In His triumphal entry, Jesus culminated His address of Rome and the King and Temple Cult leaders who were in collusion with that empire. It was a caricature of wealth, power and status. In His answer to the Roman "Triumphus", Jesus put it in their faces with a ridiculous, satirical display on a little colt instead of a steed, with leaves thrown in His path instead of fine cloth and shouts of HOSANNA (God save us) instead of "lo triumphe" to the Generals some considered gods. Jesus went to the Temple and threw out those who claimed devotion to God but lived the greed, lust for power and desire for status that were empire values.
Jesus had been in the practice of putting God's Kingdom Values in the face of Rome for a while. In one day, Jesus gathered 5,000 men, plus women and children. Instead of arming His Cohort, broken into Centuries and Half Centuries for battle or occupation, with swords and shields, Jesus divided them into 50's and 100's and handed out bread and fish. Instead of cries of greatness toward killing others, Jesus taught humility and Loving Kindness.
John the Baptist confronted Herod. Jesus had words for and about him as well. Jesus exposed the corruption of the Temple Cult leaders regularly and the corrupt heart of the King. Jesus taught ways of God that were in direct violation of Roman Law and directly opposite of Roman mores and values. Now, Jesus put it in their faces in dramatic fashion, with the gathering and cries of the people in the streets.
And with placards instead of assault rifles, and displaying words of defiance, peace, love, determination, justice and hope instead of words of threat, fear masked in hatred and intolerance, a diverse mass of people marched across the country and especially in Washington, DC today. An army of people using peaceful means to demand justice and peace descended upon the iconic city and in cities across America. In the face of this empire they walked, spoke, listened and supported one another. They confronted the corrupt empire and the politicians and religious leaders who are in collusion with its ideology of greed, lust for power and desire for status. They exhibited a different way for this nation and demanded the things that make for peace.
A fitting tribute on Palm Sunday... the Sunday of the Passion... the Triumphal Entry in the face of the threatening, unjust, corrupt power of empire. In your face. Jesus style.
Now, we go to the Cross and find Redemption in Self-Sacrifice and the lifting up of others in Love and with Grace... THAT is following Jesus.
Pastor Jamie
Saturday, March 24, 2018
Sunday, March 18, 2018
Going to the Cross
Some believers in Jesus as Savior choose not to go to the Cross. Lent is ignored often, and for some the Cross cannot be mentioned without mention of the empty tomb and its triumph.
I am a grief counselor for hospice. Grief is normal and necessary as a part of loving one who has died. Facing tragedy and death are very difficult, and folk, even or especially Christian folk, often try to deny the loss and their grief. It is normal to do so to some degree, and especially to defer grief (pick a place and time to actively grieve), but suppression of grief can have negative consequences on one's life, relationships and emotional health.
Desire to avoid real pain can be strong and it can be hurtful, in the end. It does not allow one to fully experience life and even the positive and joyful things of life. Denial of the Cross guts the significance of the empty tomb. Focusing on the Power and Glory and ignoring the Humility and Self-Sacrifice can lead one to embrace Jesus as Savior and ignore Jesus as Lord of one's life. It can lead one to a limited understanding of Jesus, Jesus' Good News and what it means to follow Jesus.
American Civil Religion has contributed to this problem. The strong drive to be "the best", to always "win" and to have "power over" others, take what one wants and exploit the creation and conditions around oneself for the benefit of oneself does not allow for the humility, vulnerability, intimacy and even scandal of Jesus willingly going to the Cross. God's Power and Glory, even supernatural interventions are lifted up by many, while ignoring the willingness of Son of God to give up wealth, power, security, status and even His life for the sake of all who God loves. God did not supernaturally intervene, though Jesus claimed God could, because real power comes from actions in commitment to the other (Agape Love), even to the denial of self and sacrifice of self. This is power in the Kingdom of God. Power in empire is different.
