Musings over the place of (or lack thereof) the teaching of Jesus anywhere in our culture: Eugene Debs, who died in 1926, ran five times as the Socialist Party candidate for president, winning almost 6 percent of the vote in 1912. He had this to say while campaigning: As long as there is a lower class, I am in it. As long as there is a criminal element, Im of it. As long as there is a soul in prison, I am not free. Doesnt that socialist stuff just make you sick (just kidding)? I mean, when you get up out of bed in the morning dont you say to yourself, As long as there is a lower class, I am in it. As long as there is a criminal element, I am of it. As long as there is a soul in prison, I am no free? As a follower of Jesus wouldt that be your commitment? Think of Jesus Sermon on the Mount which begins with what is called The Be-attitudes. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the Earth. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. And so forth and so on ... Why is it that very few in our culture, made up of 70 percent christians, ever mention the Beatitudes, but demand that the Ten Commandments be posted in public buildings? That is Moses, not Jesus! I cant remember a time in all my decades of life ever hearing anyone demand that the Sermon on the Mount be posted anywhere, not even church. Kurt Vonnegut writes, Blessed are the merciful in a courtroom? Blessed are the peacemakers in the Pentagon? Give me a break! I agree, it is not going to happen. The teachings of Jesus are just too idealistic to be realistically concretely lived out as a priority in our culture. It seems to me we christians in a America have a big problem with Jesus, but yet we call ourselves followers of Jesus. NOT! I think that most of us, by the way we live our lives, need to confess to the fact that we simply really believe Jesus got it all wrong.
Posted on: Tue, 03 Jun 2014 21:51:38 +0000
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