The Incarnation

I was talking with a dear friend today.  These thoughts came from that conversation.

Jesus is God in the flesh... The Word made flesh... dwelt among us... full of Grace and Truth.
Jesus was born "between urine and feces" (quote of Cornell West) just like we were... and to
      UNMARRIED PARENTS... in scandal...
He was born in a barn... because they had no money to bribe an inn keeper... homeless birth...
He was born in blood and pain... laid in a feeding trough for animals... not a baby basket...
He was immediately made a refugee, having to flee into Egypt to save His life...
He grew up in a working class family...
He then chose an itinerate, homeless ministry... having to pick free food from fields, etc....
He taught us to love strangers in the land and enemies... He was a peace advocate...
He taught about the evils of... NOT homosexuality (said nothing), but GREED, abuses of POWER,
      and seeking PRESTIGE (hubris instead of humility), especially among leaders...
He was hated by religious leaders for telling the Truth of God.
He was feared by political leaders because people started to rally around Him.
He was wrongly accused of a crime.
He was tried unfairly on those trumped up charges.
He was executed as an innocent man, in a shameful way...

With WHOM do you think Jesus identified Himself?  He said sinners, tax collectors, the sick,
      imprisoned, oppressed, poor...
With WHOM do you think Jesus identifies with today?  The greedy?  Corrupt?  Ruthless?  Abusers of
      Power?  Ethno-centric bigots?

How, IN THE NAME OF JESUS, can Business Executives, Bankers and others, out of Greed, hurt
      others by their policies and still call themselves followers of Jesus?
How, IN JESUS' NAME, can Politicians refuse to pass laws to help people, end programs that help the
      poor to save the wealthy some money, write laws to benefit the powerful and wealthy and hurt the
      poor and working class... and believe they are OK with Jesus?
How, IN JESUS' NAME, can anyone see immorality only in sexual things, and ignore the destructive
      IMMORALITY of GREED, POWER-LUST, NARCISSISM... that run rampant in our society,
      and call themselves "Christians"?  Sit in the pews/seats on Sundays, breath the sanctuary air, hear
      sermons on prosperity and personal power and believe their personal salvation is not at risk?
How, IN JESUS' NAME, can people who worship and adore, praise Him on Sundays rally behind laws  
      to exploit, abuse or evict refugees in this land?
How, IN JESUS' NAME, can people vote only for their own, self interests and think it pleases God?

Jesus is The Word Made Flesh who dwelt among us... the one who wept over the people after He lived
      among us... the one who died our death to give us His resurrection... the one who still weeps over us.
But we are HIS feet and hands in this part of the Kingdom now...
      so what will we do to identify with Him who identified with us?

I will speak, write, demonstrate, petition and vote for the ones who will MOST REPRESENT JESUS'
TEACHINGS AND EXAMPLE... I will stand with those with whom Jesus identifed!

Pastor Jamie