"Who is Jesus Christ?"
This is the question recently posed to 1000
children aged 5-12 at Brent Cross Shopping Centre. The multiple choices given
as potential answers were
a) A footballer for Chelsea
b) Son of God
c) TV presenter
d) X Factor contestant
e) An astronaut
20% answered that Jesus was
a footballer for Chelsea. And yes, some really believed that he was an
astronaut or X Factor contestant. Perhaps there was a time when juvenile
silliness would have prompted some children, well aware that the answer is b),
to answer a) or d). Now, however, there are masses of children in this country
who really do not know who Jesus is, and much less why he came, and must resort
to sincere guesswork in answering questions about him.
Children aren’t the only
ones who have Jesus wrong. I read an article this week in which the author
referred to Jesus as “just another bloke, though admittedly a very nice one.” Spare
a thought too for those immigrants for whom English is down the list of
languages that they speak: there are some whose first and most consistent
exposure to the name of Christ is on television or at the movies – used as an
expression of surprise, anger or disgust with no relation to the biblical Son
of God.
The only solution to the problem of pervasive biblical
illiteracy is local-community based consistent bible study, teaching, and
preaching at personal, small group, and congregational levels. While we should
strive for accessibility in what we communicate and the way we communicate it,
to dispense with the Bible at any juncture is to defeat our purpose of making
Christ known. Having grasped the message of Scripture and experienced its power
for ourselves, our prayer and aim should be that we share that message clearly
(Colossians 4:4), boldly (Ephesians 6:19), and with love (Ephesians 4:15).
Jesus Saves! – the glorious gospel message declares
and innumerable Christian voices sing, yet this Christmas time instead of
imagining an infant born to deliver us from sin, death, and hell many children
picture a footballer demonstrating his skill on the pitch. Nevertheless, we
make no progress by bemoaning the spiritual ignorance of the nation’s young, if
that does not lead us to more actively and enthusiastically tell everyone about
Jesus.
In the words of Romans 10:14: How are they to
believe in him of whom they have never heard?
This was printed in the worship bulletin of Grace Baptist Church (Wood Green) on 14 December 2014.
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