From His birth and throughout His life and ministry, Jesus identified with the poor, powerless, vulnerable, downtrodden, outcast and victimized, according to the Gospel witness. Jesus confronted and resisted the Empire, the King, the corrupt Temple Cult leaders and those who colluded with them in valuing wealth, power and status above children of God. Jesus did not call down legions of angels to militarily defeat Rome or dethrone the King or oust the corrupt Temple Cult leaders and false teachers of the time. Jesus instead taught the way of Agape Love and applied it to how others might live in resistance to and confrontation with those who put themselves above others. Then, Jesus gave the strongest example of this possible by willingly being arrested, put on trial under false pretenses, tortured and executed, rather than call down the legions to save Himself. This is power in the Kingdom of God. Why? Because it is Love. It is perfect love. It is love for the "other", even stranger and enemy, and certainly for the most vulnerable. God is love. Jesus taught, commanded and modeled Agape Love as God's Way for us. Jesus calls those who would call on His name and claim His name to follow HIM in living it.
If I am to follow Jesus, I must go where Jesus went... to the Cross. The empty tomb is promised. God does that action. In this time and in THIS PART of the Kingdom of God, here and now, I am called to live what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled in Agape Love which means denial of self and even self-sacrifice. That is not a popular message in an age of prosperity, blessed and highly favored and church (institution) growth. It is the message of the Gospel of Jesus.
People are seeking power from God by imitating the empire that has victimized them and by adopting its values, while asking God for supernatural interventions. Jesus is about the transformation of individual hearts and minds, communities and systems that oppress into life in the Kingdom, here and now. That transformation comes in believing His Good News message of Agape Love, as Jesus commanded in His first public statement, as we have that recorded in the first chapter of the first Gospel ever written (Mark 1:15). It is not about receiving the trappings of empire and believing that they have been given by God. It is about being satisfied with enough, resisting the empire values that hold us down, back and out and making sure our neighbor has enough of all that brings SHALOM - completeness, wholeness and well-being. It takes self-denial to live Agape Love. Sometimes it even takes self-sacrifice. It is ultimately a more sustainable, just and healthy way for the world. We have witness to that in the book of Acts, in which we find that poverty has been eliminated among those who lived Kingdom values, well-being has been restored, people are liberated from their oppressors, people are included in the community who have previously been excluded and in spite of empire people have Shalom. I believe in Jesus' Good News as a better way for life in this part of God's Kingdom, here and now.
We cannot follow Jesus and not go to the Cross. Jesus commanded self-denial in the living of Agape Love (active commitment on behalf of the other, even stranger and enemy and especially the most vulnerable). It is not about the Power and Glory until the transformation is complete in this part of the Kingdom. It is not about the Power and Glory until God declares that transformation complete.
Until then, we must follow Jesus - live what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us in the living of Agape Love, denying self and even sacrificing self for the sake of all. THAT is the mission of the Gospel - to make disciples (student followers) of Jesus, here and now.
I love the Cross. In it I find a God who did not stay in Power and Glory, but who gave it up for my sake and for yours. I find a God who bases our salvation on Grace in Agape Love, rather than earned merit. I find a God who is Love and who calls me, commands me to be love also in this part of God's Kingdom. It is only in the Cross that we are redeemed and saved. The empty tomb is just the message that what was done on the Cross is completed in life over death.
I willingly go to the Cross, because it is Jesus who I follow there. The rest is up to God, who I love and trust.
Pastor Jamie
I am a grief counselor for hospice. Grief is normal and necessary as a part of loving one who has died. Facing tragedy and death are very difficult, and folk, even or especially Christian folk, often try to deny the loss and their grief. It is normal to do so to some degree, and especially to defer grief (pick a place and time to actively grieve), but suppression of grief can have negative consequences on one's life, relationships and emotional health.
