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 The Trouble with Jesus

by Constance Hastings

Be My Assistant
August 30, 2021

The trouble with Jesus sometimes means we need to offer our collective voices

 to begin to understand what it means to follow him.

This week I’m taking a break from The Trouble with Jesus Blog in order to move into another space. In a couple of months, I will be speaking on a Sunday morning (yeah, it’s a sermon but that sounds preachy, not me.) The lesson that week has its challenges. (So what else would I ever say when I write all the time about The Trouble with Jesus?)


Let me get straight to it. The passage turns on Mark 10:21. “Jesus felt genuine love for this [rich] man as he looked at him. ‘You lack only one thing,’ he told him. “Go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’”


Here’s your chance to bring your voice to this passage. And this is where I need your help. In 50 words or so, what are your thoughts about what Jesus meant or was saying in this verse, especially the part I have italicized? I would like to use your (as in, collectively your) responses in this message. No one’s name or any identifying information will be revealed. Just email what you think by October 1, 2021. constance.hastings@constancehastings.com The message will be recorded in YouTube, and a blog posting with the link taking you to the recording will be made available.


Why am I asking for this help? Let me admit two things right now. I don’t have all the answers to the challenges Jesus brings. It’s only in faith and after much thought and emotional/spiritual wrestling that I offer this blog or whatever message I’m asked to prepare. That being said, I do want to hear your thoughts, beliefs, hopes and fears about Jesus. Only when I have your perspectives, even when based in the tension of doubt, can I speak to you with affirmations or directions you could choose to move.

Together then, we can learn.


In this company of voices, let’s give an answer to The Trouble with Jesus.


“Then come, follow me.”

The Trouble with Jesus is he would not be intimidated into answering a trap.

Truth on Trial

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Truth is the spotlight on humanity. Find it, wrestle with it, run from it but know truth tells much, sometimes too much. Just-the-facts, video footage, eyewitness testimony, subpoenaed emails and documents only color the canvas. Anything can be made to say anything; it’s all in the spin. But truth reveals the greater story, and the direction life gives.
The Trouble with Jesus is he never made the future look totally rosy. He told it real.

Of Horrors to Come

By Constance Hastings • November 11, 2024
Jesus, what makes you think this Doomsday portrait you give here is helping? Why even talk about it? We’ve been through a hell of a lot, and this end-of-the-world talk isn’t doing us any good. Besides, who’d ever get behind you if this is where you’re going. We’re just not going to listen to this kind of thing. Yeah, well what galaxy do you come from? If talk of apocalyptic endings bother you, why do you watch so much of it from streaming movies to video games to best sellers? Listen guy, there’s money to be made from this genre, and the makers of these stories play right into the basic fears of futurists to preppers to predictive prophets with megaphones shouting, “The End is Near.” Why is this ok for everyone else, but Jesus can’t say anything beyond Love Your Neighbor and Bless the Children? Get over that, and listen up.
The Trouble with Jesus is his teaching was sometimes meant for what he had to do more so than others

How Right is Your Mite?

By Constance Hastings • November 4, 2024
Brief musing here: November 5:2024 Today, tonight, this week we will wait. Apply whatever importance you prefer to this date. Take your side expressed by your vote. Hope for the best. Yet in the marking of your ballot, also bow your head. Pray the hardest prayer ever spoken. “Your will be done.” Accept what will be. Then move into your space, your world, and see what God will do. Shalom.
The Trouble with Jesus is he doesn’t want to fight as much as he wants to lead in Love.

Brass Tacks

By Constance Hastings • October 28, 2024
The Trouble with Jesus is he doesn’t want to fight as much as he wants to lead in Love.
The trouble with Jesus is healing happens in reversal to one’s willingness to see.

Beggar Belief

By Constance Hastings • October 21, 2024
What do you want me to do for you? One’s answer reveals the beggar in one’s soul.
The Trouble with Jesus finds you have to convert more than the world to change it.

The J&J Issue

By Constance Hastings • October 14, 2024
Jesus, if you don’t mind, we’d like to talk with you about what you just said and ask a favor. Sure guys, what’s on your minds.? About your plans, when it all comes about, if the two of us could be seated next to you, one of your right and the other on your left? (long pause…) You have no idea what you’re asking....
The Trouble with Jesus was he didn’t tolerate anything getting in the way of full devotion to God.

Sell Give Follow

By Constance Hastings • October 7, 2024
True Story: A husband told his wife he was going the next day to possibly buy a Corvette. (Disclaimer: this did not happen in my house…) She read to him these words of Jesus: “Go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.” “Now, how do you think you’ll get to heaven if you buy a Corvette?” she challenged him. After a short pause, he smiled, and said, “Fast!”
The Trouble with Jesus: He doesn’t speak from a legalistic mindset. He speaks with the mind of God

How to Get a Divorce

By Constance Hastings • September 30, 2024
The Trouble with Jesus: He doesn’t speak from a legalistic mindset. He speaks with the loving mind of God.
The Trouble with Jesus is he used graphic and exaggerated devices to teach his slowest students.

Of Fire and Salt

By Constance Hastings • September 23, 2024
In some ways, Jesus, your radical messages are just what we need. You just said that welcoming children is just like welcoming you. Nice image there. But this time, it’s like you’re pushing radicalization, sending your followers off the deep end. Cutting off one’s hands or feet, gouging out the eye so you’re good enough to get access to your Dad’s Kingdom? Calling people to self-mutilation isn’t going to garner many likes on your page with this kind of talk.
The Trouble with Jesus is a radical reversal of ambition and status in God's love.

Make Us Great Again

By Constance Hastings • September 16, 2024
Jesus, oh Son of Man, you gotta lay off this. If you want to get your message out there and have everybody behind you, you have to play to what they want. All this talk about dying and staying in last place is going to destroy you. But no, you just keep repeating it over and over again. Take some good advice even those sorry followers of yours seem to realize. The only thing that needs to raise from the dead is your rhetoric.
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