Was Jesus an American? Of course not.

Was Jesus an American?

(Version directed at professing christians)

Before you give the obvious answer and throw this away, consider the question this way; Does "Christianity" in America today give an accurate representation of who Jesus really is? And more importantly, are you willing to let the hypocrisy you see in professing "Christianity" today keep you from following and loving the true Jesus with your whole heart?

By definition, a Christian is one who believes and follows the teachings and examples of Christ based on their dependence upon him as Lord and Savior. "Christian" is a title that is reserved for disciples of Christ (Acts 11:26). In our generation, and namely in our country, a person or movement is considered "Christian" because it mentions "God" or has a "dove" or "fish" symbol on it. In an attempt to answer the question, "Was Jesus an American?", we will compare the teachings and life of Jesus to the actions and attitudes of the majority of American "Christians" to truly see if Jesus has changed these Americans into Christians, or if these "Christians" have changed Jesus into an American.

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• Jesus was homeless and poor

Would you have known this truth by looking at the life of his followers today? A man approached Jesus, telling him that he wanted to follow him, "And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head."(Matthew 8:20). Jesus humbled himself to the lowest men in his generation and culture, never trying to climb any "ladders" or gain any approval or success. He did this as a pattern, to show his followers that their life should be a life of giving, of doing without so that others may prosper. "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich." (2 Corinthians 8:9).

While the poor may be talked about and looked on with pity, do the followers of Jesus in our country today take to heart the fact that their Savior and Lord was a poor, homeless man, and that he commissions them, as his followers, to feed, clothe, visit, and comfort the poor and needy of our land (Matt. 25:31-46)? It can often be observed how willing "Christians" are to offer prayer or words of comfort for those in financial hardship, and yet how unwilling they are to "rattle" their own financial affairs to help those same people! The scriptures conclude that such a person has not the love of God in them; "But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word ("Iíll pray for you"), neither in tongue ("Cheer up, things will get betterÖ."); but in deed and in truth." (I John 3:17-18). While there are Christians who indeed follow Jesus in this respect, in cannot be ignored that the vast majority of American "Christians" are quite comfortable with their lifestyle and really donít have time to be bothered by the "down-and-outers". This attitude of indifference to those in need is not of Christ, but of America.

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• "My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? If ye fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. " (James 2:1-9)

"If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?" (James 2:15-16)

Jesus was not materialistic

"My kingdom is not of this world" (John 18:36)

"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earthÖBut lay up for yourselves treasures in heavenÖfor where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Matt. 6:19-21)

"Ye cannot serve God and mammon (money)" (Matt. 6:24)

"Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!" (Mark 10:24b)

"Blessed be ye poor; for yours is the kingdom of GodÖ.But woe unto you that are rich! For ye have received your consolation." (Luke 6:20, 24)

"Blessed are ye that hunger now; for ye shall be filledÖ.Woe unto you that are full! For ye shall hunger." (Luke 6:21a, 25a)

A life dedicated to Jesus is a life of self-denial. Jesus said, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." In our land of opportunity, wealth, and luxury, you will not be hard pressed to find many, many "Christians" whoís lives are full of comfort, ease, and toys. Can a professing follower of Jesus, whoís prime ambition and drive in their life is their career and retirement fund, honestly say they are following Jesus in a life of self-denial? Jesus once told a story of a rich man and a poor man, and what they faced in the afterlife. "And he (the rich man) cried and said, "Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus (the poor man), that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame." But Abraham said, "Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime received thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented." This truth cannot be ignored any longer; a life of ease and "me-first" will lead to an afterlife of torment and anguish.

The story has been told of a Chinese Christian who came to the U.S. to speak in a handful of churches to explain the state of Christianity in his country. Under the communist Chinese government, Christianity was illegal, and the devoted people who were brave enough to meet together for worship did so in secrecy and in certain risk of imprisonment, torture, and possibly death. This Chinese Christian went on to explain how he had personally seen many of his brethren suffer brutally for their faith and undying love for the Messiah. At the end of a detailed presentation of the persecution the Chinese Christians were faced with daily, the question was asked by one of the church members, "If God loves the Christians in china so much, why is he allowing them to be persecuted?" The Chinese Christian responded, "If God loves the Christians in America so much, why isnít he allowing them to be persecuted?"

