I always believe when reading about the Gerasene Demoniac (Luke 8:26-39) and his liberation by Jesus and his restoration to living in community, that it was fear of the LOSS OF PROFIT that inspired the people of the area to ask Jesus to leave. If Jesus were to stay and meddle in other lives, it might cost them even more than just the herd of swine that was destroyed. The liberation of this man and restoration of his life cost those who marginalized the man, and it was not pleasing to them.
I believe that Paul and Silas followed Jesus' lead in Acts 16:16-24, according to the author, as we find direct evidence throughout the book of Acts. They, too were annoyed by the precocious spirit in the girl and cast the spirit out. Because her "owners" would now lose money, Paul and Silas were thrown into jail. It was a wonderful act of advocacy, even though done out of annoyance, and the girl was liberated from the spirit and them, and set free to have her life restored, presumably. Her liberation and the restoration of her life cost those who exploited her, and it was not pleasing to them.
Following Jesus does bring a cost.
It costs the disciples who practice following Jesus and working in advocacy of others to liberate them from the evils of empire and restore them to a sane, healthy life.
It costs those who embrace empire values and personally gain from their oppression and exploitation.
It is still the right way to live and the only real way to follow Jesus.
Agape Love demands it. Jesus commanded the living of Agape Love.
If we are not working toward the liberation of people from the evils of empire out of Agape (committed action on behalf of the other), we are not following Jesus.
If we are not working to restore the lives of others around us to Shalom (completeness, wholeness, well-being), we are not following Jesus.
Empire tears down the many lives for the sake of the few.
It destroys the hopes of the many for the opulent wealth of the few.
It tramples the abilities of the many by the abuses of power of the few.
It de-humanizes and devalues the many for the status of the few.
Jesus' Good News lifts up the lives of all, equally.
Jesus' Good News restores the hope of all.
Jesus' Good News gathers people to share power for the sake of all.
Jesus' Good News values all, equally and calls for humility in our lives together.
And in the book of ACTS, we find examples of people following Jesus' examples and heeding Jesus' teachings to do the same - and the world was changed by Jesus' Agape then:
Radical Community Acts 2:42-47
Radical Ownership 4:32-37
Radical Availability 5:12-16 (restoring completeness, wholeness)
Radical Partnership 6:1-8 (shared power)
Radical Inclusion 8:26-40 (different cultural, sexual identity) and 10:9-16 (differing practices)
Radical Sharing and Generosity 11:27-29 (with strangers)
Radical Advocacy 16:16-24 and 27
All of these accounts are direct applications of the teachings and actions of Jesus in the Gospels, and represent what happens when people do not just claim Jesus as Savior, but follow Jesus as Lord of their lives. They changed the world by changing the lives of many, many people - first, having been changed by the teachings, commands and examples of Jesus as God's better way for us in the world.
And in order for this to happen, a price must be paid.
Those who advocate the following of Jesus actively in the world will be labeled "socialists" and "do-gooders", "anti-American" and "radical."
People will shame, threaten, discriminate and hurt those who follow Jesus, because that is the denying of self and picking up the Cross of which Jesus spoke.
And WHEN God's Kingdom values are adopted in the world, those who gained personally off the oppression, exploitation and destruction of others will find that they do not have the excesses of wealth, power and status that they once enjoyed at the expense of the rest of the world - the liberation of others who are oppressed under empire and the restoration of their lives to Shalom will cost them.
But all will have ENOUGH and will have their SHALOM restored.
It is time for the world to be changed by the people who claim Jesus, actually following Jesus, now.
What do we have to lose? Injustice, unrest, conflict, illness, starvation, inequities, inequality, death.
What do we have to gain? Life, life more abundant for all, justice, Shalom.
Thy Kingdom Come, O Lord, regardless of the Cost of the few and because of what will be gained by the MANY of your children. Amen
Pastor Jamie
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