Talking About Jesus

“After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He would not go about in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill him. Now the Jews’ Feast of Booths was at hand. So his brothers said to him, ‘Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing. For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.’ For not even his brothers believed in him. Jesus said to them, ‘My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil. You go up to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come.’ After saying this, he remained in Galilee.

“But after his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly but in private. The Jews were looking for him at the feast, and saying, ‘Where is he?’ And there was much muttering about him among the people. While some said, ‘He is a good man,’ others said, ‘No, he is leading the people astray.’ Yet for fear of the Jews no one spoke openly of him.” [1]

As a child, I was taught there were three subjects which were never to be discussed in public—sex, politics and religion. I was assured these would be calculated from the git-go to produce little profit and much embarrassment. Over the past several decades items one and two have largely disappeared from the list of forbidden topics. Had there been an inclination to keep them on such a list of restricted subjects for discussion, the fortieth President of the United States, Bill Clinton, all by himself, almost single-handedly forced their inclusion in everyday discussion. And politicians since that day have ensured that discussions about sex and politics will continue to be a part of everyday life in North America. But religion? Especially the religion of Christ the Lord?

At any serious level, religion, especially the Christian Faith, is still too hot to handle in most contexts. Why should this be? Whether recognised or not, when we speak about religion we are talking about something vitally important. Sex and politics, of course, are also significant in people’s lives—which is why we still have to be more careful with those subjects than we are in discussions about cars, gardens, or music. Issues of faith, however, affect more than the here and now. If we exist beyond this life (and most people do have that understanding), then almost by definition you really can’t afford to be wrong. Get close to such a topic and you’re on thin ice.

A second reason people hesitate to talk in public about so-called religious issues is that most folks have been persuaded that religious conclusions are unprovable in any case—and therefore they are best avoided. Common wisdom suggests that scientists talk about facts which can be verified, while theologians talk only about opinions concerning esoteric subjects. Since none of the theologians’ concepts are certifiable, maybe it is better to keep such discussions out of public view. In any case, when it is only your opinion set against mine, how could we ever resolve such matters? To claim to know the truth in a “religious” area in our culture is considered to be a sure sign of fanaticism.

I am aware of a third reason for the general reluctance to talk about spiritual issues. The general reluctance to talk about spiritual issues may have something to do with how people of faith go about encouraging such discussions. If people to whom we speak find the Good News of Jesus’ Gospel offensive, we need to ensure it’s the content of the Gospel that offends, and not some trappings we’ve attached to it. We are fearful that we will sound judgemental, or people will think us to be arrogant, or even perceive us as pompously exclusive. Thus, our fear of how others may view us ensures that we are struck with a case of spiritual lockjaw.

What is especially tragic about this condition is that our family members, our neighbours, and our colleagues too often continue under condemnation as they rush toward eternity where they are unprepared to face the wrath of Holy God. This is the result when culture prevails over Christ. In such a condition, our failure to tell others about the Saviour makes us guilty of lese majesté. How shall we answer the Master Who warns us, “Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels” [MARK 8:38]! Oh, my!