Series: Jesus said . . . What? Outrageous Teachings, No. 1

Michael Yaconelli, in his book, Dangerous Wonder: The Adventure of Childlike Faith, says that the most critical issue facing Christians is not abortion, pornography, the disintegration of the family, moral relativity, MTV, drugs, racism, sexuality, or school prayer. The critical issue today, says Yaconelli, is dullness. We have lost our astonishment. The Good News is no longer good news, it is okay news. Christianity is no longer life changing, it is life enhancing. Jesus doesn't change people into wild-eyed radicals anymore, he changes them into "nice people." (1)

If it's true that we have become dull, it's not because of our Master. Jesus was anything but dull. In fact, Jesus said some outrageous things. Even outrageous by our …