Dangerous Jesus

1. Dangerous Jesus: Reclaiming the Revolutionary Christ

Somewhere along the way we traded following Jesus for creating a tame, moldable, silent Jesus who doesn’t mind following us.

Culture's caricature. Culture often paints a distorted picture of Jesus, watering down the gospel and sugarcoating Christ. This domesticated version is a caricature, not the real revolutionary who challenged systems, shifted culture, and inaugurated a new paradigm for living. The author's personal story highlights this contrast, moving from seeking security in a gun to finding true invincibility in Jesus, who puts "danger in danger."

Jesus, the good threat. The real Jesus is a threat to injustice, oppressors, and the kingdom of darkness. His life embodied goodness, truth, and beauty in a world that opposed them, making His existence an act of rebellion. He invaded the world with love, hope, and freedom, choosing the marginalized (Nazareth, uneducated disciples, the needy) and redefining greatness as humility and service.

Dangerous impostors vs. the real Jesus. The book argues that the "Christianity of the Land" often presents a domesticated Jesus, devoid of Christ's true nature. This distorted view is a "boldest of all frauds," leading people away from faith. The only thing more dangerous than getting Jesus right is getting Jesus wrong, as the real Jesus demands allegiance and transforms everything He touches.

2. Dangerous Faith: Embracing Risk and Surrender

There is no way to know that God is better than life while simultaneously holding on to life like it is better than God.

Faith requires risk. True faith is cultivated through risk, not comfort. The author's story of wrestling with a mission trip to West Africa illustrates this, where the potential danger forced a confrontation with the reality of his faith. Cowardice elevates self, while courage trusts God, even when circumstances are terrifying.

Surrender is lifeblood. Surrender to God's will is the core of a dangerous Christian's life. Like Jesus praying in Gethsemane, prioritizing God's perfect will over our limited, often wrong will is essential. Eternity proves that trusting God is never disappointing; His will is always superior and can be trusted.

Comfort breeds weakness. America's "air-conditioned" faith, where comfort is prioritized, makes it a hard place to be a Christian. It's easy to talk about faith without walking it because talking costs nothing, while true Christian currency is sacrifice. Like alligators in a zoo becoming fat and ineffective, comfort can undo the full potential of our faith, making us weak and ineffectual against evil.

3. Dangerous Gospel: Redeeming Souls and Society

Too often we have not been preaching the whole gospel but only pieces of it. The gospel within Scripture is a full gospel.

Gospel is God-big. The gospel is not just "soul insurance" for heaven while ignoring earthly realities. It's the good news of the Kingdom of God invading this world, bringing restoration to relationships with God, others, and the universe. It's as big as what God is doing cosmically, not truncated to individual salvation alone.

Segregated gospel's harm. A "spiritually segregated, half-baked gospel" has historically allowed evil to coexist with religion, as seen in the defense of slavery by some Christians. This truncated gospel focuses solely on soul salvation, ignoring the social dimensions and allowing prejudice and apathy towards neighbors to persist. It becomes a "Christianity devoid of Christ."

Full gospel, full life. The gospel of the Kingdom calls for obedience, not just agreement. It's not just about our justification but also our visible efforts in the world. This includes caring for the marginalized, pursuing justice, and living out our faith in our workplaces and communities. Our actions demonstrate our faith and confirm our right standing with God.

4. Dangerous Citizenship: Kingdom First, Nation Second

It is a perverted love for the land that leads us to see America as the primary focus of heaven.

Nationalism vs. Patriotism. Nationalism elevates pride in one's country to a religion, often leading to blind arrogance and marginalization of "othered" groups. Christian nationalism specifically desires a society where culturally conservative white citizens dominate power, making the success of the U.S. seem central to God's plan, even at the expense of others.

Patriot Jesus caricature. This idolatry creates a "Patriot Jesus," a figure dependent on political power rather than the Spirit, used as a mascot for partisan agendas. This leads to prioritizing political wins over moral witness and justifying inexcusable behavior in leaders, believing success atones for sin.

Dual citizenship. True Christian citizenship means prioritizing God's Kingdom above any earthly nation. Our primary allegiance is to heaven, and this heavenly perspective should challenge and clarify our allegiance to our country. We are called to bring heaven down by reflecting Kingdom ethics in society, advocating for justice, and loving our neighbors regardless of their nationality or political stance.

5. Dangerous Justice: God's Heart for the Vulnerable

If the God we serve does not have an overwhelming interest in and commitment to the immigrant, the orphan, the widow, and the needy, we are not serving the God of the Bible.

Justice is God's nature. Understanding "Who is God?" is foundational to understanding justice. The Bible reveals God as uniquely attentive to the marginalized – the immigrant, orphan, widow, and needy. Justice is simply doing what God thinks is right, and it is a foundation of His throne.

Our calling: Act justly. Micah 6:8 calls us to "act justly, to love faithfulness, and to walk humbly with your God," meaning we are to be with one another the way God is with us. This requires actively loving those God loves, advocating for the vulnerable, and being fathers to the fatherless, not just debating the issues.

Justice and mercy intertwined. Justice and mercy are inseparable in Scripture. Mercy is not optional charity but an obligation to extend compassion, even when not deserved, reflecting God's just mercy towards us in Christ. Ignoring the suffering of others, especially the marginalized, is a failure of justice and a rejection of Jesus Himself, who identifies with "the least of these."

6. Dangerous Love: Sacrificing for Neighbors and Enemies

We are never more in love with God than when we are loving the people He created.

