Jesus is a Dentist: Anxiety

Me: Jesus...I was just thinking, you're kind of like a dentist.
Jesus (gasping): What?! This is blasphemy!
Me (shocked): Lord, I'm so sorry, but why?!
Jesus: I'm a real doctor





So this blog is a continuation of my previous I Hate the Dentist post, where I outlined that coming to Christ is like going to the dentist in three major ways:

• The Anxiety
• The Invasive Nature of the Process
• The Cost

Going into more detail on just...

ANXIETY
Anxiety is a word easily described as "fear." But I like looking at the opposite words: certainty, serenity, and tranquility. Anxiety is the absence of those things, and when you feel that way about the dentist or God it will prevent you from approaching Him. You never know what's going to happen in the dentist's/"dentist's" office. Our uncertainty often comes from two places:

1. Who we are? Dentist - Have I exercised awesome home care? God - Have I already gotten too far away from Him with my lifestyle. In short: Am I already too far gone.
2. Who He is? Dentist - Is he a mean dentist? An honest dentist? What's he gonna do to me?! God - Is He really as loving as they say? Does He really forgive all sin? What's He gonna do to me?!

I can't speak for the dentist, but the anxiety that we feel towards God is misplaced. Jesus longs to be with you. Jesus hit the scene for many reasons, but I'm gonna to give you three anxiety-killing reasons why you should feel certain about Christ:

First, Jesus finds and hangs out with people that other folks have written off: 

Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him. Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” 

Luke 15: 1- 2

 

That's right. Jesus will make Himself available to people that most other people hate on principle (i.e. anyone with the word "tax" in their job title), as well as legitimately terrible sinners. He wasn't worried about what they had done, or who they had been, or who's legs they had broken to collect a debt. He was there, with that particular group,because...

 

Second, Jesus rescues folks: 

...the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Matthew 20:28

Ransom? Ransom is the paid redemption of a prisoner, slave, or kidnapped person. He gave his life to rescue mankind from the clutches of sin and death. We were rescued! Sometimes you don't know where you stand in a relationship, but Christ considers you to be a friend (John 15:13).

Third, Jesus wants to be cool with you:

Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. 

Revelation 3:20

Jesus makes an open invitation for fellowship...He wants to come over for dinner!  The Last Supper was not the "last" supper.  He's looking for relationship.With us.

Now for some theft. I have a friend who wrote something in an e-mail chain that was so profound, it almost put tears in my eyes. And I had to use it...and give him credit. 

"It is God constantly seeking to use His power base to bend the rules or create a means of having the garden back. You think that we are the only ones that miss the garden? The innocence of man? The evening strolls? The late day conversations? The joy of sending all of creation before Adam just to see what man would call them? The scripture says all of creation groans, awaiting a day of return to the garden. (Romans 8:19) Don’t you think God also longs for those moments again? This is what David knew, that God’s emotional, perfect Will was driving everything to restore a relationship lost." 

- Justin Lamar

Anxious? Don't be.