Jimmy Carter's Jesus

I share little political ground with former President Jimmy Carter. He ran as a Democrat, and embodied the ideals of this party in his presidency. Unfortunately, many of the key "planks" in that party's platform are anti-God and unscriptural. Abortion on demand, radical feminism, and homosexual rights are just a few of the problems that I have with Mr. Carter's politics. However, as a Bible believer I always wondered how Mr. Carter (a Southern Baptist) could act and support the programs and policies he did. Didn't he see the contradiction between Christ and his politics that I did?

Significantly, Carter has written a new book, Sources of Strength, that sheds light on his theology and thinking. The book is a compilation of 52 of the 1,600 Sunday school lessons that the former president has taught over the past twenty years at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Georgia. In an interview Mr. Carter gave the Dallas Morning News about his new book (12/6/97) we learn how he has avoided any internal contradictions between biblical mandates and his political activities. Mr. Carter quickly said that Southern Baptist leaders were like the Pharisees in that they try "to define who can and who cannot be considered an acceptable person in the eyes of God." He also added that attempts to teach Mormons the truth about Jesus (that He is the divine Son of God, not a created angel being--MR) is "the worst thing that we can do." He continues "Among the worst things we can do as believers in Christ, is to spend our time condemning others who profess faith in Christ, and try to have a narrow definition of who is and who is not an acceptable believer and a child of God." He finishes the interview by pushing for women preachers and pastors, particularly since his daughter Amy, offended by the Bible's teaching on this matter, is not attending church any more.

Enlightening, isn't it? We see now that Mr. Carter has created a new Jesus, far and away different from the Jesus of scripture. This Jesus is basically a "do-gooder" who helps people with immediate, temporal, physical needs. Mr. Carter's Christ would never condemn anyone for anything. Everyone is acceptable to this Jesus. True faith in the real identity of Jesus Christ is something that this Jesus would never press for or hope for. Just believe anything you want about Mr. Carter's Jesus and that will be fine with him, because he would never want to offend you! Further, if we need to change the commandments of God to suit ourselves (or our children who are unhappy with God's ways) then Mr. Carter's Jesus doesn't mind at all. Just love everyone, be peaceful, work toward justice and all is well -- homosexuality or other sins don't matter to this Jesus! "Do what you want, and play nice" sums up Carter's Christ very well.

Interestingly, we cannot seem to find this Jesus in Matthew, Mark, Luke or John. Jesus made every effort to define who was and was not acceptable to God: "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me'" (John 14:6). Jesus was very narrow in His definition of who is and who is not a child of God: "if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins" (John 8:24). Actually, the Jesus of scripture said very little about social justice issues, instead preaching a Gospel of repentance (Matthew 4:17). Even as He exemplified compassion, Jesus took sin very seriously, telling individuals to stop it (John 8:11). Jesus gave rigid instructions about personal holiness and submitting to God in every relationship of life (see Matthew 5-7; 19:1ff). Jesus actually went so far as to excoriate those who claimed to follow God but did not (see Matthew 23). As unbelievable as Mr. Carter would certainly find it, Jesus was angered by sin (Mark 3:5) and even drove sinners forcibly from the Temple when they mocked and misused it (see John 2:15).

Carter's Christ is very comforting. He does not change us, or demand that we remodel our character to become godly. He allows us to play at religion while remaining much the same, and better yet, even allows us to pretend that sin is not sinful. On we can go with this little game, piously looking down at any other view of Jesus as being "intolerant" and "insensitive."

The Bible's Jesus is very disturbing. He is demanding, rigorous, and unafraid to shock us back to eternal realities. The Jesus of scripture dies a horrible death for something He calls "sin." His sermons are laced with terms like "disciple," "deny self" and "repent." Matthew, Mark, Luke and John show us a Jesus who is notoriously intolerant of hypocrisy and sin. Worst of all, He dares to tell us that real love for God is lived out by exacting obedience (John 14:15).

Most people love Carter's Christ. As Mr. Carter found, this Jesus lets them do just what they want, whether in politics, relationships, or any other sphere of life. They fall at his feet and serve this fraudulent Jesus with all the might their self-centered souls can muster, for this Jesus panders to their selfishness. Few take a different approach. They read their Bible and meet Jesus there. They resist the urge to recreate God in their own image. They determine to serve the real Jesus, instead of a counterfeit Christ. What will you do with Jesus? "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it" (Matthew 7:13-14).