Trick or Treat Jesus

Last updated on: December 19, 2014 at 11:58 am by Guest Contributor

Trick or Treat Jesus 2014-12-19T11:58:25-04:00 Guest Contributor

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

by Chelsen Vicari

Every year at the end of October, my alma mater holds a blood drive. As the leaves are giving up their vibrant green for a shade of cozy yellow or deep red, my friend and former graduate school chum, Courtney, shared with me her willingness to make a small sacrifice in the hopes of saving another’s life as a reflection of Christs sacrificial love for her. Unfortunately, not every Millennial I know feels this way. This, coupled with the coming of Halloween, got me to thinking about the blood shed for my sake, and the way so many in my generation have chosen to dilute its power.

As a Millennial, I am consistently confronted by people in my own generation who take it upon themselves to tell me that my stance for absolute truths make me uncompassionate. My generation scoffs at me yet tells me Jesus loves, and loved everyone. This is true, and I will be the last person to dispute that, but Jesus, in His infinite love, did not , and does not, condone everything done by His beloved ones. The more I study scripture, and compare it to the words of my generation, the more I am convinced that many Millennials are worshiping an idol dressed up in a Jesus costume.

Halloween being just around the corner caused me to realize that I live in a generation fraught with unapologetic trick-or-treaters. The Bible says that God set eternity in the heart of man, so, by virtue of the God who made us, we yearn to interact with the eternal. Sadly, many Millennial Evangelicals insist that the character of the God of the universe is a subject open to individual interpretation. Like trick-or-treaters, many Millennials desire to knock on the door and have it opened to them, but, when the door swings wide, they want only the sweet stuff. So intent are they on “acceptance” that they miss the point, Jesus came to save us from sin, not to show us how to feed it candy.

Children cannot survive in a happy, healthy manner on a diet of Snickers bars and Twizzlers. Children need nourishment, nutrition, and the presence of people who will feed them good things and keep them from destroying their teeth, and their tummies with the bad ones. Yet, my generation, seemingly unconcerned with authority of God’s Word, is taking the sweet, and telling the people with the veggies that we are mean parents.

I understand that sometimes Scripture may seem unappealing to some people. However, I’m reminded that we were an unredeemed people, dead in our sins, and everything that Jesus came to do, did, and continues to do is because He has relentless love for us. We serve a God who knows the number of hairs on every head in the world. We serve a God who causes the heart of an unborn child to beat before some mothers are even aware they are pregnant. Yes, He is a God who corrects us when we are wrong. He is a God who sets a standard for how we should live, and He loves us when we fall short.

He is a God of mercy, compassion, and yes, justice. He is true, and living, and righteous and He is not open for interpretation. Much of my generation thinks the costumed Jesus is better and more loving, but this imposter is rotting teeth and tummies of children who need to be, and yearn to be nurtured. In His Kingdom, there are no tricks, but His love, and His presence, are the richest treat you’ll ever taste.

Photo Credit: Chelsen Vicari

Chelsen Vicari serves as the Evangelical Action Director for the Institute on Religion and Democracy and is author of Distortion: How the New Christian Left is Twisting the Gospel & Damaging the Faith. Follow her on twitter @ChelsenVicari.

Previous Post

October 29, 2014

The Masculinity Myth: The Real Reason Men Don’t Go to Church

Next Post

November 3, 2014 Glittering like a Star: Martin Luther

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Culture Slideshow Uncategorized

Select a Month April 2026 October 2025 July 2025 April 2025 February 2025 October 2024 August 2023 June 2023 March 2023 February 2023 November 2022 April 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 January 2020 December 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 January 2019 October 2018 August 2018 June 2018 May 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz