Wednesday,
January 13, 2021
“If you’re not on my side, you’re the enemy; if you’re not helping, you’re making things worse.” (Luke 11: 23, The Message Bible)
{Susan had successful knee
replacement surgery yesterday and is now on the road to recovery. Keep her in
your thoughts and prayers, please.}
There were many disturbing
sights throughout the whole melee. But one in particular dismayed and disgusted
me.
One individual was waving a huge
flag above the heads of the mob. The only word emblazoned on that banner was “Jesus.”
Yuck! As a Christian I am deeply offended by this action. As a person who proclaimed
and demonstrated peace, love, forgiveness, non-judgmentalism and love, even for
enemies, Jesus would have not participated
in such an attack.
In Jesus’ own time and place,
there were many Jewish zealots whose only passion was to overthrow the Roman rule
of government. These groups led revolts, insurrections and used violence as a
means of opposition. Sometimes, the leaders
thought themselves to be the Messiah, come to free Israel. The harsh Roman
might crushed these groups. None of them ever succeeded.
Jesus was quite different in
word and deed. “Blessed are the peacemakers,” he once said. I am sure
that those were words which the zealots did not want to hear. “Love your enemies,”
was another approach to standing up for his personal principles and freedom. In
the Gospels, he mixes with even Roman soldiers and military leaders. He may
have disliked the Roman Empire as thoroughly as any Jew but he adopted the ethic
of non-violence and used words and actions to offer a daily alternative to live
under its thumb.
We all may be guilty to some
degree of trying to co-opt Jesus into supporting our causes, belief systems, lifestyles,
politics, arguments and choices. We want Jesus to justify what we say and do. We
want Jesus to verify our prejudices, dislikes, hatreds and opinions. We want
Jesus to beat up those whom we are against and condemn those who, in our eyes,
have earned their ticket to hell. Self-righteousness just loves Jesus to pieces!
“I will not judge those who
hear me but don’t obey me, for I have come to save the world and not to judge
it.” (John 12:47, NLT) Maybe, there’s hope for that Jesus-banner waver.
“Do not judge others, and you
will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against
you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven.” (Luke 6:37, NLT) Then
again, maybe not, but it won’t be up to me to decide their fate either way.
Jesus did occasionally talk
about the violence that faith in him may initiate. But it needs to be stressed
that Jesus’ followers don’t foment that violence or retaliate when it happens.
It is violence that is perpetrated against us because we believe in and follow
Jesus. The strongest political statement that he made was to Pilate, that even in
the face of his crucifixion, Pilate’s definition of power and Jesus’ definition
of power were miles apart. “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it
were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish
leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world.” (John 18:36, NLT) It is a
radical statement, not backed by violence, hatred and enmity but by his
non-violent acceptance of the worse that the Romans could do to him i.e.
crucifixion, and still have the final victory, i.e. Resurrection. Not so much
as raised a fist, but lifted up life.
Last week’s action by that Jesus-flag
bearer was blasphemous, heretical -and a
violation of the ethics of Kingdom-living under the banner of Jesus Christ.
Jesus must weep, somedays.
Dale
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