Paying Attention to the Political Life of Jesus

Jesus Christ was involved with politics!  Such a statement will draw many reactions from different kinds of people.  Some, who major on the “spiritual” side of things, may vehemently oppose such a thought!  Others, both on the right and on the left, will say “hoorah” and make Jesus Christ one of their campaign workers to further their career and/or agenda.  Others, like me, may feel that neither of these sides give a satisfactory answer.  Well, I’m sticking by my original sentence.  Jesus Christ was, and is, involved with politics.

Let me make an important statement.  I do not believe Jesus lived a compartmentalized life.  He did not wear a “spiritual” shirt one day, a “political” shirt another day,  an “earthly” shirt the day after that, and a “heavenly” shirt to end the week.  Christ was a whole person.  Yet, as a whole person he had different aspects to his nature and character and we are simply “zeroing” in on one of those right now:  his political involvement. 

Before you “X” out of this blog because of your frustration at the thought of Jesus being political, let me throw out a few defintions to the word.  Political- the art of science of political government; political science.  The conducting of or engaging in political affairs, often professionally.  The methods or tactics involved in managing a state or government.

I want to zero in on that last defintion.  The methods involved in managing a state of government.  May I say ask a question to the two groups I addressed earlier.  “What state or government did/does Christ manage?”  It is neither america nor the United States government.  Remember, satan once offered Jesus the united states presidency, but He declined.  I hear a lot of amens from the other side, but you must answer the question too.  Is Christ the manager of an imaginary kingdom located somewhere between your heart and your stomach?  Or is He the King of a Kingdom that is located within you, but is also located in the earth.  What state does Christ manage?  The heavenly state.  What government does He manage?  The divine one.  Where does it come from?  God’s realm- the heavenlies.  Where is it coming to?  The earth.  Within us and all around us. 

Does this kingdom mix in with the kingdoms of the world?  No.  Is this kingdom meant to have no effect upon the kingdoms of this world because it’s only spiritual and within?  Well, look at Jesus.  He openly addressed the powers of his day when the time was right.  And the result of this was capitol punishment.  Look at Paul, Peter, and John.  They were all imprisoned and executed (they tried to kill John, so they say, but it didn’t work) by the state for two things: 1) denying that Caesar was the Lord, and 2) Affirming that Christ is Lord.  They were not imprisoned or killed for their spiritual views or opinions.  They were imprisoned and killed for their political opinions (and like we said earlier, these two things are not separate, but united). 

Two sad realities have painted the canvas of history: Christ’s kingdom has been confused for, and mixed with, the kingdoms of this earth (whether that be the papacy, the holy roman empire, england and the church of england, or america “the christian nation”).    On the other side, Christ’s kingdom has been reduced to merely a personal, inner reality that saves me quite nicely, but never demands my political allegiance, suffering, or sacrifice.  The first side is the religious side.  The other is the gnostic one.  The Kingdom of God is neither.

The Kingdom of God is to be experienced first within, and then it is to have a real and transforming expression in the earth.  It is personal, but also communal.  It is within, but it is also without.  But we have to believe that such a kingdom is real.  That we can live into it now.  That it’s possible for God to gather a community of people who willingly submit to Jesus as their king and live in union with his loving, and just government. 

If we do this we will not be malcontents simply railing againt the way things are.  We will be too busy living out the kingdom that is within and among us.  On the other hand, we should not expect a life free of conflict seeing a kingdom life will come into conflict with the kingdoms of this world, and one day will topple them all. 

There is so much more that could be said, like the fact that Jesus used a political word to describle the community that would gather around him- Ecclesia, but we’ll stop for now.  As we approach an election in america this leaves us quite free.  Don’t give in to those who say that it is your divine duty to vote (and usually they mean it is your divine duty to vote republican).  If you don’t feel a candidate expresses anything righteous or positive, or is a “lesser of two evils”, don’t vote.  Don’t offend your conscience.  Neither listen to the voice that says “you CANNOT vote”.  You may if you feel the liberty to do so. 

But above all, may we live into the kingdom of God and Christ, and may that kingdom, after so a long a time, have a real and lasting impact in the earth today.

Paying Attention to the Human Life of Jesus

“JESUS CAME TO DIE”.  How many times have you heard that?  That line is probably uttered by thousands of preachers at Christmas services around the world.  People come together to celebrate the birth of Jesus, but just in case they celebrate it too much?, they are reminded, “Jesus came to die.”

