The Mind of Timm's Readers
Point taken. But Jesus exists on both levels. On one hand he is the God Allmighty, worthy of all our praise and adoration. On the other - a guy, a friend, a buddy. After all, He willingly bought himself down to such a low level, did he not? I can totally see Jesus joking and laughing with his disciples, playing games. All too often this image of Christ is lost to us. But I agree phrases like that do carry an air of disrespect. I confess though, that I do affectionately call him the “J-Man” from time to time. But certainly the first place I would find myself when I am face to face with Jesus would be on the ground!
Scott,
I agree with you completely because scripture says that Abraham was called a "friend of God" (2 Chronicles 20:7; James 2:23) In addition,
John15:14-15 "You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends; for all things that I heard from My father I have made known to you."
However, like you and Timm have stated, this can be taken to the extreme and people only see that side.
Good post Timm, for each side of the spectrum.
The whole idea of calling him your homeboy suggests that you have no idea what it really means to be THE Son of God and King of Kings, Lord of Lords.
"Scott,I agree with you completely..."
Whooaa! There IS a first for everything! 
I know 
. This might be a first. But since you said two sides, I had to. Usually people would just argue one side.
There is a church in our town that likes to put up little sayings like the one you posted. I saw them put up one that said...
Want to get high?
inhale Jesus!
Needless to say this church lacks a little in the holiness of God. I take that back, they lack a LOT of the holiness of God!
I personally cannot think of calling Jesus my homeboy.
He is my Savior, my Father, my Lord, but homeboy just doesn't work for me.
I hold Christ is too high regard to say such a thing. I mean, I couldn't imagine walking up to a King of Queen and saying something like that.
While I have seen this before, I cannot help but be astonished by it, I guess maybe I also have become an old fuddy-duddy, but thats a little too over the line of disrespect.
And another thing I thought of today was that when you read through the New testament, you hear nothing but respect from those that actually knew Christ, and those were Christ's "homeboys".
I believe there is a fine line between Lord and friend. Always respect the position of Lord, even when speaking as friend.
I'll treat Jesus as Lord and God now. We'll see if He let's me act like His Pal later on.....
Maybe to some people "homeboy" is a respectful term....
Amen Tim. Amen.
I agree with you guys. While I don't see anything inherently "wrong" with calling Jesus one's "homeboy", it does contain an air of disrespect to a degree. Especially in this day and age when phrases such as "homeboy" can be taken in both a positive and negative light. And I think Layne put it right when he said "there is a fine line between Lord and friend." How often do we take our friends for granted, even if unintentional? This can never happen with our relationship with Jesus.
Well-said, Timm.
What if the shirts were to say,
"I am Jesus' homeboy"
Would that be better?
Or is there still some kind of desrespectfulness going on?
(Don't use the term, and have only a superficial understanding of it)
I hate doing this, but I have to. I hate to sound like I am recycling a verse, but this verse keeps applying to many different areas.
2 Corinthians 4:4 says "For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake."
I don't think that the shirt in question preaches Jesus Christ as Lord. Am I taking this verse too far here?
Layne,
I think it depends on your viewpoint. To some it speaks of our LORD to others it doesn't. To those whom it doesn't, why does your viewpoint matter so much that you would condemn those to whom it does?
It is only a word. Jesus is not put out by the use of the term. Why should we be?
I agree, Jesus is Lord and we should know His as our God, not just another guy. I do want to make the comment, that Jesus also tells us He is our friend and to most people the slang word Homeboy is just another word for friend. I do not like the word, as a matter of fact, I can not stand it. But I can not judge it or the poeple using it as only God can do that. I think that God would much rather teenagers to go around calling Him their homeboy rather than not knowing Him at all or keeping Him a secret!
Geppy,
At what point did I say I would condemn them? At what point did I say my veiwpoint is better than any others?
I will echo Geppy.
And Cindy has great wisdom in this as well.
Cool.
"At what point did I say I would condemn them? At what point did I say my viewpoint is better than any others?"
I was asking myself those same questions, Layne... hmm...
I think that God would much rather teenagers to go around calling Him their homeboy rather than not knowing Him at all or keeping Him a secret!
I think you would be hard pressed to find scripture that supports such a statement.
Scripturally speaking, God is most adamant about displaying His glory and holiness.
When the men were transporting the ark of the covenant and it was about to fall and one of the men reached out to catch it, he fell dead.
In the new testament we have almost every epistle starting with a praise of God. Look at the venacular. God is supremely concerned with His holiness and glory (at least, that is the picture that scripture paints).
j razz
Good point j razz. If someone is misinterpreting God, do they know Him?
"At what point did I say I would condemn them? At what point did I say my veiwpoint is better than any others?"
Layne/Scott, I didn't say you did. Try not to read everything as a comment on yourselves. Sometimes words are said in a generic sense.
Geppy, I usually read something as if it is said to me, when my name is firstly addressed.. Surely you can understand this, as I use your name here, like yours mine, to address you.
As far as this topic goes, I think it is important that we look at Christ's friends, the Apostles.
Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter, and all His real "homeboys" never called Him anything of the sort. It was Lord, Savior, and Father.
Layne,
As I did last time I addressed to you specifically because I was responding to your post. The first time was a response to your question; this time to your statement. No where within the response was there a personal condemnation. I am sorry if you thought there was.
I honestly thought the same thing Geppy. I've often been accused of condeming when in reality, that was nowhere near my intention. I guess I can empithize with Layne thinking. It's good to know that is not what you meant. Thanks for clearing that up.
Since this is the 2nd time recently let's clear one thing up about me. I don't condemn; period. Whenever you condemn someone else you condemn yourself with the same breath.
Timm, Layne, Craig and Roland should know that by now because you've been visiting my site for about a year now (or more). I make comments, and maybe suggest some thoughts. But I am not your LORD, so judgement is not mine to make. If you read my comments above you will see that they all present a viewpoint of openness.
Please, try to get to know someone before throwing them into a little cube of this is who they are. Given, I don't know any of you really. But that is all the more reason to not put a box around me and think that I am like so-and-so - whoever it is you compare me to.
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Geppy
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Ha! Escape that!
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(. Geppy .)
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That should work even better. (First box didn't work.
Ha ha ha.
Someone who knows ASCII art. Watch out; you might be dating yourself (and me too).
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