“For  God so loved  the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not  perish but have eternal life.” – John 3.16

Ahh… I feel it already. The sweet gagging of God when He hears all of the precious evangelical pastors flinging this particular part of the Bible like an emancipation flag. I mean, really, why in the world, on my second post, would I even be going here?

I guess this is the crux of all theology: Is your theology 1-ply or 2-ply?

Many famous authors and speakers have taken too much advantage of this verse, kind of like penicillin, and have created an immunity in the hearts of countless (so-called) Christians to the rough, robust, and scandalous Truth of Scripture. But this isn’t the only verse (or verses) that is taken and used as 1-ply toilet paper to their souls. And no; there won’t be many bathroom jokes on this one.

Think of Scripture this way: It’s toilet paper. Now, I know that it doesn’t take very long for this analogy to fall apart, but just stick with it for the moment.

It’s time to buy toilet paper. You are looking at two distinct types of toilet paper, no matter where you buy it; it’s either 1-ply or 2-ply. You know that 1-ply stuff? Yah, It’s cheap. It comes in unseen quantities, and they make them in those triple-sized packages that have “1000 square roll!” written all over them. It’s sooo tempting, isn’t it? Think of all the money you could save. Think of the time and energy not having to think about how much you are using, or whether or not your wife (or husband) is using it for blowing their noses (instead of using the Kleenex 3 feet away). It doesn’t matter!

2-ply is way more expensive (especially if it is Charmin… those bears pay a lot just to have comfort). Not to mention, you would have to be so mindful of what you are doing! You can’t be careless! You actually have to worry about the design, and which way it is supposed to pull down when you want to dispense said paper… You see my point?

A phenomenon of the American culture, the Great Revivals in the 1700s, was most to be blamed for this shift in the economical understanding of purchasing spiritual toilet paper (I hope I am not taking this too far).

Since then, theology has been becoming mainly 1-ply. This is interesting enough because, ironically, the puritans and the spiritual leaders that helped found this country had the highest regard for the Scriptures, and treated it like Charmin Ultra Strong. It was not cheap; it came at a price. The purchase of this is a very serious matter; it’s not like you can just pick it up and use liberally. In a real sense the early history of this country was one founded in the political efficacy of the Scriptures, taking it so seriously it was… well… serious.

So, John 3.16, the most recognizable verse to all of western-kind, was unfortunately drafted for this war against 2-ply theology. Not only that, but countless other verses were over emphasized and eisegetically enhanced to a personal, un-churched, and un-discipled freedom that Christ has in people using marketing, careful wording, and emotionalism to divide and conquer the (all-too-serious) puritans and thorough-going baptist friends. But, what was looming was a crisis.

Here’s my jam: What is so strawberry about what should be blueberry is honestly how we use scripture in current evangelical situations. We use it like 1-ply toilet paper; liberally, rashly, un-cautiously, and cheaply. We flat out ignore context and the deeper issues surrounding the text (or phrases) and we thus jeopardize the text of scripture.

Is Jesus really cheap? I mean, he came into the world to save it, right? That’s everyone, right? So he must be cheap enough for others because there has to be enough Jesus to go around. Those puritans – they are too staunch and aren’t charitable, compared to the Quaker-shakers boasting a hot, hot, hot revival in the West. They are bringing people into the Kingdom of God, showing them the Truth that God WANTS THEM ALIVE! To be free!

“For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light,  lest his works should be exposed.” Whoa. Hold on, this isn’t right. This verse says that wicked people hate the light. Why say this now? I mean, people are accepting Christ because God LOVES THE WORLD! So, lets sing Kumbaya….

NO! Jesus was not cheap; He proclaimed that he came into the world because God loved the world… Because all people are created in his image. His image bearers, despite this awe-inspiring and humbling acknowledgement, destroyed God’s plans for a peaceful and everlasting kingdom on earth because Adam chose darkness out of omission and commission. “God so loved” because his people, whom he created before the foundation of the world, were already condemned!

What is 1-ply theology? It’s when a sinful human being cheapens grace, Jesus, and the Word of God to become no more than a means by which he can wipe his spirit clean. “I accepted Jesus,” the person says, “And therefore I put pictures on my wall of verses that enable me to be free. That is what I am entitled to as an accepted believer in Christ.” Then, this person takes an emotional high he/she felt at the time of “conversion” and implants it in their minds as a reminder of their salvation. This is a serious problem.

The reason why most (not all) people cling to the day of their acceptance of Jesus is because they have made His message cheap. The cheap message of God requires cheap gimmicks. The theology of these peoples’ lives is centered around pastors and Wednesday night groups that emotionally and spiritually cheapen the very fabric of their existence post-spiritual-birth (like constant spiritual highs). They see the Bible as cheap 1-ply toilet paper that can be re-bought in abundance and plenty and that they don’t have to think about when they use it.

The fact of the matter, in conclusion, is that all of this is not true. In fact, our spiritual toilet paper industry is in further dis-array; people are wasting what is actually 2-ply, and forgetting how much was paid for it, and not thinking about the implications of said paper. Theology that is robust, 2-ply in understanding, and deeply rooted in the contextualized and scandalous Gospel of Jesus is something you cannot help but take seriously. When your mind and your heart are filled with the expensive Gospel, you no longer worry about the day you accepted Christ, but rather what you are doing now that reflects it.

Don’t gather your theology from a cheapened mindset; one steeped in spiritualism, therapeutic deism, and relativity. Derive your joy in the context of God’s Word, which is so infinite in value and was so infinitely paid for by God incarnate that you cannot help but slow down, think, and cleanse your flesh with deep humility and sincerity.