Following Jesus

Via Paul Wilczynski, I learn of a move to rebrand Christianity.

Now, as the Christian world continues to refine its identity, another label is gaining currency: “follower of Jesus.” It is gaining among the young. On Facebook, more than 900 groups use some variation of “follower of Jesus.” The tag is also popular among people in the so-called fellowship movement—small, collegial groups that regularly meet for ecumenical prayer. (The weekly prayer breakfasts in Washington—one for senators, another for members of the House—are the most prominent example, but such fellowships are common at corporations too.) “Follower of Jesus” has at least two advantages over “Christian” or “evangelical,” its boosters say. First, it doesn’t carry baggage. You can wear it abroad, in Islamic countries, or at home with your Jewish or Buddhist friends, without causing offense. Second, it distances the bearer from the culture wars that have made American politics so divisive. David Durenberger, the former Republican senator from Minnesota, puts it this way. “As my party in particular has begun to characterize its base as ‘Christian’ and to express its values as ‘Christian’ values … it has been really important to identify myself as a follower of Jesus.” The syndicated columnist Cal Thomas adds that “follower of Jesus” has the virtue of reflecting biblical truth: the earliest Christians called themselves “followers of the Way.”

There is reason to cheer this innovation. Not necessarily as a knee-jerk liberal who thinks of “following Jesus” as the embodiment of every liberal value – but as a thinking person who sees an opportunity to ask anew the important questions that should go along with a religious commitment.

Does a follower of Jesus cast off church doctrine, re-evaluate the historical validity of writings in which Jesus figures (which itself can be a lifelong project!), and shape their lives around the ethics, eschatology, and actions that are best historically attributed to Jesus? If so, is there enough material that is historically sound to base a life on? Is that material worthy of emulation in the first place? If not, what does following Jesus entail? Does it mean following an idealized portrayal of Jesus of some sort? If so – how is this portrayal informed, and is this portrayal worthy of emulation?

These are valid and important questions – and a self conscious attempt to “follow Jesus” rather than to “be Christian” demands those questions be answered, with one possible and hopeful result being a more thoughtful religion. But, while such a reinvention may help followers avoid entanglement with harmful doctrines that have historically been associated with Christianity, I fear that it will fall short of other worthy goals.

In the end, the struggle isn’t to find the right Leader – it is to find the right path. I’m afraid that efforts toward the former have historically been only partly successful in achieving the latter. But all efforts, undertaken thoughtfully and carefully, have a shot at least of helping us pick out something closer to that right path than the less careful and less thoughtful alternatives. To whatever degree the conversion from Christian to “follower” spurs careful thought, I am for it.

(Somewhat related reading from a fellow who is thinking about some particular demands attributed to Jesus.)