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Lent: Day Forty-Two

3/27/2018

4 Comments

 
“He will answer them, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you failed to do one of these things to someone who was being overlooked or ignored, that was me—you failed to do it to me.’

        Matthew 25:45  (The Message)

​It's often said the two things you don't discuss in polite company are religion and politics. Today and tomorrow we are going to discuss both.

It's not that I don't think you're polite, it's just that I feel that to understand Jesus fully, and the cross by which he will be crucified on in a couple of days, we cannot ignore the alliance of politics and religion that plotted against him.
Part One:   The Snake
Jesus was political. There is no way around this statement other than to look at the historical facts. And it’s here, during Holy Week that his politics become the threat to a corrupt system that abandoned God’s will and righteousness for its own. His politics were a social politic; what we might call bleeding heart liberal. We might say Jesus upheld not so much the “letter of the laws” but the “spirit of the law.” It must come from the heart of God’s love for all people first and foremost. 

We like to believe that we are one such people, and have even gone out on a limb to declare that we are such a nation too. Our countries forefathers made the treacherous journey to begin anew a civilization grounded in biblical law and religious freedom. Many people continue to come to our shores today seeking the same. But as history would demonstrate, there needs to be a balance between “the letter” and “the spirit” of the law.  They must work together...for the good of all.

This was the politics of Jesus; do what needs to be done to keep the civic thriving but do so without neglecting or favoring any one group or individual over another. His politics were radical and threatened those in charge, especially Caesar and all who worked for the Roman Emperor. Today, Caesar is alive and well, and Jesus continues to be a threat to him and his politics. 

​From this point onward I speak my opinion only and seek to rely on the Holy Spirit to guide the observations and interpretations expressed next. I do so because I believe we have a new Caesar in our midst - a man who believes he is the savior of the world and the gospel (good news) comes through him. ​
A few weeks ago I listened to Caesar speak to his political base, just as Jesus did. I heard him address real issues that seek to protect his constituents just as Jesus did. And I listened carefully to his words just as all who followed Jesus did. 

During that speech, Caesar read a poem that he believed best represented the issues, just as Jesus did when he told parables. That’s about where the similarities end. 

Jesus instructed his followers to beware of false prophets. And told us that we would know who to trust by the works and deeds they perform. 

Today we might say, “the devil is in the details.”

Speaking on the issues of immigration and the need for a  wall to protect his country, Caesar began to read “The Snake,” a poem about a "silly woman" who finds and cares for a half-frozen, nearly dead snake. 

With a serpent’s smile, Caesar’s slithering tongue spoke of the ways this “woman” took in this refugee and cared for him until he is brought back to life. 

Caesar grins knowing what comes next. As the “woman” cuddles the viper in her bosom, she is bitten. Before she dies from the venom, she asks the snake, “Why did you do that after all I have done for you?”

Just as Caesar’s snaky smile could get no larger, he reads the snakes reply, “You knew what I was when you saved me.”

With parabolic skill Caesar whips the crowd into an electrically empowered fury. He declares this poem to be the great metaphor for rejecting immigrants and asylum seekers; believing they are all dangerous.

With steadfast resolve, Caesar stands at the center, waving his hand to the adorning crowd knowing this powerful message had delivered his xenophobic political agenda to hungry and willing ears. 

But Caesar doesn’t seem to get the irony - that one could also use the same poem as a metaphor for the opposite side of this argument.

​The wall is the snake that slithers along the border. It is neither trustworthy or reliable, and most certainly it is not indestructible.

And of course the one in power who so desperately wants it is the “woman” who will sacrifice everything to see that it gets built. Even if it will kill him. 

Politically speaking this could literally come back to bite those who support it. Religiously speaking the Bible gives us plenty of evidence that God does not build walls. But in fact, it is God who tears them down. 

THE SNAKE POEM

On her way to work one morning
Down the path alongside the lake
A tender-hearted woman
saw a poor half-frozen snake


His pretty colored skin had been
all frosted with the dew

“Oh well,” she cried, “I'll take you in
and I'll take care of you”


“Take me in oh tender woman
Take me in, for heaven's sake
Take me in oh tender woman,” sighed the snake

She wrapped him up all cozy
in a curvature of silk

And then laid him by the fireside
with some honey and some milk 


Now she hurried home from work 
that night as soon as she arrived 

She found that pretty snake  
she'd taken in had been revived


“Take me in, oh tender woman 
Take me in, for heaven's sake
Take me in oh tender woman,” sighed the snake

Now she clutched him to her bosom,
“You're so beautiful,” she cried

“But if I hadn't brought you in
by now you might have died”


Now she stroked his pretty skin
and then she kissed and held him tight 

But instead of saying thanks,
that snake gave her a vicious bite


“Take me in, oh tender woman 
Take me in, for heaven's sake
Take me in oh tender woman,” sighed the snake

“I saved you,” cried that woman
“And you've bit me even, why?
You know your bite is poisonous
and now I'm going to die”


“Oh shut up, silly woman,”
said the reptile with a grin 

“You knew damn well I was a snake
before you took me in 


”Take me in, oh tender woman 
Take me in, for heaven's sake
Take me in oh tender woman,“ sighed the snake 


​***Such was the political climate in 1st Century Palestine where the Jewish people built a wall around Jerusalem. The wall, as history tells us, did nothing to protect the people but most likely caused more harm than good. For one, it kept the Jews inside. Around AD 70 Caesar sent his Army to destroy Israel once and for all. The wall was a great barrier that made this hard to do. However, inside the city a civil war of sorts broke out and the Jews were killing each other. There was no way for the innocent to escape because of the wall. It was a catch-22 that led to the final downfall of God’s chosen people. And those political factions, especially the Sadducees, were never heard of again. This was exactly as Jesus had predicted before they killed him. ***
4 Comments
Diane W
3/27/2018 09:35:15 pm

