White Jesus Wrote the Constitution

There is so much wrong with this painting, I hardly know where to begin. To address only a fraction of its mistakes, misrepresentations, and theological inaccuracies would require a blog series I honestly don't have time to write. But I couldn't resist the urge to publicly condemn this painting as the nationalistic idolatry that it is, in contrast to the true faith of Jesus-followers all over the world. Here are just three things I'd like to point out:

1) White Jesus

The artist who painted this painting, answers what he calls "liberal criticism" on the page where the painting is displayed. The first criticism he addresses is the depiction of Jesus as European/Caucasian. He responds,

"I don't pretend to know what Christ looks like. As I stated in my interview, I wanted to create an image that would be instantly recognizable as Jesus. I am not painting an anthropological Jesus. Nobody would recognize him if I painted him that way."

This is so poor an excuse for this categorical fallacy, it does not even deserve to be considered a response. The entire painting is a political statement, complete with crying supreme court justices and "heroic" soldiers. Yet, he claims his reasoning behind intentionally misrepresenting Jesus' human ethnicity is merely for "recognition." He is clearly deluded or deceptive. Furthermore, there is no lack of evidence for Jesus' human ethnicity in the Bible, nor his physical features. Is there really any debate among Christians whether or not Jesus was a Palestinian Jew? Further still, would not a man with darker, more Middle Eastern facial features, dressed in white and gold robes and with a glowing halo REALLY be unrecognizable as Jesus??

2) "Founding Fathers"

Like so many ignorant American Christians, this artist also believes the myth that the United States was founded by Christians. This is patently false and has been so thoroughly refuted it should not need to be brought up again! Right-wing conservative evangelicals in America are among the worst at rewriting history to have them in it. Its like when someone from High School remembers you but you don't remember them, and they say you were good friends. Its sad really.

3) War, Violence and Jesus

Perhaps one of the most disturbing aspects of this painting is congruent with one of the most disturbing aspects of Americanized Christianity. This is its endorsement and advocacy for violence and war, often even invoking Christ's name. The artist here honors several soldiers who represent those who fought and killed in wars ranging from the Revolutionary War against Britain to the Vietnam War. (The absence of a representative for Gulf War and Iraq Veterans is highly conspicuous.) The glorification of war by conservative Christians in America is nothing new nor is it particularly surprising. However, what does strike me as very telling, is the artist depiction of the Civil War soldier crying. The caption explains that this is the only war where "brother fought against brother." This is very telling because, of course, the Revolutionary War was fought against a "Christian nation" …Britain. So, here, the author betrays his deep-seated view that in his mind brotherhood is derived from common citizenship in an earthly kingdom as opposed to the citizenship in God's kingdom that redemption supplies in Christ. The Colonial soldiers who were professing Christians and killed fellow professing Christians from Britain didn't kill their brothers. They just killed enemies. By contrast, white, slave-holding Southerners who did not profess Christ but killed Northern soldiers who also did not profess Christ as Lord, killed their brothers because of their common American-ness. Interesting, isn't it?

Space and time does not permit me to conduct as thorough a refutation of all this painting's errors (both theologically and historically) as I would like. But suffice to say this painting is a clear representation of the Americanized and bastardized "Christianity" that is imagined all too often by conservative evangelicals in this country. It is not based on Scripture and it is nationalistic idolatry.

PS - Shout out to Greg Boyd for exposing this painting on his blog

Peace.

"Taken" by His love - Guest post by Osheta Moore

So, TC and I are big movie people. Well, more him than me. I use movies as a sleep aid. I'm asleep by the middle and instantly wake up at the credits. It drives TC crazy. So I make it a habit to put on my PJs, drink a glass of milk and cuddle on the couch with a blanket whenever he pops a DVD in. Not really, it's not intentional, it's just we have two very different tastes in movies. He loves a script driven movie with either lots of action or thought provoking plot lines. Combine the two and it will leave an impression on him. The Matrix I would say is one of his favorite movies and our daughter is named Trinity partly because of it. I on the other hand, love a good romance. I love seeing the journey a man and woman take together as they explore their love for one another and how that loves leave an indelible mark on their lives. I love seeing the workaholic wall street tycoon get a second chance at love through an angel's intervention. I love seeing the immature shopaholic find her purpose while learning to discern between love that is reciprocal and nourishing and love that is conditional on receiving the minimum payment due on the line of credit. For me, a movie is a sort of escape. I see so much of the ugliness in the world, that I really want to be reminded that there is beauty, that there is laughter, that there is joy, that there is love. But, two nights ago I chose to watch a movie that wasn't a romance or even a comedy. Two nights ago, I got a 90 minute look at the sex trafficking industry. I saw women objectified. I saw men with callous, evil hearts. I saw families grieve. I saw a father's relentless mission. And I saw my Heavenly Father's passion for his daughters.

