Zach.
So many times in the past few years I have wondered to myself if I need a new moniker/designation for my beliefs other than “Christian” for all the reasons explained for our division. I simply do not want to be lumped in with “those” Christians (I know that sounds/is awful), but I want outsiders to know that they are safe with me.
After reading tour piece, it seems fitting that those striving to be “little Christs” should keep the name “Christian,” and perhaps there is a name that we/others give those who are using Christ’s name in vain.
I also think about this. When people ask what my husband does, I tell them “he’s a nice pastor.” I can usually tell a lot about them by their response!
I find myself in a tough spot when ppl ask what I do. I work for an international Christian humanitarian org that does amazing work and has a great reputation. However, for the sake of brevity and not having to qualify things, I always say, “I work for a humanitarian relief organization.” I don’t want to have to try to explain what “kind” of Christian org we are. I am immensely proud of what we do, but I don’t want people to judge me from jump.
Beautifully laid out. The historical deep-dive is crucial—too many forget that “Christian” was originally an insult hurled at a fringe movement of nobodies who dared to live like love actually mattered. The moment empire baptized the cross in blood and doctrine replaced discipleship, the rot set in. Some still follow Jesus. Most just follow power in a stolen robe. If faith without deeds is dead, then doctrinal checkbox Christianity is a zombie church lurching from culture war to culture war. Time to resurrect the real thing.
So would it be fair to paraphrase Paul by saying, “If you want to know the life Jesus offers, choose Him first! Forget Caesar and proclaim Christ as Lord. He will then lead you into His life (the one James is describing, of service and love and grace)?”
I think Paul and James would say choosing Jesus is the same thing as choosing to live your life oriented around the way of Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit. It’s all one thing. Just my opinion though 😊
Hey, Zach. This is SO GOOD. Thank you. Like you, I think, I believe Christ came not just to die on the cross but to show us how to live ‘on earth as it is in heaven.’ “This is ‘life’ as it was meant to be lived. In modern Evangelicalism we so often have turned Jesus’ mission into a need to make everyone ‘believe the right thing’ as you so eloquently describe here. “Pray the right prayer.’ ‘Sign the right statement of faith’ and you, too, can escape the fires of Hell!” Question for you: One of the passages I often see quoted to defend Christianity as a ‘belief system’ as opposed to Jesus’ desire to model for us what ‘living in the Kingdom’ looks like, is Romans 10:9-10. It states: “If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” Can you give some context for these verses from Paul and help me/us understand then how we should understand what Paul means here in light of what you taught us here?
Great question! The short version is that Paul and James are emphasizing different things for different audiences. Paul is trying to help people caught up in legalism break free in Christ and James is trying to help people who use grace as an excuse to live in opposition to the way of Jesus return to a faith that produces good fruit. Paul even qualifies his statements in Romans 10 with this from Romans 6: "What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?"
So would it be fair to paraphrase Paul by saying, “If you want to know the life Jesus offers, choose Him first! Forget Caesar and proclaim Christ as Lord. He will then lead you into His life (the one James is describing, of service and love and grace)!
I appreciate your words! I don’t always understand why division is happening, among Christian’s. This helps me move forward, and to keep showing others, that I am a little Christ.
I don't know how anyone can read the New Testament or Church History and conclude that Christians were living like Christ until AD 312. The Church at Corinth was a hot mess of spirit filled Christians embracing Heterodoxy and engaging in Heteropraxy. By the end of the first century Jesus is criticizing the Church at Ephesus for walking away from their first love. He criticizes other churches and has nothing good to say about the Church at Laodicea. In fact that imagery has Jesus outside the church, knocking on the door, asking if anyone inside can still hear His voice. I'm all in favor of reminding the church to live worthy of our calling but this was simply revisionist history used to make a valid point.
You laid it out plain: the crisis isn’t that Christianity has competing political camps—it’s that one group is out here washing feet while another is forging crosses into battering rams.