Love is the law of laws. Jesus' greatest commandment is to love God with everything and love our neighbor as ourselves. These two are inseparable; loving God is demonstrated through loving others. This "double love" is the true indicator of faith, not just private devotion or theological knowledge.

Love requires sacrifice. Christian love is not just affection but a willingness to bear burdens, lighten suffering, and "lay down our lives for our friends." This sacrificial love is the essence of following Christ and is more impressive than giftedness or popularity. It means prioritizing others' well-being over our own comfort or gain.

Love your enemies. Jesus commands us to love our enemies, not excuse their actions, but posture ourselves for reconciliation, pray for them, and help them when possible. This is hard but rewarding. It means seeing them as complex people, not just their wrong actions, and responding to hate with love, which is the only path to redemption.

7. Dangerous Friendships: Built on Vulnerability and Koinonia

You can be impressive, or you can be known. But you can’t be both.

Loneliness pandemic. Despite technology, people suffer from deep loneliness and lack of meaningful relationships. Social media offers shallow connections, but true community requires more. The church is designed by God to be the answer to this, offering deep-rooted fellowship (koinonia).

Friendship is divine. God exists in relational unity (Trinity), and humans, made in His image, are created for friendship. Jesus called His disciples friends and laid down His life for them. Biblical friendship (koinonia) is resilient, covenantal, and safe, going deeper than mutual affection to mutual bond and burden-sharing.

Intimacy through transparency. True Christian community requires transparency and vulnerability ("soul nakedness"). Confessing sins and weaknesses to trusted believers allows healing and strengthens faith. This intimacy is crucial for growth and protection from sin, which thrives in isolation. It means choosing to be known over being impressive.

8. Dangerous Blessings: Found in God's Presence, Not Comfort

When our circumstances have engineered our lives in such a way that we have been brought to the feet of Jesus to know Him not only as the one who heals but also as the one who holds, then we are blessed.

Blessings beyond winning. The "gospel of winning" equates God's blessing with success and comfort, leading to discouragement when tragedy strikes. However, true blessing is found in God's presence, especially in suffering. The absence of worldly wins is often a prime occasion for experiencing God's nearness and learning wisdom.

Tragedy as leverage. God is not indifferent to suffering; He entered into it. Tragedy is not a spiritual disadvantage but can be a spiritual accelerant, bringing us closer to God and producing grace, mercy, and understanding for others. Our greatest losses can become leverage for eternal gain.

Eternal weight of glory. Our suffering is "light and momentary" compared to the "eternal weight of glory" that awaits us. This future glory is so profound it will redeem all we have lost. The blessed life is finding peace in uncertainty, knowing God never changes and is responsible for our destiny, which is ultimately blessing and eternal joy in His presence.

9. Dangerous Joy: Savoring God in All of Life

To be unimpressed with God is to be ignorant of who He is.

God is the source of joy. Christianity is not a killjoy religion; God is the source of all true pleasure and happiness. He created our capacity for joy and filled the world with good things to be enjoyed with gratitude. Being unimpressed with God means being ignorant of His glory, which is displayed in both spiritual disciplines and the created world.

Enjoying God's gifts. Following Jesus doesn't mean giving up all earthly pleasures. While self-denial has a place, we are called to enjoy the good things God created, receiving them with thanksgiving. These gifts, from food and art to relationships and nature, are meant to nourish our faith and increase our love for God.

Joy as strength. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit and our strength. It allows us to face darkness and become a threat to evil. Enjoying life, within godly boundaries, is not selfish but a way to honor God and protect ourselves from the enemy's attempts to rob us of pleasure and lead us to sin. Our ultimate joy is in God and the coming redeemed earth.

10. Dangerous Speech: Building Up with Words of Life

Death and life are in the power of the tongue.

Words are power. Language is a powerful tool, capable of building up or tearing down. God chose words as His primary means of revelation, and His Word holds all things together. Our words, like God's, have the potential for immense impact, for better or worse.

Beyond avoiding curse words. Christian speech is not primarily about avoiding foul language but about how we use our words. Any word can be profane if used carelessly or to tear down. True Christian speech builds up, gives grace, and reflects the truthful reputation of Jesus.

Speaking life into others. God loves to speak through people to strengthen faith. Our words can heal, comfort, celebrate, and encourage. We are called to use our speech to minister to others, reminding them of Christ's love, defending them, and helping them persevere in faith. Our words are a weapon for good in the Kingdom.

11. Dangerous Spirit: Empowering God's Impossible Work

Is anyone looking for the unplanned, the unscheduled, the uncontrolled work of the Spirit of God?

Ministry requires power. Ministry, whether in West Africa or the West, requires the power of the Holy Spirit, not just human effort or well-planned programs. Without the Spirit, our witness is ineffective against the works of the devil, which include not just sensational occult activity but also the "works of the flesh" like anger, jealousy, and selfish ambition.

Spirit's work: Life and movement. The Holy Spirit (Ruakh - wind, breath) is the invisible, powerful presence of God who brings life, order, and vitality. He empowered Jesus' ministry, brought the church into existence, and dwells in believers today. His power is available to us for lion-ripping, creation-taming, gospel-resurrection-bringing work.

Practicing Pentecost. The Spirit-filled life is characterized by prayer, sacrifice, and devotion to teaching. We must actively pursue being filled with the Spirit by committing to prayer, being willing to sacrifice our resources for others, and hungering for God's Word. The Spirit's power is our promise, enabling us to be dangerous witnesses for Christ.

Last updated: May 3, 2025