What do Jesus and Osama Bin Laden have in common?

         What if Christ isn’t who you think he is?  By that I mean, what if you have an incorrect understanding of his personality, characteristics, or physical looks?  And what if the Gospel is more glorious than you thought it was yesterday?  I pose the question at you but I think I’m asking myself these questions.  It’s easier for me to take them and not feel so offended if I ask them to you.  I have these false realities and constructions about who God really is and sometimes I put too much stock in having a right theology about him and really miss the boat.  God is not an idea or fact, but a being—a person—so other than me that I too often envision a comfortable God.  But what if Jesus wasn’t real good looking, didn’t speak fluently or very well at all, wasn’t a republican.  And what if he didn’t believe in the American dream?

            As I write this I unfortunately notice that I’m using the past tense for who Jesus was instead of talking about who Jesus is.  I’m so thankful for the Bible and God’s revelation; not only through Scripture but also through natural revelation in life.  But I long and desire for Jesus to be more real than just letters, words, and pages.  I have a holy unrest.  A reminder that this is not home, that there is something greater, a greater reality than what I experience here on earth.

            I guess where I’m going with this is that what I think I know and learn on earth is probably really misconstrued.  Jesus probably isn’t who I think he is.  I bet Jesus wasn’t great looking.  In fact Isaiah 53 states he isn’t.  I’ve always had this fear that when I get to Heaven, or see Jesus for the first time, I’m going to be disappointed by how he looks.  I was reading a book titled “Blue Like Jazz,” by Donald Miller and he mused that Jesus probably looked more like Osama Bin Laden than our stereotypical arrogant American impressions of Jesus.  You (by you I mean I, it’s just easier for me to take this way) probably think he has long flowing hair that’s not too long but grown out just enough to give him “the look;” with a perfect beard that’s thicker than a 5 o’clock shadow but not wiry and greasy; and strong masculine features accentuated by a bronze skin tone.  I’d venture to guess you think his voice was warm and smooth, like a storyteller’s voice that calms your worries away.  You envision him in a white robe that makes him stand out amongst the crowd of sinners surrounding him.  Like God, as the director of this movie that is life, made his son stand out amongst the gray dreary backdrop of earth and its inhabitants.  You know what I’m talking about; how in movies the person of interest in any given scene always has the attention-grabbing look.

            Jesus probably didn’t look like that distinct character your eye is immediately drawn to.  I wonder if Jesus had a big nose.  That might be stereotyping of Jews, but honestly, I’m curious if Jesus did.  Maybe his beard and hair were longer and grosser than I’d hope.  I think that he probably was fairly strong because he was a carpenter but I don’t know if he was “cut” by today’s standards.  Being from the Middle East I guess he might be more of a dark skin tone than tan.  Have you ever thought about Jesus looking like Osama Bin Laden?  It’s almost an insulting proposition at first.  But then it’s comforting because it takes the control out of your hands, makes you think about how prideful you are about your group or culture and how your projected ideas about what someone should look like are wrong.  Did you know that Jesus didn’t speak English?  Granted, I’m sure he could, but I automatically think that he spoke English.  I just assume that’s the case because that’s what I speak.  But God is so other than me, and I bet Jesus, when on earth, was very other than what I project him to be.

            And what if Jesus wasn’t a great orator or his personality is really different than what we think?  I don’t know if he was a good speaker or not, he sure spoke publicly a lot.  Imagine if the crowds he spoke to were enamored by him because of his message but not because of his rhetoric.  They were curious because the guy exuded love.  I think he was probably the guy who, if placed in a high school, was hated by the jocks, cheerleaders, and the rest of the popular crowd because he was the leader of the outcasts.  The guy who wasn’t very good looking but had more respect than anyone else.  Pharisees, Sadducees, and teachers of the law all disliked Jesus because he was a threat to their security.  They had preconceived ideas about what the messiah would be and he shattered that expectation.  He was very other to them.  Jesus didn’t fit their mold for the anticipated Christ.  The Pharisees and Sadducees remind me of me because I was part of that crowd in high school.  We all constructed false realities in order to put out the illusion that we have control of our lives and are threatened by someone who doesn’t do that, someone like Jesus.