The moment Christianity got state sponsorship, we stopped following Jesus and started hiring him as a mascot. Empire baptized itself in his name and told the poor it was their fault they were nailed to something.
And now? Christian means everything and nothing. It’s a rainbow flag and a “Don’t Tread on Me” bumper sticker. It’s sanctuary for the oppressed and book bans in Jesus’ name.
But what you said cuts through all that noise: If it doesn’t look like Jesus, it isn’t worth calling Christian.
It doesn’t matter how perfect your doctrine is if your love can’t survive a policy disagreement. Doesn’t matter how loudly you say “Bible-believing” if your life looks more like Caesar than Christ.
I’m grateful you’re out here reminding people that faith isn’t a quiz—it’s a way of being. A way that still gets crucified in public by the ones wearing crosses.
Keep going. You’re not just preaching—you’re composting the rot so something real can grow.
Well written. I agree completely with your understanding of Christianity. The teachings of Christ are found in the New Testament. With all of our failings (and I'm near the top in that category) we need to read and study the NT to understand what Christ is saying to us.
Exactly. If we are going to claim to be Jesus followers then we have to know who he was, what he did, and how he taught us to live.
I love that Jesus said "...by their fruits ye shall know them."
Thank you for this! It was not only eye-opening, but affirming for me.
I believe there’s a very basic distinction being drawn here.
On the one hand we have a “lived faith”, based in love; embodying the principles by which Jesus himself lived; recognizing the divine within oneself and others.
On the other hand we have ideology based in fear and disguised as religion. A device of separation and hatred, and a tool for control.
That both of these are labeled “Christianity” is why I distrust labels.
I think this is well said, Jim. The "lived faith" centered on love and the way of Jesus vs. ideology centered on fear/control and undergirded by religious language is a helpful dichotomy.
Zach, thank you for giving us the great message in print form. In your sermon, I was positively struck by the story of the man who was repeatedly asked if he was really a Christian- he answered by saying," You should ask my neighbors."
I love that story too, Bill!
This historical review of Christian history was enlightening. It certainly speaks to our current situation as being part of a much larger picture. Seeing how Christianity became entangled with empire and the status quo helps frame our response. I have read Walter Wink and the concept of powers and principalities being present in our human government and corporations. It is important that we remember that we are fighting spiritual powers, not people. Perhaps this terrible time we are experiencing is important so that we can reject trust in human institutions and remember to rely on God alone.
This may be confusing because words are not adequate to express what your words have woken in me. What I sense is that once we have seen the truth that is revealed by God,we can not unsee it.
Yes we have to remember that every person is made in the image of God and not to demonize or dehumanize anyone.
Wow…that was a fantastic historical account of how we as “Christians” began…and how/why we still are in this same legalistic mess. Thanks for this, Zach.
So many times in the past few years I have wondered to myself if I need a new moniker/designation for my beliefs other than “Christian” for all the reasons explained for our division. I simply do not want to be lumped in with “those” Christians (I know that sounds/is awful), but I want outsiders to know that they are safe with me.
After reading tour piece, it seems fitting that those striving to be “little Christs” should keep the name “Christian,” and perhaps there is a name that we/others give those who are using Christ’s name in vain.
I also think about this. When people ask what my husband does, I tell them “he’s a nice pastor.” I can usually tell a lot about them by their response!
I find myself in a tough spot when ppl ask what I do. I work for an international Christian humanitarian org that does amazing work and has a great reputation. However, for the sake of brevity and not having to qualify things, I always say, “I work for a humanitarian relief organization.” I don’t want to have to try to explain what “kind” of Christian org we are. I am immensely proud of what we do, but I don’t want people to judge me from jump.
I get that, too, Angie! I sometimes say, "My husband runs a nonprofit" :) Thanks for the work that you do!
Thanks for the work you and Zach do as well!
