Don't get it twisted...

 John 6:24-35 is the lectionary Gospel text for Sunday, August 1.

The crowd followed from "Tiberias", a town named in honor of the Roman emperor.  It is still about Rome here, folks.  It is still about being under the occupation and oppression of empire.

The people said, "Give us this bread."

Jesus knew what they were asking.  They wanted the trinkets of Kingdom, just as they were killing themselves for and settling for the crumbs and trinkets of empire.  They would settle for barley loaves if they could get them.  They were conditioned to believe that empire was inevitable, that it was the best system going, and that it was not the system that was the problem, but rather they, themselves, somehow.  They believed that they did not have what it took to be "on top", and therefore were on the bottom.  They got the whole thing twisted.

Jesus brought Kingdom values that lifted up all, equally.  Empire created wealth for the few elites, at the expense of the many.  The Kingdom values everyone having enough and being satisfied with enough.  Empire promoted the abuses of power over others that allowed a few to control the many and exploit them. The Kingdom values each person being empowered to live their lives, make their decisions and control their own destinies because of equitable opportunities in life.  Empire lifted up status above others as a way of life, so that some felt superior to others and justified in their abuses and exploitations of them.  The Kingdom values humility, shared value for one another, equality in value and value for community over individuals.

Some in the crowd were "Wannabe's."  Though they would never be among the elites, they bought into the empire system and wanted to be on top within it.  They were true believers in this world view, and got whatever they could get under it, even at the expense of others around them.

Some in the crowd were demoralized.  They felt powerless over the system under which they lived, and powerless to change it.  They were held down, back and out so long that they believed it could never be changed, so they did nothing to change it.

Some in the crowd were simply angry.  They would take shots at whoever crossed them, whether isolated Roman soldiers in dark alleys or other citizens who irritated them.  They were striking out in futility, out of shear anger and frustration.  They were the ones who would have made Jesus a military king.

Some in the crowd would get it.  There IS a better way.  Jesus' Way of Kingdom here and now is a better, more sustainable life for us, and for everyone in the world.  They would organize, follow and work to resist the empire values that brought oppression to so many.  They would work to ease the suffering of those under it and to offer a different, better way - Jesus' Way for living in the world together.  They were the ones through whom the First Century world was changed for a time, until empire subjugated the movement and institutionalized it under empire, toward its own ends.

It is about the bread, but it is about much, much more.  It is about the UNITY, GENEROSITY, AGAPE LOVE and GRACE that sustains life and brings transformation.  It is about destroying a system that is hateful, greedy, abusive and inequitable through Agape Love and Grace, to be in alignment with God's Kingdom and its values.

"This is the work of God - believe in the one whom God has sent." - Jesus

So, when they demanded of Jesus, "Give us this bread."

His answer was - "You have it."  "I AM the bread of life.  Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty."

Jesus' Way sustains us in the wilderness of empire.  Agape Love and Grace are the ONLY sustainable way for the world.

The "food of the world" perishes.  The crumbs from the table of the elites, the trinkets given to placate the victims, the trickled down drops from the bounty above, the false power over a few others to control and abuse them, the false status above others that justifies our hatreds out of fear - these just promote an unjust, ungodly system that hurts God's children, our sisters and brothers.

Jesus' Way of Agape Love and Grace sustains.  It delivers us from sin and death, here and now in THIS PART OF GOD'S KINGDOM.  It kills a system that devastates and destroys lives.  THAT is the Bread of Life that sustains us, if we will only come to believe in it, commit to it, apply it and live it.

Under the occupying and oppressive evils of empire, don't get it twisted - there is only ONE Bread of Life - Jesus' Way of Agape Love and Grace.

Pastor Jamie

under the shadow of empire

 John 6:1-21 is the Gospel lectionary text for Sunday, July 25.

Geographically, it does work.  The author of John's Gospel seemingly makes a mistake, for Jesus was on that side of the Sea of Galilea.  But it allowed the Gospel writer to use the Roman name - Sea of Tiberias, and signal its readers/hearers that it is a message regarding Rome's occupation of their land and lives.

It was the Passover.  And what do you do at Passover?  Bread and Wine.  But they had none.  Empire had left them without sustenance or power over their own destinies.  Jesus "tested" Philip, and Andrew chimed in with a ridiculous "helpful" offering.  Jesus gave thanks and gave out the 5 barley loaves - only the bread in John.  And they all ate and were satisfied.  And they gathered up 12 baskets of remnants.  The people saw what He had done.  The 12 tribes were satisfied with enough left over to go another day, as in the wilderness, even under the oppression and depravation of occupation under empire.  Now THAT is a celebration of the Passover they would not soon forget!

In fact, Jesus had to ditch the crowd, because they wanted to make Him King right then and there.  Their "King", a vassal sanctioned by Rome, represented empire and did nothing for God's people.  Jesus in one day gave them hope and helped them celebrate their identity as a people, even under the shadow of Rome's oppression.