Well, I always have to give my honest thoughts when asked. Remember God also told Moses to build an Arc to gather his family and two of every animal to protect them because of what was to come do to all the evil happenings in the world back then. I look at the wall more like the arc! The drugs, rapes, killings, abductions of children that are happening must be stopped. The easy smuggling of drugs and many uncensored illegals immigrants, who have no loyalty to our country, never have to go through the proper channels of learning our constitution or our laws before they become citizens and therefore learn US pride, are out of control. They drive without insurance, at your expense and mine because they have nothing to loose. When they hit us, we and everyone in our car pays the price for their lack of having insurance and not obeying the rules. We need to keep and build up our US pride and raise our country’s standards again so that those coming in will also respect us more and so that our youth will see that we respect America and care enough about their futures, that we will not lower our standards. We need to build up our youth’s gratefulness and pride for what they have and that so many of them now, simply take for granted living here in America. If we want our troubled youth to really understand how lucky they are to be living in America, we must show them by example, that rules must be followed and not just when they suit us. No one is supposed to be here illegally, that is a law! So why as adults, do we teach them that it is sometimes okay to break a law?
It would be so much better to enforce following the proper channels or rules to enter our country. I cannot go to another countruy with out a passport. I respect that. I expect others to do the same for my country. Why should we lower our standards? France, or Barceleona made sure I had a passport before they let me enter. I respected that, good for them! I could feel their pride and I felt secure there. How nice their youth knows exactly where they stand.
There is a difference between immigrants and illegal immigrants...... When something is worth having or getting we must work for it. Yes, we must follow the proper channels. One could not become a minister without studying, proper schooling and having the unselfish discipline needed to succeed. One could not just put on a vestment and say here I am. I could not just decide to be an OT without the discipline needed to study, care for and raise my family, while going to school to get my degree. When we work hard and make sacrifices for things we want we appreciate them more, we take pride in them and treat them with respect.
Years ago when my husband’s older siblings came to America, my grand parents as well, they had to be sponsored by someone who would vouch for them, care for them until they could earn enough money to be on their own. They also had to pay back the person that sponsored them and pay for room and board. They were not given money from the US the day after they arrived or any day for that matter. They worked hard and respected the US for the privilege of being allowed here. My father learned that from his father. I was raised to respect, all people no matter what color or religion. My father would say Di, all work is honorable. When his presidential candidate would loose, he rallied around the new president. I remember asking him one time what he would do since his candidate lost. His words were “what do you think I will do? We are lucky to live in America, when our candidate looses we unite with our new president to keep our country strong. United we stand, divided we fall! Don’t you ever forget that Di !” We have lost that sense of pride in America. I am embarassed in our country with the way our parties behave. No wonder our youth are so disrespectful, lost and ungrounded. We are doing that to them. We are teaching them to blame everything that is wrong in life, on someone else. It is okay to disrespect the presisdent, the police and authority in general. There is a certain aire of entitlement to get or have what you want. Our news goes on for ever telling us how and what to think sensationalizing everything. Putting down our president in front of our youth. (Ever wonder why our youth doesn’t respect authority!) It is crazy!
We need to get back to teaching our youth and fellow countryman the importance of having, following and respecting rules. You cannot have safe and real freedom without rules. The law is, you are not supposed to be in the US illegally.(remember, most other countries you need a passport) Show your American pride and respect the law it! It isn’t a new law. It is simply a broken, disrespected law that causes problems for millions of Americans. Not to mention the huge problem it is causing now, dividing parts of our country, and the negativity and uncertainty i

Reply
Diane W
3/27/2018 11:03:46 pm

You cut the rest of my letter off. So here it is.
It is instilling in our youth. We need the (Arc) the wall to protect our laws and citizens. We should help Mexico to improve their living conditions so that their citizens will regain their country pride and want to live in their country. Those that still want to live here can then follow the proper channels for citizenship, learn the constitution and laws so they know what is expected and will appreciate and respect being here just as our ancestors had to do. We will also be showing our youth that we are united. That we must respect and follow all our laws, not just the ones that we pick and chose to follow. We care about their future and are doing our best to keep them safe.

Reply
Ian
3/28/2018 09:38:29 am

Diane, I posted a response on Facebook. Nationalism and pride are dangerous grounds to walk on for those who pledge Christ as their king. His rule is God’s rule and not ours. He understood our civic responsibility in keeping peace and order, but he taught real peace comes from God, real security comes from God, real love comes from God. I’d suggest reading Deuteronomy for more insight to the position that God expects from us as individuals and as a nation. There is much in there about neighbors, immigrants, protectionism, and even the biblical mandate for sanctuary cities. This isn’t Dems v. Republicans but God’s Kingdom coming into power through the reign of Christ. This of course is my opinion, which doesn’t mean yours is invalid. Thank you for your participation in this feed.

Diane W
3/28/2018 05:17:45 am

Sorry meant Noah said Moses by mistake. I‘Ve never been good with names.

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    Ian Macdonald

    An ex-copywriter turned punk rock pastor and peacemaker who dedicates his life to making the world a better place for all humanity. 

    "that they all might be one"  ~John 17:21


    “Prius vita quam doctrina.”
    ​~ S
    t. Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274)​
    * “Life is more important than doctrine.”


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