Matthew 17:1-8 (The Message)
Jesus took Peter and the brothers, James and John, and led them up a high mountain. His appearance changed from the inside out, right before their eyes. Sunlight poured from his face. His clothes were filled with light. Then they realized that Moses and Elijah were also there in deep conversation with him.
Peter broke in, “Master, this is a great moment! What would you think if I built three memorials here on the mountain—one for you, one for Moses, one for Elijah?”
While he was going on like this, babbling, a light-radiant cloud enveloped them, and sounding from deep in the cloud a voice: “This is my Son, marked by my love, focus of my delight. Listen to him.”
When the disciples heard it, they fell flat on their faces, scared to death. But Jesus came over and touched them. “Don’t be afraid.” When they opened their eyes and looked around all they saw was Jesus, only Jesus.
The other night I was reading a piece by John Pavlovitz – one of my favorite writers and one of my favorite Christians. As opposed to many “in the public eye” Christians today, Pavlovitz appears to have actually read and considered what we are told Jesus said and did when he was here among us.
The particular piece that caught my eye begins in this way:
The particular piece that caught my eye begins in this way:
Jesus was a social justice warrior. He could also probably come across as a real jerk sometimes, too.
Most Christians paint in their minds a highly selective picture of Christ, one that usually makes him a placid, stoic, passive presence; little more than a silent and smiling spectator who was above all things perpetually—nice. We like this tame, well-mannered, benign Jesus. We especially prefer this version of him when we don’t like what we’re hearing from other Christians. The moment anyone claiming faith becomes the least bit loud or unruly or uncomfortable, we suggest that they are somehow betraying their namesake. We try and shame them into behaving themselves… The implication is that if you’re angry or offensive or abrasive, then you aren’t accurately reflecting Jesus.
Since I had been thinking all day on the scripture reading we just heard I ended up comparing it with this image we keep having set in front of us of the sweet, blond, blue-eyes Jesus who would never hurt a fly and just meekly allowed others to walk all over him. How many children grew up singing Wesley's "Gentle Jesus Meek and Mild"? And all those anemic-looking paintings?
It came to me that one who had gone through the experience related in this scripture – an experience of becoming so deeply connected to God’s glory that he radiated that glory himself -- an experience of hearing God’s own voice calling out: “This is my Son, marked by my love, focus of my delight. Listen to him” -- such a one could never be the "tame, well-mannered, benign" Jesus Pavlovitz describes.
Yes, Jesus was loving and gentle. But that was certainly not the only side of him shown in the gospels. The image of the calm pacifist Jesus was largely fostered in later generations by those who deliberately played down his social justice warrior side in order to keep the populous quietly accepting of their often miserable lot. To our shame, the church has too often acted as a tool for the ruling class down through the centuries. The justice fighter has too often been downplayed in order to maintain the status quo.
For every story in the gospels of Jesus being gentle and healing there is a story of him being deliberately confrontational. His teaching, after all, was always done out in the open before unregulated crowds, and Jesus had to have been well aware of the Pharisees and temple spies who were there in those crowds, listening to every word he said. And yet, he never modulated his message in order to be safe. He never held back.
He only once that we know of resorted to violent action, but he faced every questioner and spoke his truth fearlessly to them. He continually did things in ways that outraged the authorities. Even after telling his followers repeatedly that his speaking out was going to lead to his death – still he spoke. He never became ugly. There was always beauty in his words because he was driven by the love and truth and beauty of God. Even when he was frustrated or angry, it was anger that some were missing the message, the love God has for all God’s children.
In Pavlovitz’ article he went on to say that:
It came to me that one who had gone through the experience related in this scripture – an experience of becoming so deeply connected to God’s glory that he radiated that glory himself -- an experience of hearing God’s own voice calling out: “This is my Son, marked by my love, focus of my delight. Listen to him” -- such a one could never be the "tame, well-mannered, benign" Jesus Pavlovitz describes.
Yes, Jesus was loving and gentle. But that was certainly not the only side of him shown in the gospels. The image of the calm pacifist Jesus was largely fostered in later generations by those who deliberately played down his social justice warrior side in order to keep the populous quietly accepting of their often miserable lot. To our shame, the church has too often acted as a tool for the ruling class down through the centuries. The justice fighter has too often been downplayed in order to maintain the status quo.
For every story in the gospels of Jesus being gentle and healing there is a story of him being deliberately confrontational. His teaching, after all, was always done out in the open before unregulated crowds, and Jesus had to have been well aware of the Pharisees and temple spies who were there in those crowds, listening to every word he said. And yet, he never modulated his message in order to be safe. He never held back.
He only once that we know of resorted to violent action, but he faced every questioner and spoke his truth fearlessly to them. He continually did things in ways that outraged the authorities. Even after telling his followers repeatedly that his speaking out was going to lead to his death – still he spoke. He never became ugly. There was always beauty in his words because he was driven by the love and truth and beauty of God. Even when he was frustrated or angry, it was anger that some were missing the message, the love God has for all God’s children.
