Mosaic

Controversial Jesus

14 Comments

Mosaic presents “The Controversial Jesus, 2,000 years and the questions continue.”

New series begins this Sunday.

May 28th Subversive Intentions
June 4th Defiance
June 11th Conspiracy
June 18th The Unthinkable

14 Responses to “Controversial Jesus”

1. Derrick Engoy
   May 31st, 2006 at 10:26 pm

   Since I’m committed to another local body, I have to catch the podcasts. I’ve been listening to Mosaic for quite sometime now and it definitely has helped me see God from His many different vantage points.

   I’m in the middle of the first message of the series and it’s on point with what I’ve been formulating and helping to initiate within our church body.

   Keep rockin’!!!

2. Mark Weible
   Jun 4th, 2006 at 6:22 am

   Erwin,
   I just listened to Subversive Intentions. Thanks!

3. Rachel Kennedy
   Jun 4th, 2006 at 10:10 pm

   Erwin,

   I want to thank you for speaking on such controversial issues. As a college student going to a Christian college, for the longest time I have wanted to hear such topics talked about in our chapels. It is so refreshing. You give me so much to think about…thank you!

4. Brad Roe
   Jun 5th, 2006 at 10:05 pm

   Erwin,

   I really liked this message–one of my favorites. I was thinking about the line where you said that is was hard to imagine that this (the separation in Belfast) is what Jesus had in mind when he died on the cross. In addition to the truth that that isn’t what Christ died for, I also thought about the agony that as Jesus was dying, he knew that 2,000 years from then, people would do that in his name. In addition to the physical agony, I can’t even imagine the heartbreak he must have felt at that.

   Recently, some people in my youth group said about one of the guys in the group who didn’t belive in Jesus said, “they really need to have a personal intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. That’s what they need…”. They went on and on about this, but what they were missing the whole time was that Jesus wants US to have a personal, close, intimate relationship with him, even though (shocker) he’s not perfect yet. Religion gets me down.

   Hazaa for your statement about the location of the Davinci Code in the bookstore…….enough said. :)

   Thanks for your message. Often times I loose hope when I’m surrounded by loads of religious people. Your messages give me great hope and encouragement, and help to keep me sharpened, loving, and full of hope. Thanks!

5. Robin Choe
   Jun 6th, 2006 at 9:54 pm

   I love you Erwin, keep on speaking about Jesus Christ!

6. Zac Jeffries
   Jun 8th, 2006 at 10:09 pm

   Erwin, I heard you speak while you were in Australia recently at ‘Out of the Valley’ and have been getting the podcasts since. Thank you for refusing to comprimise or ‘water down’ your message for the sake of keeping people happy. This image of a controversial Jesus as one might call it has been kept from the people for so long and yet it is so needed. Thank you for speaking the truth with such a heartfelt passion and keep it up for us barbarian brothers down under!

7. Jonathan Browning
   Jun 9th, 2006 at 7:57 am

   I feel incredibly blessed to have found Mosaic. Erwin’s messages always seem to talk directly to my heart and soul. At the risk of sounding like a gadfly, I did want to respond to something. Erwin’s sermons are always so brilliantly written and always take an insightful approach. But once in a while, I feel, says something that hits me as odd. Two weeks ago it was the statement that the Da Vinci Code can be located in the “fiction” section, ’nuff said. This is a horrible thing for Christians to respond to someone who says that it is “true”. Shouldn’t we say, “Why do you believe it is true? Where did you get the facts?” Open a conversation with them about why it is so important that they believe in the book/film. Because they can say to any Christian, “Excuse me. What section of the DVD Rentals is The Passion of the Christ? It’s not in the documentary section? ‘Nuff said. If we allow our arguements to be decided where a chain store places the merchandise, we are in a lot of trouble.

   I only point this out because I find myself sharing Erwin’s words and wisdom with so many people. I would like to encourage all of us to talk to people rather than shut them down. (This is one TINY case in hours of Erwin’s sermons….but I felt it important to bring up.)

8. Brad Roe
   Jun 9th, 2006 at 12:08 pm

   good point, Johnathan.
   I get frustrated, though, after hear evangelical leader after evangelical leader spend forever telling us why we shouldn’t believe the Davinci code, that’s it’s the devil, and we should be focused on telling the world how the Davinci Code will land them in hell. It’s just couter-productive. I think one of the points Erwin was trying to make was that going down such a path really isn’t the best thing to do. We can learn about the ethos of American cultue by looking at what the movie says, and beyond that, I don’t think it warrents THAT much attention. My mom’s been saying “It’s FICTION” for months about the book. We don’t need to go into some huge debate. The question shouldn’t be about how truthful the book it, but whether it is fiction or non-fiction. I do see your point, though. That statement about the passion hit me hard. :)

   While the “fiction section….’nuff said” comment can be taken in the wrong way, I’m thinking that there is a lot of truth there. Some people say that what you believe about the Davinci Code is paramount to the faith. I disagree. I guess I just don’t care about the movie/book that much–there’s more important stuff out there.

9. David Colo
   Jun 12th, 2006 at 11:27 am

   I’ve been out of the institution and culture for awhile and decided to show up at Mayan the last two weeks. While I enjoy the atmosphere and community and artistic expression that is Mosaic, I was reminded why I don’t get involved in the institutions or go to services… I was shocked by the blatant anti-Semitism in the messages at Mayan that last two weeks I went.