            But, (I’m blatantly stealing this line from Donald Miller) I bet Jesus would like me.  That's so cool.  I hope someday I’m taken back by his lack of good looks, his strange personality, and his unexpected characteristics.  I think right theology is so important because it gives us a good picture of who God is.  The best depiction of this idea is thinking about theology as a picture of someone.  We love the picture, but not because of the picture.  We love it because it correctly portrays who that person is.  Theology isn’t what we love, we love God.  But theology, just like the picture, gives us a clear view of who he is.  So when Paul writes that Jesus is the visible image of the invisible God he’s referring to God’s character.  That’s what matters.  Jesus probably wasn’t very good looking and it really doesn’t matter.  Jesus oozed love from every fiber of his being and someday I’m going to get to experience in full that character.  Jesus and I will laugh together, cry, embrace, and just be.  He’ll explain everything and I’ll feel and know completion.  I bet Jesus is awesome to hang with and he’ll appreciate my jokes and I’ll just feel love.  That warm feeling of being completely known yet comfortable and loved.

            I don’t think Jesus is a big fan of the dehumanizing that you and I practice everyday.  We think that Jesus is on our side be it in politics, preferences, ideologies, and understanding.  Often we forget that the other side is human.  We think that those Democrats are always wrong.  Or those Catholics got it all wrong.  And we say that group that wears the odd clothes needs to clean up their act.  This is how you think; it’s how I think.  I’m reminded of Abraham Lincoln, who during the Civil War stated, “I desire not that God is on my side, but that I am on God’s side.”  I think I needed reminding that Jesus was human, that he probably wasn’t or isn’t the person I imagine.  This helps me love Jesus, it helps me love other people.  Sound familiar? Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind…. love your neighbor as yourself.

Thanks for listening friends,

He must become greater I must become less. –John 3:30

Early Education Experience

        I think a lot of people have significant experiences that form their education in high school and college.  These are places where lots of learning takes place and there are new challenges and experiences to be had in these places of learning.  But I significantly remember an educational experience that shaped me in the fifth grade.  I had a teacher named Mr. Craig.  He was my homeroom teacher and I believe I also had him for language arts and history.  I really enjoyed him, he was a great guy. and maintained a healthy tension of sternness while being fun and interesting.  I don't recall what the situation was; nor do I remember what called for him saying it.  Believe it or not I don't remember what he said verbatim.  It could have been early on in the year or after we turned in an assignment, but one day he said something to the effect of, "This isn't elementary school anymore (that's funny because it was only middle school), once you're in high school teachers won't let you slack off, and I'm not going to let you slack off here, get your assignments done."
        I wasn't a standout student in elementary school.  It's elementary school so there's a limit to how 'into it' a kid can actually be.  But I know i didn't every worry about the little homework I got.  If i got it done, sweet, but if I didn't then it wasn't a huge deal.  But for whatever reason, what Mr. Craig said that day hit home with me.  I made sure I paid attention and got my assignments done and turned in on time.  This seems so trivial but I think it's important because it set the tone for the rest of my middle school and high school education.
        You bet your bottom dollar I got those assignments done for Mr. Craig on time and for the rest of my teachers for that matter.  Doing homework became habit and I began to see the fruits of my labor.  I wasn't a perfect student, but I noticed that I was getting good grades while some of my friends were just skating by.  I'm grateful that Mr. Craig cared enough to be honest and real and start a habit in me that helped me all throughout my school even now into college.  I make sure (with a few exceptions) that I get my homework done.

Paulo Freire's "The Banking Concept of Education"

     Friere defines narration sickness as a poor concept and practice of conveying information from teachers to students.  The problem he sites is that teachers take an authoritative stance as ones who possess all the knowledge and the students or subjects are empty containers needing to be filled.  Friere attempts to expose the problem in this system which is an assumption that knowledge and reality are static or motionless; when in fact it is moving, growing, changing, and therefore can be taught by the student and learned by the teacher.


