Does the Good News of Jesus have any relevance in our lives here and now?
Is the Gospel just about "pie in sky when we die", or is it illuminating and authoritative in guiding how God wants us to live in this part of God's Kingdom, here and now?
Do Kingdom Values apply to life here and now?
Does what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for His followers, as we have those in the Gospels, speak to us on how God wants us to live as children of God here and now?
Relevance is in the eye of the beholder. I remember Jim Wallis at a SCUPE Conference (Seminary Consortium on Urban Pastoral Education) talking about his Bible full of holes, left from a Seminary project of literally cutting out passages on the Poor and Oppressed to put on a poster board... he said that what was left, a swiss cheese looking thing, is America's Bible because we don't want to look at those things relative to our faith. We all know that folk "cherry pick" their favorite passages to "prove" their ideologies, while ignoring scores of others that challenge those ideologies. Is what is truly relevant only what we WANT to be relevant? Can we ignore the rest and be right with God or our Neighbor(s)?
At the risk of some personal "cherry picking" of my own, there are two passages that strike me regarding relevance to how we live in the world in light of Jesus' teachings on the Kingdom. Both come from the same Gospel, so they have the same writer who worked from a singular context in which the Gospel was shared and to which the Gospel addressed life with God.
Matthew 20:1-16 has long been used to talk about Grace in the Kingdom. I believe that it is a fine example of that. But is it Grace solely relative to getting into the Kingdom of God or is it a picture of Grace expectations of God in how we live in this part of God's Kingdom, here and now? If Grace is a Kingdom value, is it not supposed to be valued by those in the Kingdom here AND there? Do we wait to value Kingdom Grace when we get into heaven only, or is there value for its living here and now? What does God want from us?
It is here that I must interject that I believe the propensity for much of the church that claims Jesus to reduce our faith to concern only for our personal salvation through Worship, Praise, Tithes and verbally claiming Jesus as personal Savior has challenged the relevance of the Gospel in the world today. I also believe that those who superimpose their beliefs of personal purity and holiness to concerns regarding salvation as if they are the only concern, have further challenged its relevance for us. These works are not Grace. Personal salvation, I contend, is not an issue for those who are faithful to Jesus as Lord. So, what does being faithful mean?
I believe it means what Jesus is witnessed as sharing that it means - abiding in His Word, living His commandments, following Jesus. The Gospel IS Jesus' fulfillment of The Law and Prophets. Living what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us as Lord and Savior IS faithfulness to God. We live in the Kingdom here and now. We are called to follow Jesus, what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us, here and now.
So when the Landowner (God), goes out into the vineyard to hire laborers at 6am, and then goes again at 9am, Noon, 3pm and 5pm - it is pure Grace. These are the day laborers who have not been chosen to work for the day and are in danger of not having the daily subsistance pay to feed their families for the day. The landowner seeks to help out unhirable laborers, for their sake.
And when the Landowner then pays those who came later the daily subsistance wage so that they can feed their families, just like the ones who worked 12 hours, it is because they needed it, though they had not "earned" it. That is pure Grace. That is what is valued in the Kingdom of God.
If a Company Owner or CEO follows Jesus, would they not do what Jesus taught is the Kingdom value thing to do? Would they not hire as many people as possible so that people have work? Would they not pay them enough on which to live? In fact, if we value this Kingdom of God Grace that Jesus taught, would we not take less willingly so that others would at least have enough on which to live (be generous like the Landowner)? Would CEOs not take less than 300x what laborers make so that those laborers can have enough for their families? Would stock holders not be willing to take fewer dividends because it means that others have what they need? Yet, people in those positions, many of whom claim Christ Jesus as personal savior, ignore what Jesus taught as Lord. Some of them claim it would be "socialism" or "communism" and that it flies in the face of American values for Capitalism. But what does any of that have to do with what Jesus taught? Is our first loyalty not to the Jesus who taught this?
