Breakfast with Brad – Jesus, A.A. and 12-Step Recovery

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In which Brad had breakfast long ago but goes to the Fieldhouse for a Kombucha and Pickle to discuss Jesus and AA. What do you think is more important: using Jesus’ name but attaching it to retribution, or not using his name but describing him accurately?

Supplement:

Again, the question is this: which is better? To worship a false god (by virtue of its pagan nature) and use the name of Jesus to describe him? Or to worship the One True God (by virtue of his divine nature) but getting the name wrong?

C.S. Lewis addressed this in the Narnia Chronicles in The Last Battle. Here is the testimony of Emeth, someone who thought he was the enemy of Aslan (the Christ figure) because he worshiped the name of Tash (Aslan’s enemy). But when he met Aslan, Emeth was in for a surprise:

“So I went over much grass and many flowers and among all kinds of wholesome and delectable trees till lo! in a narrow place between two rocks there came to meet me a great Lion. The speed of him was like the ostrich, and his size as an elephant’s; his hair was like pure gold and the brightness of his eyes like gold that is liquid in the furnace. He was more terrible than the Flaming Mountain of Lagour, and in beauty he surpassed all that is in the world even as the rose in bloom surpasses the dust of the desert.Then I fell at his feet and thought, Surely this is the hour of death, for the Lion (who is worthy of all honour) will know that I have served Tash all my days and not him. Nevertheless, it is better to see the Lion and die than to be Tisroc of the world and live and not to have seen him. But the Glorious One bent down his golden head and touched my forehead with his tongue and said, Son, thou art welcome. But I said, Alas Lord, I am no son of thine but the servant of Tash. He answered, Child, all the service thou hast done to Tash, I account as service done to me. Then by reasons of my great desire for wisdom and understanding, I overcame my fear and questioned the Glorious One and said, Lord, is it then true, as the Ape said, that thou and Tash are one? The Lion growled so that the earth shook (but his wrath was not against me) and said, It is false. Not because he and I are one, but because we are opposites, I take to me the services which thou hast done to him. For I and he are of such different kinds that no service which is vile can be done to me, and none which is not vile can be done to him. Therefore if any man swear by Tash and keep his oath for the oath’s sake, it is by me that he has truly sworn, though he know it not, and it is I who reward him. And if any man do a cruelty in my name, then, though he says the name Aslan, it is Tash whom he serves and by Tash his deed is accepted. Dost thou understand, Child? I said, Lord, though knowest how much I understand. But I said also (for the truth constrained me), Yet I have been seeking Tash all my days. Beloved, said the Glorious One, unless they desire had been for me thou wouldst not have sought so long and so truly. For all find what the truly seek.

Can you think of instances where this might be the case in our world. Are there those who name Jesus as Lord who will be surprised to find him say, “I never knew you”? (Matthew 7:21-23) And might there be some who, like Emeth, are surprised to be welcomed by him in the end? (Matthew 25:37-40) What do you think?