   The ancient Jews and their faith were demonized. Instead of a people who were following the direct commands of their God out of devotion to Him in order to please him, the Jews were presented as only caring about rules and customs for their own sake. Erwin went on and on about how the elders and chief priests were more concerned with keeping Sabath than with the fact that some guy had been healed. What kind of despicable person is this who cares only about following a bunch of rules called Sabbath and cares nothing either for God or for another human being’s health and healing? Yeshua is then, of course, shown to the be the morally upright person in contrast to these morally bankrupt Jews when he says love thy enemies and that it is bad to care more about your rules and practices than about loving and healing people.

   I wonder if Erwin was told by Moses himself that Yahweh didn’t want them loving the Canannites when they entered the promised land, but that He commanded them to slay young and old, father and son, mother and daughter, and not even keep the sword from infants and animals, he pastor would marvel at Moses’ religiousicity and lack of love for God and man and then wonder from the place of his moral superiority what kind of barbarians the Jews were to stone him to death.

10. Andy
    Jun 12th, 2006 at 2:11 pm

    I am surprised that anyone would call Mosaic an institution. If that is how you view them then you haven’t listened or seen who they are or what they are about.

    honestly, I don’t see where you get the “anti-semitism”. If you have read the gospels, then you cannot deny one bit the obvious apathy and lack of love the Pharisee’s had for other people.

    The contrast between the Pharisee in Jesus’ day to the conquest of Caanan is a poor contrast. There are a lot of reasoning behind this, and I can’t even hardly begin. But at the very basic level, the people of Israel were following God’s commands during the conquest of Caanan, but if you read through the books of the prophets it becomes obvious that the people of Israel began to not follow God’s commands. An example is in the book of Amos where God tells them to take care of the poor people instead of taking advantage of them. By the time Jesus came along, the Pharisees where still taking care of only themselves and the poor people were sinners and unclean and they didn’t do anything to help them. And at the least, if they weren’t the ones taking advantage of the people, then they let the people be taken advantage of. You remember the whip incident in the Temple? “you have made it a den or robbers”.

    The religious leaders during Jesus’ day were self-righteous, hypocritical people who kept the love of God away from the people instead of sharing it as God had commanded.

    Are you saying that the ancient Jews were demonized? or are you implying that Erwin said that? Because I didn’t hear that in his message. And Erwin has only ever expressed dislike for anyone who keeps the love of God from other people, not just Jews. Which is a righteous view, and shows deep love and concern for all people.

    in Christ,

11. Jenny
    Jun 13th, 2006 at 7:56 am

    David,

    I think it’s important to look to the central purpose of Erwin’s words. There are so many people who have been hurt and abused by religious leaders, and have completely lost God in the whole mess of it. For people who have a history of church abuse (as I do), this series has been healing and validating. Looking at the word of God,and seeing Jesus’s reaction to these type of abusive leaders, is necessary to bring God back to the center of church. This isn’t about the Jews, this is about religious systems that hurt people, and destroy faith. At the time it was the pharisees, but now, it’s everywhere. It’s in Christian churches, Catholic churches…etc. If we aren’t willing to face what is really going on in the church today, it’s only going to get worse, and more people will be hurt. Erwin is blunt and to the point, but must be, in order to truly expose TRUTH. This isn’t a subject to be delicately approached. That’s been attempted and hasn’t worked. I truly believe God is using this series through Erwin specifically for purposes we can’t even imagine. To think how many people listen worldwide, ministers and leaders included, this could start a huge change. Perhaps God has placed Erwin in this place in history for this very specific purpose.

    I really want to challenge you to listen to the sermons again, and find the healing power of God’s word. I don’t believe that this is about pointing fingers, but about finding the real God in spite of pain that church leadership has brought. It’s an abusive pattern that’s been handed down from generation to generation, and has spiraled out of control. Perhaps a change will come to these very “institutions” that you don’t want to be a part of. Just something to consider. Take Care, Jenny

12. Geoffrey
    Jun 15th, 2006 at 6:59 pm

    Dear Friends: Hello. Perhaps the best way to know exactly who Jesus Christ was, is to see the most accurate film ever made about Christ: the “Jesus” film.
    This film is the most accurate film ever made about Jesus Christ. It was filmed on location in Israel, in biblical settings, with a cast of more than 5,000 Arabs and Israelis. Its script is taken DIRECTLY from the Gospel of Luke.
    It was helped millions of people find the answers to the many important questions they have about Jesus. This film has been translated into 550 languages, it has been viewed by more than 3 BILLION people. It is a moving account of the life of Jesus. It can be purchased online from the International Mission Board, Southern Baptist Convention at www.imbresources.org
    Blessings and Shalom, Geoffrey

13. tony webster
    Jun 17th, 2006 at 1:19 am

    Hello - I am out at the YWAM LA base and will be attending your church over the summer. I was at the Controversial Jesus message on Judas last week and found it amazing! I questioned alot of thgins and really thought and challenged the topic. I just wanted to say that as a young man from Belfast, raised in a crazy area of trouble and violence, it is amazing to hear and see your other messages on the podcast..and how openly here we can worship and learn. See you guys on sunday!

14. Steve
    Jun 17th, 2006 at 2:10 am

    Hi all,

    I hate blogs - because they never seem to resolve anything. But I lurveeeeee Mosaic. And the way you express God’s vision for His church in central LA.

    I listen to you via video and audio podcast from Melbourne, Australia, I’m amazed, and whoop for joy at your creativity in your local cultural context. Thanks for breaking the stereotypes!

    Keep on talking about this revolutionary Jesus who defied everyone’s expectations about who he was and why he came.

    Steve