Yes, you can "spiritualize" this passage and make it only relevant to getting into heaven, except for our second passage from the same Gospel.
In Jesus' vision of the Judgment (25:31-46), it is not those who Worship, Praise, Tithe or claim Jesus as personal Savior, or those who consider themselves (more) pure or holy who are the sheep separated for salvation vs. the goats, separated for "eternal punishment".
According to Jesus, who IS the Judge as Lord and Savior - salvation is based on how we live Agape Love and Grace - how we took care of the most vulnerable or refused to take care of them here and now, in THIS PART of God's Kingdom. In fact, Jesus likens our treatment of them to our treatment of Him. Our salvation is based on how Gracious and Loving we are with: the Hungry, thirsty, stranger in the land, naked, sick and imprisoned - the most vulnerable who are crushed by the injustices the world creates (in systems like Capitalism), as some take more than they need and leave others without food, clothing, welcoming inclusion in the community, healthcare and justice. There is little room to "spiritualize" this, so we cut it out of our Bibles, or at least out of the relevance of our faith.
And yes, this may be seen as a works instead of Grace orientation for our faith. Or it may be seen as obedience in faith to the living of it as it is defined by Jesus. James 2:14-26 (in fact all of chapter 2)comes to mind.
For me, Jesus is the fulfiller of the Law and Prophets, Savior and Lord of my life. Jesus taught, commanded and modeled Kingdom of God Values, and at their center are Agape Love and the living of it, and Grace. These Kingdom Values are meant to be lived HERE AND NOW, in THIS PART of God's Kingdom. I do not concern myself with heaven, but rather with living faithfully to the Good News vision of what God values in the Kingdom. God takes care of salvation. I must focus my life on living the Agape Love and Grace that Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for me.
How is it for you? Do you try to make Jesus relevant only as personal Savior for getting into heaven, and not Lord of how you live your life? Do you have a Swiss Cheese Bible that cuts out the parts you don't like or that don't fit into your American Civil Religion ideology, hoping that other works will still qualify you for heaven? Or do you strive to be faithful to God by being faithful to what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us in His Good News?
Relevant or Irrelevant? Sheep or Goat? We are children of God and rely upon God's Grace. We are ALL children of God and rely upon God's Grace being lived among us, here and now.
God loves you and not only you. God loves those who are in need and those considered strangers or enemies. Our faithfulness to Loving God is expressed in how we Love (Agape) Neighbor as self. *
Pastor Jamie
*For further understanding of what Agape Love is, please read Luke 10:25-37. It has been central for me (along with Matthew 25:31-46) in defining Agape Love as active commitment on behalf of the other, even stranger and enemy, and especially the most vulnerable.
Sunday, October 28, 2018
Sunday, October 21, 2018
greater than...
Two of the twelve wanted to be elevated above the rest in status, according to empire values.
They wanted to be considered greater than the rest of their sisters and brothers, to be privileged and among the elite who are entitled to more acclaim, adulation and admiration for being closer to the greatest of them all.
Jesus, considered the greatest among them, pointed out to them that there is a price to being the greatest, at least for those who live Kingdom values. The greatest servant among servants in the Kingdom is the one who sacrifices the greatest, and perhaps they were not ready for that kind of being lifted up.
The other ten were angry. Perhaps they too aspired to be considered for elevation above others, and these two brothers dared to come out and ask for it. It was a teaching moment on the Kingdom.
Jesus addressed the Roman values of which everyone being occupied was painfully aware, and addressed the temptation of those who were victimized by their love for wealth, power and status to adopt these empire values as their own for the sake of what they might gain for themselves.
