Well, English is certainly not my first language, but I don’t think I would have understood what the above statement is all about, even if I had grown up across the street from the Queen of England’s palace. The only thing I picked up is that Jesus is so far away, and so complicated such that an ordinary somebody like me has neither strength nor ability to ever know Him.
It’s sad to say it, but these kinds of sayings are very common in the African pulpit. Ministers are not ready to break down the complex truths of who our Lord is, into simple language, so that even the plowman and the herdboy can know Him. This, of course, is part of their crowd control motive. That is, to project themselves as the ones with special “anointings” to gain access to Christ, and unless we common citizens stay connected to their “alters”, we would never get any help from Him in time of need.
“There is nothing new under the sun,” says the preacher. These “hidden knowledge” super spiritual gurus were also famous during the time of the New Testament Church. This is what Paul had to say about them.
But I fear lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness, so your thoughts should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. – 2 Corinthians 11:3
This is my task today, that is, I want to remind all of us that Jesus Christ is by no means too complex and too hidden for us to know Him, in fact, just the opposite. This is what the Apostle labeled above as the “simplicity of Christ.”
The simplicity of Christ does not mean that the knowledge of our Lord is unimportant. Neither does it mean that the Gospel of our Lord is not deep, nor does it suggest that our Lord is less than He is. It simply means that Christ, and His Cross-work – as great as it is – is clear; it does not require some great mind work on our part to grasp what He’s done on the cross and what we must do in response. Let’s break it down below…
The simplicity of knowing Him
Romans 10:6-7 asks the question, “…Who will ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down) or “Who will descend into the abyss?” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart.” In means the first step of knowing Christ is not some superheroic thing of going to heaven to meet Him face to face, but it is simple faith In Him – to believe that He is the One who takes away your sin through His cross work so as to give you the righteousness you need. Then from that childlike faith in this Jesus, we can grow in knowing Him, through the constant study of His Word and prayer; in private, at home and in church. Simple.
The simplicity of the Gospel
As sad as it is that the average churchgoer these days cannot properly explain the Gospel message, as I have observed, it is still the simplest message that even a child can understand. What’s so hard about the fact that there is a holy God who created us, until we fell into sin and became deserving of His punishment, until His love was manifested in Himself coming down to live among us, so He could die the death we deserved while we get to live the life we did not deserve? That He now commands all of us, everywhere to repent and to trust in this Jesus of Nazareth. Beloved, this is the plain message of the Good News, beware, therefore, lest anyone presents to you another set of hard secrets of the Gospel that he only can know. There is nothing like that.
The Simplicity of the Christian life
The New Testament writers not only present to us the message of this Gospel but they go on to instruct us about Christian living. And it’s also not some hidden mystery that only super Christians can know. Question; how do I live the Christian life? Answer; love Christ, delight in Him, pray to Him (without ceasing), study His word (every day), love other people, honour your leaders, work with your hands and preach His Gospel with your mouth and also with your life – all for His glory. Apostle Paul further simplified this with the words, “Whatever you do (that means whatever), whether you eat or drink, do it all for the glory of the Lord” (1 Cor 10:31). Now, notice that these straightforward things that we are commanded to live by as part of our daily Christian life are rarely emphasized by most of the false prophets who claim to have secret knowledge about Christ. Shun them.
Conclusion
There is nothing called the “dimensions of Christ that must be captured in the realms of God.” In fact, Scripture solemnly warns about those ministers who “speak great swelling words of emptiness” (2 Pet 2:18). As if true spirituality is derived from being eloquent in the English language. I leave you with this passage to ponder.
Be careful not to allow anyone to captivate you through an empty, deceitful philosophy that is according to human traditions and the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ – Colossians 2:8
Sinothi Ncube
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