A Letter from our pastor

Repainting Jesus

When Ghandi was asked by a Christian minister what he thought about the Christian faith, his answer was this: “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians.  Your Christians are so unlike your  Christ”.

Ever since I heard this quote (several years ago) it has haunted me – mostly because I think this view is shared by many people and because in some respects it’s hard to argue with.

History’s ledger is full of vile and bloody accounts of things done for, and in the name of, Jesus Christ. And lest we think this is something of the past, our newspapers continue to report the modern version of these historical events – abortion clinic bombings, televangelists caught in affairs or financial impropriety, Churches in the bible belt still meeting in racially separate congregations.

Certainly this does not characterize every church in North America. However, through countless conversations with seekers, skeptics, believers, atheists and agnostics, it seems to me that many of those who do attend church (or have in the past) encounter anemic or out of touch religious leaders and fellow congregants who attend out of guilt or ritual.

Combine this with the fact that less and less people read the bible for themselves (although more have an opinion on it than have actually read it), and the dominant picture of Christ that the average North American sees is anything but Christ himself.

In a book entitled “The Velvet Elvis”, Rob Bell suggests that one of the primary roles of every generation of Christ-followers (and by extension the Church) is to repaint Jesus Christ. Not a repainting that is a new or different picture of Him, but rather a classic work, a return to the original.

Since my early twenties, this has been my life’s passion – to repaint Jesus Christ for a generation of people that primarily have a distorted, unappealing or even offensive image of Him. Why am I so concerned with this? Because the on-going, living picture of Christ that I see has quite literally changed my life. The Christ that I have encountered in the Scriptures, in Church, through other followers and leaders, has shaped my mind, my character, my emotions and my values. In fact, while it may seem a strange concept for many, this relationship with Jesus Christ has been a life-transforming friendship.

I am convinced that if the Church today began to re-paint Christ like the Original, that it would have the same effect as Jesus did when he walked the earth. Those who sell a religion for power, money and control will lose their authority and those who are honestly seeking the truth will find a God that they can love and be loved by in return.

While the state of the church in North America in general is in decline (judging by every Gallup poll and Globe & Mail article you read), I do believe that there is an awakening going on – a quiet revolution of repainting, not just in words but in deeds. At Upper Room, it is our passion to be a part of this revolution. To see Christians reflect the real Christ - to help the sick, embrace the marginalized, speak out against injustice, lift the burden of religion and bring God near. We are not a perfect community but we are an authentic one. We believe that bible-based teaching, music, community involvement, genuine friendship, physical and emotional healing and real joy are all marks of a Christ-centred church.

Our desire is to be agents of positive change in the community of Vaughan - it is the reason we planted this church back in the fall of 2004. We believe that through the life-changing work of Jesus Christ and the joyful service of we who call ourselves Christ-followers, this positive change can be real and lasting. Wherever you are at on your spiritual journey, we invite you to come and join us as we discover the depth of new life that can only be found in the person and teaching of Jesus Christ.