Church gook & a dirty Jesus.
I hear many people say that they like Jesus but find that his followers are a pain in the ass. We all have a cousin or brother-in-law who is just plain weird about his faith. What is it about Jesus that is so attractive to many people? What is it about Christians that is so repulsive even to other Christians?
The following was taken from Walter Wink’s, The Powers that Be. If you like Jesus, but are tired of the sticky, gooey gook that your Christian cousin was dipped in and drips all over the family at the kitchen table during Thanksgiving, then you may appreciate Wink’s take on Jesus. (BTW, Wink is endorsed by Brueggeman meaning he gets the "ec" stamp of approval)
Table fellowship with "sinners" was a central feature of Jesus’ ministry. These folks had been placed outside the holiness code of Israel as defined by a few folks in certain circles in 1st Century Palestine. Imagine Jesus at your dinner table or at your next church supper. How would he be received? You just saw Jesus in the restroom taking a whiz and he deliberately did not wash his hands to prove a point. Jesus, "Roll?" You, "Oh, no thanks Jesus, I am going low carb."
For Jesus table fellowship with social outcasts was a living parable of the dawning age of forgiveness. Jesus deliberately flipped things upside down when it came to holiness. Holiness meant for the Hebrews, to be separate. Jesus did not believe that one achieved holiness by separation from the unclean.
Jesus rejected the notion that external things defile or pollute a person (MK 7:15) He scandalizes his hearers by his positive attitude toward "unclean" Samaritans. The LAWS determining what was clean and unclean were based on the holiness of God (Lev 11:44) Consequently, Jesus, by violating the laws of purity, was announcing that God was concerned with love for the marginalized and rejected, not with being clean.
Rules of ritual purity are what keep various people and parts of society in their proper place.
In contrast to the traditional view that uncleanness was contagious, Jesus regarded holiness/wholeness as contagious.
Jesus touches people who have leprosy, or who are unclean or sick WITHOUT FEAR of contamination. Jesus is not rendered unclean by contact; rather those who society regarded as defiled are made clean.
To Jesus, holiness is not something to be protected; rather it is God’s miraculous power of transformation. God’s holiness cannot be soiled; rather it is a cleansing and healing agent. It does not need to be shut up in the temple. It is now, through Jesus’ healings and fellowship with the despised and rejected, breaking out into the world to transform it.
May we have the grace and the guts to follow him.
8 Comments:
I'm with you, man. Sad thing is: I often find myself being "gooky." I recently visited a lepar colony while in China and left feeling like the lowest scum on earth. Let me tell you, sometimes, the unclean are the holiest. Keep the faith, brother.
Boy, once again you have been reading my mail. What a beautiful post, Rick.
I keep hearing these radio evangelists saying, "You must be holy, as Christ is holy. Cleanse yourself from all unrighteousness..." and so on. And I just want to yell, "*SCREW* that - I'm doomed before I even start! I can do short bursts of holiness - but I just can't possibly do any "extended run" of doing-good! I'm just not BUILT that way!"
I strive for holiness - but just the simple acts of not drinking, over-eating, and obsessing over sex pretty much maxes out my spiritual Visa card most days. I'm ever so grateful for the word that says, "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." That's where I'm at, most days.
Interesting thing about "table fellowship" - that outreach programs like Alpha (alphausa.org) reach out to unchurched and nominally-churched folks by starting an evening with *a meal*. No church talk allowed. Doesn't matter if the people believe or not; gay or str8; whatever. Just get to *know* each other - that's the goal. Interesting that it took people this long to take a page from Jesus' notebook...
Your initial question...what is it about "Christians" that is so repulsive...got me thinking on the drive in to work today. I think it comes down to honesty, humility, and vulnerability.
I just finished watching the DVD "Latter Days" - about a gay Mormon's coming-out and first love. The part in that movie that repulsed me most was not the scenes of love between two men; that didn't bother me a bit. What *did* irk me was the "I'm holy and righteous and anointed, and you're not" attitude of the Mormon characters. I've experienced that attitude time and time again, and mostly not from Mormons, unfortunately - but almost universally from the "holy" Christian church.
That attitude is what kept me from coming back to Jesus for so long. It's Brennan Manning's comment about us (as best I remember it): "The single greatest cause of atheism in the world today is Christians who claim Jesus with their lips, and then deny him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelieveable."
On the one hand, I really wanted Christians to somehow admit that they were not as perfect and wonderful as they claimed. Yet when they claimed to *be* righteous, and were caught in some gross display of sin, I lost even more hope in what they stood for.
I wish that followers of Christ would preface everything they say about righteousness and living rightly with the words, "BUT...If I *ever* say that I have no sin, I'm lying to myself, AND to you, and there is no truth in me, period." (1 John 1:8, my paraphrase). What a wonderful world *that* would be...
can't decide if i like the idea of Jesus taking a whiz or seeing Him in Hooter's...decisions, decisions...
i'm just damn glad to know you boyz & it gives me hope to just know that ya'll are in the world...
Great blog, Rick. I stumbled across it and I really like where you're coming from. Keep it up. I'll be checking back regularly...
Check out mine at http://brokenstainedglass.typepad.com
J.R.
Hey, just discovered this blog via YBMT. Thanks for this very thought-provoking post. I mentioned & linked to it in one of my own posts here: http://feebleknees.blogspot.com/2005/01/how-not-to-witness.html.
blessings,
Feeble
Hi
There are so many variations in denominations, cults and theological opinions in christianity that l get confused. One day we will all know the truth. Many say, what l say is right, but they can't all be right.
I don't want to end up like the Sadducees or the Pharasses who will have more than egg on their face at the judgement. I want to walk the narrow road and not slip off it my the many and varied opinions that can lead you astray. My conclusion is read the WORD, do it and talk to God. Its very easy to believe that the road is wider than what it describes in the Bible. If not sure . Err on the side of caution.
THE SINNERS IN ZION ARE AFRAID; FEARFULNESS HATH SURPRISED THE HYPOCRITES. WHO AMONG US SHALL DWELL WITH THE DEVOURING FIRE? WHO AMONG US SHALL DWELL WITH EVERLASTING BURNINGS? ENTER YE IN AT THE STRAIT GATE: FOR WIDE IS THE GATE, AND BROAD IS THE WAY, THAT LEADS TO DESTRUCTION, AND MANY THERE BE WHICH GO IN THERE AT:Because strait is the gate,and narrow is the way,which leadeth unto life,and few there be that find it
one time drug addic,among many other filthy addicions not to be graffic.was bound by many evil spirits. been saved 13 years ,now 34 years old free from sin been preaching 8yrs, pastoring soon be 3yrs.Ive seen people healed of cancer,heart desiase,drug addictions,broken bones,broken lives,broken homes,and I have literally seen devils cast out of people.many other miracles.ALL BY THE POWER OF GOD AND NO DOCTORS,yes i believe in doctors. The problem with our/my generation is lack of faith.All things are possiable to those who believe no matter what the circumstances are.To say it is g o o k y to live a holiness life,and despise sin/evil is weak faith.GREATER IS HE THAT LIVES WITH IN ME/US THAN HE THAT IS IN THE WORLD. the devil. I am living proof of this,else there would be no consolations.
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