To preface this, TC has been gone for 5 days generating support at his home church in IL and spending time with family. So, when he said "Babe, you've got to watch this movie with me!" I was all over it. Anything to sit next to him for a while after being apart for several days! When I saw the trailer for "Taken" I immediately knew that I wanted to see it. But in the trailer it shows a woman alone in her house getting taken by scary black-clad men. So I, knowing my low tolerance for anything too violent or haunting decided to put the movie out of my mind. The movie is about a CIA agent who retires to spend more time with his 16 year old daughter named Kim, whom he had spent little time with as a little girl because of his profession. She talks him into signing a consent form for her to go to Paris under the guise of an educational summer trip. Really the girl was planning on following U2 across Europe! So her dad finds out, make extra rules for her to follow while there (call when she gets there, give him the phone number to where she will be staying etc. )because he knows the underbelly of Paris and wants to protect his daughter. Well, her and her friend meet a charming and sexy-accented hottie at the airport, divulge too much information about their situation they tell him they are alone in an apartment and gives him the apartment number. All the while, the charming hottie is actually bait for beautiful American women. The girls get taken (hence the movie title) by a Ukrainian sex trafficking organization and Kim's father goes on a rampage through Paris to rescue his daughter.

As I was watching the movie it really hit a nerve with me. Not so much because of the despicable sex trade industry. That's horrible and it angers me just thinking about it. I have a friend who is passionate about bringing awareness and being the light of Christ in this dark corner of humanity and I am blown away by her. So I went into this movie with a little bit of preparation for that aspect of the movie. I was not prepared to see the gospel in that movie. I saw a woman's fear of her Heavenly Father, a woman's rejection of her Heavenly Father and a Heavenly Father's plan to redeem his daughter.

Kim, has a general distrust of her dad. He wasn't around very much when she was a child and when he was around she carried a significant fear with her. She says in the beginning of the movie, she always wanted to ask him what he really does that takes him away from her so often. When her dad drew her out on that, she tells him it's because she is afraid she wouldn't like the answer. So there's an element of wanting to know him, but feeling as if he is unknowable that he's maybe too dangerous to know, or that she'll be disappointed with what she finds. She also has a mother and step father that feed her distrust, by making sly comments and by treating him with disdain in her presence. And I immediately thought of all the women in the world that are believing lies about God. That as a young girl looked up at the beauty of the stars and knew there was Someone who made them and she knew that Someone made those stars for her. A love offering from a Daddy to his daughter. And her heart was glad. But as the enemy worked out his plan, the stars were shrouded by the fog of deception. One by one she lost sight of the stars and all she saw was nothingness. Black, empty void and hope was lost. Maybe she still believes the stars are there, but not the Creator. And so, fear and distrust become her new companions. She begins to believe that God doesn't love her because this bad thing happened or this good thing didn't happen. She begins to believe God is angry with her because she once believed but now struggles, and she's too afraid to ask him the truth. She begins to believe that her worth is in her body because that's real, that's tangible, the sensations are physical and really what does a deity that you can't see have to offer in comparison? In Kim I saw a woman completely ignorant to the powerhouse of a father sitting next to her in the car and I wonder how often I forget the ardent love of my Father and the resourcefulness that rests in His hands.

Because of her deep distrust of her dad she pays no attention to his cautions. She doesn't call her dad and she's not truly apologetic when he asks her why she's not following the rules. She pulls the standard, "you're ruining my life and you don't want me to have fun" teen bit. She's self-centered and unaware of how fragile her comfortable reality is. Until she is taken. She is taken into a world where sex sells, where it's not personal it's business, and where her only hope in staying alive is up to the man pumping her body with heroin who hopefully doesn't accidentally give her an overdose. She's turned into an addict and plans are made to violate her innocence and it's all because of her rejection of her father's care. And I think back in my life where I pulled the, " you want ruin my fun God" card and I had fun. Short-lived but costly fun. Fun that sometimes cost me relationships and fun that cost me my innocence. Fun that as I look back was an infection masquerading as a cure. Watching Kim, my mind filled with images of women armed with anger and accusations for the Lord turning away from the Lamb to cuddle with the wolf.

