Jesus did NOT Kill Mohammed

by Jarrod McKenna 05-13-2009

090513-jesus-killed-muhammad-harpers “Jesus Killed Mohammed” was written in Arabic in large red letters on the side of a U.S. Army Special Forces vehicle, armed to kill and rolling through a town in Iraq. It sounds like a bad Mad-Maxesque Hollywood adaption of the Crusades set in our contemporary context. The scene gets more chilling and horrific:

“Then, while they put the translator on the roof with a bullhorn, shouting in Arabic, ‘Jesus killed Mohammed,’ … training American guns on anybody who responded, the Bradley fighting vehicle rolled out into the city of Samarra and drawing fire everywhere it went, leading the Special Forces to conclude that every single Iraqi who took offense at these words, ‘Jesus killed Mohammed,’ was part of the enemy and therefore needed to be destroyed.”

The driver of this vehicle went on to “blow up everything he saw” because he explained later, “God was on his side.” But this is not just a terrible movie where we can simply pick up our popcorn and walk out in protest. This scene is not from a form of sadomasochistic voyeurism that so often passes for ‘film’ and gets sold to us as soul-numbing entertainment. This scene is out of the brave and chilling article by Jeff Sharlet exposing horrors of a contemporary fundamentalist right-wing Constantinian “Christianity” that has divorced itself from the ‘foolish’ nonviolence of the cross and has prostituted itself to another violent military-industrial-growth-complex, like the one that crucified Christ.

While the U.S. military is seeking to go into damage control and discipline soldiers who have broken the proselytizing laws, the church must also deal with the damage to our witness that saying “Jesus is the Way” while failing to live “the Way of Jesus” causes. There are deep questions we as the church must ask that go to the heart of who God is, what the gospel is, and what God’s grace calls us to and empowers us for.

The scriptures are clear:

“We know that we have come to know [Christ] if we obey his commands. The person that says, ‘I know [Christ],’ but does not do what [Christ] commands is a liar, and the truth is not in them. But if anyone obeys [Christ’s] word, God’s love is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in [Christ]: Whoever claims to live in [Christ] must walk as Jesus did.” (1 John 2:3-6)

As my mate Greg Boyd puts it in his timely and important new book, The Myth of the Christian Religion,

“… the clearest evidence that we are being transformed by God’s love and participating in the Kingdom that is not ‘of this world’ is that we adopt the same nonviolent, self-sacrificial stance toward enemies that Jesus had.”

Another prophetic book, recently re-released that calls us as the church to be (what Greg would call), “a giant Jesus in the world”, is Lee Camp’s Mere Discipleship. Lee reminds us,

“[The early churches] model of evangelism … if you wish the world to believe what you say, you must live as if you believe what you say … Evangelism is not selling Jesus, but showing Jesus; evangelism is not mere telling about Christ, but about being Christ.”

In our ministry, we are encountering a generation that wants to repent of a Christianity that looks like the violent injustice of Empires seen in the Crusades. This generation is hungry to embrace a Christianity that looks like the justice-seeking nonviolent ‘kingdom’ seen in Christ. And this is no longer just a fringe movement. You can listen to the audio here (or downloadable here) from one of Australia’s largest churches where “Living God’s Love: The Way of The Cross” is being preached and how the Spirit is moving and empowering a generation to live God’s Calvary-shaped love for ‘the least of these.’

This generation realizes that biblically, the only way the church practices “evangelism” and “mission” is to live and love like Christ, in such ways that others ask of us “why do your lives look like love, grace, and peace?” When we “walk as Jesus did,” our lives will provoke such questions. And we will be read to answer, “Our God is love. Jesus’ gospel of the kingdom is grace. And we are empowered by the Spirit to live a kingdom peace.” Our generation is waking up to realize that killing for Jesus makes as much sense as shagging for celibacy.

Jarrod McKenna is seeking to live God’s love. As a Vine and Fig Tree Planter, he plants “signs” on military bases that draw the connections between God’s kingdom, militarism, and climate change. He is a co-founder of the Peace Tree Community, serving with the marginalized in one of the poorest areas in his city, heads up Together for Humanity in Western Australia (an interfaith youth initiative serving together for the common good), and is the founder and creative director of Empowering Peacemakers (EPYC), for which he has received an Australian peace award for his work in empowering a generation of (eco)evangelists and peace prophets.

Categories: Violence and Nonviolence, War & Peace

Tags: America, Arab, Arabic, biblical, Christ, Christianity, church, Cross, crusades, Democracy, Empire, enemy, Evangelism, God, Gospel, Guns, injustice, Iraq, Jesus, justice, killing, kingdom, Military, Ministry, Nonviolence, peace, power, proselytizing, Religion, Scripture, soldier, U.S. Army, Violence

joshjoshjosh

How
possibly
thin
can
these
columns
get?
Lol.

Dayman

To answer keithsmith's question with utter clarity, I've posted this long response with the correct answer:

Given how Jesus responds to Peter’s use of the sword (he rebukes him), and given everything Jesus says about loving enemies, doing good to them, turning the other cheek, and so on, it’s clear that, whatever Jesus was up to in telling his followers to buy swords, he clearly didn’t intend for them to use them.

