Don't Check Your Brains at the Door by Josh McDowell

Author:Josh McDowell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ebook, book
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Published: 2010-05-02T16:00:00+00:00

21

It’s Not What You

Know, It’s Who

You Know

Exposing the

Ideology Myth

Mike and Brandon compared favorite teachers in the registration line at Western Posh University.

“Would you believe I have to take Standish for Western Civ?” Mike moaned. “The guy’s a Nazi! At least I got Nelon for English Comp.”

“Yeah. I got Christos again,” Brandon said.

“Oh yeah? For what class?”

“All of them.”

“All of ’em?”

“Yeah.”

“Does he give a lot of tests?”

“No.”

“You have to memorize his teachings?” Mike asked.

“No,” Brandon answered.

“Well, then, what do you have to do for this guy?”

“Just mainly get to know him. He wants us to get to know him, to know who he is, and, um, develop a relationship with him.”

Hard to imagine a teacher like that, isn’t it? But there is one.

Many people entertain the idea that Christianity, like almost any other world religion, is basically a system of beliefs—you know, a set of doctrines or a code of behavior, a philosophy, an ideology.

But that’s a myth.

Christianity is not at all like Buddhism or Islam or Confucianism. The founders of those religions said (in effect), “Here is what I teach. Believe my teachings. Follow my philosophy.” Jesus said, “Follow me” (Matthew 9:9).

Leaders of the world’s religions said, “What do you think about what I teach?” Jesus said, “Who do you say I am?” (Luke 9:20, emphasis added).

The question that most religious devotees must ask is, “What ideology do I profess?” The question the would-be Christian must ask is, “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?” (Matthew 27:22).

Christianity is not a religion. It is a relationship.

Christianity is not a system of beliefs or doctrines. It is a Person.

That is precisely why the trial of Jesus is unique. In most trials, the accused is tried for something he or she did. Jesus, however, was tried for who He was.

In Mark’s record of Jesus’ trial before the Sanhedrin, he mentions that several false witnesses were produced, but their testimony was conflicting and inconclusive. Then, Mark reports, “the high priest asked [Jesus], ‘Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?’ ”

Then Jesus, responding to the phrase “Blessed One,” which in the Jewish mind was a direct reference to God, said “I am.”

At that, the high priest, without waiting for a verdict from the Sanhedrin, tore his robe, indicating that Jesus had blasphemed and had claimed to be God.

The issue at the trial of Christ was His identity—who He was. That is a key difference in Christianity. It is not an ideology; it is based on the identity of Christ and requires a relationship with Him.

What gives the Christian faith credibility is Jesus Christ being the Messiah, the Son of God. That’s what caused such conflict between Jesus and the Pharisees. The Pharisees thought that strict adherence to the Law, to biblical principles, was most important. Jesus said, in effect, “No, that won’t do. Obeying the Law must be an expression of a person’s relationship with Me. Obedience to My teachings will not make you a Christian. Only a personal love relationship with Me can do that.

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