Jesus Christ Superstar

I will probably get into trouble with this post, so let me begin with a disclaimer:

YHWH the Father is the creator of all things good and Yeshua HaMashiach is his Son, my Lord. I especially love and honor those who believe and follow His word and do the very best they can to live according to His precepts; trusting the atoning blood of our savior.

That said, I am deeply concerned about the modern western church and especially for the evangelical movement. Beginning in the 60’s with the “Jesus Movement” among the youngsters, the focus appears to be fully on Jesus along. From Jesus Christ Superstar to the sermons I hear so often in churches and on TV, Jesus is the full focus of our worship, often to the exclusion of everything else. At most there will be an occasional First Testament reference, usually from a Prophet concerning the future Messiah. YHWH, the Father is almost never mentioned.

I am fully aware that Yeshua was God, that the Father and the Son are united in one. I get it. I also know the historic background of the church and how the present division has come to be. Jesus made it clear he could do nothing on his own, but only do the will of his Father. He told us to pray to the Father. Sometimes I wonder if we are now bordering on idolatry.

When we ignore the grace of YHWH in the First Testament, are we missing out? When we do not discuss the fulfilment of his covenants and ignore the promises made to his people, are we being short changed? When we fail to understand his love, not just for his people but also his love for the nations, are we stumbling in the dark? When we fail to acknowledge his justice, and yes that does include his righteous wrath; can we really understand who he is?

Yeshua is our Savior and I take nothing away from his grace and love. Yet I find it especially troubling that the modern evangelical church in the west so exclusively identifies with Jesus, until they reach Revelation.

I will probably get into trouble with this post, so let me begin with a disclaimer:

YHWH the Father is the creator of all things good and Yeshua HaMashiach is his Son, my Lord. I especially love and honor those who believe and follow His word and do the very best they can to live according to His precepts; trusting the atoning blood of our savior.

That said, I am deeply concerned about the modern western church and especially for the evangelical movement. Beginning in the 60’s with the “Jesus Movement” among the youngsters, the focus appears to be fully on Jesus along. From Jesus Christ Superstar to the sermons I hear so often in churches and on TV, Jesus is the full focus of our worship, often to the exclusion of everything else. At most there will be an occasional First Testament reference, usually from a Prophet concerning the future Messiah. YHWH, the Father is almost never mentioned.

I am fully aware that Yeshua was God, that the Father and the Son are united in one. I get it. I also know the historic background of the church and how the present division has come to be. Jesus made it clear he could do nothing on his own, but only do the will of his Father. He told us to pray to the Father. Sometimes I wonder if we are now bordering on idolatry.

When we ignore the grace of YHWH in the First Testament, are we missing out? When we do not discuss the fulfilment of his covenants and ignore the promises made to his people, are we being short changed? When we fail to understand his love, not just for his people but also his love for the nations, are we stumbling in the dark? When we fail to acknowledge his justice, and yes that does include his righteous wrath; can we really understand who he is?

Yeshua is our Savior and I take nothing away from his grace and love. Yet I find it especially troubling that the modern evangelical church in the west so exclusively identifies with Jesus, until they reach Revelation.

i have many thoughts about this post, but one pressing question...

why do you think the church stops identifying with the Lord Jesus when they reach Revelation? you mean the last book in the canon, correct?

Yes, the last book. Jesus is there the sword of God's vengeance. At his hand multitudes of those who oppose God will die as he swings his sword back and forth across the earth. At his hand the blood will flow neck-deep to a horse for nearly 200 miles. This is not the meek and mild Jesus many worship.

Yes, the last book. Jesus is there the sword of God's vengeance. At his hand multitudes of those who oppose God will die as he swings his sword back and forth across the earth. At his hand the blood will flow neck-deep to a horse for nearly 200 miles. This is not the meek and mild Jesus many worship.

yes, i see. thank you for explaining. i've heard a pastor say, "gentle Jesus meek and mild... hair like a shampoo model, hands that have never done a day's work...".
this is unfortunately how our Lord is portrayed by some, and though He is gentle, He is also the Judge of all the earth. we must be careful when we speak of the attributes of God.

i very much appreciate your reply.

yes, i see. thank you for explaining. i've heard a pastor say, "gentle Jesus meek and mild... hair like a shampoo model, hands that have never done a day's work...".
this is unfortunately how our Lord is portrayed by some, and though He is gentle, He is also the Judge of all the earth. we must be careful when we speak of the attributes of God.

i very much appreciate your reply.

yes, i see. thank you for explaining. i've heard a pastor say, "gentle Jesus meek and mild... hair like a shampoo model, hands that have never done a day's work...".
this is unfortunately how our Lord is portrayed by some, and though He is gentle, He is also the Judge of all the earth. we must be careful when we speak of the attributes of God.

i very much appreciate your reply.

Thank you for carefully reading my post. It was very difficult to write and I feared some would take individual words out of context. In no way do I want to be critical of any ones faith, yet I do believe some churches fail to preach the truth from the whole bible.

uh what

never heard that

Jesus hair went WHITE in Revelation
His hands were nailed...he was a carpenter! He must be talking about somehting else or Jesus of his own imagination. lol

That was the same Jesus who flipped over the tables in the temple and made an improvised whip.

i know, and it's quite sad, really. in our church the whole counsel of God is preached to the people of God, yet i realize not all churches do this. when Paul tells Timothy that all Scripture is breathed out by God, what's he mainly referring to at the time of writing but the Old Testament?

seriously, that's an honest question, and corrections are welcome.

When Paul was alive there was no "New" testament. That was not completed until about 300 hears after Yeshua. All references to scripture in the Second Testament is about the First Testament.

That may not be exactly correct. In the main it is so but Peter appears to recognize Paul as a writer of scripture in 2 Peter 3:15-16. So while the NT was yet to be canonized, it may have on some level been recognized as the word of God.