Pt. 2 “He gets us” speaks of the way but not who is the way!

We can commend their project of promoting Jesus to a disinterested post-Christian culture, even to those who are antagonistic. On the surface, those involved in the campaign seem to have boldness that is conditional, it goes only so far. But to represent Jesus, Scripture requires that they get Him right. Which means, that the actual Jesus is portrayed accurately, not in portions they pick out to use for the public. The campaign is said to be “committed to being scripturally accurate.” Jason Vanderground told CNN’s Tom Foreman. “We’re trying to unify the American people around the confounding love and forgiveness [of Jesus].”

This might be so, however, much of their approach is flawed from the evangelical believers who are attempting to point people to Jesus. They must be willing to allow some be offended, which is what scripture tells us will happened when speaking of Jesus and presenting the truth of the gospel.

Questions asked and answered on the site include things like: Was Jesus ever lonely? Was Jesus ever stressed? Did Jesus have fun? Did Jesus face criticism?

Under the title What would Jesus think of teen moms?

They express Jesus was born to a teenage girl. They simplify the story which is really about a teen mom whom God chose, (Most woman married young and were virgins when they were married, which is not mentioned) Mary was engaged to be married, this story has no relevance to teen moms in our day who get pregnant, except for the fact of her being humiliated by the Hebrew culture. ( Scripture References: Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 2:7)

They equate Mary, Joseph and Jesus to modern-day refugees fleeing war or poverty, when there is very little similarity. They can be called refugee’s in the most general sense. His mother and stepfather with Jesus left his homeland temporarily. one of the commercials , using a black and white photo slideshow tells the story of Central American migrants who must flee their homes to avoid persecution. At the end of the video, we are told the story is that of Jesus and his parents.

They fled Herod’s attack on young children, not the Roman Empire. They left for Egypt for a short time and returned when it was safe. This is not quite the same of refugees who flee and can never go home.

This brings us to one of the most divisive of subjects in culture today. They have people supporting the movement on two opposite sidse on the subjects of LGBTQ.

Jason Vanderground, spokesperson for ‘He Gets Us’ and president of creative marketing firm HAVEN,’ was asked by CNN if the campaign supports and affirms LGBTQ Christians. “The debate over LGBTQ+ issues is a great example of how the real Jesus too often gets lost, overlooked or distorted in debates over political and social issues,” he said. “Our focus is on helping people see and consider Jesus as he is shown in the Bible … He gets us and he loves us, and that includes people on all sides of these issues.”

On their website: “ Many of those who represent Jesus have made people in the LGBTQ+ community feel judged and excluded. And others in the Jesus community have simply ignored their stories and lived experiences.”

In their opinion. “Jesus loves gay people and Jesus loves trans people. The LGBTQ+ community, like all people, is invited to explore the story of Jesus and consider his example of unconditional love, grace, and forgiveness of others. No matter who you are, YOU are invited to explore the story of Jesus and consider what it means for your life.”

This needs to be clarified. While Jesus died for all who sin, Jesus tells us to not sin, whether that sin is lying, stealing or any kind of sexual immorality. When Jesus says he forgives, it includes for one to repent of the sin they are doing. Again, as prior mentioned, he does not love and forgive without a change, without it would have him condone or overlook sin.

The Corinthians “sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner” (2 Cor 7:9)

This means one must is to stay in the same state they came to Christ in, of which Paul writes in no uncertain terms in 1 Cor .6:11. And this change can only come from the gospel being explained.

Jesus did not approve of any sin which hurts humanity. How does what they are doing improve any conversation?

The Lausanne Covenant (1974) which they say they affirm, speaks more direct than they do on these matters.

D) The life the Bible requires.‘… we learn that such a biblical lifestyle includes justice, compassion, humility, integrity, truthfulness, sexual chasti ty, it mentions this topic more than once. sexual promiscuity; sexual partnerships outside marriage; the ugliness of counterfeit love that masquerades in disordered sexuality and all that goes along with it. Disordered sexuality of all kinds, in any practice of sexual intimacy before or outside marriage .”

These are mentioned along with the admonition to reach out with the love, compassion and justice of Christ, and to reject and condemn all forms of hatred, verbal or physical abuse, and victimization of homosexual people.”

Good intentions do not go as far as being upfront and honest about what Jesus and his apostles taught. Love and compassion means we tell the truth in Scripture, though it may be hard to accept.

In one video they say Jesus and his followers are not part of gang spreading hate or terror but spreading love…(Tolerance is not love)  Jesus is then presented as misunderstood, “wrongly judged,” that “he gets us all.” Portraying Jesus as a rebel who gathered others to challenge authority religious leaders abhorred them is inaccurate on purpose.