Like most things there are elements of real truth in that statement.  But I would like to propose that Christ actually came to live!  In the man Jesus we see for the first time a man who lived in total and utter union with God- as a total and utter man!  Last night my son and I were watching an animated Jesus movie (he asked to watch it).  Usually I am not a big man of these flicks, but this one was reasonably good.  But one thing that haunted this movie, as it does in most “Jesus” films, is the “other worldliness” of Jesus.  When he comes into a scene the music changes- it becomes soft and surreal.  When Jesus comes into a scene he comes so calm and collected- almost slow-motion like.  He doesn’t quite fit in with the rest of the humans.

Now, Jesus was different from other humans, but in this way- He lived in union with God as His Father.  He did not live a life of selfishness and sin.  But he was so human.  He did not walk around with a heavenly soundtrack of Angels “ahhhhs” accompanied by harpsichords.  He did not have a bright halo over his head.  He was not uncomfortable in deep human situations.  He was quite himself.  God and man. 

And it is this life we must pay attention too.  We must not discard it too quickly in our quest to exalt the importance of the cross.  The cross was important because it removed the veil that separates us from that life that Christ lived- the life of a human in union with God.  But the death and resurrection of Jesus are events, and only gain their importance from the people involved:  God the Father, and the man Jesus of Nazareth. 

In his life Christ showed us what it looks like to live in God.  In his words he spoke to us the law of his kingdom (not the legalistic one, but the one of freedom and liberty).  In his actions he showed us the practical expressions that will come out of a life lived in union with God. 

His life indeed leads to his death.  But his death leads to his life.  A life no longer isolated in the man Jesus, but a life that is available to all who follow in the way of Jesus and come to know God as their Father.  

Folks, Jesus did not die to bring you to heaven one day.  He lived, and died, and lives to bring heaven into earth today in and through you.  And because of this, his life, his words, and his teachings have great relevance and meaning for us today.  May He help us to behold him and give heed to his life once again.

Does the State have the right to define marriage?

One of the hot social topics to arise in this years GOP race is that of homosexual marriage.  Most republicans, taking the common conservative stand on the issue, believe in passing a federal ammendment defining marriage as a union between one man and one woman.  This would, in effect, make homosexual marriage illegal and impossible. 

This position is not satisfied to have each state decide whether they will legalize same-sex marriage.  This position believes that marriage must have a common definition across state lines and that the definition should unequivocally be “union between one man and one woman.”

Last night I heard Newt Gingrich speak on this very issue.  He asserted that states, and the federal government, has no right to change the “sacrament” of marriage- or to redefine the traditional meaning of marriage.  This is a hot topic in america and one that will no doubt stay that way in the coming days.  As circumstances would have it, the economy being in shambles and wars and rumors of future wars filling the air, this issue is not as heated as it could be, or might be in the future.

WHat is my position on this matter?  This is a matter of privacy.  The federal government has no power over the catholic sacrament of marriage, as Gingrich worried.  Regardless of the federal governments defintion of marriage, the catholic church will keep their own.  My relationship with my wife will not change if same-sex marriages are allowed in the state of Ohio.  In my opinion marriage is neither a sacrament nor a government matter.  It’s a matter between two people and God and should be left that way. 

If you believe that the Bible teaches that marriage is a union between a man and a woman only, then by all means don’t marry someone of your own sex.  The Bible says that if you go against your conscience it is sin.  But realize that not every one is a christian and not every one is fashioning their lives according to Scriptures.  Also realize that those of us who do love the Scriptures and seek to live in union with the divine life still fail miserably, and if we judge by a rigid law we would all fall short. 

Newt Gingrich needs to remember that there is this wonderful article in the constitution, “that the government shall not endorse any particular religion.”  This does not mean that our particular convictions or views don’t matter or aren’t important.  We are free to practice our religion and our convictions.  But our neighbor is not obligated by force or threat of punishment to hold the same religion or conviction as us. 

Railing against gay marriage while supporting war, spending trillions of dollars on waging war, supporting capital punishment, and bailing out big unjust corporations does not match the Spirit of Christ, and does nothing to draw people to Him.

An Invitation to follow this Rabbi is an Invitation to Join Community

A casual observing of the Four Gospels contained in the Christian Scriptures can see that an invitation to follow the Rabbi Jesus was an invitation to join a community. 

