A Messianic Medic?!
Reading a popular Christian magazine recently, the writer of one article described Jesus as a ‘Messianic medic’ and wrote that we as Christians are all just the casualties of war! The article made some valid points against unreasonable perfectionism in the Christian life, and the need to place sober-mindedness alongside the current popular trend of telling peope that they can be anything they want to be (witness X-Factor, Pop Idol, Fame Academy etc.). But to reduce what Christ has done and has called us to, so ridiculously so that the church just becomes a field hopsital is infuriating! The church is not a hospital. We are not patients or casualties. What is worse, the writer wrote that we are casualties ’at best’!! I’d hate to think what he thinks we are ’at worst’! Corpses, perhaps? Although I have met some Christians where you began to wonder, that is not the kind of identity that the Bible encourages us to have of ourselves!
Jesus is not a messianic medic or a divine doctor. He is a warrrior-King and an heroic redeemer, rescuing people from sin and death, making us citizens of his glorious Kingdom and enlisting us into his army which he leads on ‘from victory unto victory.’ The church is an army, a family, a temple, a vineyard, a bride, an outpost of heaven etc etc. - but it is never a hospital!! As a family and army, it cares for those within its ranks who are wearied or in need, but it also strengthens them so that they can back in the fight! I prefer the line from another writer that I read recently - the church should be somewhere ‘where people feel safe to be who they are, but are encouraged to become all that they can become.’ Yes we must avoid perfectionism and think soberly about ourselves - but most Christians could become more than they presently are if they only believed who Jesus has made them to be! And telling them that they are simply patients of a messianic medic is not going to do that!
Well, I’ve got that of my chest, then!
November 18th, 2005 @ 8:17 pm
I agree Trevor. If the Kingdom of God is to fill all the earth when Jesus returns this view implies he’s going to have his hands full tended the wounded rather than returning in triumphant majesty! That’s not my reading of scripture, and certainly not what I ‘enlisted’ for. I prefer to think of us taking our ‘wounded’ with us (i.e. encouraging those who are struggling onward to victory) and restoring them on the march.
December 14th, 2005 @ 10:57 pm
Surely, as mere mortals we ‘naturally’ avoid perfectionism. If we managed to achieve perfection and never ever sinned, wouldnt we be next to godliness? I know I regularly slip up in what I say and how I think. But I take stock in knowing my actions are a lot better. Which then made me think that it was better to sin in thought than than in action. No! Sin is sin regardless of what area it is in, so hence here I am. Mr imperfect and more than happy to keep on trying to reach such an impossible goal, all the while seeing ‘friends’ for ever falling into sin.
Excellent blog page by the way, lets see some more interesting theologian thoughts! Well x factor and I’m a celeb has finished just about, what else is there to watch?