But because of who he is her dad goes to rescue her. Bryan Mills-the father, is a CIA agent with an arsenal of skills, experience, and instinct. He goes through the blackest pit of Paris to find and rescue his daughter. There is a French official who is Bryan's friend, and we later find out that he's working with the Ukrainians. He urges him to be quiet and to better yet leave the country. He asks Bryan to not make a mess. Oh, but make a mess he does. And I thought of Jesus. Jesus who John says was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. Jesus, God in the flesh who came to earth to in effect make a mess and get messy. He came to shake up preconceived notions of the Messiah. He came to reveal the Father to a people who had come to view him as only their Judge or their distant Creator. He came to mess up the destructive construct of the world that sin introduced. And he got messy. He comforted the unloved and unlovable. He accepted the pariah. He championed the oppressed. Jesus being fully God. Fully divine and without sin, he made touching the unclean both physically and spiritually the bedrock of his ministry.

Jesus came and He took no heed to social or religious mores. What... talk to a Samaritan woman who is shacking up to show her she has worth to me? I'm there. What... there's a woman caught in the act of adultery and some self righteous dudes want to use her to trap me when all I see when I look at her is the most beautiful work of my hand? I got this. What...a woman wants to spend time with me to learn and let me love on her and you're trying to get her go bake some bread? Let her enjoy the better portion. What...in order to restore mankind to me I must empty myself and subject myself to death- even death on a Roman cross? Not my will by Thine.

Redemption is messy. Bryan Mills ignored his friends plea and made a mess and hugely crippled the sex trade industry in Paris. Jesus ignored the Pharisees, Sadducees, and even his family's' plea to not make a mess and he through his death he overcame sin and through his resurrection he overcame death and his relentless pursuit to reveal the Father to us is crippling the plans of the enemy. Because of Who he is and because of who we are to him he made a mess.

There's a scene at the end where the father gets through the last obstacle to his daughter and she's standing there in her prostitution garb and she says, "daddy? you came for me". And of course Bryan takes Kim into his arms and comforts her. I was a mess inside when I saw that. I was a mess because I know there were times when my Daddy came for me. There were times when he sent someone to remind me of His love or His Holy Spirit reminds me of a scripture or when I get a small glimpse of His passion for me when I interact with my kids and i think, "wow...you came for me? I haven't picked up my Bible in days and... you came for me? I have sinned in my anger and... you came for me? I have carried bitterness in my heart like a talisman and... you came for me? I'm struggling with trusting you when everything in my life tells me you just don't care anymore and today...you came for me"

So, in watching a very action packed 90 minutes I couldn't help but look pass the explosions and the gun fights and see the story of redemption. The driving force behind the movie is a father's love for his daughter which was a very dim reflection of the Heavenly Father's love for us. So where are you? Are you disillusioned because the stars no longer shine bright? Ask God to remove the lies and his Truth will shine forth and light up your sky. Are you rejecting His will for your life that comes from a place of deep, true, pure love? Stop. Ask God for a bigger perspective. Repent and let Him teach you how to live a fulfilling life. Are you standing in the middle of the room and the sin from your past is hanging from you like cheap lace? Run into His arms, cry into His chest and let Him love you back to wholeness. Allow yourself to be taken by His love.

Fighting the Powers: Mentoring as Spiritual Warfare, Part I - "Who are the Powers?"

Intro:

In my next few posts, I will attempt a formidable feat. My plan is to broach several complex and often confusing subjects for the purpose of making one succinct point. (Notice I said "attempt.") I am not entirely sure I will succeed. Should I fall short of my goal however, I am confident that a sufficient number of writers and thinkers read this blog to provide a constructive critique salvaging the heart of the point I wish to make. (Notice I said "constructive.") :-)

As is evident from the title, I intend to discuss the "powers," mentoring, and spiritual warfare. What do these three subjects have in common? Seemingly little, I admit. Nevertheless, I believe there is an important intersection that I hope to shed some light on in this series.