Where in their advertising campaign do they speak of Jesus emphasizing he is God Himself who loves us by becoming the Savior for humanity. Is Jesus only a human? Jesus is presented as a great moral example. “No matter what we think of Christianity, most people can agree on one thing. During his lifetime, Jesus set a pretty good example of peace and love.”

Again, he did not come to give peace among people, but peace in their heart, to no longer be an enemy, but a friend with God. This means we follow not the man, but the God/man. They are reaching out by using the lowest common denominator. Jesus is reduced to good moral example which all religions can agree on, which means little for one's eternity without the essentials. In fact, the president of the marketing agency has s tated, “Ultimately, the goal is inspiration, not recruitment or conversion.” If it is not about conversion then it really is not about Jesus. For he is about eternal life. Theirs becomes a conversation that leads to nowhere Biblically, but it certainly makes them feel they accomplished something to offer a temporary absolvent.

Why spend millions to tell people this? Jesus is not justa good example of man, he is the greatest example because he is the only begotten Son of God, God who became man. That’s why His example matters more than any other in history. That is priority one in Christianity!

Jon Lee is one of the chief architects of the campaign says the team wanted to start a movement of people who want to tell a better story about Jesus and act like him. Lee states, “Our goal is to give voice to the pent-up energy of like-minded Jesus followers, those who are in the pews and the ones that aren’t, who are ready to reclaim the name of Jesus from those who abuse it to judge, harm and divide people.”

Tell a better story than the Bible? Jesus was just as judgmental of people as any of the prophets, he also was a prophet. How about a more accurate story of who He is and why He came? They are using today’s cultural viewpoint, to reach the same culture! Their Jesus is all about love, and acceptance but His followers who talk about him speak on judgment, sin, morality, from the authority of Scripture. Those who speak truth with the intention of love from the Bible are not abusers. God has already judged what is right and wrong and it is in writing. We are not “judgmental” when we speak his words the way the apostles did. You can’t accuse anyone of being divisive or misrepresenting him when they rightly understand Jesus as the embodiment of truth (1 John 4:6) and say what he says.

In Jesus’ absence, he sent the Holy Spirit. John 16:8-9 “He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment, this is more often done by hearing his Word.

We are not opposing what Jesus taught, but proclaiming it accurately. The ‘He Gets Us’ campaign uses a false seeker-friendly concept to attract people, ignoring the actual truth. The Jesus the culture would accept is non-judgmental, only love. What their campaign lacks is his correction, and judgment on sin. Why? Because in their view judging, by using the bible, speaking plainly is sin. So all those who live sinful lives would be attracted to this Jesus.

Lee stating to reclaim the name of Jesus from those who “abuse it to judge, harm and divide people,” excludes giving a biblical understanding of Jesus, eliminating His message of repentance and salvation!

They soft sell who Jesus is, “many of those backing the campaign believe that Jesus is who the Bible says he is. Yet they also state they “believe Jesus was human and divine.” Which can mean something different to various people. Is Jesus divine among other divine beings? How is he divine?

The point I’m making is that this is what they believe but it is not expressed in their outreach that this is what the Bible teaches. In one of the few times said we are told why. “We believe [Jesus] was fully God and fully man. By design, our media messages focus on his humanity —since we’ve learned these resonate with the widest possible audience. We’re simply inviting them to explore how might things be different if more people followed his example.”

A human example is not what people need to hear. This soft approach they say is pre-evangelism. Besides not being a term in Scripture, disciples that heard his message did not exclude any of these essential teachings. If ‘He gets us’ believes Jesus is the God-man they need to present him as this, not hide it. It is God who loved us to come and be a human to die for our sin which makes what he did so powerful. If this Jesus of “He gets us” is presented as human, that people can relate to him because he is like everyone else, then he is reduced to a very caring human which is incongruous to the Bible. In fact, all the cults speak of him this way; they reject his deity. But Jesus was more than this, he was God; the incarnation has God who created us to experience the nature of humanity which makes this all meaningful. And this is where people stumble over the truth. The “He gets us” campaign does not help clarify this but obfuscates it by focusing on his humanity.

“He gets us” message about Jesus is not accurate, they are actually leading people away from the real Jesus. And this is an inherent problem within ‘He Gets Us.’ The Jesus of this campaign is presented to the public as an inspirational human, a Jesus who relates to our everyday problems (which he does) and cares a whole lot about a cultures view of social justice and judgment.