Empire values are not gracious and loving in any way. They prevent the living of Agape Love. These values are the antithesis of living Agape Love. The striving for more, always more wealth, power and status are not about committed action to the other or others who are stranger, enemy and most vulnerable, but rather about getting more by any means for self or those associated or just like self. It is inwardly focused and not self-sacrificial in any way. Empire values do not elevate all equally, but always some above the rest. Empire values, in fact, necessitate the victimization of some for the sake of others, and the building of a great disparity in well-being due to the great disparity of wealth, power and status among peoples. In empire, many are exploited, manipulated and even destroyed for the enhanced pleasure of the few. There is no Agape Love in it. Those who aspire to live Kingdom Values dare not adopt these values, or they have wandered from the Lord and the Kingdom, having no Agape Love or Grace within them.
Kingdom Values define greatness differently. Valuing the well-being of all, equally means that enough for all is lifted up as a primary concern in the Kingdom. Jesus taught this, commanded it and modeled it, as we have witness by the Gospel writers. If someone does not have what they need, those who live Kingdom Values will sacrifice of their abundance in order for their need to be met. It is the Law of Agape Love and Grace, not founded on "deserving", entitlement or privilege but built on the Kingdom Value that all are of worth, equally. Jesus defines greatness by whoever serves as a
doulos, a slave. If one wishes to be great in the Kingdom, one must greatly serve others. A public servant serves the public. A follower of Jesus serves God by serving humanity. It is not about what we get in empire value terms, but rather what we are able to give that defines us as people who live the Kingdom Values taught, commanded and modeled by Jesus. Jesus is our example - the greatest among us, Son of God, who refers to Himself as Son of Man - and who gave up any Glory or Greatness in empire value terms to rise to Greatness in serving others according to Kingdom Values.
So, do you want to be "greater than" others according to empire values, or greater than you were before according to Kingdom of God Values? Mark 10:35-45
I'll strive to walk with Jesus in Grace and Agape Love.
Pastor Jamie
They wanted to be considered greater than the rest of their sisters and brothers, to be privileged and among the elite who are entitled to more acclaim, adulation and admiration for being closer to the greatest of them all.
Jesus, considered the greatest among them, pointed out to them that there is a price to being the greatest, at least for those who live Kingdom values. The greatest servant among servants in the Kingdom is the one who sacrifices the greatest, and perhaps they were not ready for that kind of being lifted up.
The other ten were angry. Perhaps they too aspired to be considered for elevation above others, and these two brothers dared to come out and ask for it. It was a teaching moment on the Kingdom.
Jesus addressed the Roman values of which everyone being occupied was painfully aware, and addressed the temptation of those who were victimized by their love for wealth, power and status to adopt these empire values as their own for the sake of what they might gain for themselves.
Empire values are not gracious and loving in any way. They prevent the living of Agape Love. These values are the antithesis of living Agape Love. The striving for more, always more wealth, power and status are not about committed action to the other or others who are stranger, enemy and most vulnerable, but rather about getting more by any means for self or those associated or just like self. It is inwardly focused and not self-sacrificial in any way. Empire values do not elevate all equally, but always some above the rest. Empire values, in fact, necessitate the victimization of some for the sake of others, and the building of a great disparity in well-being due to the great disparity of wealth, power and status among peoples. In empire, many are exploited, manipulated and even destroyed for the enhanced pleasure of the few. There is no Agape Love in it. Those who aspire to live Kingdom Values dare not adopt these values, or they have wandered from the Lord and the Kingdom, having no Agape Love or Grace within them.
Kingdom Values define greatness differently. Valuing the well-being of all, equally means that enough for all is lifted up as a primary concern in the Kingdom. Jesus taught this, commanded it and modeled it, as we have witness by the Gospel writers. If someone does not have what they need, those who live Kingdom Values will sacrifice of their abundance in order for their need to be met. It is the Law of Agape Love and Grace, not founded on "deserving", entitlement or privilege but built on the Kingdom Value that all are of worth, equally. Jesus defines greatness by whoever serves as a
doulos, a slave. If one wishes to be great in the Kingdom, one must greatly serve others. A public servant serves the public. A follower of Jesus serves God by serving humanity. It is not about what we get in empire value terms, but rather what we are able to give that defines us as people who live the Kingdom Values taught, commanded and modeled by Jesus. Jesus is our example - the greatest among us, Son of God, who refers to Himself as Son of Man - and who gave up any Glory or Greatness in empire value terms to rise to Greatness in serving others according to Kingdom Values.
