There’s something a little strange about our reflexive recoiling from the mere mention of Jesus in settings like high school graduation. Whatever Americans might think of Christians and Christianity \u201d\u201d yes, there’s a partly deserved image problem \u201d\u201d almost no one has a problem with Jesus. The point comes through vividly in Dan Kimball’s 2007 book They Like Jesus But Not the Church, which explores how young Americans, in particular, tend to have a negative idea about organized Christianity yet express near-universal openness to spirituality and fascination with Jesus.<\/p>\n
Like so many things, it boils down to good sense, wise judgment, an eye toward effectiveness, respect for others \u201d\u201d traits and practices that Christians call discernment. Believers of whatever stripe ought to put this discernment to prayerful use in navigating the tricky waters of what to say, and what not to say, to captive audiences at events such as public school graduations.<\/p>\n
But, please, let’s not pull the plug on Christian valedictorians or anyone else who would have the temerity to use the J-word in public. “Jesus,” after all, is not a dirty word.<\/p>\n