In Pavlovitz’ article he went on to say that:
Jesus was not a pacifist, he was a peacemaker, and these are very different things. One implies inaction, the other intentional engagement. At the center of Jesus’ life and ministry was the idea of making peace, of creating Shalom for another human being; enabling them to have the same access to wholeness, sustenance, justice, and joy as anyone else. It was not merely some internal understanding about the intrinsic value of all people he held in his heart, but the tangible response in the world that affirmed this understanding whenever that value was disregarded.
We who follow the way of Jesus are not called to be tame and placid in our following. We are to follow both sides of Jesus – the gentle side, and occasionally, the confrontational side. When we see injustice we must speak the truth that we know, even if it doesn’t match up with the popular version current around us.
There is one more piece from Pavlovitz I want to share with you – it is such a good piece of writing and says such important things. He writes:
There is one more piece from Pavlovitz I want to share with you – it is such a good piece of writing and says such important things. He writes:
Yes, to the sheep Jesus was shepherd. To the vulnerable, the marginalized, and the invisible he was protector and healer and the mender of wounds. To them he was safety and softness; gentle caregiver and quiet reassurance.
But not to the wolves. To the wolves he was something else. To them he was the holy fury of an outraged God who refused to tolerate the mistreatment of those made in God’s image. To the wolves he was as fierce and fiery and offensive as they come. To the wolves Jesus was a terror.
“The holy fury of an outraged God who refused to tolerate the mistreatment of those made in God’s image.” Lord, I love this man’s writing. It's important to remember that Jesus terrorized the authorities so thoroughly that they finally killed him to quiet him.
I have called myself a Christian almost all my life, but I cannot tell you the number of times, since I became a “professional” Christian, with a title and everything – how often people have tried to stuff me into a box that they have constructed and labeled “Christian.” How many people have tried to tell me that I am not a “real” Christian because I don’t think and act and speak has they believe a Christian should.
I should be quiet – I’m a woman, after all. I should be telling people they are going to hell (not gonna happen). I’ve been told several times that I am obligated to give someone money because I’m a Christian and I’m not allowed to say “no”. And I should be concerned only for people’s souls, not their material bodies.
I prefer to listen to what Jesus has told me to do. The Jesus who one day stood on a mountain top and shone with the glory and radiance of God. The transfigured Jesus.
Following this Jesus, I try to feed the hungry and clothe the naked and do what I can for those in need – gently and lovingly. Still following him, I intend to go right on speaking out for the voiceless and demanding justice for the powerless – confrontationally – and even offensively -- if necessary. I will do the things I am called to do. I'm no saint, but I try.
We can only do the work of God in the here and now – in this time, in this world, with this world’s needs – and God knows there are more than enough needs to go around. But there are more than enough blessings to go around, as well. I don’t know why we seem to think we have to fight over them. One of my favorite internet memes has several variations, but the most common one says something like: Sharing God’s love with others doesn’t mean there’s less for you – It’s not pie. Grace has no limits. Anyone who says differently is either mistaken or lying.
So take the blessings and do what good we can with them, letting Jesus, not the culture we live in, tell us who has a right to what. Open our eyes and see the beautiful, transformed world actually around us - not the currently popular narrative of a cramped and lacking world.
We’re called to do God’s work here where people live. I think we can trust God to take care of their souls.
QUOTES: "Cultivating the Activist Heart of Jesus"
December 7, 2016 JOHNPAVLOVITZ.COM
I have called myself a Christian almost all my life, but I cannot tell you the number of times, since I became a “professional” Christian, with a title and everything – how often people have tried to stuff me into a box that they have constructed and labeled “Christian.” How many people have tried to tell me that I am not a “real” Christian because I don’t think and act and speak has they believe a Christian should.
I should be quiet – I’m a woman, after all. I should be telling people they are going to hell (not gonna happen). I’ve been told several times that I am obligated to give someone money because I’m a Christian and I’m not allowed to say “no”. And I should be concerned only for people’s souls, not their material bodies.
I prefer to listen to what Jesus has told me to do. The Jesus who one day stood on a mountain top and shone with the glory and radiance of God. The transfigured Jesus.
Following this Jesus, I try to feed the hungry and clothe the naked and do what I can for those in need – gently and lovingly. Still following him, I intend to go right on speaking out for the voiceless and demanding justice for the powerless – confrontationally – and even offensively -- if necessary. I will do the things I am called to do. I'm no saint, but I try.
We can only do the work of God in the here and now – in this time, in this world, with this world’s needs – and God knows there are more than enough needs to go around. But there are more than enough blessings to go around, as well. I don’t know why we seem to think we have to fight over them. One of my favorite internet memes has several variations, but the most common one says something like: Sharing God’s love with others doesn’t mean there’s less for you – It’s not pie. Grace has no limits. Anyone who says differently is either mistaken or lying.
So take the blessings and do what good we can with them, letting Jesus, not the culture we live in, tell us who has a right to what. Open our eyes and see the beautiful, transformed world actually around us - not the currently popular narrative of a cramped and lacking world.
We’re called to do God’s work here where people live. I think we can trust God to take care of their souls.
QUOTES: "Cultivating the Activist Heart of Jesus"
December 7, 2016 JOHNPAVLOVITZ.COM
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