The dominant expression of Christianity in America today has ventured off road and lost its way in making the birth of Jesus primarily about who gets to go to heaven after dying. It has gone astray emphasizing one’s decision to accept Jesus as defined by various dogmas, creeds and religious observances. When the story of the nativity and the kingdom message of Jesus were taken out of their real world context and made to mostly apply to asking him for salvation in the hereafter, we took a wrong turn.
“Good news of great joy for all the people,” was the angelic explanation of Christ’s birth to shepherds in Bethlehem. God is with the militarily oppressed, economically disadvantaged and spiritually downtrodden was the central message of Christ’s birth. The good news Jesus told his followers to take everywhere after he went to the cross is that God will not be dealing with us as our sins deserve. His favor rests upon everyone. He has reconciled us to himself, not counting our sins against us; as Paul explained to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 5). Now, with God’s help, as we believe this good news, we are able to step into the easy yoke of loving our neighbor as ourselves, doing justice, loving mercy and walking humbly with God; thereby establishing his kingdom. “As I have loved you,” said Jesus, “so love one another.” It’s not all that complicated.
Jesus’ manifesto of the kingdom of God known to us as the Sermon on the Mount focused in its entirety on how we are to treat one another in this life. The prayer he taught his followers to pray featured the request for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. Living the Jesus way will not be found in wealth and power seeking nor in judgmental, man made religion; but in humbly serving others, forgiving our enemies, caring for the poor and, very importantly, in being a peace maker. When Jesus spoke of some who would miss out on the kingdom, he wasn’t referring to those who would get sent to hell when they die, but rather, to those whose pride and greed keeps them on the outside of kingdom living—muddling through an existence that diminishes and destroys one in intolerance, anger, hatred, striking back, bitterness, strife, lust, excess, and always fearing a stinging, meaningless death.
By allowing the Romans to crucify him when he could have employed divine power to protect himself, Jesus modeled how to deal with enemies. If we live by the sword, the sword will be used against us continuously. But, if we live with love and forgiveness in our hearts and choose not to take vengeance, they may still use a sword against us, but good always rises again to ultimately overcome evil. The Roman Empire is no longer; but there are 2.5 billion followers of Jesus on the planet today.
My prayer is that, in a world suffering under crushing burdens of war and injustice, all citizens of God’s kingdom will rediscover the ways of peace and get on with making it. And may we not allow our religion to get in the way in the process.