To say “He was just like us!” makes the people focus on his humanity without His divinity which is who he eternally is. Without a confession of who he really is, one cannot be saved. Jesus only matters because of who He is, it is His identity as God that makes the statement “He gets us” even relevant.

Which comes down to the simple point, is ‘Jesus’ one among others. What of when Jesus asked who do say I am?

‘He Gets Us’: “Who did Jesus say he was?” Plan 5. Each day includes a 300–400-word article and a Scripture verse from one of the Gospels. Some of their points, “But who did he claim to be? Did he agree with all the things people said about him? Did he say he was the only way to God?”

Lets see their answers in this 9 day plan. I’m going to include  their strongest points to be fair.

Day 1

In their first day of explaining who Jesus is they state, “ He was doing something outside of traditional religion, that was for sure.

This man walked a single path. He taught a revolutionary message. He loved like nobody else they had ever met.

If one means outside what the Pharisees taught, yes but outside Moses no.

In one book of the Bible, the Gospel of John, Jesus described himself seven different ways. Each time he painted a word picture. He said, "I am... bread, I am... a shepherd, I am... the vine." Each picture is fascinating and bold, with plenty of room for questions and exploration.

He wants us to know him. The real Jesus invited those he met to "come and see"

This their answer on day one

Day 2

Jesus invites you to his table. He is the bread of life. His food will satisfy every craving.

When Jesus tells us who he is, he says, I am the one who will satisfy you”

The claims Jesus made about himself transcend time. Which means even today we are invited to take a seat at his table and be filled. That's what it means to follow Jesus-we believe what he said about himself and then act accordingly.

Jesus invites you to his table. His food will satisfy every craving. The meal is already made-you don't have to work for it. Your reservation is ready-Jesus has set a place for you. Come empty; leave full.

Never mentions the Word that explains who He is exactly

Day3

"I am the Light of the world. If you follow me, you won't stumble through the darkness anymore. Living light will flood your path."

He “spoke of the woman caught in adultery He said two things all of us need to hear at some point. First, after her accusers left, he showed grace: "Neither do I condemn you." Then, he called her to a new life in his light, "Go, and from now on sin no more."

It is good they speak of sin no more. Jesus told people to change their ways to follow him. He also told them to pick up their cross to follow him. To deny  ones self, to leave your past behind, his is the way of suffering which goes against the way of the world to bring you life. But none of this can be done without the gospel.

Step out of the dark, Jesus invited the woman. Turn around, he said. And begin again with me. The invitation still stands. For anyone who believes Jesus is who he said he was.

Jesus turned the spotlight on who he was and why he came. He said, if you feel alone in this darkness, come to me. The one who said, "Let there be light," said, "I am the light" and darkness will never extinguish.

But we still do not find out Who He actually is. These are breadcrumbs they leave to pick up.

One good thing I see is their offering a Bible app for the phone.

Day 4

Speaks on the shepherd and his sheep using some points in scripture “He even laid down his life for you, like a good shepherd lays down in front of the door.

And the sheep know it. All the shepherd has to do is call his sheep and they come. They know what's good for them. They know their shepherd's voice.”

How is he their shepherd without them surrendering their life through the gospel. This is very general and unspecific.

Still no identifying who Jesus is, or why he laid down his life

Day 5

He said, "I am the true vine" and told them I came so you can live the most vibrant and fruitful life possible.

Life to the fullest-life full of fruit... In his short life, Jesus knew exactly what it was like. His personal purpose statement was, "I came to give life with joy and abundance."

“And he did. People loved to be with him and did whatever they could to be near him. They walked for miles just to hear what he had to say. They invited him to their parties. They laughed with him. Wherever Jesus went, he was all there.” Sometimes fun. Sometimes compassionate. Always personal.”

Jesus is known as a man of sorrows, not a happy go lucky person. Maybe they have watched the TV series and got their doctrine from the Chosen. Nowhere does it say Jesus laughed (it specifically says he cried). The only place we find this word is in the gospels. Jesus said Luke 6:21 “ Blessed are you who weep now, For you shall laugh.” V:25 “Woe to you who laugh now, For you shall mourn and weep.’ (see also Jms.4:9)

Isa. 53:3 tells us He is “A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.”

Day 5 goes on to say, “He's the true vine-not an artificial one. "You are the branches," he added. Branches draw life off the vine and grow the fruit.

What does it mean to really live? We make it complicated, but it's really not. It's being attached to Jesus and drawing our life from his. Little by little, our life begins to look like his amazing life.

Jesus invites, be at home with me. Be comfortable with him. Be free to be your real self. Get to know his heart and his ways. Rest in him, find your nourishment at his table. Cling to him for all that's good and beautiful. And grow.

