In today's environment it seems there are many in the Church willing to judge others. The President is evil. Republicans are evil. Democrats are evil (although I don't hear this one as much). Those who don't support LGBTQI+ political stances are not Christ-like. Jesus would be in support of open borders. Jesus would favor free health care. The list goes on. The Progressive Church seems bent on judging everyone outside of their political agenda- the agenda of the so-called "Left" as "not Christ-like," sinful, and even evil.
Jesus, however, seemed to come down hard on those who judged:
In today's Old Testament lesson at my church, Genesis 12:1-9 was read:
The New Testament lesson came from Matthew 28: 16-20:
I don't pretend to know the mind of Jesus or God- their thinking is beyond a mere mortal's. But, I can see what they said and what they did in the scriptures. What Jesus seemed focus on was people's souls. He didn't undo slavery, he didn't usher in democracy and women's rights. He didn't establish free health care or do away with nations, borders, and political institutions. He did not overthrow the Roman Empire.
Thus, it seems to me that the Progressive Church, bent on Earthly things, is making just as much of a mistake as those churches who attempt to manipulate the political system towards the Right. Now, I don't think churches should be banned from engaging in politics, but I do think it is disingenuous to portray one's political platform as conforming to Jesus' preferences. Jesus wasn't here to establish a Heaven on Earth. He was here to save souls. Individual souls. At least that is what His actions seem to portray to me.
Jesus, however, seemed to come down hard on those who judged:
"Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." - John 8:7
"Do not judge, or you too will be judged." - Matthew 7:1
"Do not judge, and you will not be judged." - Luke 6:37
"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,' when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. " - Luke 6:41-42What of "nationalism"? Borders? I have heard many progressive Christians declare that Jesus would not support borders. He wouldn't support nations. Political separations.
In today's Old Testament lesson at my church, Genesis 12:1-9 was read:
The LORD had said to Abram, "Go from your country, your people and your father's household to the land I will show you. 2"I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." 4So Abram went, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran. 5He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Harran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there. 6Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. 7The LORD appeared to Abram and said, "To your offspring I will give this land." So he built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him. 8From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD. 9Then Abram set out and continued toward the Negev.It is a curious passage. The Lord sends Abram away from his country to Canaan and basically tells him He will give him the land that the Canaanites currently had settled. And, of course, He tells Abram that He will make Abram into a great nation. If God or Jesus were against nations and borders, why would God have promised Abram to make him into a great nation? Why give him a swath of land known as Canaan that, obviously had borders associated with it. Egypt was not a part of Canaan.
The New Testament lesson came from Matthew 28: 16-20:
Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."Did Jesus tell the disciples to go and undo nation-states? Did He tell them to open all the borders? No, He told them to make disciples of all nations.
I don't pretend to know the mind of Jesus or God- their thinking is beyond a mere mortal's. But, I can see what they said and what they did in the scriptures. What Jesus seemed focus on was people's souls. He didn't undo slavery, he didn't usher in democracy and women's rights. He didn't establish free health care or do away with nations, borders, and political institutions. He did not overthrow the Roman Empire.
Thus, it seems to me that the Progressive Church, bent on Earthly things, is making just as much of a mistake as those churches who attempt to manipulate the political system towards the Right. Now, I don't think churches should be banned from engaging in politics, but I do think it is disingenuous to portray one's political platform as conforming to Jesus' preferences. Jesus wasn't here to establish a Heaven on Earth. He was here to save souls. Individual souls. At least that is what His actions seem to portray to me.