So, do you want to be "greater than" others according to empire values, or greater than you were before according to Kingdom of God Values? Mark 10:35-45
I'll strive to walk with Jesus in Grace and Agape Love.
Pastor Jamie
Sunday, October 14, 2018
When your Greed owns you...
Mark 10:17-27
The rich man desperately wanted to be right with God. He had completed the check list of commandments. What he had not done was live Agape Love with others around him.
His wealth, like those within empire in that time and in this one, was gained off the exploitation of others in a system that gave more to the ruthless at the expense of everyone else. One cannot follow Jesus or be right with God if one hurts others for personal gain, whether directly or indirectly. Jesus offered him penance - make it right. Give it back. Change your life. Repent (metanoia - turn around, change your thinking and direction in life and how you live it).
The man went away shocked that he would not inherit eternal life and grieving because he could not live Kingdom values over empire values, because empire values had helped him gain so much for himself, and he was not willing to give that all up, even for eternal life with God. He had many possessions (and wanted more). His Greed Owned him.
What do we give up when we value our own wealth over the well-being of others who struggle just to survive? We give up the freedom of knowing that we can trust that God will provide us with enough and that enough IS enough for us, and that we will live a satisifed, thankful life with enough. We give up the sense of community in knowing that we are contributing to the well-being of those around us in it. We give up a liberation from being owned by greed and the systems that promote it and that drive our lives into the ground as we try to gain more wealth - always more, regardless of what we already have. We give up OUR true well-being. We give up our souls.
Jesus warned His followers about wealth - that being wealthy most probably precludes one from entering the Kingdom. Why? Because one does not value the Kingdom, but only empire when one chooses wealth for self over the well-being of all. His followers' reactions were typical for anyone who has bought the line that God blesses those who are wealthy and powerful and that is why they have their wealth and power. Wealth and power are not signs of God's favor of some over others, but rather signs of the ruthlessness of people who claim God but actively hurt God's children by benefitting from the systems that provide an abundance for some over others. Greed is insidious, in that it makes one believe that he/she can be right with self, God and others by living one's life only valuing obtaining more, always more for self at the expense of others. But God values everyone having enough, and no one being owned by their greed.
Those who are not satisfied with enough, who do not trust that God will provide enough for all including themselves and that it WILL BE enough, cannot be truly thankful for what they have because they are always seeking more as their value. They cannot be truly connected with sisters and brothers because they are pursuing their own gain even at their expense. They cannot be right with themselves because they are living in captivity to the acquisition of wealth that will drive them at the expense of their joy, shalom (well-being, completeness and wholeness that produces peace within and around a person) and relationships with others and God. They cannot be right with God because they have dedicated all love to wealth instead of loving God and neighbor as self (with a healthy love for self). They cannot be right.
You will know WHEN YOUR GREED OWNS YOU, because you will at some point recognize that you will sacrifice anything or anyone else to gain more wealth or power or status for yourself. You know that Greed owns you when you are faced with Jesus and His Kingdom values of Agape Love for God and Neighbor and you find excuses and justifications and rationalizations for choosing your desperate, sick need for more wealth, power or status over God and Neighbor.
When your Greed owns you, eventually you will be shocked (like those finding out they are goats and not sheep at the judgment - Matthew 25:31-46) and go away grieving because you cannot break free from what has driven you and now owns you, even to "inherit eternal life." - even to save your soul.
"Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions." Jesus (Luke 12:13-21 - the parable of the Rich Fool)
Pastor Jamie
The rich man desperately wanted to be right with God. He had completed the check list of commandments. What he had not done was live Agape Love with others around him.