Desire to avoid real pain can be strong and it can be hurtful, in the end. It does not allow one to fully experience life and even the positive and joyful things of life. Denial of the Cross guts the significance of the empty tomb. Focusing on the Power and Glory and ignoring the Humility and Self-Sacrifice can lead one to embrace Jesus as Savior and ignore Jesus as Lord of one's life. It can lead one to a limited understanding of Jesus, Jesus' Good News and what it means to follow Jesus.
American Civil Religion has contributed to this problem. The strong drive to be "the best", to always "win" and to have "power over" others, take what one wants and exploit the creation and conditions around oneself for the benefit of oneself does not allow for the humility, vulnerability, intimacy and even scandal of Jesus willingly going to the Cross. God's Power and Glory, even supernatural interventions are lifted up by many, while ignoring the willingness of Son of God to give up wealth, power, security, status and even His life for the sake of all who God loves. God did not supernaturally intervene, though Jesus claimed God could, because real power comes from actions in commitment to the other (Agape Love), even to the denial of self and sacrifice of self. This is power in the Kingdom of God. Power in empire is different.
From His birth and throughout His life and ministry, Jesus identified with the poor, powerless, vulnerable, downtrodden, outcast and victimized, according to the Gospel witness. Jesus confronted and resisted the Empire, the King, the corrupt Temple Cult leaders and those who colluded with them in valuing wealth, power and status above children of God. Jesus did not call down legions of angels to militarily defeat Rome or dethrone the King or oust the corrupt Temple Cult leaders and false teachers of the time. Jesus instead taught the way of Agape Love and applied it to how others might live in resistance to and confrontation with those who put themselves above others. Then, Jesus gave the strongest example of this possible by willingly being arrested, put on trial under false pretenses, tortured and executed, rather than call down the legions to save Himself. This is power in the Kingdom of God. Why? Because it is Love. It is perfect love. It is love for the "other", even stranger and enemy, and certainly for the most vulnerable. God is love. Jesus taught, commanded and modeled Agape Love as God's Way for us. Jesus calls those who would call on His name and claim His name to follow HIM in living it.
If I am to follow Jesus, I must go where Jesus went... to the Cross. The empty tomb is promised. God does that action. In this time and in THIS PART of the Kingdom of God, here and now, I am called to live what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled in Agape Love which means denial of self and even self-sacrifice. That is not a popular message in an age of prosperity, blessed and highly favored and church (institution) growth. It is the message of the Gospel of Jesus.
People are seeking power from God by imitating the empire that has victimized them and by adopting its values, while asking God for supernatural interventions. Jesus is about the transformation of individual hearts and minds, communities and systems that oppress into life in the Kingdom, here and now. That transformation comes in believing His Good News message of Agape Love, as Jesus commanded in His first public statement, as we have that recorded in the first chapter of the first Gospel ever written (Mark 1:15). It is not about receiving the trappings of empire and believing that they have been given by God. It is about being satisfied with enough, resisting the empire values that hold us down, back and out and making sure our neighbor has enough of all that brings SHALOM - completeness, wholeness and well-being. It takes self-denial to live Agape Love. Sometimes it even takes self-sacrifice. It is ultimately a more sustainable, just and healthy way for the world. We have witness to that in the book of Acts, in which we find that poverty has been eliminated among those who lived Kingdom values, well-being has been restored, people are liberated from their oppressors, people are included in the community who have previously been excluded and in spite of empire people have Shalom. I believe in Jesus' Good News as a better way for life in this part of God's Kingdom, here and now.
We cannot follow Jesus and not go to the Cross. Jesus commanded self-denial in the living of Agape Love (active commitment on behalf of the other, even stranger and enemy and especially the most vulnerable). It is not about the Power and Glory until the transformation is complete in this part of the Kingdom. It is not about the Power and Glory until God declares that transformation complete.
Until then, we must follow Jesus - live what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us in the living of Agape Love, denying self and even sacrificing self for the sake of all. THAT is the mission of the Gospel - to make disciples (student followers) of Jesus, here and now.
