Was Jesus Nice?
I recently heard an ad break on the local His Radio station that infuriated me. For those who don't listen, sometimes between the music and the radio ads a faith leader like Max Lucado or Skip Heitzig will give a short sermon excerpt lasting about a minute. It's meant to get the listener curious about the topic in hopes that it will be the spark needed to get them thinking about salvation. But this particular break was nothing but Pharisaical. Basically, the speaker spoke about our current political culture and how it is divisive. He claimed that talking heads in our media engage in name calling and divisive behavior. Also, he claimed that Jesus was never divisive or called people names in order to encourage people to speak ruth or call out evil doers.
This is a topic that sets me off. It comes up from time to time when Christians discuss putting action to their words. Those opposed to the action always come back with the claim that Jesus was nice. He would never confront individuals or become angry at a situation. He was always even tempered and respectful of authority. If we are to be “real” Christians, we are to do the same. We just need to focus on our salvation and make ourselves the pure lamb that Jesus was. But none of this is true. I don't understand how you can read the same bible I do and come away with that description of Jesus.
What is generally the first response from Christians who expect action to be taken? After the initial bewilderment subsides at such a ridiculous perspective on the King of Kings, the first response typically points to the flipping of the money changer’s tables in the synagogue (Matt. 21:12-13). Here’s the problem with this response, it doesn’t work. At least not by itself. You see, the people who make the claim that Jesus was nice, aren’t Christians. They have no knowledge or understanding of the living God. They haven't come to their knees. They never even read their bible. I know. I used to be one of them. Although, that's just the innocent explanation.
There are two types of non-active churchgoers: Sheep and Goats. The sheep follow the living God who is the arbiter of the truth. They hear the calling from a good shepherd and feel comforted by his presence. The goats believe they follow the living God but have been deceived. They follow the evil one who is the father of lies. They hear the calling from a bad shepherd and feel comforted by the presence of other goats and sheep. The evil one's ministry is a bastardization of the living God's hence it gives comfort to those that are lost. If the goats are left alone to be led by a bad shepherd, they will become fenced in and guided to the slaughterhouse. This mirrored ministry leads some sheep to go astray or question their status as to which side they belong. We must seek knowledge to ensure we are sheep and not goats. That's why we must study God's word, question its truths, and seek good council.
Now, let's try to understand where they are coming from. I understand many Americans today are imprecise with their language. Maybe I am lacking in this knowledge myself. Let's first understand what the term "nice" means. When you look up the many definitions of the word "nice", you get the following descriptions. Keep these definitions handy.
Pleasing; agreeable; delightful
Amiably pleasant
Characterized by, showing, or requiring great accuracy, precision, skill, tact, care or delicacy
Refined in manners, language, etc.
Now, let's compare these descriptions to Jesus' actual words we find in the gospels. Let's just start with Matthew for simplification.
Jesus Called People Names
"Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. Brood of vipers! How can you speak of good things when you are evil? For the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart." - Matthew 12:33-34
Here, Jesus literally calls the Pharisees snakes and evil. I can't think of a better example of this type of behavior. But let's not stop there. We must make sure this wasn't a lapse of judgement on His part. Here are some other instances where He calls the Pharisees names.
. . ."Why are you testing me, hypocrites?. . ." (Matt. 22:18)
"But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!. . ." (Matt. 23:13)
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!. . ." (Matt. 23:14)
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!. . ." (Matt. 23:15)
"Woe to you, blind guides,. . ." (Matt. 23:16)
"Blind fools! . . ." (Matt. 23:17)
"Blind people! . . ." (Matt. 23:19)
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!. . ." (Matt. 23:23)
"Blind guides!. . ." (Matt. 23:24)
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!. . ." (Matt. 23:25)
"Blind Pharisee!. . ." (Matt. 23:26)
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!. . ." (Matt. 23:27)
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!. . ." (Matt. 23:29)
"Snakes! Brood of vipers! . . ." (Matt. 23:33)
Clearly, Jesus did not have a lapse of judgement. If He had, I would bring into question His authority. He knew exactly what He was doing and how we would respond to the truth. Though, He didn't only do this to the Pharisees; He engaged in name calling towards His own disciples.
"Jesus turned and told Peter, 'Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me because you're not thinking about God's concerns but human concerns.'" - Matthew 16:23
Jesus even called His disciple Peter, whom He loved, Satan. Not because He thought Peter was literally Satan, but because Peter was concerning himself with earthly matters instead of God's will. This action displays who Peter was really serving at that moment and Jesus called him out on it. See, this is what name-calling is meant to do. It is meant to get you to open your eyes to the wrong you are doing. Jesus doesn't call people names to belittle them, but to show them the way to the truth. He labeled people based on what they deserved. This is the nuance needed to understand when to be "nice" and when to be "mean". I think, at this point, I've established the precedent for name calling in Jesus' character. I can surely go on, but let's move to the next statement.