His wealth, like those within empire in that time and in this one, was gained off the exploitation of others in a system that gave more to the ruthless at the expense of everyone else. One cannot follow Jesus or be right with God if one hurts others for personal gain, whether directly or indirectly. Jesus offered him penance - make it right. Give it back. Change your life. Repent (metanoia - turn around, change your thinking and direction in life and how you live it).
The man went away shocked that he would not inherit eternal life and grieving because he could not live Kingdom values over empire values, because empire values had helped him gain so much for himself, and he was not willing to give that all up, even for eternal life with God. He had many possessions (and wanted more). His Greed Owned him.
What do we give up when we value our own wealth over the well-being of others who struggle just to survive? We give up the freedom of knowing that we can trust that God will provide us with enough and that enough IS enough for us, and that we will live a satisifed, thankful life with enough. We give up the sense of community in knowing that we are contributing to the well-being of those around us in it. We give up a liberation from being owned by greed and the systems that promote it and that drive our lives into the ground as we try to gain more wealth - always more, regardless of what we already have. We give up OUR true well-being. We give up our souls.
Jesus warned His followers about wealth - that being wealthy most probably precludes one from entering the Kingdom. Why? Because one does not value the Kingdom, but only empire when one chooses wealth for self over the well-being of all. His followers' reactions were typical for anyone who has bought the line that God blesses those who are wealthy and powerful and that is why they have their wealth and power. Wealth and power are not signs of God's favor of some over others, but rather signs of the ruthlessness of people who claim God but actively hurt God's children by benefitting from the systems that provide an abundance for some over others. Greed is insidious, in that it makes one believe that he/she can be right with self, God and others by living one's life only valuing obtaining more, always more for self at the expense of others. But God values everyone having enough, and no one being owned by their greed.
Those who are not satisfied with enough, who do not trust that God will provide enough for all including themselves and that it WILL BE enough, cannot be truly thankful for what they have because they are always seeking more as their value. They cannot be truly connected with sisters and brothers because they are pursuing their own gain even at their expense. They cannot be right with themselves because they are living in captivity to the acquisition of wealth that will drive them at the expense of their joy, shalom (well-being, completeness and wholeness that produces peace within and around a person) and relationships with others and God. They cannot be right with God because they have dedicated all love to wealth instead of loving God and neighbor as self (with a healthy love for self). They cannot be right.
You will know WHEN YOUR GREED OWNS YOU, because you will at some point recognize that you will sacrifice anything or anyone else to gain more wealth or power or status for yourself. You know that Greed owns you when you are faced with Jesus and His Kingdom values of Agape Love for God and Neighbor and you find excuses and justifications and rationalizations for choosing your desperate, sick need for more wealth, power or status over God and Neighbor.
When your Greed owns you, eventually you will be shocked (like those finding out they are goats and not sheep at the judgment - Matthew 25:31-46) and go away grieving because you cannot break free from what has driven you and now owns you, even to "inherit eternal life." - even to save your soul.
"Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions." Jesus (Luke 12:13-21 - the parable of the Rich Fool)
Pastor Jamie
Saturday, October 6, 2018
Jesus and Power
Power, with Wealth and Status are what I call "the unholy trinity" of American Civil Religion. It is not Christian. In the time of Jesus, it was Roman. The Roman Empire was built on these values above all others. Jesus countered them with His teachings, as we have them in the Gospel witnesses. Jesus taught Humility, a value for enough for all and shared power. Jesus rejected empire values. Those who follow Jesus should perhaps consider rejecting them also, since they are clearly not Kingdom values, at least according to, you know, the Christ that Christians claim to follow.
America is not a Christian nation. The founders, mostly deists, intentionally structured things so that no one religion would dominate our society. We have been a welcoming beacon for people of all faiths until this moment. In addition, we can hardly claim to exhibit Christian principles to the world, at least if you define those principles by what was taught by The Christ. We are empire today.
