Jesus thoughts and Psalm 18

A.W. Tozer, a great theologian, writes, "What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us... Worship is pure or base as the worshiper entertains high or low thoughts of God."

I am struggling with this quote lately. What do I think about when I think about the Lord? About Jesus?

Sometimes I think that we all think about God like this (and, no kidding, this is the FIRST image on google image results when I typed in 'jesus'):

Is this really who Jesus, Creator of the Universe, the Image of the Invisible God, really, actually is? Is he some white dude with chick-hair who has a little lamb in his hands? The sun is falling softly around him in romantic hues. He has clean hands that look like they've never touched a tool in his life. And for all the light around him, he's pretty pasty. Not a lot of sun exposure.

Really?

I am struggling, y'all, because I think that I sometimes approach Jesus like he's the white guy who is very safe. My Christianity isn't very edgy most of the time because I think I am serving a guy who looks like the above. Not very inspiring. Honestly, I'd pick on the dude.

How about this one above? It was the third image on google images. An equally wussy dude. He plays with butterflies and hangs out with kiddies, for goodness' sake! What a nerd! He'd probably be that weird guy that was in his thirties and still watched disney movies and played world of warcraft or collected pokemon cards and had the neighborhood kids in for lemonade.

THIS ONE IS MY FAVORITE. (Sorry for the 'lifes' word. I'm an english major--that bugs me...) I'll call this guy "Buddy Jesus." He's your friend, your homeboy. He'd throw back a few beers with ya while you checked out chicks and talked about Will Ferrell and the latest episode of the Office and farted. He's not very inspiring, but he's there for you like any bro should be. He'll be there to talk about your plans for wealth and prosperity. He isn't dangerous, and he never is angry. He just wants to be your friend. Maybe this is Joel Osteen's Jesus. (Okay, low blow there... Sorry guys... :)

Here's a Jesus who makes all things fresh and new. It's just for laughs...:

Then there is this one, a new idea of Jesus from the not-so-hit movie Hamlet 2.

Enough said... I don't think I'm even going to dignify this with a comment. Suffice it to say that:

THIS IS NOT MY JESUS!

I have really been trying to challenge myself to rethink 'Jesus-ness.' To use a spiffy theological word, I am working out my christology. I think that I see Jesus as a safe little pasty white dude that hangs out with kids.

Y'all, that just isn't cutting it for me! I am reading through Francis Chan's Crazy Love, and he's blowing me away by some very simply truths about who God is. And you know what? He isn't anything like the above depictions.

Maybe it is just the guy in me, but I can't get on board with a God who is safe and sweet and a little queerish. I've lately been praying that I would experience an edgy Christianity--one that is challenging and a great adventure. One that amazes and changes you and makes you stand in awe.

I am camping out in Psalm 18. Thank you, Jesus, for this picture of Yourself! This is one of the most remarkable images of a DANGEROUS, UNSAFE, ADVENTROUS, INSPIRING God I've come across. I think that this gets a little closer to an image of the "Real" Jesus.

Let me set it up: David is praying for rescue. He is fleeing his enemies. He is in danger. He calls to God, and God shows up in a mighty, awesome way. Take a look. I'll start in verse 4:

4 The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of destruction assailed me; 5 the cords of Sheol [Hell] entangled me; the snares of death confronted me.

6 In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice,and my cry to him reached his ears.

7 Then the earth reeled and rocked; the foundations also of the mountains trembled and quaked, because he was angry. 8 Smoke went up from his nostrils, and devouring fire from his mouth; glowing coals flamed forth from him.

9 He bowed the heavens and came down; thick darkness was under his feet. 10 He rode on a cherub and flew; he came swiftly on the wings of the wind. 11 He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him, thick clouds dark with water. 12 Out of the brightness before him hailstones and coals of fire broke through his clouds.

13 The Lord also thundered in the heavens, and the Most High uttered his voice, hailstones and coals of fire. 14 And he sent out his arrows and scattered them; he flashed forth lightnings and routed them. 15 Then the channels of the sea were seen, and the foundations of the world were laid bare at your rebuke, O Lord, at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.

16 He sent from on high, he took me; he drew me out of many waters. 17 He rescued me from my strong enemy and from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me. 18 They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the Lord was my support. 19 He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me.

Wow. That blows me away. What a picture of God in his glory! In his might! He thunders! Smoke is in his nostrils! He loves me and he pursues me to rescue me! What a picture! Holiness, majesty--I think of these words.

On my Christology: It is so much easier for me to stand in awe before a Savior who is the mighty rescuer of those in need, the subduer of the whole universe. Nothing can stand before him, and nothing can compare to who he is. I think that if we all were able to get just a half-second glimpse of the person of Jesus, our world would be so shaken that we would NEVER be the same again. Our lives would become a radiant reflection of his glory just like Moses' face when he saw God on Mt. Sinai. I am praying that God would show me himself in this sort of way. I don't ever want to be comfortable again with an inadequate idea of who my savior and Lord is.

Okay, that's all I have. But this is fun. here are a few more images of who Jesus is NOT. Just for laughs:

The Jesus who is there just to fix you when you're broke or hurt:

I don't even know what to say about this one. Dixie meets redneck meets NRA, card-carrying Jesus. This is definitely not Him:

Jesus for video-gamers:


Jesus as a bumper sticker:

And finally:

(Okay, so that's not Jesus. It's johnny damon. But it looks like him.)