By now most of America is aware of the “Jesus Gets Us” campaign that had a commercial at the Super Bowl (and other events previously). If you haven’t, here it is:
Most of the Christian responses I’ve seen have been enthusiastically triumphant that Christianity is taking a place in the public square. I might be in the minority of Christians with my perspective, but I have a real hard time with this campaign. I believe that thinking Christians can actually align with humanism in rightfully criticizing the “Jesus Gets Us” campaign.
There is a big gap between Christian thought and Humanist thought, and the two groups are usually quite content to go at each other and point out perceived flaws. While the Christian worldview understands all of life to be grounded in the Divine, Humanism “derives the goals of life from human need and interest rather than from theological or ideological abstractions, and asserts that humanity must take responsibility for its own destiny.”[1] You can see how these groups might not see eye to eye!
Even still, sometimes diametrically opposed groups end up aligning sometimes. When considering the biblical book of James and humanist philosophy, there’s a shared emphasis on the importance of actions over mere words. Let’s take a quick look at three elements where the Bible (in the book of James) and humanism align:
*The Intrinsic Value of Action:
Biblical Perspective (James 2:14-17): In the Epistle of James, the apostle makes it clear that faith without works is dead. He stresses that one cannot demonstrate faith by words alone; it is the actions—the works—that embody and prove the sincerity and truth of one’s beliefs. The passage underscores the intrinsic value of action by stating, “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
Humanist Perspective: Humanism, which emphasizes human agency and the value of individual lives, also upholds the intrinsic value of action. Actions are seen as the primary mechanism by which individuals express their values, effect change, and contribute to the flourishing of humanity. From a humanist standpoint, words hold lesser weight until they are transformed into tangible acts that improve the human condition.
*The Impact on Others:
Biblical Perspective (James 2:15-16): The book of James hones in on the relational aspect of action, particularly in how it affects others. It posits that if one sees another person in need and offers only words of comfort without addressing the tangible need, the words prove hollow and ineffective. Genuine compassion, therefore, demands action.
Humanist Perspective: Similarly, humanism holds that ethical living is demonstrated through the impact one’s actions have on others. Morality is measured by how one’s deeds contribute to the well-being of fellow human beings. Actions are the method through which individuals can alleviate suffering, correct injustices, and advance the betterment of society.
*Authenticity and Personal Integrity:
Biblical Perspective (James 1:22-25): The author of James urges believers to be “doers of the word, and not hearers only,” implying that it is not enough to merely know what is right—one must live it out. The call is towards authentic living, aligning one’s actions with one’s words and thereby maintaining personal integrity.
Humanist Perspective: Humanist philosophy also values authenticity and coherence between one’s stated beliefs and one’s actions. It holds that personal integrity is demonstrated through consistent and ethical actions, which give real substance to one’s convictions. The congruence between what one professes and what one does is essential for cultivating trust and respect from others.
Both perspectives share the common thread that actions carry a weight of authenticity and impact that mere words cannot match. While words articulate ideals, it is through actions that ideals are lived and experienced, making them the ultimate expression of one’s faith or philosophy.
This is where the “Jesus Gets Us” campaign falls short. There seems to be a lack of authenticity – the focus is on words but I don’t see the deeds of the organization or the people they are trying to reach matching up. Washing the feet of others is an ancient practice and doesn’t communicate love in the same way to contemporary Americans. The Christians who are so excited about the commercial are still not behaving in ways that the outsider sees as loving and caring….
Christians need to do better. We don’t need to be taking out commercials that talk about Jesus – we need to be LIVING MODELS of how Jesus wants his followers to act, who he wants us to be. While the words of the commercial are not wrong, I don’t see Christians in America living up to them. We don’t need to be telling the world, “This is who Jesus wants us to be.”
WE JUST NEED TO DO IT.
What do you think? Have you seen the commercial? What’s your takeaway? I always welcome polite and respectful conversation, even if we disagree…
[1] https://americanhumanist.org/what-is-humanism/definition-of-humanism/
Chris Linzey 