Like Rome, the American Empire has colonized the world, now through McDonalds and Coca-Cola, our domination of the World Trade Organization, IMF, UN and other international organizations, and our military occupations and ever-shifting political alliances. Now many want us to go nationalistic, which happens when a single nation, full of hubris, decides that it is dominant enough to benefit only itself and isolate from its accountability to others, but still dominate. Jesus countered Rome and counters this empire in the commands, teachings and examples attributed to Jesus in the Gospels.
What is valued on an empirical scale is also valued within the society and by the individuals who give their devotion to empire values. The abuses of power in politics, economics,within communities and families bears that out.
Those who value power above community, have set up systems to get and keep power in order to dominate others around them. Their value is the power itself (along with the wealth and status that come with it). It is what they treasure, so it is the object of their love, rather than community. As Jesus taught, "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Since it is about having power and using it in devotion to the god of empire - self - abuses of power are part of the expectation.
Those who value above all else this power (and the wealth and status that come with it), believe that
having power means that one is entitled and privileged above others who do not have it. They believe that having power over others means that one is entitled above others and above scrutiny and reproach because they have it. Therefore any challenges to the abuses of power are challenges to the value for power (and the wealth and status that come with it), and the beliefs of those who would challenge it, along with their character must be held suspect by those who value power and give their devotion to it above all else.
When abuses of power occur, those who do not value it above all else will rise to challenge those abusing it. They will stand in the face of those who have abused it. They will stand up to the powerful and how they have abused their power. The response is predictable. Those who have the power will claim to be the victims of those who "unjustly" question their integrity or character, as will those who value power above all else and aspire to have it someday. How dare they question the values established by so many in empire? How dare they "victimize" the abusers of power for just exercising the power that they most value? It rallies those with power and those who aspire to have it, against those who challenge its legitimacy and abuses. Others remain silent in the face of such abuses because they comply with the unjust systems that promote them, thus helping to promolgate them rather than confront them.
This happens throughout empire when people challenge the systems set up to promote some above others in an attempt to help them get and keep power over others. It happens in regions within empire as those who believe they are to be "entitled" to have power over others exercise their beliefs by whatever means necessary to gain and keep power over "those people." It happens within communities as keeping "those people" out, dominating them or getting rid of them is a common exercise of the abuses of power. It happens within society as some who believe they are inherently privileged to have power abuse what power they do have over others. It happens in churches. It happens in neighborhood organizations. It happens in families as one tries to dominate powerfully over the other or others within the home.
The love of power (and the wealth and status that come with it) is not of Christ. Those who would follow Jesus as Lord do not love power above the other (neighbor - including stranger and enemy, and the most vulnerable) or God, and do not participate in empire values, but in humility strive to lift up all people and community itself -as did Jesus, the one we claim to follow. We use our power in Agape love, toward the well-being of all around us and not ourselves above others. For followers of Jesus, that happens in families, communities, organizations, regions and nations. It happens in economics and politics. It happens wherever we reside.
Jesus stood up to power. Mark 6:30-44 offers an account of how Jesus, in the face of Rome's empire and abuses of power, gathered an army of 5,000 men (plus women and children) in a day (a Roman cohort was 5500 men) and armed them with food instead of swords. Jesus broke them into groups of 100 and 50, a common Roman tactic for battle. Jesus armed them with His Good News of Agape Love and with food - fed their souls and their bodies to prepare them for the battle of their lives in the living of that Agape Love.
Jesus stood up to power and mocked it. Luke 19:28-48 offers an account of how Jesus, mocking the power of Rome and confronting the abuses of power among Temple Cult Leaders caricatured Roman power by ridiculously mocking the military parades of Roman legions entering the city, complete with genuine cries of love and devotion from the crowds. Jesus confronted the abuses of power and the seeking of wealth and status by the corrupt Temple Cult leaders of the time, dramatically demonstrating God's disdain for their love of power, wealth and status.
