Jesus Versus Jesus
Which One Are We Supposed to Follow?
Jesus Versus Jesus
Which One Are We Supposed to Follow?
I had the pleasure recently of entering into some dialogue, if you can call shouting over fascist memes and Bible cherry-picking a “dialogue”, with a group of self-proclaimed Jesus lovers. You know the type: online culture warriors in Roman helmets, waving the cross like it’s a broadsword, dead set on cleansing the world of “degeneracy.” Oh, and they’re really into the Book of Revelation. They wear their patriotism like armor, idolize hierarchy and violence, and yet still find the audacity to end their hate-fueled tirades with phrases like “Jesus is Lord.” As if that three-word phrase could somehow sanctify their bigotry.
They believe in some kind of strange fanfiction where the Prince of Peace is reimagined as the Punisher.
If you’ve ever wandered into these circles, you know the type. Think medieval LARPers with Bible verses in their Twitter bios. And when you point out that Jesus in the Gospels was a brown-skinned anti-capitalist who hung out with sex workers and tax collectors, healed the sick for free, and told people to give away all their possessions, they go suspiciously quiet. Or they pivot to Revelation.
Because the truth is: they’re not worshipping Gospel Jesus. They’re worshipping Revelation Jesus. And they are not the same guy.