I am not sure just yet how many parts I will need to connect my thoughts into one point. I am only sure that to start, I'd like to briefly survey the New Testament data on the "powers" and discuss them in order to lay a foundation upon which I will build my argument. And the argument I want to make is that Christian mentoring of at-risk/high-risk youth is spiritual warfare.

The Biblical Data and Deductions:

The New Testament refers to the "powers" [edit] six times: Rom. 8.38; Eph. 3.10; Eph. 6.12; Col. 1.16; Col. 2.15; and I Pet. 3.22. Five of the six passages were written by Paul. The sixth passage was written by Peter. Although these passages discuss the powers only briefly, a great deal about who or what are the powers can still be deduced.

The powers are often discussed in very important contexts. For example, they are discussed in the same context as Jesus' work on the cross and also the love of God. If the apostles Peter and Paul believed the powers noteworthy enough to mention them alongside these subjects, I think it is safe to say they should be important to us as well.

Examining each passage, I will now make several deductions about who or what are the powers.

(1) "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,* neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Rom. 8.38-39 NIV (*or heavenly rulers)

In this first passage, the powers are listed among other parts of creation that Paul forcefully teaches cannot separate believers from the love of God in Christ. Regarding the powers, we can deduce at least a couple things from this passage. First, the powers are part of creation, i.e. created by God. After listing the powers, Paul says, "...nor anything else in all creation." So the powers are a part of creation. Second, the powers do control some thing(s). Paul's point here is that whatever the powers are, they cannot separate believers from God's love in Christ. However, it is equally clear that this means whatever the powers are, they do have some power--even if it is not sufficient to separate believers from God's love in Christ.

(2) "His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Eph. 3.10-11 NIV

In this passage, Paul teaches us something else about the powers, this time in relation to the church. Here we see that at least part of the purpose for the church is to reveal God's manifold wisdom to not only all humanity, but even to fallen spirit-beings in the seldom-seen spiritual realm.

(3) "Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." - Eph. 6.11-13 NIV

Now from this passage we gain a great deal more insight into the identity and purpose of the powers. Paul explicitly states that believers are to fight the powers. The powers are a believer's true enemy--not any other human beings. This is a very important truth. Furthermore, Paul here places the powers alongside several others against which believers are to war including: rulers, authorities, and spiritual forces of evil. Categorized with company like these, it is clear why the powers are one of our true enemies.

(4) "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together." - Col. 1.15-17 NIV

In this passage about the preeminence of Christ, the powers are again listed among other parts of creation. In this passage, Paul teaches that not only are the powers a part of creation, Christ created them for himself. The powers were created to serve Christ.

(5) "having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross." - Col. 2.14-16 NIV

Now were getting somewhere! In this passage, we find the powers referenced again. However, this time, they are not just mentioned as a part of creation, even as created to serve Christ. Nor are we merely taught they are our enemies. Here, Paul teaches us that the work of Christ on the cross had an impact on the powers--a profound impact! This passage shows us clearly that at least one reason why Jesus gave his life was to defeat the powers. Jesus' self-sacrifice is here describes as warfare. In his act of dying, his seeming defeat, Jesus actually "triumphed" over these powers. In fact, he robbed them of their power and humiliated them. These are profound and fundamental truths.

It is also important to note that while some passages mention the powers neutrally as part of creation, even created to serve Christ, other passages (like this one) depict the powers as opposing God in rebellion. Regardless of the fact the powers are part of God's creation (which he deemed "very good" - Gen. 1.31), they have gone very wrong. They have rebelled against their purpose--to serve Christ--and instead oppose Christ. Therefore, it can be clearly deduced from their categorization with rulers and authorities (implying deliberative thought), and also from their description as opposing God (implying free will), that the powers are personal beings possessing mind and will. The powers are not impersonal forces, laws, or principles.

(6) "and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him." - I Pet. 3.21-22 NIV

We read the last reference to the powers on the tail-end of this dense passage in which Peter brings up several subjects that I won't be discussing. This time, the reference to the powers is eschatological. In the 'already' Kingdom of God, the powers are here depicted as in submission to Jesus Christ though in the 'not yet' kingdom of the world the powers continue to exert tremendous influence. Nevertheless, this is yet another profound teaching that perfectly compliments the Paul's teaching of Christ's victory on the cross in Colossians 2.