I think a close look at the passage reveals Jesus’ purpose. Immediately after telling them to buy a sword (Lk 22:36) Jesus says, “It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.”(vs. 37). To fulfill prophecy, Jesus had to be viewed as a transgressor. He had to at least appear to be a political revolutionary to the Jewish authorities for them to feel justified in arresting him. His cleansing of the temple a few days earlier was probably calculated for the same effect. So, to fulfill the prophecy and to provoke the Jewish authorities, he had to have enough weaponry to justify being viewed as a law breaking revolutionary.

This is why, in the next verse, when the disciples say they have two swords, Jesus says “That is enough.” (vs. 38). Obviously, if Jesus ever intended for the disciples to use the swords, that wouldn’t be nearly enough. But it’s enough to fulfill the prophecy by making Jesus look like a transgressor.

When Peter used the sword to cut off the guard’s ear, Jesus rebuked him and then demonstrated the kind of power the Kingdom of God uses to advance its cause by healing the guards ear.

When Jesus later appeared before Pilate and was asked if he was the King of the Jews, Jesus responded that his kingdom is not of this world, and he points to the fact that his followers are not fighting as proof of this fact (Jn. 18:36). So, a distinguishing characteristic that a person belongs to Jesus’ Kingdom is that they refuse to fight their enemies. They rather prayer for their healing and seek to serve them any way they can — including dying for them, as Jesus did, if necessary.

destroyideas

The conclusion is right in the text. "He made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle." So he drove sheep and cattle with the whip.

And to the people? 'he said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!"'

John 2:14-16

You would have to ADD to what is written to infer he whipped the men.

keithsmith

I 100% agree that we as teh Church need to do more for the poor. The Church has washed their hands of their duty too much and rely on the government to step in and do it.

And that is the people too. Instead of interrupting their own busy lives to help the poor, they just want the government to do it.

No, that is not what we are told. We are not told to pay more in taxes that is unwilling taken from us for the poor.

Rather, I see Christ demanding us to give willinly to the poor through the Church. How is Jesus reflected through us paying taxes when we are told this is NOT a Christian nation by our President.

Jesus gets NO GLORY when the Church washes their hands of doing the duty that Christ called us to do.

And it can be simple. I live in a rural community that has several churches provide Wednesday night meals and study. If you are hungry on Wednesday, you have several choices of where to eat.

But how about those churches spreading that out. One give meal/study on Monday, one on Tuesday, one on Wed, etc, etc. And then there is a place, a place reflecting the glory of God every day of the week.

naekwon

I didn't mean to imply that the Christian "left" nor any group has a monopoly on God's will. Sometimes it takes the "other" to recognize the answer to our own prayers.

Jesus does tell us that we will always have poor people among us. (I take that as a command to go and submerse yourself amongst poor people). But I always hear Christians say this as soon as you talk about the concerns of the poor. It's as if you don't want to make Jesus a liar so we better make sure that there are poor people left on earth. In fact though, He was referencing Deuteronomy 15...

7“If there is a poor man with you, one of your brothers, in any of your towns in your land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand from your poor brother; 8 but you shall freely open your hand to him, and shall generously lend him sufficient for his need in whatever he lacks. 9 “Beware that there is no base thought in your heart, saying, ‘The seventh year, the year of remission, is near,’ and your eye is hostile toward your poor brother, and you give him nothing; then he may cry to the LORD against you, and it will be a sin in you. 10 “You shall generously give to him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in all your undertakings. 11 “For the poor will never cease to be in the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall freely open your hand to your brother, to your needy and poor in your land.’

keithsmith

Let me add, that I have no problem with providing sources to educate people.

I do have problem giving direct payments to individuals.

Especially, when I was told by one that they used the funds to get a new tatoo.

That is wrong and does not address or solve the problem.

keithsmith

Couple of things. You just said free education and I did not assume what you were thinking. Thanks for clarifying what you meant.

My sister-in-law was a single mom and through financial aid, she did not pay a penny for her undergraduate work. Soley because she was a single mom. I believe there are resources out there if they look for them.

On your last paragraph, God's answer I am sure is neither what the conservative "prolife" exactly see NOR what the religious left/Sojourners would see either.

I wonder how someone in Africa or other parts of the world that are TRULY living in poverty would feel with a $19,000 a year salary. My sister was a beautician and never earned more than $13,000 a year as a single mom. She refused to put her daughters on free/reduced lunch and yet they never were missing for anything. One was salutorian in their class and got their education paid for while the other became a teacher. It is possible to be done, if you put your mind to it.

It is also very easy to claim that you don't have the opportunity if you want to.

Also, absolutly the church needs to be addressing poverty. But I cautione that I do not think we will solve it. Didn't Jesus tells us that we will alsways have teh poor.

naekwon

I'm not talking about high school. We have the least socially mobile nation of any industrial country. One quarter of our kids today are born into poverty. You really need to consider how that is to change. Childcare (unless you're under the poverty rate of $19,000 /yr for a fam. of 4), nor higher education is not free. That needs to change if the abortion rate is to change also.

