Things that Matter

Riding the bus to work some time back, I noticed a car with several religious bumper stickers, as well as the Ichthus, displayed on the back. The bumper sticker that caught my attention read simply, “Try Jesus.” As I began to consider that short clause, it began to bother me–greatly. As I have continued to think about these issues, my concerns have come to focus on two main areas: (1) the accuracy of the impression that it conveys about Jesus Christ and (2) what such usage says about those who use it.

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Inaccurate Message

What is the likely message communicated to those who do not already know Jesus Christ? As an aside, I choose the word impression, for I question whether there is enough there to convey any significant detail regarding the nature and role of Jesus Christ. Even so, the clause has meaning. Let us consider it in light of common usage.

Often, as I finish my morning commute and leave the subway station near my workplace, I am greeted by someone offering me a “free trial,” a sample of some product. The company behind the product wants me to try it and hopes that I will like it enough to purchase it in the future. Other times I am offered a brochure inviting me to visit a shop and purchase the food or other goods being sold there. “Try it! You’ll like it.” That is the pitch, at least. The fact is, however, that we do not always like it. We sample foods, and while some appeal to us, others do not. We try potential solutions, and while some work for us, others do not. If they do not, we just move onward. This gets to part of what bothers me about the message here.

From reading a simple “Try Jesus,” one who does not know Him could readily sense that He is optional, that we can choose to take Him or leave Him at our discretion. No sense of obligation is evident here, nor is any commitment suggested by the message. Rather, should Jesus not work for you, you could simply move on to someone or something else that might. In that vein the apparent motivation or focus seems to be finding a solution to something.

Yet as to Jesus Christ, such notions are just not right. Thus, to the extent that this is what is communicated, the reader is left with a dangerous misimpression. In fact, Jesus is not merely another solution to try. He is the Almighty God, our Creator and King. We cannot properly view our Sovereign Lord as optional; the two concepts are totally inconsistent. “Optional Lord” is an oxymoron.

Further, while we all face problems in this life and have a life-threatening problem (sin) that only He can address for us, to view Him as simply a “fix” is also incorrect. One major problem is that it focuses on me and emphasizes what I can get out of the relationship. Another is that it does not account for the fact that, even before we had a sin problem requiring a solution, we were created to have a relationship with Him. To the extent “trying Jesus” accomplishes something in our lives, it is because of who He is, and it is who He is that makes Him non-optional.

Inadequate Attention

My second concern relates to what such usage says about those who use it. It suggests at least two things, as I see it.

First, it suggests inattention to the whole of the message conveyed. I do not doubt that those who display this message are seeking to bring positive attention to Christ. The motivation, the desired end, is good. Yet the entire message conveys a false impression of Christ, and that is, of course, not good. I do not suggest that there is no element of truth in the message, but we must not let the element of truth and the apparently good motives blind us to the problem: the end does not justify the means. Fundamentally, we need to be serious about meaning. When communicating with those who do not know the Lord Jesus, we must be careful to present Him accurately. With issues of God and eternity, errors can be deadly.

Second, the usage suggests inattention to our role as ambassadors for Jesus Christ. We are not independent of God, either in our existence or in our duty. As a general matter, it is important how (in what manner and in what terms) ambassadors represent the sovereigns they serve. Is this any less true of Christ Jesus, “who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords” (1Timothy 6:15b)?

Conclusion

I spent some time seeking a good short-form alternative to “Try Jesus” but finally stopped without finding something satisfactory. Using short messages carries the inherent risk of oversimplifications that result in misimpressions. I see that often in my line of work: shortening the message can result in the loss of information necessary to an accurate understanding of the issues. I see that happening here. The gospel of Jesus Christ and our need of Him and the gospel seem not to shorten well. We would do well to keep that in mind.