When Jesus called a person to follow him in the pages of the Gospel, and that person answered the call, he/she was not only committed to intimate contact with the Rabbi but also had to live in community with all the others who were following Him as well.  There was no separation of the two realities.  If I wanted to talk to, hear from, and behold the Nazarine Rabbi then I had to do it in the company of the other men and women were doing the same thing.  An amazing thing was taking place in this little community.  Not only were they learning God in their interaction with the Firstborn Son, but they were also learning God in their fellowship and interaction with one another.  They soon discovered that the Spirit that was so evidenlty alive and present in man Jesus was also present in their growing relationship with one another. 

If Jesus called you or me in those initial days and we decided that we wanted Jesus, but not community, guess what?  We would have neither!  This is paramount to the revelation of God and the revelation of normal humanity given through Jesus.  I think it’s important to realize as Christians and as a human being, that Jesus did not just reveal God.  He also revealed humanity as it was meant to be.  He is the full expression of God, but He is also the full expression of humanity.  And Christ showed us that God, in his essence, and man in his normality, is meant to have community.  Anyone who confesses in the Triunity of God confesses that God is community in his very essence.  And anyone who believes that man was made in the image of the Triune God must confess that man, in his very essence, needs community.

Jesus called men and women that were already part of a patriotic and religious state.  The Jews already had a “sense” of community, and a national identity.  But Jesus brought a community wider, and deeper; one that cleaves to the bedrock of what it means to be human.  Christ created a community of men and women.  The Jewish culture had a long history of patriarchy.  Men dominated the home life, the economic life, and the religious life.  Jesus changed that.  He brought into this earth a community where men and women were fellow-heirs of God and grace.  It was women that stayed with him at the cross when all the men fled in fear.  It was a woman who offered the deepest expression of love and devotion by pouring her oil upon the Master.  It was a woman who was the first to see Christ resurrected.  And it was a woman who brought the first message to the disciples that, “The Lord is risen indeed!”.

THe community of Jesus also transcended religion.  Jesus’ ministry was not limited to Jews but was opened to syro-phoenician women, roman centurions, and the ever-hated samaritans.  Christ’s community was not about swearing to a common religion, but experiencing a common God through community with Him and one another.  THis is a major challenge to christianity today which can simply become another “judaism” excluding all others who do not agree with our favorite creed, or brand of christianity. 

And in line with the previous thought, Christ’s community transcended nation/state.  Lord, will you restore again the kingdom to Israel at this time?  Many are still sitting around asking that question.  Jesus came to bring the kingdom into all the earth- a kingdom that incorporates all nations, languages, and people.  The Kingdom of God invites all men and women to repent of their broken, individualistic, sinful lives, and to come into direct communion with God and community with their fellow man.  THis is the revelation of God through Jesus the Messiah. 

In america we can learn quite a bit from this.  Being a christian and being an american does not exempt me from the the invitation of Jesus.  Jesus calls me to follow Him (to follow his relationship with the Father in heaven) and to do so in a community of men and women.  To be called into this community is, in a sense, to be called out of the one I’m in.  Not to the neglect of the community I’ve come from, but ultimately to redeem it.  To put within the many and varied communities of this world, the community that God desires- the one that expresses his infinite goodness and purpose for man.  So that one day all the kingdoms of this world may become the kingdoms of the Lord and of His Messiah.  Lord, hasten the day.

Is God a Subject to be Learned or a Being to be Experienced?

Today as I was outside with my son at a nearby park I sensed the nearness of God.  The Sun was shining bright and I was standing near the bank of a little rushing creek.  There was an experience of God in that moment that was precious, and that could be more common place if I were open to it.

Let me say that I am not speaking of mere sentimentality here.  But in creation and in my being I had a real encounter with the God who created the world and all that is within it.  At that moment I was not thinking about the dichotomy of evolution vs. creationsim, or biblical doctrine, I was enjoying the reality of the creator and sustainer. 

In the West we have, in great measure, turned God into an academic subject to be studied like Math, Science, or History.  Scripture is the apex of our religion and spirituality.  Reading and memorizing words have become the essence of our spiritual exercise.  Now, I am all for books and learning.  But they are a means to an end, not the end themselves. 

The end of all things is God and a relationship with him and with one another as his children.  This comes by experience and enjoyment. 

