What's Your Issue With Jesus?

Skepticism and doubt, many question their faith or walk away entirely. The provocatively titled book "The Trouble with Jesus: Considerations Before You Walk Away" by Constance Hastings addresses this issue head-on, offering a thoughtful exploration for those struggling with faith.

The title might raise eyebrows among believers, but Hastings isn't criticizing Jesus—she's acknowledging the challenges of following Him. Throughout her book, she examines how Jesus' arrival often brought disruption rather than comfort. From His birth (which led to Herod's slaughter of innocents) to His ministry (which challenged religious authorities) to His crucifixion, Jesus consistently upended expectations. This "trouble" isn't a flaw but rather a feature of authentic faith—following Jesus was never promised to be easy or comfortable.

-----------------------------

WHAT'S DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE?

• Hastings' approach is remarkable because she directly engages with skeptics' voices. Her book begins with an edgy, questioning tone that many doubters will recognize: pushing back against religious strictures, questioning biblical narratives, and demanding answers to complex questions. Rather than dismissing these doubts, Hastings walks readers through Jesus' life, addressing common objections while maintaining intellectual honesty about Christianity's challenges.
• One powerful section explores how Jesus refused to be a "divine fixer" who eliminates all suffering. Using Lazarus' story as an example, Hastings notes how Jesus deliberately waited four days before arriving, allowing full death to occur before resurrection. Martha and Mary's accusatory "Lord, if you had been here..." reflects our frustration when God doesn't intervene as we expect. Yet Jesus' weeping at the tomb wasn't merely shared grief but frustration that people misunderstood His purpose. This insight helps readers reconsider their expectations of God as a cosmic problem-solver.

• Hastings also addresses misconceptions about Jesus' treatment of women, dedicating an entire chapter to how He valued and elevated women in a culture that marginalized them. From the Samaritan woman to Mary Magdalene (the first resurrection witness), Jesus consistently honored women in countercultural ways. This perspective helps readers distinguish between cultural contexts in Scripture and Jesus' actual teachings.
• What emerges from Hastings' work is a portrait of faith that embraces questions rather than suppresses them. She argues that doubt isn't faith's opposite—fear is. True faith continues trusting even amid questions, knowing that sometimes God's presence in our storms matters more than His removing them. This reframing helps doubters see that their questions don't disqualify them from faith but might deepen it.
• Perhaps most movingly, Hastings shares her personal experience with her father's death, discovering that God's grace pursues us even in our final moments. This profound belief—that God never stops seeking a relationship with us—forms the theological heart of her message: "The trouble with Jesus is he never walks away from us." While humans may consider walking away from faith, Jesus remains steadfast in His pursuit of a relationship.

------------------

FINAL THOUGHTS

For anyone experiencing doubt or supporting someone who is, Hastings offers wisdom without platitudes. She encourages readers to "bloody your knees" in prayer for loved ones struggling with faith while respectfully engaging their questions. Her companion blog offers weekly reflections that continue this dialogue between doubt and faith, creating ongoing support for those on this journey.

In a cultural moment where deconstruction and faith-leaving narratives abound, Hastings provides a thoughtful alternative—not by dismissing doubts but by facing them squarely while revealing a Jesus whose love persists despite our questions, whose truth withstands our scrutiny, and whose grace never gives up on bringing us home.