I love the Cross. In it I find a God who did not stay in Power and Glory, but who gave it up for my sake and for yours. I find a God who bases our salvation on Grace in Agape Love, rather than earned merit. I find a God who is Love and who calls me, commands me to be love also in this part of God's Kingdom. It is only in the Cross that we are redeemed and saved. The empty tomb is just the message that what was done on the Cross is completed in life over death.
I willingly go to the Cross, because it is Jesus who I follow there. The rest is up to God, who I love and trust.
Pastor Jamie
Sunday, March 11, 2018
Empathy
I fear that we are losing our ability to empathize.
Being empathic is an integral part of being social and civil, and it is part of living Agape Love.
If because I refuse to identify with another human being, I cannot empathize with his/her/their life situation and find compassion for them in it, then I am probably living in some form of arrested human development.
When an ideological group refuses to identify with other human beings because they cannot see beyond themselves and those just like them, they lose their ability to empathize with others and begin to devolve as human beings. When folk isolate from those not like them out of irrational fear, it often turns to hatred and leads to bigotry and hurtful words and actions. Then folk devolve from their humanity.
The polarization by political party, ideology, religious expression, gender, age, race, ethnicity, socio-economic class, sexual orientation and other divisions has become so strong and vehement a reality in America that folk unashamedly choose not to empathize, but rather vilify, de-humanize and de-value others.
One might argue that I am doing the same in this writing. I pray not. I do believe that it has to be pointed out that the hateful words, actions and ideologies are becoming more common in our society and it means necessarily that some folk are intentionally, systematically and ruthlessly targeted and victimized.
This makes me angry.
I strive to live a guileless existence. I strive to live the Agape Love that following Jesus demands. I strive to be receptive to people of other cultures, ethnicities, faiths (or non-faith), sexual orientations and socio-economic levels. What I see is that others (usually who look like me) passively or actively pre-judge, unjustly criticize and discriminate against many of the people I love. Because of it, I also strive to "expose the works of darkness" whenever I have the chance, in order to inform, resist and eliminate the injustices suffered by people I love.
I am a straight, white, protestant male. I was not born into wealth, but I recognize that I have achieved my successes and live very well partially because I am a straight, white, protestant male. I have had doors opened to me simply because of that. Early on it dawned on me that my friends who were black and brown, female, gay and/or poor were not treated as well as I was by people who looked like me. Early on I recognized that this was wrong. Later in my life, I started advocating for them. That put me at odds with many people who look like me, some of whom are hard-core bigots, some of whom are fair weather bigots and some of whom have internalized bigotry of which they are largely unaware (but is painfully clear to those around them).
Living Agape Love is not about feelings. It is active commitment on behalf of the other, even stranger or enemy and especially the most vulnerable among us, according to Jesus' teachings, commands and examples as we have them witnessed in the Gospels. I have spent 41 years learning this. I have spent almost 25 years actively living it as the guiding principle in my life. While empathy has at its core some emotional connection, the living of Agape Love is about doing the right thing for the right reason. Empathy helps. It makes one able to identify with the plight of those who are different from the self and want to commit to their well-being. It can be a huge advantage in the living of Agape Love.
I get passionate about this because it involves people with whom I share not only Agape, but also Phileos (brotherly, sisterly love) and Eros (romantic love), and Philanthropia (generous, magnanimous love for society and segments of society). People I love are being intentionally, systematically and ruthlessly hurt because others in our society, in politics, in government, in economics, in business, in education, in healthcare - in America are actively pre-judging, speaking hatred to/about and discriminating against them. That makes me angry. That makes me respond with even more committed action on their behalf.