Some Conclusions from the Data:

So, by now, we can see that these five passages teach us a great deal about the powers. Here's a summary of some conclusions we can draw:

The powers...

• are a part of creation (Rom. 8.38-39)

• cannot separate believers from the love of God in Christ (Rom. 8.38-39)

• have power/control over some thing(s) (Rom. 8.38-39)

• have God's manifold wisdom revealed to them by the church (Eph. 3.10-11)

• are believers' true enemies (Eph. 6.11-13)

• are categorized with rulers, authorities, and forces of darkness (Eph. 6.11-13)

• were created to serve Christ (Col. 1.15-17)

• are in rebellion against God, oppose God (Col. 2.14-16)

• were defeated by the self-sacrifice of Jesus (Col. 2.14-16)

• were stripped of their power by the self-sacrifice of Jesus (Col. 2.14-16)

• were humiliated by the self-sacrifice of Jesus (Col. 2.14-16)

• are eschatologically in submission to Jesus (I Pet. 3.21-22)

From these conclusions, we can begin to see a plot or story line develop. We know the powers are a part of God's creation which he called "very good." Since the powers are depicted as disarmed and triumphed over by the self-sacrifice of Christ on the cross, it is clear that at some point the powers turned from their original state choosing instead to rebel against God. The powers are also categorized with rulers, authorities, and forces of darkness. Paul exhorts us to war against them as our true enemies. And we also see that in the eschaton the powers will ultimately come into submission to Christ. Because we live in that precarious "already but not yet" reality, the powers are both defeated yet still warring against God. The self-sacrifice of Christ signaled the beginning of the end for the powers' reign of terror, but until all is put to rights in the eschaton, we, God's Kingdom people, are called to wage war on the powers until Christ returns.

Now that a basic understanding of the New Testament's data on the powers has been surveyed even if only briefly, we can now start to entertain strategies for precisely how believers are to engage in warfare against these powers. It is from here that I wish to submit my thesis that one of, if not the most, effective of strategies for waging war on the powers is by serving at-risk/high-risk youth as a mentor. However, before I can make this assertion, I feel I must also establish a connection between the powers and at-risk/high-risk youth. Therefore, in my next post, I will detail much of the biblical data explaining what it is the powers do, and are doing. I will attempt to show that at-risk/high-risk youth in cities of our nation (and the world's) are some of the powers' most impacted victims. From there, I will then have warrant for proposing that mentoring these youth is God-glorifying, Christ-following, Kingdom warfare against the powers.

Jesus and Justice for My Neighbor Curt

I feel conflicted tonight. A part of me is heart-broken and disappointed at the state of the church in America, particularly in Boston where I live. Another part of me is hopeful, optimistic, even faith-full. I can't see what God has in store, but from my experience with God I can only conclude he's up to something big!

This evening I spoke once again with my neighbor Curt. Curt is a hard-working man who gets up everyday and works long, hard hours at his job to provide for his family. Yet Curt is like the many millions of Americans living paycheck to paycheck. "I'm working just to pay my bills. Then once they are paid, I've got nothing left. So it's right back to work," he said to me. "I can't even afford to get a cold and miss work." Curt feels like a hamster on a stationary wheel just working to make someone else rich. And before I could even begin my inspirational, entrepreneurship pep-talk, he beat me to the punch. "I could start my own moving company, but that work is seasonal," he tells me. Curt already knows that owning his own business rather than working for someone else is a means of personal advancement. But where does a person without business ownership experience start? Where does he get the capital? What can be done to ensure his success?

There are some conversations I have in which a part of me is beside myself, or hovering above somehow, as if in an out-of-body experience. In conversations like this one, it is as if I am role-playing the precise scenario all my social justice, Christian community development research, reading, studies have equipped me to address. It is as if I have just left a class on evangelism only to be approached by someone at the grocery store who says, "Excuse me sir, aren't you a Christian? How can I be saved?" It cannot be merely coincidental that the challenges my neighbor Curt faces are the exact challenges I feel personally called to confront. There must be a purpose in our proximity.