Now, Jesus would show off for His disciples, walk on the water and bring them, in the boat, to shore safely through the storm.  Jesus provided them sustenance, and brought the church home safely through the storm of empire's oppressive, evil forces.

Our storm of oppressive, evil force is laissez-faire Capitalism.

The oppression of it, especially since 1981 and the corruptions that have followed since, has devastated the lives of countless millions around the world, all for the personal gain of about 1% of the population.  It has been a tool of oppression.  It excludes, exploits and withholds from the many for the sake a few.  It holds the many down, back and out, leaving them without what they need so that the few rich fools can have more of an abundance than they can ever deplete.  It occupies the nation and much of the world by occupying the halls of governance, justice and economics.  It occupies through the fear of being called "socialist" or un-American, through the social pressure to conform and through other false social and religious teachings that undergird its insidious falsehoods - the unholy gods of Greed, lust for Power and desire for Status which drive it.

The weapons of this oppressive force are white, protestant straight male supremacy and the many hatreds that it generates in order that the people will be divided, so that those who it represents can remain dominant by holding onto all the resources and power, and exploiting the masses for more.  

It claims to be righteous, as witnessed by its power, status and wealth, even claiming to be democratic while promoting its Oligarchic, Plutocratic ideals at the expense of the people.

And many under it have adopted its values and vision as true believers, gullibly hoping one day to be among the few elites who benefit from empire's oppression.  Others do whatever they must in order to secure the scraps from its table for themselves, even at the expense of others around them, and especially those not like them.  And some refuse to participate, resist its ways and speak truth to power and wealth, both within the church that bears Jesus' name and outside of it.

Which are you?

Who will be preaching THIS message from John's Gospel next Sunday?

Pastor Jamie 

Empowered for Life

 Mark 6:30-44 contains the lectionary Gospel text for next Sunday, though it is divided up differently.

This is important.  It is an example for the church today.

Empire weaponizes sustainable life for the profit of a few.  Food, drinkable water, breathable air are all sacrificed for the benefit of a few to exploit the many.  Take away what people need and they are easily controlled when given just enough on which to survive, or less.

Rome did that.  They took every resource from the peoples they conquered to feed their armies and provide more for the elites of Rome.  People were working hard, just to have it taken away.  They were occupied, controlled by the police state and terrorized with unjust arrests, harsh punishments, torture and executions.  The people lived with very little and in constant fear.  Some arose to resist militarily.  Jesus resisted with Kingdom values in the face of empire values.

Jesus had compassion on the crowd because they were like "sheep without a shepherd."  Their King (puppet of Rome), their religious leaders (corrupt and brutal) and the empire abused them at every turn.  Jesus had Compassion - the first weapon against the hatred and apathy created by empire.

Jesus ordered His disciples, THE CHURCH, to feed the crowds.  They objected, of course, claiming that it would take what little they had hoarded for themselves, but Jesus COMMANDED them to give the people something to eat.  Jesus commanded Generosity, even is self-sacrifice,  the second weapon against the greed created by empire.

Jesus ordered the people to gather in groups of 100's and 50's.  This gathering was no accident.  Roman battle tactics included the divisions of centuries and half-centuries of soldiers for battle.  With an occupying force looking on (and you know a large gathering would not go unnoticed), the people were organized for battle.  Jesus commanded organized Community gathering, a third weapon against the power of empire.

Then Jesus provided from the creation, from the community in sharing, from the meager resources left to the people after empire took it all.  Empire weaponized food.  God provided enough, and even more.  That is how the Kingdom of God works, in the gathering and sharing as stewards of what God has provided.  While empire exploits, steals and takes off the backs of those who work hard to provide, Kingdom ensures enough, and more than enough, for those who do the labor.  The miracle was in the sharing, the gathering, the power of powerless people to unite and look out for one another.

The Gospel writer specifies 5,000 men in this text.  The Roman Cohort that occupied that region at the time was 3800 Centurions.  Jesus raised an army in a day, that could wipe out the occupiers/oppressors of God's people.  He organized them in battle groups of 100's and 50's to let Rome know He knew a little about war.  Then, he handed out the weapons of the Kingdom - food, community, generosity, compassion and great numbers of people gathering against the law of empire.  

Resistance in the Kingdom does not mean a different people being on top in an unjust system.  It means transforming the values of empire into Kingdom values for oppressed people who refuse to live the immoral norms of empire values.  It means valuing the things of the Kingdom in the face of empire values.

THAT is what the church of Jesus is commanded to do here and now.  We are commanded to live the Kingdom values of Agape Love and Grace, instead of the values of empire.  Not only that, but we are commanded to put it in the face of empire so that the people have a different vision, a different set of values and hope.

The first Century followers of Jesus lived what Jesus taught.  It was very different from empire, and thousands came to be a part of the movement of Jesus's Way.  That lasted until empire co-opted the movement and claimed "the faith" for the Roman Empire, twisting its origins and turning it into an institution that promoted a hybrid of empire and personal salvation values.  It has not been the same since.