Where I am losing my ability to empathize is in even wanting to understand where the bigotry comes from. Having grown up with it, I have no patience for where it came from or the reasons behind it. I struggle to empathize with the hatred or apathy some hold regarding other human beings. I struggle to want to understand why people would actively hold prejudice toward a whole people, speak ugly things about people about whom they know very little (out of ignorance), or act hatefully against them. I struggle to understand how people can claim Jesus and support ideologies, politics and/or economics that actively hurt others so that they can gain from it. I struggle to care about those who would vote, not just for self-interest (which itself is dubious for followers of Jesus), but actively vote for those who would actively hurt whole segments of our population, intentionally and systematically and ruthlessly. I struggle to empathize with the hateful, ignorant and apathetic folk around me.
I am not as humanly developed as I would like to be.
I pray for the day when out of my mouth and from my keyboard will come only words of love and grace for all, empathy, compassion and encouragement to live Agape Love with one another in very kind, loving and gentle ways.
Right now, I am busy advocating for my sisters and brothers who are being hurt, by "exposing the works of darkness" (out of Greed, lust for Power, desire for Status or Irrational Fear) perpetrated by others who have chosen ignorant hatefulness over empathy.
Please bear with me.
Pastor Jamie
Being empathic is an integral part of being social and civil, and it is part of living Agape Love.
If because I refuse to identify with another human being, I cannot empathize with his/her/their life situation and find compassion for them in it, then I am probably living in some form of arrested human development.
When an ideological group refuses to identify with other human beings because they cannot see beyond themselves and those just like them, they lose their ability to empathize with others and begin to devolve as human beings. When folk isolate from those not like them out of irrational fear, it often turns to hatred and leads to bigotry and hurtful words and actions. Then folk devolve from their humanity.
The polarization by political party, ideology, religious expression, gender, age, race, ethnicity, socio-economic class, sexual orientation and other divisions has become so strong and vehement a reality in America that folk unashamedly choose not to empathize, but rather vilify, de-humanize and de-value others.
One might argue that I am doing the same in this writing. I pray not. I do believe that it has to be pointed out that the hateful words, actions and ideologies are becoming more common in our society and it means necessarily that some folk are intentionally, systematically and ruthlessly targeted and victimized.
This makes me angry.
I strive to live a guileless existence. I strive to live the Agape Love that following Jesus demands. I strive to be receptive to people of other cultures, ethnicities, faiths (or non-faith), sexual orientations and socio-economic levels. What I see is that others (usually who look like me) passively or actively pre-judge, unjustly criticize and discriminate against many of the people I love. Because of it, I also strive to "expose the works of darkness" whenever I have the chance, in order to inform, resist and eliminate the injustices suffered by people I love.
I am a straight, white, protestant male. I was not born into wealth, but I recognize that I have achieved my successes and live very well partially because I am a straight, white, protestant male. I have had doors opened to me simply because of that. Early on it dawned on me that my friends who were black and brown, female, gay and/or poor were not treated as well as I was by people who looked like me. Early on I recognized that this was wrong. Later in my life, I started advocating for them. That put me at odds with many people who look like me, some of whom are hard-core bigots, some of whom are fair weather bigots and some of whom have internalized bigotry of which they are largely unaware (but is painfully clear to those around them).
Living Agape Love is not about feelings. It is active commitment on behalf of the other, even stranger or enemy and especially the most vulnerable among us, according to Jesus' teachings, commands and examples as we have them witnessed in the Gospels. I have spent 41 years learning this. I have spent almost 25 years actively living it as the guiding principle in my life. While empathy has at its core some emotional connection, the living of Agape Love is about doing the right thing for the right reason. Empathy helps. It makes one able to identify with the plight of those who are different from the self and want to commit to their well-being. It can be a huge advantage in the living of Agape Love.
I get passionate about this because it involves people with whom I share not only Agape, but also Phileos (brotherly, sisterly love) and Eros (romantic love), and Philanthropia (generous, magnanimous love for society and segments of society). People I love are being intentionally, systematically and ruthlessly hurt because others in our society, in politics, in government, in economics, in business, in education, in healthcare - in America are actively pre-judging, speaking hatred to/about and discriminating against them. That makes me angry. That makes me respond with even more committed action on their behalf.
