Finding common ground in Jesus

In a small bubble like EMU, one quickly picks up on popular issues and touchy subjects. Even with all the communication here, EMU is at times quick to point the finger. Sure, it would readily be politically correct for me to talk about being "open-minded" or to tell people that I religiously attend war protests in opposition to President Bush and his imperialistic regime. How about something with a more conservative slant? We all know those "fundamentalist, Christian" types who pound on the Bible and use it to support their stance. How intelligent is someone who uses the Bible as a strict basis for belief, anyways?

I don't want to stir up trouble here. A muddled mixture of liberal versus conservative debate is the last thing we need. With all the buzzwords and topics that circulate, however, I feel that there is one word that doesn't get used nearly enough: Jesus.

Jesus himself was a radical from time to time. That's usually how we Mennonites like to think of him: the counter-cultural, grassroots sort of guy. Responding to this aspect of Jesus, it becomes second nature to spout off statistics about injustice, hold fists up in opposition to war, or advocate a four month stint of cross-cultural experience: the ultimate sign of righteousness.

Don't get too thrown off by this hyperbole; I'm just as against injustice as the next person. I think war is a horrible tragedy and experiencing different cultures can be invaluable. The point I stress is that Jesus doesn't want us to get bogged down in all these details while missing the very essence of his gospel. The message he preached was indeed revolutionary, starting within the hearts of those who heard and responded. All that really mattered was a relationship with him and him alone. Sure, other things were important, but they came to fruition secondarily.

With this in mind, how do we approach issues such as government or war? Moving past my gut response, I want to look at the Bible and see what Jesus has to say. As bloody as the Roman setting was, it's interesting how silent Jesus was on government. He seemed more intent on exemplifying love through relationships. In fact, he was so effective that he threatened the Jewish leaders at the time. This is exactly why Jesus was sentenced to death, as peaceful and innocent as he was.

Taking it further, I'd like to see more of this emphasis at EMU. Convincing or not, I can't accept an argument if it isn't backed by or at least compatible with scripture. Yes, biases are certain to cloud the issues at hand. If we keep going back to Jesus, however, I am certain that unity will result. Jesus is our common ground, not some nebulous advocacy for humankind.

My own relationship with Jesus has been a great source of joy and hope. Sometimes merely thinking about all that he's done and how good he is to us brings a smile to my face. Jesus loved us when we were still sinners, when we mocked him and hung him on a cross. This is the perfect model for us to follow.

Christian faith, which should be the cornerstone of any Christian college, is built on Jesus. Let's live by his example. Let's use the Bible as a means for finding truth, as a catalyst for stimulating discussion. Above all else, let's hear one word more and more on EMU's campus. Jesus. He alone is the source of truth, light, and wisdom. Without him, we are bound to fail.