I'm not placing you in any box. I am just responding to the topic of the forum. Abortion was not part of this.

I just saw an encouraging poll this weekend put out by the pew forum. For the first time in the poll's history, more people consider themselves "pro-life." I think God is at work in this changing the hearts and minds of people. It may not look like the conservative "pro-life" community wants, but normally God doesn't respond like that.

keithsmith

I know this does not fit nicely into the box that you want to create for me but I have repeatedly said, torture is wrong and we should not be practicing it.

I don't think Christians should be supporting a position of torture or abortion. Both are Scripturally wrong.

I am consistent on that. Are you consistent in your position? I hope you are.

I hope you say torturing a human being is wrong and stopping the life of an unborn human being is wrong.

Please show me where one public school charges for any student to attend.

Also, working in the public school, I know that there are hundreds to thousand sources of financial aid for single mothers. My college, Berea College, provides housing, education, JOB and meals for the single mother and child and unless they are a wealthy single mother than it would be at no cost.

keithsmith

First I am not sure how you got that I somehow was implying that the Iraqi and Afghan children was ours to discipline.

Absolutely God will discipline and love at the same time. And sometimes discipline FROM God is hard.

mscynthia

Back to the Topic

I am willing to bet that most people of faith in America do not want American soldiers passing out Bibles in uniform.
Not with their tax dollars.

Its a messy message.

Would you want law enforcement officers in America passing out Bibles while in uniform from there squad cars?
I think your looking at some serious social unrest.

IT looks like Religion at Gun point.
Why did my ancesters leave Europe when they did?

Palosaari

I describe Christian community in this way. (Community, meaning communal living.) It's really great to begin with, a bunch of people living together, loving each other. Then you start to realize that all of these people around you are jerks. (Edited to meet Sojourner Guidelines.) And then you start to realize that you are just as much of a jerk as they are. And yet, you still have to love them- and they still have to love you.

Palosaari

Fair enough Grace. I'm not clear what poll you're speaking of- I've been speaking of the folks who put a sign on the side of the military vehicle that claimed Jesus killed Mohammed (pbuh).

I don't know how to quantify evil, but slavery would be right up there, yes. Yes, many of those who claimed Christ and supported slavery were full of anger and hatred.

I don't think anyone was suggesting the Church was hateful and angry. I suppose there could be some argument made in that direction, but I wasn't. I spoke of individual Christians, or those who claim the appellation.

I agree with you on the moral connection between abortion and torture. Some people who are Pro-Choice are hateful and angry, as are some who are Pro-Life, yes.

Palosaari

I would think that there could be a good argument made for percentage, but since there are more people alive today than ever before on our planet, and more Christians alive today than ever before on our planet, it would not be a hard thing to have more Christians martyred in the 20th century than all previous combined.

neuro_nurse

Thanks.

I can’t speak for the Church of the past – I’m not very well read of the history of the Catholic Church. It really isn’t relevant to me.

I can’t speak for what Catholicism means for other people, or how other people interpret Catholic teaching.

I only know the beautiful faith in which I was raised, from which I tried to ‘escape,’ and which I later came to realize is my home.

jonabark

I always appreciate your posts for their equanimity, kindness and reason. I know also hat there are many catholics and protestants ardent for peace and justice. But for the nearly 2000 years since Constantine Christians and the Church have been active participants in Wars, pogroms, colonial invasions, cultural annihilations, and the abuse of the poor.

The problem is the people who make the decisions about whether it is a just war always decide it is. Can you cite a single instance when opposition by the church based on just war theory stopped a war?

I can point to millions of lives lost to wars led by Catholics and endorsed by the church. Same with Islam. Judaism. Protestants. Only the pacifists consistently resist injustice and war. That is the historic record and actions speak louder than words.

naekwon

OK. This was something that was debated throughout the presidential elections. The guy I voted for won, and your candidate Mike Huckabee, although he seemed like a decent guy, I suggest you double check the "whats and hows" of his social safety net. BTW go tell my single mother neighbor that we have free education in this country...she will laugh and ask if you're on crack. These debates are old and serve little purpose now.

However a hot topic is torture. What would you say to John Yoo, who allowed torture to take place, when he said that it is not a violation of the constitution or any treaty to crush a child's testicles in front of his parents in order for the US to extract information?

Also, are you standing in defense of torture to create links btwn Al-Quaeda and Iraq in an effort to justify our invasion of Iraq?

Catreona

Can't work out how to put this in the right thread. Sorry.

"Do you see a contradiction in a loving God that sends his Son but has created Hell for those that reject Him?"

God did not create Hell. God created Man and gave him free will. Hell is the direct result of Man's free choice to reject God. As such, it is Man who creates Hell with each rejection of God.

mscynthia

The Iraqis and Afgans are not our children. They are not ours to displine. Not even God has seen the need to bring Hell to earth. Why would a loving God treat his children in such a way. We are the ones who seem to keep doing that to ourselves and each other. ???
When your children misbehave, go and sit in time out with them. Let them see your tears.