Where I am losing my ability to empathize is in even wanting to understand where the bigotry comes from. Having grown up with it, I have no patience for where it came from or the reasons behind it. I struggle to empathize with the hatred or apathy some hold regarding other human beings. I struggle to want to understand why people would actively hold prejudice toward a whole people, speak ugly things about people about whom they know very little (out of ignorance), or act hatefully against them. I struggle to understand how people can claim Jesus and support ideologies, politics and/or economics that actively hurt others so that they can gain from it. I struggle to care about those who would vote, not just for self-interest (which itself is dubious for followers of Jesus), but actively vote for those who would actively hurt whole segments of our population, intentionally and systematically and ruthlessly. I struggle to empathize with the hateful, ignorant and apathetic folk around me.
I am not as humanly developed as I would like to be.
I pray for the day when out of my mouth and from my keyboard will come only words of love and grace for all, empathy, compassion and encouragement to live Agape Love with one another in very kind, loving and gentle ways.
Right now, I am busy advocating for my sisters and brothers who are being hurt, by "exposing the works of darkness" (out of Greed, lust for Power, desire for Status or Irrational Fear) perpetrated by others who have chosen ignorant hatefulness over empathy.
Please bear with me.
Pastor Jamie
Monday, March 5, 2018
Making the Gospel Irrelevant
Clergy love to complain that the Gospel is becoming irrelevant in the lives of their parishioners.
Some life-long church members will tell you that the Gospel does not inform their day to day lives.
Many people in the United States claim Jesus as Savior, and some of them claim Jesus is the Lord of their lives. From the tweets, Facebook posts, comments and actions we can easily see that the Good News of Jesus is not at the center of what they mean by those claims.
Instead of living what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us, as we have that in the Gospels, folk seem to justify how they live by a different set of values, while claiming Jesus' name.
Instead of saying and doing the right thing according to Jesus as the priority of many, their political, economic, philosophical and ideological perspectives seem to be fiercely embraced, even when they conflict with what is right according to Jesus, so they re-create Jesus in their own image.
For some, PRIVATIZED faith or a "me and Jesus" allows people to Worship, Praise and Tithe and believe that they have satisfied a Lord who commands us to love His body and the world, and whose teachings are almost always about community. Privatized faith leads to Spiritual Escapism in the face of social issues, which is NOT what Jesus taught.
For some, PURITY AND HOLINESS faith drives them to seek "self-righteousness", rather than seeing their righteousness in the Christ, who suffered and died to give it by Grace. An adherence of the Old Covenant Law replaces Jesus' Law of Agape Love in how we live with one another, so "loving neighbor as self" is disregarded. Purity and Holiness faith leads us to Supernatural Rescuism in the face of social issues, rather than living the Agape Love that Jesus taught us to live in the lives of others.
For others, PROSPERITY faith centers people squarely on themselves, doing what they must do to be more blessed and highly favored than others around them and treat Jesus like a cosmic ATM bank for monetary gain, rather than the Lord of every aspect of their lives who taught that ENOUGH is enough, and being thankful for having enough is an act of faith and faithfulness to God.
For some, especially clergy and church "achievers", CHURCH GROWTH faith is where it is at. It is all about "growing a church" to greater numbers and money. This often leads to the indoctrination of others, rather than living the love of the Gospel, which is the definition of evangelism.
For all of these, it is idolatry of self that is at the center. The Kingdom of God Values of Agape Love and Grace have their examples of Jesus for living in concern for the "other." Humility, self-denial, kindness and graciousness with others are valued in the Kingdom of God. Having and getting more for self, even striving for personal salvation reflects the values of the empire, against which Jesus taught.
