Are You Stuck In a Religious Fog?

One of my favorite books is Beautiful Outlaw by John Eldredge. The subtitle of the book is: Experiencing the Playful, Disruptive, Extravagant Personality of Jesus. For many, if not most people, I wonder if they would use even one of those words to describe Jesus Christ.

Some have said this is a “dangerous” book about a “scandalous” Savior. I think it is “dangerous” only in that it may challenge your perception of the most famous person who ever walked the earth. I think one might call it “scandalous” because it threatens many of the stereotypes we have held since childhood.

Like many others, I have really enjoyed watching the series, The Chosen. In most part, because I feel it helps me to view Jesus and the apostles as real flesh-and-blood people with emotions and a personality. They don’t walk around with a halo on their heads —strong on stoicism, but weak on feelings and relationships.

The Chosen series, as well as the Beautiful Outlaw book have helped blow away much of the religious fog that has blurred and hindered my vision since I was a young boy. And frankly, hindered my relationship with Jesus. The Jesus I grew up hearing about seemed to me to be very religious, hard to relate to, not very approachable —certainly not someone I would want to spend time with.

As John Eldredge says, “Reading the Gospels without knowing the personality of Jesus is like watching television with the sound turned off. The effect is a dry two-dimensional person saying strange undecipherable things. But when we discover his true character —this man who made the wind, music, and flying squirrels —suddenly all of the remarkable qualities of Jesus burst forth with color and brilliance like fireworks.”

Here’s something else Eldredge said referring to Jesus: “Well, he created laughter. And think of the crowd he dined with. These rabble-rousers quickly earned Jesus a reputation as a drunkard and a glutton, and it wasn’t because they served water and crackers. This was a wild group, and surely such a crowd got rolling in laughter from time to time, if only from the joy they were experiencing being with Jesus. Now, surely the creator of these colorful characters didn’t sit around frowning, looking pious, Mr. Killjoy, Mr. I’m-Above-All-This. Imagine his own happiness at having these very lost sheep back at his side.”

Eldredge goes on to say, “Laughter is from God. This one quality alone might save us from the religious veil that forever tries to come in and cloud our perception of Jesus. After all —it was God who gave us a sense of humor. Do you really think Jesus came to take it away?”

I was wondering…Is Jesus someone you would want to hang around with, go fishing with, have a beer or a glass of wine with? As an adult, are you seeking to find the real Jesus rather than living with your two-dimensional childhood perception? Have you read the Gospels lately —Matthew, Mark, Luke and John? After all, they contain first-hand accounts of Jesus.

Think about it…Are you stuck in a religious fog? Maybe give Beautiful Outlaw a read, and if and when you have read it, let me know your thoughts…and feel free to give me a call if you would ever want to discuss this over a cup of coffee (or while we sip on some bourbon).