     In high school I was lucky enough to get good teachers for the most part.  I had a few bad apples, but could get along with most and really enjoyed a few of my teachers.  My senior year I had the privilege of learning under a fantastic AP Biology teacher named Jeff Lukens.  He used the banking concept of education and was more effective than almost all other teachers I had in high school.  There are a few staples of the banking concept of education that were practiced in the class, but not all of these main concepts were used.  "The teacher knows everything and the students know nothing."  This was the case.  "The teacher chooses the program content, and the students adapt to it."  Also, "the teacher chooses and enforces his choice, the students comply."  These three were practiced in class.
     I think these methods were effective and beneficial in this particular class.  First, practice of biology is difficult and tedious as the levels progress in schooling.  For this reason, I and other students had to approach the class with the understanding that we know nothing.  There are certain things that we may have had general ideas on, but we didn't actually understand much.  Also, Mr. Lukens had to choose the subject material for us because we would have had no clue where to start.  He lead us well.  He taught us information that was pertinent as well as a gateway to being able to understand more.  But he was responsible for the subject matter nonetheless; we would have had no clue where or what to begin learning.  Although Mr. Lukens used the banking concept of education he never lorded his position over us as students.  He practiced this concept of education out of necessity according to the subject material and that was wise.


     One of my other favorite teachers in high school was my AP English teacher my junior year.  Gina Benz was the teacher (an alumni of USF) and she used the problem-posing education method.  She was the first teacher that allowed me to experience the problem posing education method and I am forever grateful.  I am appreciate because she taught us how to think instead of teaching us what to think.  This method worked out especially well in an AP class because I was around other students who wanted to engage and be engaged by their peers.  Mrs. Benz applied the practices of encouraging dialogue and open discussion.  She allowed the process of everyone speaking, teaching, and learning, to take it's course.  Those speaking were not superior to those listening.  The goal of discussion was truth and the means to that end was freedom to think and process ideas.
     As was the case with Mr. Lukens class, this style of educating was possible and necessary due to the specific class.  Mrs. Benz wanted to empower us to engage our culture and think about the world around us.  So by eliminating the authoritative position and subordinate rank of the student Mrs. Benz she opened the door to free thought and speech from all sides.  The class often split down the middle on issues in discussion but we were able to think through these ideas for ourselves.  Our teacher never took sides or called anyone wrong.  Instead she acted as the guiding rudder to let all sides be heard and allowed the class to come to a conclusion on our own.  She gladly acknowledged that she learned from us as well as us learning from her and others.  Overall, Mrs. Benz used the problem-posing education method well because it was indicative to the goal of the class and she eliminated the barriers between her and students so that we were able to learn how to think which equipped us for multiple other areas of study.


      Neil Postman would undoubtedly be an advocate for the problem-posing method of discussion within education.  This practice was surely a trademark of the Athenians.  I enjoy this style of class and have a few periods that utilize Friere's preferred method of education.  The classes that utilize the problem-posing method are my favorites.  Sometimes I wish other classes would use it but these classes are also classes focused on the memorization and understanding of facts; and not so much discussion material is involved.

Civil Rights Movement

Passive Resistance is a civil act of disobedience aimed at creating social change or reformation.  It is not violent and aims to cause disruption.  This act of disobedience usually condemns violence in hopes to incite disruption without getting someone hurt.  Martin Luther King is kind of the face of this in America.  We all think of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960's.  Gandhi also practiced and advocated passive resistance against Britain in the first half of the 20th century.

This photo is a good picture of passive resistance.  It almost looks as is this is another day on the job for the officers.  It seems pretty cold, they're just dragging another human along.  I would have a hard time not doing anything in retaliation if I were the man being dragged.  Unfortunately I couldn't find any background information on this photo.

This photo is disgusting.  I'm amazed that people were able to take this kind of punishment.  It also makes me think about the simply rude acts of those against equality.  If these people would protest civilly, one would think that the opposition would try to reason civilly.  instead the oppressors just resorted to violence, this almost seems backwards.  Unfortunately I couldn't find anything on the context or background of this photo.