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• "For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;" (Philippians 1:29)

"And they (the disciples) departed from the presence of the council (after they had been beaten), rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name." (Acts 5:41)

"Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets." (Luke 6:22-23)

"Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matt. 5:10)

Many "Christians" may claim that God has blessed them because they received a good deal on a new car or article of clothing, a pay raise at work, or some other financial gain, but does that line up with what Christ taught? Jesus, speaking concerning His sheep in John 10:10, said, "ÖI am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." Was He speaking of material abundance? Many teach and believe that the "abundant life" is somehow connected to physical prosperity, wealth, and comfort, without realizing Jesus said it had nothing to do with possessions; "Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a manís life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth."(Luke 12:15). Jesus said that a man would be blessed because he was suffering, not gaining materially and financially.

3. Jesusí prime objective was to please God

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"And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him." (John 8:29)

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"I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me." (John 5:30)

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"My meat (sustenance) is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work." (John 4:34)

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"Lo, I come to do thy will, O God." (Hebrews 10:9)

The driving force behind Jesusí very existence was to please and bring glory to the Creator of all things seen and unseen, God. We can easily gather this from the words he spoke, the life he lived, and the death he died.

By naming Jesus as Lord and continuing in a life of self-will instead of Godís will, American "Christians" are following a Jesus who is happy with any tiny portion of your life your willing to give him. Jesus said, "So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:33) Speaking of the Judgment Day, Jesus warned the people, saying, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 7:21).

America proudly boasts of her great progress and amazing advancements in technology, economics, culture, and academics without ever acknowledging God or His will. When asked what impressed him most about America, a foreign observer once stated, "The wonderful things she can accomplish without God". Why would a "Christian" today have a problem with the words "under God" being taken out of the pledge of allegiance? Is the American pornography industry "under God"? Are abortions performed "under God"? Is the absolute idolatry of sports in America "under God"? Are the covetous, deceitful acts of Wall Street, done solely in an attempt for men to become rich, "under God"? Should a country as vile as America be allowed to claim to be "one nation, under God"? What were the sins that drove God to destroy the Old Testament city of Sodom? Rampant homosexuality and immorality? NO! "Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy." (Ezekiel 16:49). Which one of these sins (pride, gluttony, comfort, selfishness), for which God destroyed a whole city, doesnít apply to America today? Arenít you, as a follower of Christ, offended that a country as self-willed and arrogant as America would attempt to drag the name of our God into the pigpen with them? Of all people, the Christians in our country should be demanding that the ten commandments be taken out of our courthouses, prayer be taken out of our schools, and "under God" be taken out of their pledge! It is an abomination and blasphemy for such a wicked country as ours to dress itself up as a nation "under God", when in reality, we are no more "under God" than any heathen nation in recorded history. Yet "Christians", by the thousands, proudly "pledge allegiance" to a country that has rejected the LORD God and his Christ. As it was fulfilled in Christís day with the Pharisees, the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled again in America, where it is said, "ÖForasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:" (Isaiah 29:13).

What about you?

Was

Jesus an American? Of course not. Have Americans made a Jesus to fit their lifestyle? Many have. Under the guise and false security of calling America a "Christian Nation", the majority of "Christians" have deceived themselves into thinking that including Jesus in their pursuit of the "American Dream" will give them a great life here on earth and a great afterlife in heaven. In response to a true revelation of who Christ was, the fisherman forsook their nets and livelihood for a lifelong journey of dedication to Jesus, and him alone (Luke 5:1-11). Has your dedication to the Lord Jesus cost you any earthly relationships, or worldly advancement? If it hasnít, you need to question whether you really know Him. In the scriptures, the life of a disciple of Christ carried a heavy price. Have you forsaken all for Him? Have you truly received his gift of forgiveness of sins through his sacrifice on the cross in sincere faith and repentance? Have you trusted him with your whole heart to save you from sin and death, to make you a new creature here on earth, fit for an afterlife in heaven? It is certain that in our land, and in our time, American Christianity is guilty of inventing and preaching "another Jesus" (II Cor. 11:4). But it is not altogether hopeless for those individuals who will follow Jesus in sincerity and truth. God is ready and willing to pour His mercy and Spirit on those who seek Him with their whole heart. Will you, even now, seek to follow the real Jesus, regardless of the cost in this life? Please, donít let the inconsistencies and hypocrisies of "Christians" in this country keep you from Jesus.