All of these, and others reflect empire values, just as in the time of Jesus and the time in which the Gospels of witness to Jesus were written. God's Kingdom Values were shared by Jesus, centered on Agape Love (active commitment on behalf of the OTHER, even stranger and enemy, and especially the most vulnerable) and Grace (undeserved loving mercy, given freely). The were shared in the face of the empire values being lived around Him, centered on Greed, Lust for Power and Desire for Status. They do not allow folk to become Radical Christianists who can justify their intolerance of others who are not like them or do not believe like them. Today, some claim the name of Jesus, but reject His Gospel of Agape and Grace, because it would mean not getting the monetary wealth, the control over others and status in the world that the above twisted faith expressions promise to deliver. Following Jesus' Way, which is a better, more sustainable and just way, will not get individuals what they want in empire values. It will transform the world in love and grace.
I have seen this for many years, especially after 1981 and the Desolating Sacrilege of which Jesus spoke, when the Religious "Right" under Jerry Falwell and the Political "right" under Ronald Reagan got together and launched us into 37 years of growing in American Civil Religion instead of Christianity, many expressions of which are shared above. Parishioners have been given mixed messages or worse, non-mixed messages by "pastors" and "bishops" who claim to be people of God and who preach from everywhere but the Gospels and twist the Word of God to satisfy their personal gains in empire values, at the expense of those they are called to lead. I am not surprised by ANYTHING I hear from these false, guides, prophets and teachers anymore.
What surprises me and disappoints me most is the silence of clergy who know better. Some with whom I was trained and others I know were taught better have at best remained silent in the face of social phenomena that scream for Gospel enlightenment. Afraid that they my lose members if they preach and teach what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled as a better way and a way to resist the values of empire, they skirt issues that might be "controversial" in order not to offend their "constituents." Being pulpit politicians, rather than pastors of the Gospel, they also choose to collude with those who push twisted theologies that feed empire values. If they offend members, they might lose some of their money. If there are fewer folk in church for a while, they will lose some control in community and position in it, and lose status among other clergy, so any hope of the status of moving up in the "church" could be lost. Fear of being unpopular, a Junior High School concern, is straight out of the Quid Pro Quo empire values playbook. Allowing that to dictate what one preaches and teaches, over the Gospel teachings of Jesus, is a much more serious matter for a called servant of God.
The answer to faith is very simple. What did Jesus teach, command and model for how His followers, those who go where Jesus went, should live in THIS PART of God's Kingdom, here and now? What does "doing the right thing" mean for followers of Jesus?
If we want the Gospel to be relevant in our lives, in the church and in the world around us, we need but LIVE the Good News teachings, commands and examples of Jesus in every aspect of life in this part of God's Kingdom, here and now.
How relevant is the Gospel of Jesus - what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for His followers on how to live in this part of God's Kingdom - in how you live YOUR life?
Pastor Jamie
Some life-long church members will tell you that the Gospel does not inform their day to day lives.
Many people in the United States claim Jesus as Savior, and some of them claim Jesus is the Lord of their lives. From the tweets, Facebook posts, comments and actions we can easily see that the Good News of Jesus is not at the center of what they mean by those claims.
Instead of living what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us, as we have that in the Gospels, folk seem to justify how they live by a different set of values, while claiming Jesus' name.
Instead of saying and doing the right thing according to Jesus as the priority of many, their political, economic, philosophical and ideological perspectives seem to be fiercely embraced, even when they conflict with what is right according to Jesus, so they re-create Jesus in their own image.
For some, PRIVATIZED faith or a "me and Jesus" allows people to Worship, Praise and Tithe and believe that they have satisfied a Lord who commands us to love His body and the world, and whose teachings are almost always about community. Privatized faith leads to Spiritual Escapism in the face of social issues, which is NOT what Jesus taught.
For some, PURITY AND HOLINESS faith drives them to seek "self-righteousness", rather than seeing their righteousness in the Christ, who suffered and died to give it by Grace. An adherence of the Old Covenant Law replaces Jesus' Law of Agape Love in how we live with one another, so "loving neighbor as self" is disregarded. Purity and Holiness faith leads us to Supernatural Rescuism in the face of social issues, rather than living the Agape Love that Jesus taught us to live in the lives of others.
