Zahnd's Jesus is actually Zahnd — the method of 'asking Jesus what he thinks' produces only the teacher's own preferences

Zahnd says: 'I never go wandering around in the Old Testament without Jesus. In any given moment I can pause and say, Jesus, what do you think of that? And Jesus can say to me, Brian, what do you think of that? Well, it seems to me, Jesus, that in the light of what you taught us, we have to rethink this passage. And I think Jesus says, Amen.' Winger's diagnosis: Zahnd is literally having a conversation with himself and calling the response 'Jesus.' Since the external check of Scripture has been removed, the only remaining content is Zahnd's own intuitions and preferences. The result — predictably — is a Jesus who shares Zahnd's pacifism, his politics, his contempt for the same people Zahnd dislikes, and his theology. Anyone who adopts this method will end up with their own bespoke version of Christianity, because the method by design produces the self rather than Christ.