I think there is still discrimination today in many forms.  There is racial discrimination, sexism, discrimination against other cultures, and even reverse discrimination.  Many woman make a significantly less amount of money doing the same job.  There are still white supremacists out there.  I think that as we deal with different forms of discrimination we must be careful not to fall into reverse discrimination.  For example, requiring companies to interview X amount of minorities, or giving more scholarship money to minority groups.  In our attempt to right the wrongs of the past we cannot let the pendulum swing too far one way.  We must reconsider our actions of former days and not recommit those errors; while simultaneously making sure we don't fall into those mishaps again; this time under the guise of correcting the past.

Abandon "Self Help," Retain Relationships

Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: "Do not handle!  Do not taste!  Do not touch!"?  

These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings.  

Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, 

their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

COLOSSIANS 2:20-23

This summer I read Donald Miller's, "Blue Like Jazz," and "A Million Miles in a Thousand Years."  I just finished "The Shack," by William Young, which I enjoyed as much as Miller's two most popular books.   Miller has quickly become one of my favorite authors.  I'm so appreciative for his honesty in his books, it makes him relatable.  Young's bestseller was so fresh and relational as well.

I'm a theology major at a private liberal arts university right now.  I love it.  The cultivated mind is a force to be reckoned with especially in a culture that is so superficial.  A quality liberal arts education will grant you the ability to cultivate your mind, to learn how to learn as opposed to teaching you how to think.  I often learn and grow through systematizing any given topic or area of life.  I break it down to understand what's actually going on.  This skill is so overlooked in a our society that is so shallow, concerned with the external.  But someone who knows how to learn can teach himself anything, can find answers, can know truth and act accordingly.  The act of learning and understanding truth is one of the most difficult things to do though. Life is messy and confusing.

So at this point you're probably tired of reading my blog.  I've given you a scripture, mentioned some of my favorite books, and told you that I'm a theology major interested in truth.  Wish me luck tying it all together.  But after all, maybe this is more for myself than it is you the reader and I just don't recognize that.

How many times have we heard in church, or from other Christians, what Paul calls "basic principles" listed off as things we should not do?  Don't drink alcohol, don't hang out with that group of people, go to school, get a job, you'll understand and thank me when you're older.  But those are just too simple, and those rules would make life too easy while simultaneously making life exponentially more difficult.  Paul finishes that passage by stating that these "basic principles.... lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence."  Fact.  I've heard all the rules in the book, whether directly or indirectly given to me, and none of the rules have changed me.  We live in a culture that is very systematic and organized and I find that to be detrimental sometimes.  Because we (myself as the chief of this) all-too-easily think we can systematize life, plug in the magic formula, figure everything out.  I've started reading another of Miller's books, titled, "Searching for God Knows What."  He already has me laughing and I'm only one chapter in.  I get so sick of this logical and routine life.  Miller makes me laugh because of his approach to life in that he admits when he tries to reason his way through life and the consequences are usually not as expected.  Miller makes me cry because he quickly gives up on his reasoning abilities and he is freed from the "basic principles" of this world.  

Isn't that what Christ wants?  Christ set us free for freedoms sake!  We don't have a magic formula to always do the right thing, be in the right place, or understand the happenings of this life; but we do have relationships.  God wants us to be in relationship with him because he is the only thing that can change us, to move us from our sin and wrongdoing.  I'll concede that is a frustrating idea.  Trust me, these past two weeks I have been struggling and drained from not being able to do the right thing and not understanding all things, I want the answers and I want them now so I can be good!  But that's too simple, and too hard, if I understood all the right moves I'd have to make to do everything right, I would be overwhelmed by the fact that I'm not capable of meeting those standards.  Thank God for relationship that transforms, not rules that have no power to create true heart change.  This scripture reminds me of that truth, I all too often get caught up in my studies and always seeking to know right from wrong, books I'm reading refresh me to see that lifestyle of relationships lived out practically.  Sorry you had to wait until the second to last sentence for me to tie those together, but then again perhaps I'm not sorry because maybe this is for me and not you.