At the tattoo parlor, my friend worked with needle and ink applying a design to the skin on his client's back, as the three of us sat discussing our spiritual desires and ambivalence about religion. In the midst of our conversation, the man under the needle turned and said, 'Jesus is cool, it's just that they have f***ed with Jesus. I mean, Christianity was at its best when it was secret and hidden and you could die for it.' This profound, if crass, statement recognizes that the power of the gospel lay in its ability to be a counter-cultural and revolutionary force - not only a story to believe, but a distinctive way of life. The man's comment prompted me to consider the questions: Am I in some measure complicit in the domestication of Jesus?. Mark Scandrette
About This Quote

The 'Jesus is cool, it's just that they have f***ed with Jesus' comment is a profound reflection on the nature of the gospel. It acknowledges that the gospel has been transformed into something less radical and more palatable, something that can be consumed without too much thought. The gospel has been domesticated, but it does not have to stay that way.

Source: Soul Graffiti: Making A Life In The Way Of Jesus

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