Christian Living

---

Larry Lilly's Letter Wednesday January 23, 2008

The morning news anchors gushed out that the rock opera, Jesus Christ Superstar was in town at one of the theaters for live performances. The first few callers could win tickets. Wow. This nanosecond announcement set off a storm of thoughts racing through the mind and due to the size of my mind, the race was swiftly over.

You may recall the premise of Super Star is Jesus Christ seen through the eyes of Judas Iscariot as the equivalent of a modern rock star. Way back when Noah was still awaiting the re- appearance of dry land I recall the vitriolic rhetoric concerning Super Star. Easter and Christmas dramatic presentations are now more in line with Andrew Webber's Super Star than the biblical Christ. Ignorant "worshipers" are swept away in the deceit, much like a rabbit in the hypnotic stare of a Boa.

The more I thought about it, opinions pro or con cast aside, the more it dawned on me that the Christ model followed by many modern clergy is more like Webber's Christ than the Gentle Shepherd of biblical note.

The shift over the last 35-40 years happened subtly and now, behold, those of us who should be well versed in the life style of the Nazarene are more like the Rap Artists in style. I got a note the other day from the pastor of 35 people listing himself as "Senior Pastor." I wonder if he is following the trend of chauffeured rides to and from the office; along with presidential bullet proof shields around the pulpit? I still haven't adjusted to the presence of body guards surrounding the speaker at revival meetings in churches that seat 75 senior saints. I suppose the guards prevent the toothless congregation from throwing their Gerber's at the speaker in response to the unpalatable substitute masquerading as sermonic material. I can understand why many of the singers? surround themselves with protectors, especially having charged for the "performance" many of whom need a rude awakening on American Idol. I know, I know, I really am more like Andy Rooney than Jesus, but hey, I am old.

Could it be that our current gaggle of Godly Giants has become more enthralled with the twisted version of Jesus ala Judas and Webber than with the biblical exemplar? One former pastor, now presidential candidate in his effort to get the "evangelical" vote, whatever that is, comes across as more of a Mr. Bo Jangles, (I am NOT speaking of Obama) than a conservative man of the cloth. But then I know the man he started out with as a minister and said minister is quite openly following the Webber model rather than the biblical one. Such is life.

Leonardo de Vinci, very well versed in the difference between perception and reality wrote:

"All our knowledge has its origin in our perceptions."

I vividly recall the day, hour and even the minute when it dawned on me, that I, Larry Lilly was enthralled more by the Webber model than the biblical one and at great cost immediately took the necessary steps to rectify the situation. I went to my trusted associate's office and asked him to pray with me as I had created the wrong image in our area and I was going to correct this. I didn't know how to do it, but I had a lot of unexpected help from the government. It is amazing how Jesus works out His plan.

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2008 Use with credit.

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE