Jesus isn’t your friend

Whoa there, beloved—that title might’ve made you spin in your seat a little. Allow me to explain.

A lot of people have a “cozy” image of Jesus. He’s chilling with you in a coffee shop, wearing a baseball cap backwards, throwing peace signs at everyone that walks by.

Our image is often wrong. We see Jesus as

• A coffee buddy
• A hippie
• A meek, flimsy yogi-type person
• A good advice giver
• A go-between to remind God to not fry us alive

Shall I continue?

Jesus’ name is to be used with utmost respect. That’s why I’m careful about wearing or sharing brands that make cutesy shirts (well-meaning, perhaps, but irreverent). Things like

• Surviving on coffee and Jesus
• Jesus is my BFF
• Or other such cutesy quotes

The thing is, Jesus rose from the grave. That takes a lot of strength. That shows deity. That deserves something more than a “Oh yeah, Jesus? He’s my best friend!”

Don’t get me wrong. There’s a whole song about Jesus being our friend: “What a friend we have in Jesus . . .” But that song is so reverent. It’s reminding us that Jesus is the ultimate friend. There’s no superficiality.

I love reading my Bible in coffee shops. But it’s important to remember that our Jesus sweat great drops of blood while praying for God’s will to be done, because it’s hard. Jesus was almost trampled in crowds; appeared in villages where Pharisees tried to stone Him and push Him off a cliff.

He. Is. God. Equal with the Father. So, let’s give Him the honor and respect due His name.