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
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