Recovering Jesus - Reader Week - Clayton Bell
Today’s guest post comes from Clayton Bell in Tallahassee Florida. Clayton is the author of Clayton Bell Online where every week he give great cultural and spiritual insights ( an Hot Links of course).
Clayton recently left his job at Moore Consulting Group to become the Family Pastor at Every Nation, Tallahassee where he will be overseeing Children’s Church, middle school and high school ministries
Clayton has become a good friend and supporter of theBeerean.com and I want to personally say thank you for everything that you do Clayton.
A running joke in Christian music circles is the “Jesus per minute” rule (JPM), a musicians’ term that is derisive of corporate Christian music’s emphasis on happy songs.
It struck me recently that in many Christian blogs, books and sermons any sense of a JPM rule has been thrown out in favor of a CPM (church per minute) rule, SJPM (social justice) rule, PMPM (postmodern) rule, or a ILJBNTCPM (I like Jesus but not the church) rule.
However, when I read through Paul’s letters I’m convicted and challenged by the frequency with which Paul talks about Jesus. Paul doesn’t avoid subjects like morality, service to the poor and the church, but always places Jesus as the motivation, reason and example for all other things. He never lets anything but Jesus be at the center of his thoughts, action, motivations and explanations.
I am so very challenged by this. My tendency is to fall back into rational arguments, formulaic answers, and plug-and-play ideas. I look back on my conversations with my wife, my friends, my family and my coworkers to find the name of Jesus noticeably absent. Not that we should be the crazy Jesus person in the office, but have we gone too far in our attempt to not offend and/or fit in? How can Christ continue to be at the center of our lives if he is continually absent from our conversations?
Perhaps the amplification and centrality of Jesus is the reason churches like Mars Hill Church in Seattle find themselves with over 6,000 people in the most un-churched city in America and some even wondering if they are in the midst of a genuine revival.
Have we become too much about the “How” and not enough about the “Why” in our pulpits and small groups? What’s the last book you read about the person and work of Jesus? When’s the last time you had a conversation where you couldn’t stop talking about Jesus and what He’s done instead of the activities you’ve been participating in?
If I’m honest, it’s been way too long.
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Comments
Actually, the name of the blog is Clayton Bell Online. 
I love TheBeerean.com! Conrgrats to Greg and family, glad I could do anything to help!
Clayton Bells last blog post..You know you’re cool when…
Great stuff! Good to hear other people thinking similar things about where we need to be and what we need to be talking about-Jesus.
The last book I read about Jesus:
Meekness and Majesty-R.T. Kendall…finished today
Vintage Jesus-Mark Driscoll…finished 3 weeks ago
Both great!
Kevin Mattisons last blog post..Dinner Time: Give (part 5)
I have to say that I’ve only begun to truly grasp the centrality and necessity of Jesus and gospel in all aspects of my life. Once you grasp the reality that we need Jesus for everything, you’re world get turned totally upside down.
Thanks for this reminder Clayton.
Nice post, Clayton. It saddens me most to hear man-centered “sermons” instead of Christ-centered. I’ve been meaning to write another post about that, but have been covered up in projects and now sick. Congratulations on your new ministry position!