Jesus taught His followers a different way in perceiving and living power in the world. Luke 22:24-27 offers an account of Jesus rebuking power and status over others, using empire as a negative example, and commanding His followers to be servants and turn their definitions of power and status upside down. Jesus calls us not to "lord" power over one another, but rather to use whatever power we have to serve one another - to serve the whole community toward Shalom- the well-being, completeness and wholeness of ALL.
Finally, Jesus demonstrated Power according to Kingdom values. Jesus called His followers friends and family, fed, healed, forgave, refused to judge and then died for all, even or especially the least worthy (betrayer, denier, those who crucified Him, Rome, Temple Cult leaders, etc., etc....) YOU and ME.
Jesus taught, commanded and modeled what God wants of us in how we live in this part of God's Kingdom, here and now.
These are Kingdom values.
So, confront those who abuse power, even if it is the systemic norm - ESPECIALLY when it is the systemic, empirical norm. When those in power claim entitlement to be above scrutiny or reproach because they are the elites in power, confront the system itself. Refuse to participate in empire values and live by a different set of rules - by Kingdom values as we have learned them from Jesus in the Gospels. Speak truth to power - the truth of the Gospel of Jesus. Refute those who aspire to have that power someday, who are in support of those who have and abuse it. Rally the army of followers and arm them with the Good News and sustenance. Mock the absurdity of empire values. Demand justice - equal justice for ALL - live Agape love - active commitment on behalf of the other, even stranger and enemy and especially the most vulnerable - as Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us in the Gospels. Do it in politics by how you speak, write, call and vote. Do it in your economics by what you buy and from whom, and how you stand with those most exploited and abused.
Follow Jesus regarding Power (wealth and status).
Pastor Jamie
America is not a Christian nation. The founders, mostly deists, intentionally structured things so that no one religion would dominate our society. We have been a welcoming beacon for people of all faiths until this moment. In addition, we can hardly claim to exhibit Christian principles to the world, at least if you define those principles by what was taught by The Christ. We are empire today.
Like Rome, the American Empire has colonized the world, now through McDonalds and Coca-Cola, our domination of the World Trade Organization, IMF, UN and other international organizations, and our military occupations and ever-shifting political alliances. Now many want us to go nationalistic, which happens when a single nation, full of hubris, decides that it is dominant enough to benefit only itself and isolate from its accountability to others, but still dominate. Jesus countered Rome and counters this empire in the commands, teachings and examples attributed to Jesus in the Gospels.
What is valued on an empirical scale is also valued within the society and by the individuals who give their devotion to empire values. The abuses of power in politics, economics,within communities and families bears that out.
Those who value power above community, have set up systems to get and keep power in order to dominate others around them. Their value is the power itself (along with the wealth and status that come with it). It is what they treasure, so it is the object of their love, rather than community. As Jesus taught, "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Since it is about having power and using it in devotion to the god of empire - self - abuses of power are part of the expectation.
Those who value above all else this power (and the wealth and status that come with it), believe that
having power means that one is entitled and privileged above others who do not have it. They believe that having power over others means that one is entitled above others and above scrutiny and reproach because they have it. Therefore any challenges to the abuses of power are challenges to the value for power (and the wealth and status that come with it), and the beliefs of those who would challenge it, along with their character must be held suspect by those who value power and give their devotion to it above all else.
When abuses of power occur, those who do not value it above all else will rise to challenge those abusing it. They will stand in the face of those who have abused it. They will stand up to the powerful and how they have abused their power. The response is predictable. Those who have the power will claim to be the victims of those who "unjustly" question their integrity or character, as will those who value power above all else and aspire to have it someday. How dare they question the values established by so many in empire? How dare they "victimize" the abusers of power for just exercising the power that they most value? It rallies those with power and those who aspire to have it, against those who challenge its legitimacy and abuses. Others remain silent in the face of such abuses because they comply with the unjust systems that promote them, thus helping to promolgate them rather than confront them.