Jesus Was Divisive
"Therefore, everyone who will acknowledge me before others, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever denies me before others, I will also deny him before my Father in heaven. Don't assume that I came to bring peace on the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man's enemies will be the members of his household." - Matthew 10:32-36
Surely, this is divisive language. Jesus gives us a black and white picture of the tasks He has been charged with. We know that Jesus came to be a sacrificial lamb for the sins of the world, this act alone is divisive as it divides good from evil. Those who acknowledge their sins and claim Jesus as King are saved from eternal damnation. Those who reject the idea of sin and claim anyone else as King are condemned to death. This is really the number one theme throughout the entire bible. Since the fall, we have always been divided from our Father, but He loved us so much that He sent His only son to be ridiculed, tortured, and killed by men to provide us a way back to Him. Here are a few examples of divisive language throughout the Bible.
"Every tree that doesn't produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." (Matt. 7:19)
"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord!' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven." (Matt. 7:21)
". . . When you gather up the weeds, you might also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At harvest time I'll tell the reapers: Gather the weeds first and tie them in bundles to burn them, but store the wheat in my barn." (Matt. 13:29-30)
"So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out, separate the evil people from the righteous, and throw them into the blazing furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matt. 13:49-50)
"All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on His right and the goats on the left." (Matt. 25:32-33)
Divisiveness is not evil by itself. Divisiveness can be used for good. When you build a house for your family, you are dividing your family from the harms of the world. You keep out the evil things and store the good inside. That's exactly what God wants us to do inside our hearts. Accept the good and reject the bad. We don't divide for the sake of dividing. That's the way of the evil one. Jesus came to divide good from evil; the wheat from the chaff; goats from sheep. To separate those devoted to the evil one and reconcile the sheep to their shepherd. This is our destiny. This is the will of the Lord. And if it is the will of the Lord, it is good.
The Names Of Jesus
Here is a short list of names and descriptions of Jesus from the Bible. Tell me, do any of these fit the descriptions of nice above?
Chief Shepherd
Cornerstone
Deliverer
Good Shepherd
High Priest
Horn of Salvation
I Am
King of Kings
Lamb of God
Leader and Commander
Light of the World
Lion of Judah
Morning Star
Son of God
For those of you who need more convincing, let's take a moment to explain some of the softer names on the list.
Shepherd
A shepherd tends his flock. This seems quaint and innocent but think about what that really means. The shepherd searches high and low for shelter, food and water to care for his sheep. He must be knowledgeable of the terrain, warry of bad weather, and alert at all times to the threat of the wolf. His shepherd's crook is not just a walking cane. It's his AR-15. This is what he uses to repel the wolf. He is gentle and kind to his flock, but a warrior when his flock is threatened. The bad shepherd ignores the wolf out of fear and allows the wolf to take portions of his flock, but a good shepherd will leave the ninety-nine behind to search for the one that is missing.
Priest
A priest is a member of the clergy who is authorized to carry out the Christian ministry. The high priest is the highest-ranking member, ranking above all other priests and the only one permitted to enter the holy of holies. You don't get to this position by being agreeable. You must know who you are and what you believe. A good priest observes the tenants of the faith and expects all under him to do likewise. A bad priest turns a blind eye to the actions of his servants and indulges in the gifts of the priesthood.
Lamb
The lamb is typically known to symbolize purity and timidity. It may also be thought of a symbol of weakness, but this is not really true. Let's dive deeper. In the gospel of John, we find another altercation between Jesus and a group of Jewish people who had followed Him. Jesus said to them, "I assure you: Before Abraham was, I am." (John 8:58). Also, in the book of Daniel, King Nebuchadnezzar bound Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and threw them into the fiery furnace for not bowing down to worship an idol. Daniel states, "Then King Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in alarm. . . He exclaimed, "Look! I see four men, not tied, walking around in the fire unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods." (Dn. 3:24-25). Jesus existed from the beginning. He has always been a powerful being who protects His people and stands up for the oppressed. When He came to earth, He lowered Himself to the status of a sheep like us. He became the perfect, sacrificial lamb provided by our Father to cleans the sins of the world. Yes, He is pure, but He is not weak or timid.
It is utter heresy to believe that Jesus is a nice, timid, non-confrontational being. Stop believing this non-sense lest you be thrown into a furnace. Jesus may not be nice, but He is loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, gentle, and has self-control. We are not called to be disagreeable. We are expected to call out evil desires in each other. When dragons speak, call them out. When they reject your teaching, shake off your boots and move along. It is good to question theology but question it quickly and renew yourself with the Holy Spirit daily. Time is of the essence.