For some Americanized Christians a dead Jesus is apparently enough Jesus.
For example, a Christian university in California has an entire web page dedicated to unfolding their prescription of a “Christian worldview.” In fact, it is a “complete guide to developing a Christian worldview.”
https://libertychristian.org/blog/complete-guide-to-developing-a-christian-worldview
In its completeness, it goes into great detail about “cultivating a deep understanding of biblical principles.” Again and again there are references to the Bible as the source of truth.
But what about Jesus?
Oh, he makes a one-time cameo appearance in this detailed — even “complete” — guide to a Christian worldview.
And he’s dead.
That’s right. All that is needed for a Christian worldview is a dead Jesus.
In this 1789-word description of a Christian worldview the only reference to Jesus is his “redemptive work” of “bridging the chasm sin created” whereby “through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, we are reconciled to God.”
That sole reference to Jesus emphasizes “the essence of God’s love for us” while fully ignoring the call of Jesus to follow him in the ways of loving others.
This is not an isolated example nor a matter of semantics. It is consistent with the current use of “biblical worldview” and “Christian worldview” to downplay the life, teachings and calling of Jesus in order to advance ideologies that often conflict with what he said and did.
Being “Christian” without following Jesus is nonsense — but pretty easy when churches treat salvation as a transactional initiation rite tied solely to “accepting Jesus” and his sacrificial death.
Then one is free to create or embrace an arbitrarily constructed “biblical worldview” or “Christian worldview” that suits one’s own preferred ideology.
An all-encompassing love of God and one’s broadly defined neighbor can then be ignored — even though Jesus clearly designated such faithfulness as the greatest commandment and that which distinguished his followers.
One of the easiest ways to get around following Jesus and still calling oneself Christian is to latch on to one of the many Jesus-denying “Christian worldviews” or “biblical worldviews” out there.
It’s a handy, dandy way to keep the name without the substance.
So the big question is: Just how much Jesus can Americanized Christians stand?
Slaveholders had a biblical worldview. But they didn’t follow Jesus.
Sadly, that is just one example — and no more extreme than those who claim a Christian worldview today while giving support to the current abuses at the hands of government.
Cruelty. Dishonesty. Discrimination. Corruption. Coverups of sexual assault.
None of which align with how Jesus called his followers to live.
But if his sacrificial death is all that matters, so what if people are snatched off the streets by government authorized thugs simply because of their appearance?
But is that REALLY what it means to be Christian?
Was Jesus’ life, teachings and calling for all disciples — then and now — to follow in his ways mere filler between Christmas and Easter?
Or is is more? Perhaps even the way to abundant and eternal life.
John D. Pierce is director of the Jesus Worldview Initiative (jesusworldview.org), part of Belmont University’s Rev. Charlie Curb Center for Faith Leadership. Join us for the first Jesus Worldview Conference, October 13-15, in Nashville.