For others, PROSPERITY faith centers people squarely on themselves, doing what they must do to be more blessed and highly favored than others around them and treat Jesus like a cosmic ATM bank for monetary gain, rather than the Lord of every aspect of their lives who taught that ENOUGH is enough, and being thankful for having enough is an act of faith and faithfulness to God.
For some, especially clergy and church "achievers", CHURCH GROWTH faith is where it is at. It is all about "growing a church" to greater numbers and money. This often leads to the indoctrination of others, rather than living the love of the Gospel, which is the definition of evangelism.
For all of these, it is idolatry of self that is at the center. The Kingdom of God Values of Agape Love and Grace have their examples of Jesus for living in concern for the "other." Humility, self-denial, kindness and graciousness with others are valued in the Kingdom of God. Having and getting more for self, even striving for personal salvation reflects the values of the empire, against which Jesus taught.
All of these, and others reflect empire values, just as in the time of Jesus and the time in which the Gospels of witness to Jesus were written. God's Kingdom Values were shared by Jesus, centered on Agape Love (active commitment on behalf of the OTHER, even stranger and enemy, and especially the most vulnerable) and Grace (undeserved loving mercy, given freely). The were shared in the face of the empire values being lived around Him, centered on Greed, Lust for Power and Desire for Status. They do not allow folk to become Radical Christianists who can justify their intolerance of others who are not like them or do not believe like them. Today, some claim the name of Jesus, but reject His Gospel of Agape and Grace, because it would mean not getting the monetary wealth, the control over others and status in the world that the above twisted faith expressions promise to deliver. Following Jesus' Way, which is a better, more sustainable and just way, will not get individuals what they want in empire values. It will transform the world in love and grace.
I have seen this for many years, especially after 1981 and the Desolating Sacrilege of which Jesus spoke, when the Religious "Right" under Jerry Falwell and the Political "right" under Ronald Reagan got together and launched us into 37 years of growing in American Civil Religion instead of Christianity, many expressions of which are shared above. Parishioners have been given mixed messages or worse, non-mixed messages by "pastors" and "bishops" who claim to be people of God and who preach from everywhere but the Gospels and twist the Word of God to satisfy their personal gains in empire values, at the expense of those they are called to lead. I am not surprised by ANYTHING I hear from these false, guides, prophets and teachers anymore.
What surprises me and disappoints me most is the silence of clergy who know better. Some with whom I was trained and others I know were taught better have at best remained silent in the face of social phenomena that scream for Gospel enlightenment. Afraid that they my lose members if they preach and teach what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled as a better way and a way to resist the values of empire, they skirt issues that might be "controversial" in order not to offend their "constituents." Being pulpit politicians, rather than pastors of the Gospel, they also choose to collude with those who push twisted theologies that feed empire values. If they offend members, they might lose some of their money. If there are fewer folk in church for a while, they will lose some control in community and position in it, and lose status among other clergy, so any hope of the status of moving up in the "church" could be lost. Fear of being unpopular, a Junior High School concern, is straight out of the Quid Pro Quo empire values playbook. Allowing that to dictate what one preaches and teaches, over the Gospel teachings of Jesus, is a much more serious matter for a called servant of God.
The answer to faith is very simple. What did Jesus teach, command and model for how His followers, those who go where Jesus went, should live in THIS PART of God's Kingdom, here and now? What does "doing the right thing" mean for followers of Jesus?
If we want the Gospel to be relevant in our lives, in the church and in the world around us, we need but LIVE the Good News teachings, commands and examples of Jesus in every aspect of life in this part of God's Kingdom, here and now.
How relevant is the Gospel of Jesus - what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for His followers on how to live in this part of God's Kingdom - in how you live YOUR life?
Pastor Jamie
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