Has Anybody Here Seen My Friend Jesus?

Somewhere in this blog, I know I've mentioned that I grew up in the Catholic Church and school system. Save my last two years in high school, I went K thru college. I've never considered myself to be a religious person but one with a strong spiritual foundation. From the very beginning, charity and compassion were the core and the song "They'll know we are Christians by our love" still runs through my head every now and then. That's what I thought it was all about. According to some, I was wrong.

More so than I can ever remember (including the time of the moral majority during the Reagan years), religion is playing a huge part in politics and in this election. The people who are making it such an issue make me wonder if I was asleep during my entire childhood and young adult life because the God and Jesus that George W. Bush's conservative Christian base rant and rave about bears no resemblance to the son of God that I remember learning about. The fire, brimstone, judgment and claim to a man that I thought was in everyone's heart and soul is so far beyond who I know that I'm convinced that there must have been another Jesus. These people have decided who loves Jesus more, who Jesus loves, who can be a Christian, who knows the bible, who is going to heaven, who is evil ...

When I read opinions like the ones on this site (via debwire), where this Christian questions whether "liberals" can even be Christian, I just feel sad. According to people like her, not only am I not Christian, it is impossible for me to be because of my political views - though using the standards they use, I don't want to be.

This article, however is reminiscent of what I thought I knew about Jesus. Alas, this author is no longer a Christian either.

Let me tell you about the Christ I know. He was born poor to an unmarried woman. He was not born into a family of privilege. He was a radical. He said, "It was said an eye for and eye and a tooth of a tooth, but now I say love your enemies and bless those who curse you." He said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God." (Matthew 5: 3-9) He said, "All those who are called by my name will enter the kingdom of heaven." He said, "People will know true believers if they have the fruit of the spirit--love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, self control."

He knew he would be led like a sheep to the slaughter. He responded with "Father forgive them." He explained that in Christ there is neither Jew nor gentile, slave or free male nor female. He explained that even to be angry is akin to murder. He said the temple of God is not a building, but is in the hearts of those are called by his name. He was called "the Prince of Peace." His final days were spent in prayer, so that he could endure what was set before him, not on how he could overpower the evil government of that day. When they came for him he was led away and didn’t resist his death sentence.

This is a stark contrast to the call of the religious Christian right, who vote for war and weapons, and suggest towns and villages be leveled to bring freedom and peace to the people. They proudly boast this country’s superiority, suggesting God has blessed our nation. Today, as I listened to a popular Christian news network, I was reminded that in the last days, even God's elect will be deceived, (II Timothy 3:13). When the religious media moguls preaching prosperity spout their rhetoric, I am reminded of the difficulty Jesus described of a rich man's ability to enter the kingdom of God. (Matthew 19: 24) (http://www.4religious-right.info/rr_economics.htm) Some who believe they are fighting evil will cry to the Lord, and he will say I never knew you. (Matthew 22). They will have a form or godliness but will deny the power (II Timothy 3:5) to move mountains through prayer. (Matthew 17:20). Jesus explained that he has not given us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. (II Timothy 1:17) I wonder if the innocent moms and dads, brothers and sisters, and aunts and uncles, and grandmas and grandpas who were the victims of US military weapons (the never reported collateral damages we are protected from in the "liberal" nightly news) felt the love of Jesus with the shock and awe. I wonder if the surviving family members now understand His radical love and that they no longer have any need for weapons or defense.

In a matter of days, we will elect a new president. I am hoping to get the Whitehouse back into the hands of a sane and competent leader. I am also hoping that my Jesus comes back.