Gospel Rhetoric

Had a bit of a late start today. I left a little after 10:00. After arriving in the beach parking lot, I head out for a run through the harbor.

There is what looks like a big stand up paddle board competition at Baby Beach. Lots and lot of SUP boards cover the sand and there are big Infinity (popular SUP brand) flags all over the place. Many people have little race numbers pinned on to them.

Its another cloudy day and there is even a forecast of thunderstorms later in the day. We saw a little lightning earlier this week and it was drizzly at my house earlier in the morning today. The high over the next few days is not supposed to break 70 but it feels nice nonetheless. What’s not to like about 68 either in or out of the water?

All week and especially on this run I have been thinking about something that was said at a church small group meeting on Wednesday night. We were looking at the beginning of Philippians and Paul mentions “the gospel” a couple of times. One of the people in the meeting said we should talk about the gospel. Then another guy says, “well it’s that Jesus Christ is Lord” and he goes on to talk about how it is the proclamation of redemption of sins. Then someone says something about Jesus is enthroned with God the father in the heavenly realm, etc. etc.

First I have to say that I really really like the guy that gave the first response about Jesus as Lord. He is a super down to earth and kind guy and a really good listener in the group and adds a ton of value through what he has to share.

But when he (or anyone) says that phrase “Jesus is Lord” my inner gut response is “so what?” What does that even mean? It just sounds so foreign and unrelatable. We don’t have kings anymore. Well…I guess that’s not totally true and now there is a big new one in the UK. But these are purely symbolic and kind of ridiculous. I’m sure the message of Jesus as the new Messiah and all the talk of kingship was totally relevant in the beginning of the first millennium of the common era. However it feels so distant and just turns me off. When I hear Jesus is Lord it makes me think of bumper stickers on cars and slogans on T-shirts that separate the one with the sticker and slogans from the rest of you lost souls. I see arrogance and a lack of empathy for others that don’t have the same beliefs.

I don’t think this was the original intent of those who use that phrase. I also honestly believe many many people are truly moved and do feel personally impacted by that phrase and all the king jargon. If fact, one of our pastors just now sent out an email to the church with a recording to a sermon given in the 70s by Rev. Lockridge called “That’s my King.” I really like this pastor who sent the email and he is clearly very excited about the talk of kingship, but it just falls flat on me.

I grew up in the church and heard these things all of the time. Many of the people in that culture found great meaning in these types of euphemisms. Even as a kid it didn’t really get me excited at all. Probably because I had grown numb to it. It was just the way things were. Jesus was Lord like dirt was…um…dirty.

I know I am not the only one who is put off by this talk. I also do not at all suggest that we ban this kind of talk in churches. People should speak their mind and hearts. I guess I’m more curious than anything. I’m curious what separates those who are enamored by this kind of talk from those who are not. I’m curious that regardless of the fact that the typical “gospel message” rhetoric super annoys me, I am extremely emotionally impacted about Jesus and who he was and what he had to say which I guess you could say is the gospel. This gospel is a mountain lake that lies in front of me and I just want to dive in. But I swear as soon as someone starts talking about thrones in heavenly realms, I’m running for the towel.

I think that down deep these are the same gospels. I think one generation has simply associated the words of “lord” and “king” with the deeper energy of Jesus that I find compelling, but I associate these words with totally different things.

I am also curious that when this rhetoric is expressed in song, I find it much easier to swallow. I think it is because the genre of song allows for a more playful relationship with the words that I find acceptable. In song, I can interact with these words as symbols that join us to a deeper energy that moves me. As spoken words they become sorts of pillars of literal logic that ask for social consensus.

I guess what I am also curious is how can I find language for what I feel I have come to know as the gospel that is accessible to others without sounding arrogant or at all separatist. Believe me I do not aspire to evangelism but I would like to express these things and interact with others in a way that is comfortable for everyone. I feel like there are a lot of people in this world that could find great value in Christian thought and scripture but are being asked to consume the gospel via terms that just are not working. My suspicion is that there are a lot of people in the church that feel this way too and they are either left to feel alienated or just leave.

Anyways, on the run I’m really just thinking about the “Jesus is Lord” phrase and my knee jerk “so what” reaction. I knew I had to sit down and think about it and try to piece it together, which I guess I just did at least somewhat.

I get to my car at about 11:30 and transition into swim mode. I am definitely not cold coming down the stairs like I was yesterday after that run. The swim feels like a near repeat of yesterday - high tide, waves breaking semi-violently directly on shore and comfortable water temperature.

It was a good swim. I did my best to keep my mind clear and certainly was not thinking of any of these gospel shenanigans.