culture on the counter

I'm having trouble figuring out how to start this blog. I usually try to write something catchy to hook you into reading the rest but I can't think of anything for this one, so I'm just gonna dive right in.

I'm kind of sick of the way that Christianity is portrayed in our society. Since the days of Constantine the entire movement surrounding the life of Jesus Christ has been moved from a wild, countercultural paradigm shift of how believers lived their lives into a mainstream, watered-down political party – a way of justifying one's actions and stances on certain issues rather than a lifestyle that completely changes the motivations of someone to live contrarily to their natural instincts. I heard all the time that Jesus would eat and drink with prostitutes and social outcasts, but the same people that taught me this couldn't understand why I would have earrings or tattoos or hair that was dyed a different color. More so, they couldn't understand why I'd want to hang out with other people who did. If Jesus hung out with all of these marginal people, why are the only people at church cheerleaders, football players, and business people?

I believe that if Jesus were to come to earth today for the first time, the vast majority of people who subscribe to western Christianity now would be shocked, frightened, and hostile towards him. Conversely, the people who don't want anything to do with Jesus now because of the people that he's associated with would be drawn to him. Enigmatic, outspoken, countercultural, misunderstood. He'd be more like Kurt Cobain that Joel Osteen. In fact, he'd probably be speaking out against people like Osteen who've turned Christianity into a self-help seminar or a get-rich-quick scheme.

Around 3 years ago I was reading Matthew 10, a passage that I'd never heard (that I can remember) spoken on in church in its entirety. Jesus is admonishing his closest followers to go out for a bit on their own to spread his vision and message. I've always envisioned this scene going down in a closed up shop at night, like a secret meeting in a movie that would have tons of automatic weapons and car chases. No candles lit; didn't want anyone to know they were there. Probably one of the 12 posted by the door, another peeking through the window from over on the side to make sure no one was coming. Here were his instructions:

"As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep

Doesn't sound like much of an invitation to a life of luxury to me.

"Whatever town or village you enter, search for some worthy person there and stay at his house until you leave. As you enter the home, give it your greeting. If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.

The shake the dust of your feet part was the first thing that really struck me. What an insult! In those days you walked everywhere, so your feet would get covered in mud and dirt. For Jesus to tell his disciples to, if not accepted in a home, perform an act that would be the cultural equivalent to taking a dump on their porch didn't match up with the image of Jesus that I'd been accustomed to. This guy wasn't some sissified crybaby complaining about the religious leaders and telling everyone they're forgiven. He was sending these guys out on a recon mission.

I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.

My favorite two sentences in all the Bible. Essentially telling these guys that they were going on a suicide mission. Don't do anything morally wrong, but don't be stupid enough to get yourself caught. How awesome does that sound?! Those two analogies by Jesus gave me a completely new outlook on the guy. All of the sudden following Jesus became dangerous and cool. Being in his crew was like being in some covert operation, trying to find supporters while being chased down by a hostile government and a hostile religious culture.

"Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues. On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

I love the fact that Jesus said "when they arrest you" instead of "if they arrest you".

"Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

"A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebub, how much more the members of his household!

"So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

This is the only part that I'd ever heard in church, and only the last 2 lines. When taken out of context it always sounded like a comforting placation, a reminder that God will take care of us. But when looked at in the context of the conversation it seems like it was more of a reminder that armor would be provided, because the bullets were surely coming.

"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.

"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn 'a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her motherinlaw— a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.'

"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

"He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me. Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man's reward. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward."

Serious words. This demand from Jesus doesn't leave much room for fence-riding. No promise of a comfortable life, money or safety; nothing but difficulty and danger.

Jesus took the entire religious culture of the day based on a laundry list of thou shall's and thou shalt not's and turned it on its ear, saying that the actions (or inactions) weren't the point but rather the motivations behind it. He was kind to those in need and friendly to those in need of it, but was constantly reprimanding religious authorities. The more I read of the Gospels, the more he seemed to be the kind of guy I'd love to hang out with: controversial, dangerous, always outmanned and always outgunned. He's the kind of guy that people like me would hang out with and he's the kind of guy that would hang out with people like me, shunning the football players and cheerleaders and businessmen.

My goal is to write a series of blogs that highlight what I believe are the attributes of Jesus' personality and character that have been neglected and brushed under the rug in favor of a politically correct, non-threatening Jesus. I hope that everyone that reads these participates in conversation through comments about them and that we can start to develop an idea of what the guy was really like and what his offer is really about. Thanks for listening.