Nearly 8 years ago I realized how captive the gospel I had been sharing was to Western, white individualism. With the help of such visionary leaders and ministries as John Perkins and the CCDA, I discovered the power of holistic ministry and how holistic is the gospel. Since then, I have given myself over to the kind of ministry that is intentionally Incarnational. I have served with ministries that do not merely proclaim the power of the gospel with words, but demonstrate the self-sacrificial love that is at it's heart through service and meeting felt needs. I have witnessed first-hand the power of holistic ministry by seeing it transform entire communities through faithful, prophetic witness.

I said to Curt, "The answer is community! Our culture blinds us to our potential for prosperity together by constantly trying to convince us that we are all on our own. As long as each one of us believes we just have to look out for ourselves, we will continue in this perpetual cycle of helplessness." But Curt is not a question on the midterm exam in my social ethics class in seminary. He is a real person who has been down that road before and been hurt. His response was as true as it was bleak. "Ya, but... even in community, when one person starts to make it, the others get jealous and think 'why ain't I making it?' Even family will stab you in the back over money." Curt isn't just jaded; I can't simply dismiss his apprehensions. There is a lot of truth to Curt's cynicism. Naturally, I want to reassure Curt that a community centered on faith in Christ will offer him the stability and trustworthiness he needs. However, even as optimistic and faith-full as I think I am, I too quickly recall just how treacherous and divisive church communities can be. Even still I said to him, "The community must be rooted in something trustworthy for those in the community to be trustworthy." I almost didn't believe myself as I said the words.

After several more minutes of conversation about IDAs (Individual Development Accounts), homeownership, and an organization that assists Boston residents in purchasing their first home at an affordable cost, we were both called inside our respective homes for dinner.

Still, I couldn't shake the sense of frustration that comes from knowing the Kingdom of God is the answer to Curt's dilemma---and everyone else's for that matter---but that the church that is called to reflect and advance that Kingdom is failing. Or maybe it is not that the church is failing necessarily. Perhaps somewhere in Boston God has prepared for Curt the precise resources and support he needs. Only I have no idea how to connect the two because I am unaware if or where this ministry exists. While I feel above average in being informed of the ministry taking place in Boston, I admit I cannot exhaustively know what is available. It is conceivable that minutes from us both is a ministry that God has purposed to meet Curt's need perfectly. Nevertheless, I felt helpless. So I called my friend Glenn who is much more informed of holistic ministry in Boston than I. But he had no good news. He said, [edit] 'Christian community development in Boston is a huge need.'

Osheta and I lifted Curt and his family up before the Lord and thanked God that we have the opportunity to know them and share in their lives. We prayed that God would use us to lead Curt and his family into his Kingdom freeing them not only from captivity to sin, but also from the oppressive power of injustice.

I do not know how God will meet Curt where he is at, but I am confident that if he can find and deliver me, he can rescue anyone! Please pray with me for Curt and his family that God will glorify himself in Curt's life by miraculously delivering him into his Kingdom.

Characteristics of Jesus' Life

The life of Jesus is many things to me. I made a list of characteristics I would use to describe it. I'm sure it is not exhaustive, but was helpful to me in organizing my thoughts. [These are in no particular order]

(1) Historical
It is important to me that the life of Christ is a historical event, and not merely some mystical parable of how life should be lived. Jesus' life was recordable and was recorded. It is important to me that Jesus lived in history because I live in history. It is important to me that Jesus lived in the 'real world' because I live in the 'real world.'

(2) Revealing
The life of Jesus serves as the primary and chief revelation of God's character and nature. In the life of Christ I find God. Just as my children know me because I dwell with them and they experience me, I know God as Father because in Christ He has dwelt with humanity and we have experienced His life. (Perhaps slightly off-topic, one means by which I continue to experience God as Father is by the indwelling of the Spirit.)

(3) Revolutionary
In the life of Jesus I am confronted with the subversive and counter-cultural nature of God's Kingdom. The life of Jesus revolts against every norm and status quo. Jesus turns on it's head the expectation and presuppositions about the Kingdom and God.

(4) Relational
Jesus' life reveals the relational nature of God and the importance of relationships to the Kingdom and to God. Jesus sups with humanity, fellowships with humanity, and shares in all our pain and ugliness. Jesus cares tenderly for others and is cared for tenderly. Jesus has a mother, father, siblings and friends.