And all the descriptions are not defined, people have their own view of being their real self, so this does encourage anyone to abandon sin.

All the statements they use, point to him being more than a man, but they do not say he is God who became man. Again who is he?

Day6

…the shepherd still had ninety-nine sheep when one went missing. Or that the woman had nine coins. Or that the father had a son who had stayed home and not run away. That one lost sheep had to be rescued.

You've not run too far. Whatever you've done, it's not too much.

His love for you is deeper than the ravine you've fallen down. Wider than the gap between this life and the life he wants you to have, and longer than any time you've been away. Just turn around. Don't be afraid of what you'll find when you come back. He's calling your name.”

Jesus said, “ No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him”

Still no identity of who he is that you are to be coming back to.

Day7

Speaks on Lazarus and his sisters, he said, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die."

When you breathe your last breath on this earth, you will enter eternity. What you believe here and now about Jesus will determine what you encounter at that moment. You are becoming today the person you will be forever.

Believe on who? Believe what?

The Bible says that Jesus, who had no sin of his own, died to pay the debt you owe to God. The Bible tells us that our sins separate us from God”

Finally they speak on sin, that he overcame sin and death. They mention the resurrection

It’s hard to hear that we’re a sinner, ...he is the only way to be rescued from sin’s consequence (John 14:6). Sin says, I’ll do it my way”

Here’s the prayer they suggest you to pray

If you'd like to talk to God about it, here's something to prompt your conversation:

Dear God-Here I am. I have nothing to offer you to pay for how I've lived. Please forgive my sins. I know I don't deserve it but I hear that you're willing to give me everything because your son, Jesus, paid the price for my life. That's so awesome. That's so beyond what I can completely understand, how Jesus took the hell that I deserve. I put my confidence in that and believe it's true. And I believe the beautiful truth that this guarantees me a life with you when I die. You give me a life where I'll never die again. This is a gift from you and all I have to do is receive it.

Right now, I believe that Jesus paid for my sin on the cross and that you raised him again to life. I turn from my sins and ask for you to give me new life now and when I die. I ask this because I believe what Jesus said, amen.”

All elements that are true, however, at this point sin is still undefined, it’s just a term that is used without a defined meaning. What is sin to the person hearing this? It’s all soft and the least way to call people to acknowledge their offense against God. The Gospel is said to be an offence, not a lollipop.

And still, one does not know whom they are calling on to be saved!

Day 8

"I am the way," he didn't mean he was "a way" to God, one way among many ways. Instead, he clearly said, I am the one and only way. "No one comes to the Father, except through me."

While we might see Jesus' claim to be the only way to the Father as restrictive, his followers through the centuries have found following Jesus to be the way of life, hope, and love.

Everyone needs a new beginning with God. Here it is. Take the path that leads to him, and to the truth, and to life itself.

All true statements, yet he is the way of life whether one believes it or not. What that way is (path) is not fully explained, it is all generalities.

Day 9

This summarizes everything spoken prior

Consider all we've learned about who Jesus said he is in this study of his seven "I am..." statements:

When Jesus said, "I am the bread of life," he said that not only would he satisfy us with today's needs, but he would satisfy every need we have.

When Jesus said, "I am the light of the world,"' he promised to lead us out of darkness and be a light to rescue those whose sin keeps them in a dark place.

When Jesus said, "I am the door," he proved he would protect us, keep us safe, and lead us down new paths.

When Jesus said, "I am the real vine," he invited us to draw life from him-the filled up, overflowing kind of life.

When Jesus said, "I am the good shepherd," he committed himself to take good care of his own.

When Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life," he said he is our only hope for life after death.

I am the way, the truth, and the life," he welcomed us to choose the path forward.

Notice what all these things say about Jesus? He brings life, light, health, food, and a way forward, but we must first come to him. We must believe he is who he says he is.”

Scripture tells us to get understanding so we can have fruit in our lives. The campaign refuses to lay the cards on the table face up, showing the Scripture, he is not just a god, but the only true God who can save you. This is about not what they say, but what they don't say, what they leave out.

Jesus asked who do you say I am. We need to have the right answer. Again, ALL cults deny his deity. Jesus asks people to believe in him, to have faith, full trust in the gospel to be saved. You must know the person of the message to be saved by him. If you are not directing people to this crucial ID (which they are not), are you giving God's full message?

If they were to adjust their outreach to include the essentials (who is Jesus, explain more what sin is and how it affects humans) it would allow God to work powerfully, and bring transparency to all involved. Then a true conversation like those in the first century when this took place could occur.

 

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