FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2022 - SPIRITUAL THOUGHTS AND POLITICS

 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2022 - SPIRITUAL THOUGHTS AND POLITICS

(Note - these are my thoughts)

I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. John 17:21

The verse comes from what is sometimes called “Jesus’ high priestly prayer”.  It is supposedly right after the Last Supper and before He was arrested.

So “they will all be one”.

*****

“Followers of Jesus span the globe. But the global body of more than 2 billion Christians is separated into thousands of denominations. Pentecostal, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Baptist, Apostolic, Methodist — the list goes on. Estimations show there are more than 200 Christian denominations in the U.S. and a staggering 45,000 globally, according to the Center for the Study of Global Christianity”

So - more than 200 Christian denominations in the United States - and 45,000 denominations worldwide???  Really?

Didn’t Jesus pray “they will all be one”?

Christian denominations are generally based on history, Bible interpretation, culture, and tradition.

Let’s look at the “Bible Interpretation” aspect.

Many of the more evangelical groups (Baptists)  favor John 3:3 “Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.

Some of the more liturgical and Eucharistic groups (Catholics, Episcopal, and Lutheran) favor John 6 “Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.  Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day.  For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.  Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them.”

Pentecostal groups like this concept from Acts chapter 2 (on the day of Pentecost): ““And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

Some of the more traditional mainstream (Methodist, Presbyterian, United Church of Christ groups like this verse: “And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love.  But the greatest of these is love. and, 1 Peter 4:8: “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”

Pacifist groups (like Quakers) like the verses about beating spears into plowshares and not studying war such as Isaiah 2:4, “He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.”

Severe groups like the concepts about various types of sinners not being in heaven.  I Corinthians 6:9-10 “Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”

Other groups take Paul’s thoughts about women speaking in church and do not allow women to lead or speak in churches. “Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak but must be in submission, as the law says. If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church. 1 Corinthians 14:34-35.

*****

I started today with the verse: I pray that they will all be one.

We (Christians) are not one.  I was reading that less than 50% of British people consider themselves Christians.  

Some time back, I subscribed to a podcast where the speaker was on one particular denomination and he made a point in each of his podcasts why his denomination was the ONLY CORRECT ONE. 

I’ve heard some evangelical people say that LGBTQ+ are going to hell (and some politicians are working towards limited LBGTQ+ access.  (Not quite “tongue in cheek” - but I suspect that some conservative politicians would ban Islam or other religions - but that would throw the “freedom of religion” plank out of the Bill of Rights.)

But, even in Jesus’ time - politicians and religious alignments were made.  Over the centuries kings and rulers professed a “divine right” - that is that God has blessed them and put them in office.  

*****

Have you seen the “He Gets Us” messages (try: https://hegetsus.com/en/jesus-was-fed-up-with-politics-too )

Here is an excerpt from that link:

“Jesus was fed up with politics, too.

In Jesus’ time, communities were deeply divided by bitter differences in religious beliefs, political positions, income inequality, legal status, and ethnic differences. Sound familiar?

Jesus lived in the middle of a culture war, too. And though the political systems were different (not exactly a representative democracy), the greed, hypocrisy, and oppression different groups used to get their way were very similar.

Let’s set the scene.

Jesus was born at the height of the Roman Empire’s power. They’d conquered most of the known world, and Israel was no exception. Unlike previous empires that would try to destroy cultures by displacing conquered peoples’ leaders, the Romans didn’t force people to change their religion or customs as long as they kept their obligations to the empire. Rome would install a client king (a puppet government) and exact tribute (cash) in lots of different ways. Families were charged taxes per person—farmers on crops, fishermen on catches, and travelers were charged fees to use the roads. This was in addition to local business and religious taxes charged by priests.

In Israel, political and religious factions were one and the same. Back then, it was Pharisees and Sadducees. Today, we have conservatives and liberals.

The Pharisees were the most religiously conservative leaders. They had the most influence among the common working poor, who were the majority. They believed that a king would come one day to conquer Rome with violence and free their nation. Some preyed upon a mostly illiterate population by adding extra rules and requirements that were designed to force the working poor into a posture of subjugation.

The Sadducees were wealthy aristocrats who had a vested financial interest in Roman rule. They were in charge of the temple, and they didn’t believe any savior king was coming. They made themselves wealthy by exacting unfair taxes and fees from the labor of their own people and by contriving money-making schemes that forced the poor to pay exorbitant prices to participate in temple sacrifice—a critical part of their religion.

There were Zealot groups who hid in the hills and violently resisted Roman occupation, and then there were the Samaritans, often oppressed and marginalized because of their racial and ethnic identities.

And so, the common farmer, fisherman, or craftsman’s family lived through a highly volatile political period. Overbearing religious leaders who despised and oppressed them, wealthy elites who ripped them off, racial and ethnic tension with neighbors, and sporadic violent outbreaks between an oppressive occupying army.

So where was Jesus in all of this? Did he align with the religious elites? With the wealthy and powerful? Or did he start an uprising to overthrow them?

None of the above.

He went from town to town, offering hope, and new life, and modeling a different way to live and change the world. Instead of pursuing power, money, or religious authority, he shared a loving and sacrificially generous way of living. He chose not to go along with the schemes others used to impact the world. Instead, he championed a better way.

*****

Over the years, Americans have pushed for “separation of church and state” - but it does seem that religion and politics do coincide at too many points.

So, what do you think?  Did Jesus’ goal of “that they might be as one” step on too many toes?

LOVE TRANSFORMS
KAREN ANNE WHITE, ©, DECEMBER 2, 2022