One motivation for deeply exploring the idea of a “Jesus worldview” was the recognition that our typical arguments about theology and politics aren’t constructive.
We tend to argue politics with politics and theology with theology — which gets us nowhere. Concretized minds and regurgitated talking points trump any serious search for truth.
My suggestion has been to elevate Jesus’ life and teachings above any of our narrow subjects for debate.
Recently, a friend put that perspective in the better terms of Jesus’ use of “superseding ideas.”
A pondering minister in Locust Fork, Ala., Mart Gray wrote in a Facebook post:
“I think we can learn much from Jesus’ encounters with controversy. He seems to prefer offering a superseding idea over a counter-argument. Perspective over prosecution.”
Indeed, Jesus didn’t argue like we do. And we have much to learn by paying attention to how Jesus directed and engaged in such conversations.
That observation was so insightful that I reached out to Mart to explore it more.
“Jesus was constantly asked to weigh in on matters of dispute and controversy,” said Mart, who offered examples.
“The woman at the well wanted to know whether Mt. Gerizim or Jerusalem was the appropriate place to worship. She seemed to be an honest seeker. Jesus assured her that authentic worship is not bound by geography but is offered ‘in spirit and in truth.’”
Instead of siding in the debate over two narrow choices, Jesus elevated the conversation to a superseding idea about the worship of God.
Also, when some Pharisees questioned Jesus over the propriety of paying taxes to Caesar, he didn’t fall into their binary trap. As he often did, he responded to the question with a question that elevated the conversation to a superseding idea.
In this case, Jesus asked, “Whose image is on this coin?” This led to a higher principle of granting to government what belongs to government and to God what belongs to God.
At another time, Jesus’ well-known parable called “the Good Samaritan” was in response to a young lawyer’s inquiry.
“Jesus first asks him to answer his own question, and he did so eloquently, quoting Hebrew scripture,” said Mart. “In short, his answer was to love God and love neighbor.”
When Jesus commended his response, the lawyer wanted to clarify exactly who is his neighbor.
This elevated conversation didn’t end with Jesus making a final point. Instead, Jesus left the lawyer with the mental and spiritual task of contemplating what makes one a good neighbor.
Therefore, Jesus’ two-fold greatest commandment is perhaps the ultimate example of raising the conversation to a superseding idea. Yet, many modern Christians have not learned the lesson it provides.
If so, instead of tacking ancient Jewish laws to public classroom walls there would be a greater commitment to loving God more fully and one’s neighbors more broadly.
Such encompassing and inclusive love, said Jesus, supersedes all the laws and prophets.
A beneficial exercise would be to read through the Gospels while taking notice of how Jesus responded to questions, debates and controversies by moving the conversations from multiple choice answers to superseding ideas.
We like to argue in miniature, while Jesus calls for a view of life beyond what we tend to consider. And Jesus reveals that worldview to us in his life and teachings.
It is easy to fall into the trap of arguing with someone who isn’t looking for the truth but voicing that which uncritically attempts to soothe their fears. It is so useless.
And often our own conclusions are not well vetted or exposed to the light that Jesus continues to offer through deeper, more open explorations of what he said and how he lived.
“In each of these Gospel accounts, Jesus doesn’t attempt to settle disputes,” said Mart. “He offers perspective.”
Often that perspective includes Jesus suggesting, “You’re asking the wrong question.”
“Jesus doesn’t prosecute or defend either side of the controversy but lifts the sights of the open-minded to a more elevated view.”
This approach, Mart noted, is “quite counterintuitive and requires us to reorient our base instincts.”
Of course, everything about following Jesus is counterintuitive to a culture — even one branded as Christian — that idolizes self-interest and self-preservation with little concern for the common good.
So, as Mart quoting a psalmist of old, said, “We need help from the Lord.”
Admittedly, minds and hearts are seldom changed. Fortified defenses rarely fall.
Theological and political arguments — even when well made — are easily rejected.
Hopefully, it is less comfortable to confess that one is choosing to reject Jesus’ life and teachings. And Jesus-inspired uncomfortableness is a really good thing for all of us.
So let us keep elevating Jesus in order to keep elevating our conversations. For that is a superseding idea.
John D. Pierce is director of the Jesus Worldview Initiative (jesusworldview.org), part of Belmont University’s Rev. Charlie Curb Center for Faith Leadership.