(5) Exemplary
Jesus' life serves for me as the example of the life I am to live. As Jesus loved, so am I to love. As Jesus served, so am I to serve.

(6) In-breaking
Jesus' life is a breaking-in of the Triune God into human history. It interrupts the natural order of human life. Jesus' life marks history profoundly, and demonstrates God's rescuing, intervening, passionate love.

(7) Cultural
Jesus' life must be understood with regard for his Jewish religio-cultural heritage. That Jesus' life included and celebrated his earthly contextual environment. This is important because it affirms God's inspiring presence in cultural formation/development. Culture is not inherently sinful or else Jesus could not and would not have identified with his own culture. Jesus' identification with his culture empowers us and commissions us to celebrate our respective cultures insofar as they do not cause us to sin.

(8) Incarnational
That Jesus' life is the life of God in the flesh is unquestionably important. In Christ, God is with us. John says the Word "dwelt" with us, tabernacled with us---literally "pitched his tent" with us. That Jesus identified with humanity and shared in humanities joys, sorrows, destiny gives us the most profound glimpse into the heart of God.

(9) Inaugurating
The life of Jesus inaugurates God's reign. In Jesus' life we taste a sampling of the marriage supper of the Lamb. In Jesus' life we are given a glimpse of what the Kingdom is currently and will be to the full in the eschaton. Jesus' life begins the end and summons from afar the consummation of all things.

(10) Inclusive
In Jesus' life we see the bringing near of the outcast, the exultation of the downtrodden, the honoring of the oppressed, and praise of the despised. Jesus intentionally turns upside-down all the notions of righteousness and piety held by the religious authorities. Jesus life includes those who were most often excluded from thoughts of Kingdom citizenship.

(11) Intimate
Jesus' life presents us with the story of a friend who had intimate relationships that transcended mere religious affiliation. In contrast to other rabbis, Jesus held unusually close relationships with his disciples. He considered them his friends.

(12) Spirit-filled, -led, -empowered
Jesus' life is characterized by the presence of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is led by the Spirit, filled with the Spirit, empowered by the Spirit. Jesus does signs and wonders in the power of the Spirit and is anointed by the Spirit. In Jesus' life, we can see what our own lives can be when surrendered to, led by, empowered by the Spirit.

(13) Peace-making/Just
Though often controversial, Jesus' life is marked by a peculiar peace. He heals the ear of a soldier who is sent to arrest him. He brings peace to the hearts of those lives he touches. Jesus teaches and models peace throughout his life. It is important to note what Dr. King said, "Peace is not the absence of conflict, but the presence of justice." Jesus is an advocate for the poor and oppressed. Jesus speaks truth to power. Jesus teaches and models justice.

(14) Prophetic/Proclamational
Jesus' life can also be seen as prophetic and proclamational. Jesus' life pointed to the Kingdom and the Father. His first recorded 'sermon' was "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Being very God, Jesus spoke with unique prophetic authority. Like no other prophet, Jesus proclaimed the Kingdom as its King.

(15) Human
The fully human nature of Jesus is important to his life. Jesus is touched by the feeling of humanities infirmities. Jesus is tempted in every way as a man is. Jesus is fully human. Jesus identifies fully with humanity.

(16) Divine
In the life of Jesus, we are confronted with the life of God. Jesus is God in the flesh. Fully and very God, Jesus speaks with God's authority and claims oneness with the Father. Jesus' full divinity is essential.

(17) Self-sacrificial
Jesus' life, not just his crucifixion, is characterized by self-sacrificial love. Jesus' mission was to serve and he modeled servanthood and sacrifice throughout his life.

(18) Trinitarian
In the life of Jesus we can clearly see the life of the triune God revealed. Jesus is sent by the Father and sends the Spirit. Jesus is honored by the Father and empowered by the Spirit. Jesus is led by the Spirit and obeys the Father. Jesus does only what the Father *IS* doing and tells him to do, while doing it in the power and anointing of the Spirit. Jesus prays to the Father by the Spirit.

(19) Victorious
Jesus' life is characterized by victory, not triumphalism. In Jesus' surrender to his Father, he lays claim to authority and victory over demons and Satan. Jesus rebukes Satan with the Word and is victorious over sin and death. Jesus a the Warrior King like David but his victory is cosmic and not merely terrestrial.