Nicer Than Jesus Chic

An ongoing, and deadly, fashion in the U.S. is crossing all cultural lines be they Christian, New Age, Religious, Secular, and even Atheist. It is this crazy idea that one must be “nicer than Jesus” to be a positive, good and contributing member of society at large. The attainment of a higher consciousness in this Chic is to never offend anyone, hurt anyone’s feelings, or make someone feel uncomfortable. Is it mere coincidence that something as goofy as this would develop out of the ideas of moral relativism spawned by Timothy Leary’s school of, “better living through chemistry?” Hello in there.   

Seemingly innocuous, this killjoy of an idea has been made popular in part by biblical illiteracy, particularly taking scripture out of context. Who hasn’t heard the partial reading of Matthew 7, “judge not…”  You might even have heard slightly more, ‘judge not that you be not judged…” Before we get to the meat of the passage, it’s meaning, let me give you another scripture taken out of context as an example. I’ll bet you haven’t heard the Nicer than Jesus Gurus quote 1 Corinthians 2:15, “The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one.”  Yes, out of context, this could be a whooper used for all sorts of mischief!  

Back to Matthew 7; For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.  

What is the meaning? What wisdom is given here that is supported throughout all of scripture? Simply that we are all sinners, who have fallen short of the glory of God with the admonition to be gentle with one another and not have a critical spirit when confronting the sin in our lives. Let me paraphrase the summary line, the last line, “clean up your own act and it will be easier to help others confront the sin in their lives. Besides you can’t really do much good while you are a garbage heap of sin yourself. When you clean up, you will be humbled to the point of not condemning but building up while helping your friend clean up his life.” This passage is really about helping one another in difficult times, hard circumstances, due to sin. This idea is supported throughout the New Testament. The Apostle Paul addresses this concept several times.  

Even in our self-centered sinful humanity we are called to know God’s morality of right and wrong, good and bad and in this to gently confront one another when in error. Why? Simply for our own benefit. This will most times offend, annoy, and make us feel uncomfortable for good reason; Jesus himself commands it, it is in his character to challenge us at times. God does love us enough to show us the guard rails, safety nets, and escape hatches in this dangerous world. Of course we always have the free ignorance to run onto the interstate gleefully chasing after our play toy in the face of a fully loaded 40 foot Simi tractor, ignoring the heartfelt pleas of our parents; splat.