Jesus the Behavioralist

"You have to have a personal relationship with God, that is how you know you are saved. And how do you know you do? Well you do everything God commands, that's how. If not, you are not where God wants you to be."

"God wants us to decide for ourselves the path we want to take. He gives us the choice. God is all about personal responsibility."

"We are not under the old Law, but we're under a more perfect law that Jesus calls us to."

"You aren't born again if you live a life of sin. It is dangerous to preach faith alone because it means people do not have any accountability and can do whatever they want with no consequence."

"Jesus died for us, but He wants us to work toward perfection and to produce works to show our worthiness."

Ever hear a Christian talk like this? I know I have. The Christian who talks like this is a person who loves to harp on works righteousness but will also jump all over you the very second you accuse them of teaching/proclaiming works righteousness. What it comes down to is looking at just what exactly Christ saved us from. And also, along with that, just what exactly the focus scripture is.

The theologian of glory acknowledges the importance (even vast importance) of the cross and Jesus' life in scripture. But that is not the sole focus. The other focus is on God's Law and His relationship with the physical nation Israel and what God still has to accomplish. This same theologian of glory will also recognize the importance, again maybe even vast importance, of Jesus' death on the cross, but they will also harp on the moral teachings and "codes" that Jesus presents throughout His life as we see them in the Gospels.

For the theologian of glory, the end result in eternity is about earning enough of God's favor to be a "ruler" in the new creation. The idea is that yeah Jesus paved the way, but now we have to continue and better the walk. For this type of theologian baptism is about what humans do in response to God. The theologian of glory sees communion as a way to remember Jesus and to show devotion in that manner. This type of person sees Jesus as someone who came and died to save us as a way to set an example and to be the perfect example for how we are to live in the here and now. The theologian of glory makes Jesus out to be a behavioralist.

The theologian of the cross sees that the central focal point of scripture from "In the beginning" to "Amen, Come Lord Jesus" (Revelation) is Jesus the Christ. That God's relationship with Israel is a picture of God and how He interacts with His people and also is a lead up to the redemptive work on the cross of Jesus. In addition to that God and Israel are fulfilled in the church today. This same theologian of the cross will recognize not only the vast importance but the utmost importance of Jesus' death and resurrection as accounted in the Gospels.

For the theologian of the cross the end result is to dwell forever with the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world in their resurrected bodies. The idea is that yeah Jesus paved the way because He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and He came to save us and not to have humanity partake in saving itself. For this type of theologian baptism is an act which God performs and bestows His promises upon the one receiving this new birth. The theologian of the cross sees Communion as partaking in the literal body and blood of Jesus Christ as He is present within the elements of the bread and wine. And yet again it is an act where God performs a miracle by coming to His own people, and not His own people trying to come to Him. This type of person sees Jesus as someone who came and died to put humanity back at right with God. The theologian of the cross, despite recognizing their wretchedness, makes Jesus out to be the King of King and Lord of Lords who came and saved the world from its pitiful sin.

So which is it? Did Jesus come because He wants us to be "good" and "nice" people? Or did Jesus come to save us from the very depths of hell and that despite our absolute wretchedness and sin we are saved because the saving work of God is an act that He performs and we receive as a gift from Him and Him alone?

Is Jesus about changing our behaviors? Is He some sort of behavioral psychologist? Or is Jesus the very conquerer over sin, death, and the devil? Does Jesus give us a choice to make the right decision and leave it up to us for our own salvation? Or does Jesus mark us as His very own through His death and resurrection in our baptisms?

I'll let you decide ;).