I’m often confounded by the theology of Twitter and Facebook. We used to put this kind of stuff on bumper stickers and t-shirts. You know what I mean… short, pithy sayings that reflect popular theology. With the advent of Facebook and Twitter this stuff goes viral. I understand the need to KISS, i.e., “keep it simple, stupid.” That’s how propaganda becomes the public consciousness. The problem with KISS is that sometimes simple makes us stupid. By that I mean that we don’t think…, we just say, “Amen!” So I would like to offer a few “KISS” statements that may sound good at first; but on further reflection just don’t add up, if we judge them by the truth of Holy Scripture.
“Christians aren’t perfect, just forgiven.”
This slogan is ubiquitous. The problem is that it doesn’t accurately reflect the saving work of God. Yes, Christians are forgiven; but it doesn’t end there. Christians are forgiven, given new life (regeneration), united with Christ, adopted into the family of God, sanctified (being perfected), and will be glorified. Jesus commanded, “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). The Christian notion of salvation is that death gives way to life; corruptibility gives way to incorruptibility; darkness is overcome by the Light. God’s eternal purpose (predestination) is that fallen humans may be transformed so that we may share in God’s glory (1 Corinthians 3:18; 1 John 3:1-3). So, if we must insist on a short saying, it would be better to say, “Christians are forgiven; and are being perfected.”
“God redeems us in the middle of bad choices. He never waves a finger in our face.”
This seems to suggest that in spite of a series of bad life choices God would never say, “I told you so.” Really? The apostle Paul said, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap” (Galatians 6:7). Paul reminds us that our bad choices have consequences. The scripture is full of examples of God warning, rebuking, and blocking those who are intent on their bad choices. The inspired sage declared, “He is on the path of life who heeds instruction, but he who ignores reproof goes astray (Proverbs 10:17). A better way to speak the truth might be, “To protect us from bad choices, God often sends a wise person to wave a finger in our face.” Does God forgive? Certainly! Is God gracious? Absolutely! So, does God redeem us “in the middle of bad choices?” The story of the prodigal son suggests that God redeems us after the consequences of our sinful choices compel us to consider the plight of our life, and we want to go home to the Father (Luke 15:13-19).
“Going to church does not make you a Christian anymore than going to the garage makes you a car.”
I understand the basis for this statement. However, a car that needs to be repaired goes to the garage. There is a reason people go to church, even those persons who have never accepted Christ as Lord and Savior. Many people go to church for the same reason a sick person goes to the hospital. Jesus said, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Mark 2:17). Church should be the place where sinners are made whole. When a car is inoperable, the driver needs to find a trained mechanic with the necessary tools. The church should be a place where the saints care for sinners in the hopes that they will be healed by the Great Physician. So, it might be said that going to church can help the sinner find Christ; and going to church can form disciples of Christ.
The purpose of this devotional exercise is not to discourage short, pithy messages that accurately teach the Good News. There are many such statements that can be helpful. However, we must be careful to make sure that our KISS statements don’t relate an untruthful, or unintended message.