Beautifully laid out. The historical deep-dive is crucial—too many forget that “Christian” was originally an insult hurled at a fringe movement of nobodies who dared to live like love actually mattered. The moment empire baptized the cross in blood and doctrine replaced discipleship, the rot set in. Some still follow Jesus. Most just follow power in a stolen robe. If faith without deeds is dead, then doctrinal checkbox Christianity is a zombie church lurching from culture war to culture war. Time to resurrect the real thing.
—Virgin Monk Boy
This is why I now use the term “follower of Jesus” in preference to “Christian”. It’s less malleable.
So would it be fair to paraphrase Paul by saying, “If you want to know the life Jesus offers, choose Him first! Forget Caesar and proclaim Christ as Lord. He will then lead you into His life (the one James is describing, of service and love and grace)?”
I think Paul and James would say choosing Jesus is the same thing as choosing to live your life oriented around the way of Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit. It’s all one thing. Just my opinion though 😊
Hey, Zach. This is SO GOOD. Thank you. Like you, I think, I believe Christ came not just to die on the cross but to show us how to live ‘on earth as it is in heaven.’ “This is ‘life’ as it was meant to be lived. In modern Evangelicalism we so often have turned Jesus’ mission into a need to make everyone ‘believe the right thing’ as you so eloquently describe here. “Pray the right prayer.’ ‘Sign the right statement of faith’ and you, too, can escape the fires of Hell!” Question for you: One of the passages I often see quoted to defend Christianity as a ‘belief system’ as opposed to Jesus’ desire to model for us what ‘living in the Kingdom’ looks like, is Romans 10:9-10. It states: “If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” Can you give some context for these verses from Paul and help me/us understand then how we should understand what Paul means here in light of what you taught us here?
Great question! The short version is that Paul and James are emphasizing different things for different audiences. Paul is trying to help people caught up in legalism break free in Christ and James is trying to help people who use grace as an excuse to live in opposition to the way of Jesus return to a faith that produces good fruit. Paul even qualifies his statements in Romans 10 with this from Romans 6: "What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?"
So would it be fair to paraphrase Paul by saying, “If you want to know the life Jesus offers, choose Him first! Forget Caesar and proclaim Christ as Lord. He will then lead you into His life (the one James is describing, of service and love and grace)!
I appreciate your words! I don’t always understand why division is happening, among Christian’s. This helps me move forward, and to keep showing others, that I am a little Christ.
Thank you.
Great post!
There certainly isn't anything new under the sun!
I don't know how anyone can read the New Testament or Church History and conclude that Christians were living like Christ until AD 312. The Church at Corinth was a hot mess of spirit filled Christians embracing Heterodoxy and engaging in Heteropraxy. By the end of the first century Jesus is criticizing the Church at Ephesus for walking away from their first love. He criticizes other churches and has nothing good to say about the Church at Laodicea. In fact that imagery has Jesus outside the church, knocking on the door, asking if anyone inside can still hear His voice. I'm all in favor of reminding the church to live worthy of our calling but this was simply revisionist history used to make a valid point.
Zach, this is holy fire.
You laid it out plain: the crisis isn’t that Christianity has competing political camps—it’s that one group is out here washing feet while another is forging crosses into battering rams.
The moment Christianity got state sponsorship, we stopped following Jesus and started hiring him as a mascot. Empire baptized itself in his name and told the poor it was their fault they were nailed to something.
And now? Christian means everything and nothing. It’s a rainbow flag and a “Don’t Tread on Me” bumper sticker. It’s sanctuary for the oppressed and book bans in Jesus’ name.
But what you said cuts through all that noise: If it doesn’t look like Jesus, it isn’t worth calling Christian.
It doesn’t matter how perfect your doctrine is if your love can’t survive a policy disagreement. Doesn’t matter how loudly you say “Bible-believing” if your life looks more like Caesar than Christ.
I’m grateful you’re out here reminding people that faith isn’t a quiz—it’s a way of being. A way that still gets crucified in public by the ones wearing crosses.
Keep going. You’re not just preaching—you’re composting the rot so something real can grow.
In mischief and mercy,
Virgin Monk Boy