Friday, January 21, 2011

Rebel Savior.

In an age of pious rank and social inequality Christ walked the earth ignoring every predisposition of the educated elite or spiritual giant of the time. He looked deep inside the hearts of humankind and challenged the status quo to create an equilibrium never witnessed since the Garden of Eden.

Regardless of family genealogies, regardless of gender, regardless of academic status, regardless of rank, ethnicity, occupation, disability or socioeconomic status Christ came to love and to serve and to save all…equally; our one true equal opportunity Savior.

Ignoring the self-imposed and self-inflicted laws of humankind, Christ came to adjust our thinking to a deeper thought pattern and understanding pointing to our hearts. No longer would the priest or law-keeper judge our actions. Rather our heart, our motive, would be our judge.

“You're familiar with the command to the ancients, 'Do not murder.' I'm telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder.”

“You know the next commandment pretty well, too: 'Don't go to bed with another's spouse.' But don't think you've preserved your virtue simply by staying out of bed. Your heart can be corrupted by lust even quicker than your body. Those leering looks you think nobody notices—they also corrupt.”

“You're familiar with the old written law, 'Love your friend,' and its unwritten companion, 'Hate your enemy.' I'm challenging that. I'm telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves.”

~Selections from The Message, Matthew 5.

In an age of political warfare regarding the practices and promises of earth, Christ is here waiting for us to wake up to what is real. In an age of a separating gap between wealth and poverty, Christ is waiting for us to take note of the growing margin of inequality in the world. Will we notice or will we comfortably ignore that is “other” than us?

Will we pat ourselves on the back for our righteous church attendance as we drive past the scoundrels on the street wishing them a speedy trip to prison for wearing black and questionable piercings?

We will radically and rebelliously change what was for what needs to be for the sake of the “other” and for the call of Christ?

Don’t tell me of your traditions. Don’t talk to me about your laws. Share with me your love for people. Share with me what you are willing to do so that Christ reaches the “other”. Share with me the equality that you attempt to create to reach the “other”.

Don’t tell me of your comfort level or the bubble you live within. Don’t talk to me about a dying church when a giant thriving body grows down the street. What are we doing? Do we wait to die in order to serve the dying or do we radically and rebelliously change what is for what could be?

Don’t accuse Christ of working on the Sabbath. Watch Him thrive and save the “other” in his rebellious and radical way. Watch Him elevate the sinner, welcome the woman, and kiss the children. Watch Him scorn the politician, the rich and the pious.

Until we look at the heart of people, until we walk away from our comfort, until we greet the “other” right where they are, whether in a bar, the street, the mall, or the back pew, we ignore the great equilibrium that Christ intended for the church.

The church is not a locked building where only one demographic is allowed. When you ignore what clothes us, this withering human flesh, all that remains within us looks the same. The heart within you is what Christ sees; not your color, not your job, not your political affiliation or national residence, not your age, not your gender, not your bank account, not even your faith denomination. He sees you. He sees your hate, your love, your lust, your faith, your commitment…your motive. He sees you.

Limiting His work to our knowledge is futile. He is beyond our wildest limitations.

Rebel Savior, save us. Save us from ourselves.

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