Jesus and Justice Always Kiss: A Plea to Youth Pastors Making Out with Empire

I had one person come up to me and say

Thanks for this great post!

Well, it didn't take long for the garage doors to go down!

I agree that the analogy between the Roman empire and the U.S. is hyperbole, but I think Jared asks a good question: Why are Christ's teachings not better reflected by Christians? Or at least, why do non-Christians see such a disconnect between Christ's teaching and how Christians behave? Sometimes non-Christians' views of Christians are distorted by pop culture and the media and Christians shouldn't be proclaiming their good works on the street corners, but there's definitely disconnect between how we're perceived and Christ's teachings.

Why? Let's look at what Jesus said:

"If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, 'A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me.

"If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates Me hates My Father also. If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would not have sin; but now they have both seen and hated Me and My Father as well."

Now I don't think this necessarily means that the Church and the larger society will constantly be circling one another with daggers drawn, but there will always be an element that hates the church irrationally. That we are portrayed negatively in a lot of places should not be a surprise, even when the church is faithful. For good or ill we should not take the world's opinion of us too seriously -- at least not as an honest reflection of our spiritual state. It's God's opinion that matters most.

LV

I agree that the motivation of Christians shouldn't be to be loved by the world, but because some people dislike Christians isn't evidence that we're doing the right thing. We should be motivated by our desire to glorify God in all we do. And if certain people dislike us because of the things we do for God's glory then so be it. We can't appease everyone. But it all depends on why people dislike Christians. If it's because they think that belief in a God or Jesus' resurrection is wacky, then I'm not that concerned. But if they dislike us because we aren't living out Jesus' teachings, then that's a problem.

I like when Youth Pastors try new things . There is something about the innocence and sincerity that I find refreshing when Kids try to be what Jesus wants us to be like .
Its a lesson that we all can learn from . Lord refresh our hearts and minds . Make Our Love for you as though it was brand new .

Sorry about that if I got too spirtual .

Political, economic, military dominance of the USA in the 21st century
in no way compare
with the Roman Empire of the first
because Americans bring
peace, prosperity and justice to the nations
who are open and friendly to us
whereas Rome sought to suck out all the resources
via extraction
from client regimes
and they made the peasant farmers
pay taxes for the Roman legions
which foreign tax payers today never do,
getting a free ride from the USA,
causing us to neglect our neighbors in our own country

Furthermore, we are Christ like in that we serve
the least, the lost, the outcast, and the enemy
in a way that no nation has ever done before us

We are definitely a "sheep nation" according to the Shepherd's standard of ultimate judgment in Matthew 25.

Of course, we are not perfect.

No nation is.

Occasionally, we've gotten carried away.

However, I humbly, without arrogance, assert that we are Number One, although I, personally, have a very difficult time forgiving the time the USSR stole the gold medal from the USA in Olympic basketball. No way should we accept the silver medal after such an injustice. Otherwise, I would say that we are the most forgiving nation on the planet.

So wave the flag and chant with me, "USA! USA! USA! USA!"

The greatest nation on earth- by way of humble service

Oh- and we should gather up all terrorists in a field and drop an H-bomb on them

Then there would only be good people left.

That's what I am thinking

One of the reasons that Jarrod McKenna's posts such a responsive note is that the Church and Christianity cannot claim a very good track record throughout its 2000 year-old history. For those that would instantly place all the blame on the Roman Catholic Church, they are wearing blinders. None of us in any organized church can claim a history that even begins to emulate the standard that Christ set for us.

That is why that is see hope in the contributions here from Jarrod and others who despite their youth have managed to see through all of the crap that is spewed from the modern church today. They see people who have needs and do not pass them by. The possibility that there is a remnant that is truly faithful to Christ's teachings inspires me, and I pray that their selflessness will spread throughout the churches.

But if they dislike us because we aren't living out Jesus' teachings, then that's a problem.

Which is more likely the case. Too many Christians have sought political and cultural power at the expense of ministry -- perhaps believing, wrongly, that if it had such power it would be easier to do ministry -- and, really, the Holy Spirit. There is something called "holy desperation" referring to the need to depend on God for survival which groups like Moral Majority failed to understand. That's why they're either gone or waning.

Seek first God's rule. Seek first God's rule.

You do good theology--in my thinking. Manifesting the love of God in community, in action, in thought, in words that communicate.

The mistake is to to this in reaction to empire--or to any of our old idolatries. Choosing life over death is a task for the day and the moment. Every day and every moment. It is not a choice made because in all our intelligent critique of parents and others we have discovered ourselves as the newly enlightened ones.

I am not criticizing you of this. I am noting the natural ways of the human heart.

Further, I think we often find the true revolutionaries in very hidden and surprising places. This is because the revolutions that are needed in our own hearts blind us to looking in the right places. We are always in the hunt looking for the light that last shined on us. We consider that the true light and always go back looking for more.

If you are certain Jesus is going to be found in the streets with Shane displaying Jesus and Justice kissing --the wind of the Spirit may have already moved on.

Seek first the Kingdom.. It is the seeking.....today.

Thanks much for the post and the good comments.

We must continue to correct and explain to the misinformed about the true meaning of the Jesus church and his sacrifice. Jesus stood for justice and peace, many of these people are confused and over-complicate their views and understanding.

Jesus is my daddy.
Othello Tablet