In recent years I have written or spoken about them so often that in my scribbled notes or outlines they are abbreviated as simply LTC.
What are they? The “life, teachings and calling” of Jesus.
The problem? They are largely missing from what it means to be Christian today.
While obvious to those with eyes to see, their absence is nothing new.
Historic church creeds ignore them — skipping from the virgin birth to Jesus’ crucifixion, resurrection, ascension and anticipated return. It’s as if Jesus’ life, teachings and calling (LTC) were merely meant to fill an interim period of time.
Likewise, many who claim no creed but the Bible will downplay or dismiss the LTC with ease. Oddly, yet clearly, those affirming the highest view of the Bible seem to have a very low view of what Jesus said and did and called his followers to be and do.
Jesus never said his followers would be marked by attending Bible studies, affirming doctrinal statements or embracing political agendas that offer privilege over others.
Jesus never called for posting the 10 Commandments in government spaces but said the greatest and encompassing commandments are to love God with all one’s being and one’s inclusively defined neighbor as oneself.
Jesus never identified with the powerful but with those who experience the injustices levied by the powerful. He put people’s value and needs above laws and practices of exploitation.
So no wonder these LTC get ignored in favor of mere affirmations of faith that require no serious response to what Jesus said validates the faithfulness of his followers.
New Testament scholar Marcus Borg, in his 2006 book, Jesus, does a helpful dive into how Christianity has shifted its emphasis from believing “in” God who is revealed in Jesus to believing certain things “about” God, Jesus and the Bible.
Where this shift has led is tragically obvious today.
White Americanized Christians are largely focused on a narrow version of “right” doctrine (mixed into a political ideology) with little to no regard for a trusting and transformative belief “in” Jesus that leads to following him more faithfully.
However, Jesus’ life, teachings and calling (LTC) were not intended for a dozen or so earthly companions. He widened that call for all would-be disciples to deny self, take up crosses and follow him.
The harsh truth is one can attend Bible study regularly, recite historic creeds or claim allegiance to an inerrant Bible, quote isolated scriptures daily and miss the whole point of the Christian faith.
Of course, a major deflection from LTC is a concisely formulated “plan of salvation” that offers eternal bliss in exchange for a confession and a prayer. Jesus didn’t offer one of those.
Rather, as he told his first followers, belief is the starting point for a lifetime of transformation that results in self-giving.
Only by deflecting from Jesus’ life, teachings and calling to follow him could we end up with professing Christians in such large numbers throwing their support behind the worse of behaviors — cruelty, corruption and injustice — all in stark contrast to what Jesus said and did.
We are moving toward a manger filled with hope and celebration. However, leaving Jesus there — or simply ignoring him until it’s time for a cross and empty tomb — is unfaithfulness to his coming.
Rather than just asking, “What child is this?” or “Mary, did you know?” perhaps we should ask why so many Americanized Christians pay so much more attention to what Jesus did not say and do than to what he said and did.
Those central but often ignored words tied to his life, teachings and calling (LTC), like:
“If you love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the law and prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23
Perhaps Jesus wasn’t just hanging around between his birth and death.
But we wouldn’t know that by the way his LTC are so often ignored in favor of redefined forms of Christianity that exempt adherents from what Jesus actually desires, even commands, of his followers.
John D. Pierce is director of the Jesus Worldview Initiative (jesusworldview.org), part of Belmont University’s Rev. Charlie Curb Center for Faith Leadership.