Why Jesus?

One of the most asked questions we’ve received as we share the Jesus Union vision is something to the effect, ‘can I take the pledge without using Jesus’ name?’ There is no question that, for many, Jesus is now an icon of exclusion and oppression. There are many who agree with the principles but are not comfortable identifying as Jesus’ people. There is nothing in Jesus’ story itself that leads them to this conclusion. We believe that the Jesus story is the best of all available options. If this is true, starting a movement in his name is a worthy project.

The best story to live by

The central argument of this movement is that, although none of us can grasp ultimate reality, we all structure our lives and communities around a set of guiding stories. These stories have been developed collectively over time resulting in the values and category structures that provide meaning and solidarity. This is culture. Yet, cultures are not always good and not all stories result in human thriving. If you live by a story of hate and revenge, fatalism and dependency, tribalism, fascism, racism, or dogmatic and exclusionary fundamentalism, the outcomes for you and for the world are not ideal. In contrast, living according to the morals and guiding principles of the Jesus story lead to the best conclusions for humanity.

A great meta-narrative

Postmodern thinkers have proclaimed the death of the meta-narrative or all-encompassing truth story. We have moved increasingly to a ‘my truth’ world. Yet, deconstructing all truth results in a circular argument. If you deconstruct all truth, then it is also necessary to deconstruct the idea that nothing is true. The statement that nothing is true is itself a 'truth' claim. This postmodern deconstruction is an endless circle of meaninglessness. This is one of the greatest philosophical errors in human history. In the first instance, we are left with nothing to bind us or give us meaning; in the second, we are hopelessly splintered around competing personal truths. What we need is something that we can all agree upon. We need a measure of cultural consensus. In an increasingly globalized and splintered world, we need a story that binds us together. Jesus is the most likely icon that can unite us for multiple reasons:

He is widely revered both by East and West, by Christians and Muslims, and teaches an inclusive spirituality congruent with eastern religious practice.
Not only is it widely held that the Jesus story has the power of global significance, it is a story of God’s agenda for the world. A loving creator who wants to restore the project to its original design is truly a large and significant story to consider.
Jesus is a historical figure who can be studied historically and empirically. Jesus is knowable from a particular context and culture.

The narrative is a human story and a God story. It is simple enough to understand and majestic enough to give us awe.

The moral of the story resonates with our humanity

Not only is Jesus an acceptable icon of most cultures and religious convictions, his rules for living connect to human consciousness almost universally. Of course, there are always exceptions. Yet, if you were to ask any person in any village across the globe, ‘what is a good neighbor?’ and ‘what is a bad neighbor?’, you would be able to categorize the answers along the lines of a good neighbor being generous and kind, and a bad neighbor being selfish. It all comes down to considering others better than yourself, doing good to others, and being willing to sacrifice for others… or not. Jesus’ model for living has been echoed by all of the great spiritual and morally heroic leaders throughout history. We seem to know that what he said about the destructiveness of striving egos and what he embodied in terms of inclusive sacrificial love represent a sort of moral compass that most of us share.

The antidote to Nihilism

There are really only two coherent ways to understand our existential reality. One is Nihilism. If we are random material processes without design, mind, or purpose, then we must conclude that nothing really matters, there is no true way to live, and no way to succeed or fail at life. There have been attempts at a material morality, yet ‘goodness’ is neither logical nor consistent with a mindless and purposeless universe. The other coherent option is literally the opposite, one where there is a grand design, a coder or creator, and an intended outcome. Jesus’ story of total commitment and sacrifice to the will, design, and purpose of a loving creator/coder is the only coherent antidote to Nihilism. The poles of the story spectrum are coherent being either the nothingness of materialism or the ‘everything’ commitment to Jesus. It is true that we all live someplace in the middle of these extremes.

So, either nothing matters or everything matters. We can aim to be aligned in either one direction or the other. The best outcome for the world is achieved when we align ourselves with an 'everything matters' story. Our lives have meaning because we can aim towards the collective good intended by the coder. Total commitment is the logical and consistent life path of those who hold that everything matters.

The antidote to exclusionary religion

Jesus taught against excluding outsiders. He challenged hypocritical and judgmental religion. He taught that all exist in the consciousness of God and that none are outside of God’s love and purpose. His good news proclamation of forgiveness extends to rich and poor, male and female, Jew and non-Jew. His invitation to participate, promise of spiritual transformation, call to join the mission, and warning are equally offered across all human categories. There was, to Jesus, no advantage in being a Jew, male, priest, or wealthy. He included those who thought differently and chastised Jewish leaders who shut others out.

The antidote to guilt and fear

Most of us attempt to justify our selfish acts or dampen our consciences, but we cannot escape our inner conscience and guilt. We're all trying to escape the reality of our own souls. Materialists try to soothe this with Nihilism or atheism. Jesus declared God's forgiveness for all mankind. Jesus’ mission was to free us from slavery to our selfish egos. The result is neither a guilt shame merry-go-round nor the emptiness of hedonism but an abundant life of loving relationships.

Provides a clear mission and vision

The mission is to bring justice and peace to the world. The vision is a world changing revolution that is good news to the poor. Yet, Jesus’ way or method is not followed or found through power or violence. His way is a demonstration of his rule through intimate communities of spiritual formation characterized by a remarkable love. When radical generosity, loving kindness, joy, peace, and patience are modeled, they become attractive to those who live in fear in a world of striving. The models can scale, doing good can multiply, and the mission to bring hope for the world can be realized.

A source of hope

The Jesus story has an amazing and hopeful ending, and it has a promising destination. Jesus will complete the goodness that is demonstrated in our lifetimes. It is not just a utilitarian morality for now with a hopeful outcome. Jesus’ love that we can experience now is just an appetizer for the main course to come later. We look forward to a universe 2.0 that Jesus promised to his followers. Version 2.0 is a creation rid of selfishness, corruption, and death. We then have hope that extends even after our death. We hope that the story may be true, that Jesus was sent from the loving creator, and the source of all things is going to make everything right. This means we have hope that the completion of the mission will be realized and we will be rewarded with the same resurrection power that raised Jesus from the dead. Nothing can stop us from hoping, and if the Jesus story is not only the best to live by but also the true picture of the cosmos, we have an eternal hope.