I hope that I spend more time experiencing God in my spirit, in creation, and in my fellow human beings.  I hope that I gain eyes to see Him more, for”blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.”

Christ is a life-giving spirit sent out into all the earth.  We may find him everywhere and thereby live close to him.

Why Ron Paul can beat Barak Obama

Both the liberal and conservative media has us convinced that Ron Paul cannot adequetely challenge Barak Obama and win the presidency in 2012.  To this I say, “Foo-ee”.  I believe Ron Paul is the only candidate who can challenge Barak Obama and bring about actual, measurable change.  He is the only one who can appeal to certain persons on the left who are passionatie for civil liberties and peace. 

Let’s note that the political atmosphere right now is pretty stagnant.  Obama has done nothing over the last 4 years to promote peace or liberty.  He’s failed miserabely.  I think it is wonderful that we have had our first african-american president, but he has not satisfied many on the left who are passionate for justice, and not content to simply be “liberal-democrats”.  And, of course, the right cannot stand him.  The only claims Obama can make is, “1) Obama-care- some kind of quasi-universal healthcare that is a mess, which the GOP cannot stomach, 2)  Killing Osama Bin-Ladin- which doesn’t excite those of who love peace, and isn’t enough to win any heart on the right,  and 3)  Getting our troops out of Iraq- three years too late, with the biggest american embassy in the middle east and a huge american footprint that makes the word “withdrawl” hard to use (honestly, that is). 

First, let’s look at the other two front runners of the GOP race and see how they stack up against Obama.  Mitt Romney.  It’s probably safe to say that he is the most moderate GOP candidate.  What does Romney stand for?  Hmmm.  Mediocrity.  The Establishment.  THe same old for another 4 years.  Mark my words, if Romney is president there will no significant direction change in this country.  Sure, he’ll do small “republican” things, but he will keep the establishment firmly entrenched.  His centrist leanings won’t win any on the left, because most “liberal-democrats” consider Obama their golden boy.  It will only alienate conservative republicans who want a candidate who is socially conservative. 

Of course, the GOP may rally around the cry, “Let’s just beat Obama”, but that’s just pathetic.  Is that the best you can do, GOP?  Shame on you.

Next, Rick Santorum.  Is this the candidate we want to be president?  He will be another George W. Bush.  We may find ourselves in another war in the Middle East (Iran).  He will be a sweet hearted man who can’t quite discern the difference between the Sermon on the Mount and Manifest Destiny.  His sweetness will be seen here at home, but won’t be seen or felt by the innocent people who will be killed, displaced, and maimed in the coming war.  Nor, will he stand for the liberties of americans here at home.  He will continue a policy of invasion, fear, and bullying that is not consistent with liberty or justice. 

Rick Santorum may gain much support from the majority of the GOP, but he will not from the rest of the country.  Ron Paul lovers won’t stomach him.  The left will not even consider him.  So, he better hope that the core of the republican party is enough to launch him into the presidency.  I don’t see it happening.

Ron Paul, however, can beat Obama!  Why?  Who are republicans gonna vote for Obama or Paul?  They might hee-haw all day long on Fox News about how “crazy” Paul is, but to vote for Obama over Paul would be a a foot the mouth that the GOP won’t be able to swallow.  They will vote for Paul.

Centrists, who voted for Obama but are not satisfied with his performance may vote for Paul.  Especially those who were inspired by the call for “change”.  Ron Paul will bring you change, like it or not.  Also, those on the far left who are for peace and civil liberties will vote for Paul.  I could not vote for Obama.  He has single-handedly continued Bush foreign policy for 4 more years.  NO MORE WAR.  Personally, I do not agree with Paul on some things (mostly on the economic side), but to end our world-wide bullying, and the breach of civil liberties here in the states is reason enough for me to vote for Ron Paul. 

So, here you have three groups that easily and quite feasibly could vote for Paul.  And that would be enough to beat Barak Obama. 

Don’t be so sure to believe everything the media tells you.  I think Ron Paul is quite electable.

The Need for Community

We are about to embark on a new year yet the deep longing of humanity remains the same.  We long for deep, genuine, open, vulnerable relationships with other human beings.   May our new year’s resolution be to overcome the excuses and the roadblocks that keep us from community.

I will be writing more about various subjects as the days roll on.  I wish everyone a rich and satisying new year.  May you know your value and the value of your fellow human being.

Peace and Love,

Andrew Wehrheim