This happens throughout empire when people challenge the systems set up to promote some above others in an attempt to help them get and keep power over others. It happens in regions within empire as those who believe they are to be "entitled" to have power over others exercise their beliefs by whatever means necessary to gain and keep power over "those people." It happens within communities as keeping "those people" out, dominating them or getting rid of them is a common exercise of the abuses of power. It happens within society as some who believe they are inherently privileged to have power abuse what power they do have over others. It happens in churches. It happens in neighborhood organizations. It happens in families as one tries to dominate powerfully over the other or others within the home.
The love of power (and the wealth and status that come with it) is not of Christ. Those who would follow Jesus as Lord do not love power above the other (neighbor - including stranger and enemy, and the most vulnerable) or God, and do not participate in empire values, but in humility strive to lift up all people and community itself -as did Jesus, the one we claim to follow. We use our power in Agape love, toward the well-being of all around us and not ourselves above others. For followers of Jesus, that happens in families, communities, organizations, regions and nations. It happens in economics and politics. It happens wherever we reside.
Jesus stood up to power. Mark 6:30-44 offers an account of how Jesus, in the face of Rome's empire and abuses of power, gathered an army of 5,000 men (plus women and children) in a day (a Roman cohort was 5500 men) and armed them with food instead of swords. Jesus broke them into groups of 100 and 50, a common Roman tactic for battle. Jesus armed them with His Good News of Agape Love and with food - fed their souls and their bodies to prepare them for the battle of their lives in the living of that Agape Love.
Jesus stood up to power and mocked it. Luke 19:28-48 offers an account of how Jesus, mocking the power of Rome and confronting the abuses of power among Temple Cult Leaders caricatured Roman power by ridiculously mocking the military parades of Roman legions entering the city, complete with genuine cries of love and devotion from the crowds. Jesus confronted the abuses of power and the seeking of wealth and status by the corrupt Temple Cult leaders of the time, dramatically demonstrating God's disdain for their love of power, wealth and status.
Jesus taught His followers a different way in perceiving and living power in the world. Luke 22:24-27 offers an account of Jesus rebuking power and status over others, using empire as a negative example, and commanding His followers to be servants and turn their definitions of power and status upside down. Jesus calls us not to "lord" power over one another, but rather to use whatever power we have to serve one another - to serve the whole community toward Shalom- the well-being, completeness and wholeness of ALL.
Finally, Jesus demonstrated Power according to Kingdom values. Jesus called His followers friends and family, fed, healed, forgave, refused to judge and then died for all, even or especially the least worthy (betrayer, denier, those who crucified Him, Rome, Temple Cult leaders, etc., etc....) YOU and ME.
Jesus taught, commanded and modeled what God wants of us in how we live in this part of God's Kingdom, here and now.
These are Kingdom values.
So, confront those who abuse power, even if it is the systemic norm - ESPECIALLY when it is the systemic, empirical norm. When those in power claim entitlement to be above scrutiny or reproach because they are the elites in power, confront the system itself. Refuse to participate in empire values and live by a different set of rules - by Kingdom values as we have learned them from Jesus in the Gospels. Speak truth to power - the truth of the Gospel of Jesus. Refute those who aspire to have that power someday, who are in support of those who have and abuse it. Rally the army of followers and arm them with the Good News and sustenance. Mock the absurdity of empire values. Demand justice - equal justice for ALL - live Agape love - active commitment on behalf of the other, even stranger and enemy and especially the most vulnerable - as Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us in the Gospels. Do it in politics by how you speak, write, call and vote. Do it in your economics by what you buy and from whom, and how you stand with those most exploited and abused.
Follow Jesus regarding Power (wealth and status).
Pastor Jamie
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