Do you ever play the Jesus card? Have you ever seen a Jesus card? To be honest, I have never actually seen one. But there must be decks of them based on how often they are used.
These cards are rarely used when everyone is happy and smiling. Rather, they are usually played when the "game gets tight". They are sometimes used to either intimidate or try to make someone look foolish. Often they are used to promote a certain agenda.
I have never seen one used to promote Jesus Himself - but just to promote a particular idea someone believes Jesus would endorse. They often are used by politicians, news people, during debates, interviews, and across the internet. I am sure they are used in private conversations from time to time.
Here is an example of how to play the Jesus card. Someone will see that throughout the Bible, God's people are told to give to the poor, endeavor to help them, etc. So someone gets up and says they plan to tax people (or specifically people of a certain income) so that they can give money to the poor. That is what Jesus would do.
Notice they would want the government to run all of this. I wonder what they would say if we wanted all of that money collected to go to Franklin Graham and let him distribute it. Or just make sure when the money is sent out that it comes in a little card that says we are doing this because of what Jesus said. Do you hear the howling already? They do not mind using Jesus to get you to do it, but they would never tell anyone that we are doing this in the Name of Jesus. They would do it in the name of a compassionate government - who use other people's money by the way.
You never see these folks stand up and quote Jesus saying "ye must be born again" or the New Testament principles of how to live and conduct yourself. Are these people interested in you getting closer to Jesus or just doing something for a particular program?
I want to know something about the person who tells me what I should be doing because of what Jesus said. Sadly, to some Jesus is little more than something you use like a playing card. Is that person exemplifying as the old hymn says: "Living for Jesus a life that is true, striving to please Him in all that I do."
Yes we will all slip at times and fall short of the mark, but we who name the Name of Jesus should at least care enough to show that we are trying. I would hope everyone reading would do something out of a heart-felt desire to honor Jesus, and not because someone played a card on them.
