Just give me Jesus

I heard this phrase 'a lot' these past few months. A fair number this was spoken by people around me, whom I consider much and highly- so I considered it. 'Just give me Jesus.'

When first I heard it I recoiled. It made sense, but in the same something seemed wrong about it. I'm not saying we should rely on anything more than Jesus, but something sat uneasy with me. It's not that I misunderstood the people saying it, either. 'Let's get our heads out of the clouds (and other places) and do something practical...'

I agree. Jesus is applicable, active, involved. However, saying 'just give me Jesus'- it really is an unsettling phrase. It excises Jesus' humanity, commodifies Him. It ruins the power of salvation. Mind you, those who have spoken this phrase are not any of few intellect; they don't limit Jesus in this way. I'm more concerned when we use this phrase in environments where understanding is already thin.

Saying, 'just give me Jesus' means 'repeat to me what I already know.' "Keep telling me that Jesus is love, that God loves me and I get to sit on his lap and give him a hug. Tell me a story that makes ME feel good. Make me 'content'.

I'm not attacking anyone who has said this. But when people offered this up as a defense against doctrinal disputes, etc., I heard it with the ears of those who have experienced a different depth of revelation of Jesus Christ. Many of us know that Christ reveals himself through Scripture, epiphany, etc. We can be CONFIDENT in the Christ that we know. We also know that Christ is deeper than we already know.