In the face of empire today - will the church be a part of the movement of Jesus' Way and re-commit to what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled, or will it be a tool of empire as in Jesus' day, promoting the greed, hatred, lust for power and desire for status of empire with its false theologies of church growth, earned self-righteousness, personal salvation and prosperity?

Make no mistake.  Mark 6:30-44 is about US, here and now.

Will we heed Jesus' commands?

Pastor Jamie

with Him or against Him

 So. Herod.  In a long line of Herod, under the thumb of Rome's empire himself, trying to enjoy his life of wealth, power and status under difficult circumstances.  He was threatened by anyone who would upset the balance created by empire under which he was relatively thriving.  He eliminated John, the real Elijah who ushered in Jesus, Messiah.  Now, he was afraid that Jesus was John come back.  He had no idea who he was dealing with - this was the REAL DEAL.

Jesus came in a time of occupation and oppression by empire, and of gross corruption by those who had adopted empire values as their own, and who now learned how to play that game in order to gain for themselves more wealth, power and status at the expense of God's children.  The political and religious leaders were in collusion with empire, and the people suffered for it.

Does that sound familiar?

Those who benefitted from a corrupt political and economic system got the religious leaders to twist the Word and practice of the faith to benefit themselves.  The corrupt religious leaders, themselves desiring to gain more wealth, power and status, and/or even just survive life under empire, supported this and came up with false beliefs that would promote it for their own sake, at the expense of the children of God.

They worked very hard to silence the Word of Truth - here, the Word made Flesh.

What Jesus taught, commanded and modeled as Kingdom values in Agape Love and Grace was about enough sustainable means for ALL people, Love and not Hate or Apathy, Equal power shared so that all had equal opportunities and possibilities, and equal status and value for ALL people.

That was a threat to those who had created a new status quo.  Jesus addressed the desolating sacrilege of politics shaping the temple cult life because the corrupt leaders of His time on the Throne and in the 
Temple had colluded to go against God's Will.

It is a threat to those who have created this new status quo in our own nation.  The desolating sacrilege of Reagan and Falwell (1981, ff) has grown to create more HAVE NOTS for the benefit of the HAVES.  It has created an environment of intolerance, control over people's lives and bodies and hearts, of greed for MORE wealth, lust for power over others and desire for status above others.  It has created and exploited divisions among the people so that the few may gain more while the many fight for scraps.  John called for repentance - changing one's thinking so that one's direction will change in alignment with God's Will.  He had to be eliminated for disturbing the status quo.  Jesus had to be, also.  Empire and its cronies could not have the Good News of Agape Love and Grace challenge the false and evil world they had created for their own gain.

Many people go along with this to gain what they can under the evil system, just as they did in Jesus' time.  Some have bought the false theologies of nationalism, prosperity, power, status and exceptionalism preached by the false prophets of our time, hook, line and sinker.  They will fiercely defend the corrupt systems as they aspire to gain by them, even though most or many of them will not.  Others will profess a faith in Jesus and ignore what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for how to live in this part of God's Kingdom, here and now, going along so they can get along.  Some will seem loving and in favor of change in the world and nation, and even speak about it, but will always go back to the status quo that got THEM their position, influence and prosperity in politics and/or the church.  The 21st Century, in many ways, IS the 1st Century. 

There are prophets who challenge the status quo today.  Many have been relatively silenced by those in power and those who hope to have more wealth, power and status under empire.  They are there, persistently preaching the Good News of Jesus for a world beaten down by empire in our own nation, here and now.  They are treated with disdain, accused of being "radical," taken off the air, slandered and scandalized, marginalized and even arrested.  In some parts of the world, they are tortured and killed.  

These are the ones who point out that normalized life under empire is evil, because it goes against God's Will and hurts the children of God.  They dare to suggest that the systems and values that continue to benefit the wealthy and powerful are wrong.  They dare suggest that the systems be changed, and that the ill-gotten gains be re-distributed to help those in need because of the corruptions of years under empire.  They dare suggest that the systems be changed to provide equal power under Democracy to ALL citizens.  They dare suggest that the systems be changed to reflect a value for ALL people equally, and not a few elites over all others.  They dare suggest that they system be changed that pits one against another in intolerance, and that Agape Love and Grace be lived among the people of our nation.  They dare to expose the systems promoted by corrupt political and religious leaders of OUR time that teach a false version of God's Will that twists even the Gospel until it no longer resembles Christ Jesus.

Who dares to live what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us, in the face of empire, as an act of resistance to empire?

If you do, like John (and Jesus), you may necessarily get it in the neck by those with all the wealth, power and status.

If you do, you will sacrifice for it.

If you do, you will be faithful to God because you love God and Neighbor as self.

Whose side are YOU on?

Pastor Jamie