Episode 1244: Why We Get Jesus Wrong (Part 1)

In this episode, we explore the historical and cultural reasons why a significant gap exists between what Jesus taught and what many of his followers practice today. We highlight the stark contrast between Jesus's teachings on loving enemies, welcoming strangers, and nonviolence, and the sentiments often expressed by those who claim to represent “Christian values,” such as building walls and prioritizing self-defense. This problem is not new, as Jesus himself warned that not everyone who calls him “Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven. The episode traces this disconnect back to the “Constantinian shift” in 312 AD, when Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire, leading the faith to confuse the kingdom of God with earthly power and to adopt the very systems it was originally designed to challenge.

We explain how this historical drift continued in America, where Christianity became intertwined with American nationalism, white supremacy, and capitalism, often placing “God and country” on an equal footing. This led to a version of Christianity that is more recognizable as a political movement than a spiritual one, focusing on culture wars and preserving privilege rather than on the core tenets of Jesus's ministry. The episode also delves into the psychological reasons for this drift, arguing that many Christians approach faith from a place of fear rather than love. This fear, whether of losing safety or cultural dominance, leads them to remake Jesus in their own image, creating a “domesticated” version of him who confirms their biases rather than challenging them.

The episode concludes by emphasizing that the authentic Jesus does not fit neatly into any modern political category. He was simultaneously more radically loving and more morally demanding than either conservatives or liberals often admit. We encourage listeners to recognize that when we make Jesus conform to our political or cultural tribes, we are worshiping a Jesus of our own creation rather than the one of the Gospels. The ultimate challenge is to move beyond fear and self-interest to embrace the true Jesus who calls for a life of selfless love, justice, and peace, and whose message is meant to set us free.