Things Jesus Never Said: Make a Big Deal about Things I Never Said

From Allan Bevere:

We have all seen the “things Jesus never said” memes on social media, and there are many of them as a Google image search demonstrates. Such memes are a way of offering a zinger to Christians with whom we disagree theologically, socially, and/or politically. And while such memes can be humorous, in reality they are also rather silly, and they help us avoid the intellectual rigor necessary in working through difficult theological and moral issues, in which the Bible can assist us, but not necessarily offer decisive answers. In other words, I am suggesting that those who resort to “the things Jesus never said” platform of argumentation have chosen the intellectually lazy route in order to make their point.

If it is the case that Jesus had a three year ministry, and I am inclined toward that view, then he certainly said more things that are given to us in the four Gospels. In fact, at the end of the Four Gospel the writer states, “But there are also many other things that Jesus did; if every one of them were written down, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written” (John 21:25). While these words are an intentional exaggeration on John’s part, the point is that Jesus had much to say, and it is impossible to remember it all.

I have always wished to know the things Jesus said that are lost to us. What might he have said that would assist us in working through some difficult theological or moral issues of our time? But as much as I would wish for it, it can never be. But it surely does not help matters in putting forth a position based on something Jesus never said. The reason for this should be obvious. There are all kinds of things Jesus did not say, but nothing of what has been left unsaid helps us move toward a position on anything. In fact, one can put forward a plethora of “things Jesus never said” memes that various folks in the “Jesus never said crowd” would object to strenuously:

Jesus never said, “Vote for Republicans.”

Jesus never said, “Vote for Democrats.”

Jesus never said, “Oppose gay marriage.”

Jesus never said, “Support gay marriage.”

Jesus never said, “Read Genesis literally.”

Jesus never said, “Read Genesis metaphorically.”

Jesus never said, “Health care is a right.”

Jesus never said, “Health care is a commodity.”

Jesus never said, “Support capital punishment for those who commit murder.”

Jesus never said, “Oppose capital punishment for those who commit murder.”

Jesus never said, “Raise taxes on the rich.”

Jesus never said, “Give the rich tax breaks.”

Jesus never said, “There are only two sacraments.”

Jesus never said, “There are seven sacraments.”

Jesus never said, “They are not sacraments; they are ordinances.”

Jesus never said, “Baptize adults only.”

Jesus never said, “Baptize infants.”

Jesus never said, “I would never send anyone to Hell.”

Jesus never said, “You get to decide who gets into Heaven.”

Jesus never said… (well, I won’t belabor the point).

It is true, of course, that we are not totally in the dark about Jesus and his theology and morality, but that can only be based on what Jesus did say and do, and what we know of his first-century Jewish context. And even though what we do know can illuminate us in reference to Jesus, there remains much ambiguity on many things. After all, we are attempting to peer back into history that is two thousand years old– as far removed from us as Jesus was from Abraham.

t seems to me that the real challenge for the followers of Jesus after two thousand years is that we continue to wrestle with the things Jesus DID say and do; and after two millennia we struggle with appropriating the words and deeds of Jesus into our lives and in the corporate life of the Church, the Body of Christ. Offering memes of the things Jesus never said, that we get to make up in order to further our own agendas, does not assist us in embodying Christ to the world around us. Indeed, let me suggest that “the things Jesus never said” fad is in actuality a subtle way to ignore what Jesus has actually said by harping on what he didn’t say in order to indict those who disagree with us and to bolster our faithful Christian creds to those around us, while ignoring the difficult and divinely transforming things Jesus did indeed say.

After all, didn’t Jesus say, “You are my friends, if you do what I didn’tcommand you (sarcasm on John 15:14). Won’t it be great when we can stand before Jesus on Judgment Day and say, “Lord, I was a good and faithful servant in reference to everything you never said.”

This is the Word of the Lord that was never spoken. Thanks be to God!