Barefoot,
transient,
swaddled in rags,
born in a manger.
Friend to the marginalized,
the lepers,
the homeless.
The sick,
the sad,
and the forgotten.
Radical Revolutionary.
Peaceful leader.
Turn the other cheek,
Give the coat off your back.
Wash the dirty feet of neighbor,
stranger,
and friend.
Deliverer of hope.
Lover of souls.
Healer.
Without posessions,
money,
or worldly power.
We are taught in our CHRISTian nation to follow the masses; to buy, to sell, and to own. The rich are beyond reproach, and the poor regarded as reproachable. Yet Christ said, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into heaven.” (Matthew 19:24)
We are taught to earn as much as we can and keep what we have; that only a foolish person gives away what they’ve worked for. Yet Christ said, “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor.” (Matthew 19:21)
We are taught to fear what we don’t understand, and to judge what scares us. Yet Christ, in compassion, turned his eyes from no one.
We are taught to hate, to fight, and to own. Yet Christ said “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and loves God.” (1 John 4:7) “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)
Your poetry and prose hit the mark, Erin. Many Americans talk as if our nation was founded as a New Jerusalem. Yet how do we know what that looks like? Have we ever known a Jerusalem — metaphorical or otherwise — that isn’t ruled by empire?
Jesus went into a Jerusalem controlled by Rome, where imperial power held sway over the city’s government, economy, and religious hierarchy. With him he brought a worldview that was steeped in the culture of the surrounding villages and wilderness. As such, his actions and teachings drew from a spiritual taproot that preceded Rome.
I bet the religious leaders of Jerusalem at that time did not think of themselves as imperial flunkeys, any more than many Christian leaders in America today. But what Jesus brought to town was utterly different from what the hierarchy had in mind. And in order to preserve their position, they murdered a wonderful brilliant Jew who knew the difference between love and empire.
Thank you for re-affirming that difference here, Erin. Bless you for inspiring me to think and write on Easter morning.
Thank you Watt for your insights and comment. Having grown up steeped heavily in the Americanized culture of Christianity, I find my self cynical and reactive to Christianity as a religion because of the hypocrisy that I’ve observed and experienced. Yet, when you look at Christ’s life historically, you see a big difference between the way he lived his life and how most practicing evangelical, American Christians choose to live theirs at present time. Of course, this is not applicable to all those who follow Christ in beliefs and lifestyle, but many of the Christian leaders in our nation promote a culture of capitalism, violence, and extreme judgment towards people and lifestyles that are unknown to them or misunderstood. This unfortunately trickles down to many, even most, of the Christian churches in our country. The political perspectives of those leaders who claim to follow Christ contaminate the fundamental principles of a religion supposedly rooted in the life of a man who was anything but a war-seeking, judgmental, capitalist!
There are so many Christ-followers doing amazing things in this world…I see this often. These people give me hope and inspire me to keep looking to Christ as an example of steadfast love, compassion, grace and humility.
Right On Erin, beautifully said!!!
Our Jesus Edition was picked up by Nancy and Joe Pearl, a couple who came to Cannon Beach for a recent literary gathering. Nancy is a renown connoisseur of books and the only librarian on earth with an action figure made in her likeness. After perusing our paper, they recommended a NYT op-ed by Kevin M. Kruse, author of “One Nation Under God: How Corporate America Invented Christian America” (just published by Basic Books).
The op-ed convinced me to order the book as soon as I can get it from my distributor. Kruse talks about how business titans lobbied Christian clergy in order to revive America’s faith in capitalism following the Great Depression. Apparently that effort spawned the fealty many conservative Christians express toward unregulated commerce and free trade in general. If you would like to review the book for the Upper Left Edge, Erin, let me know and I’ll hold a copy for you.
Wow!!!! Lets keep the inquiry and questions and appreciation rolling… There is always someone amazing me with their revelations and connections that make sense to my soul. Lets see how deep the rabbit hole goes, and what each of us may do, in our own way, to dance with it…