When the Homily is about Immunology

What would [the post-modern] Jesus do?

Watch the video HERE.

You ever notice that when people pontificate about what they think Jesus would "be about" today that it is always their particular issues...often those they believe are being ignored by the wider Christian community? Oh yes, the issues on "Jesus' Plate" today: "you better bet it would be racism, the environment, globalization..."

Ah, yes, Jesus the activist. Surely one of those old Hebrew names for God include this, right? Jehovah-social justice-jireh?

What social justice issues did Jesus MISS during his time? Well he didn't condemn the institution of slavery. He failed to choose any women disciples, truly a staggering blow to the as yet blossomed women's rights movement. And speaking of globalization, he didn't say a single solitary word against the imperial globalizing empire of Rome...not a single word of protest. Heck he even befriended a few soldiers of that empire and did not encourage them to defect or quit, but rather encouraged them to be good and moral soldiers. Dang, that doesn't quite fit the MO of a modern day social justice teacher/activist. I'll give them the racism thing, but was it really a focus of Jesus' ministry to establish social justice? What percentage of what He said and did had anything to do with confronting social norms as being evil on a societal level?

I've said this before, but as I read (in the Bible, in case the people of Solomon's Porch were wondering) about Jesus' interactions with people, I note that time and time again people are taken off guard and Jesus - lovingly and perfectly - strikes at the very heart of the matter...within the heart of the person. I think when Jesus looks you in the eyes, the last thing you are likely to find is confirmation of your self-righteous perceptions of social injustices in the world. Maybe you are holier than me, but I rather suspect all politics, social issues, and the sins of others go out the window and instead I am to be confronted with the injustices I spew forth from my own heart.

Issues, issues, issues...Jesus' issue, if I may be so bold is YOU and it is me. I think these Solomon's Porch folks get so much right, but then so much wrong...not that I personally claim to have a corner on truth, but the Church does. Sorry, it just does and always has and Jesus told the founders it would be so. (yep, I'm all about bumper sticker theology: "Jesus said it, I believe it, that settles it") You can get so wrapped up in "What would Jesus do" that all you can think about is making abortion illegal (on one end of the spectrum) or ending globalization (on the other end) that you stand to neglect/forget/or even label insignificant what Jesus HAS DONE. And that is: Conquered death so that the Church may live life in union with Him. Really it is the ONLY thing that Jesus said or did that without which we are told by St. Paul Himself we are stupid and wasting our time. Did you notice (I did) that in the exposition of "what we are all about" there was not a single word about this central and critical theme of Christianity? Seems to me that any explanation of the life of a Christian community ought to mention the role of Pascha in it...is it not the hinge upon which we move?

These folks may have made it clear that they have walked away from the reality of Jesus (my paraphrase: "what we believe literally matters less than our perception of what Jesus was about")...they seem just one step away from denying Jesus' literal existence or perhaps His Divinity or perhaps His literal resurrection...and why not, after all "everyone has the right to speak for God." When someone stands up at Solomon's Porch and insists that Jesus' Resurrection was merely a spiritual metaphor, or that Jesus was merely a man, who will rebuke him? Nothing new under the sun, this is just shorts, t-shirts, and messy haired episcopalianism.

No thanks, I'll trust those who were taught by Jesus Himself and who in turn taught their followers, who in turn taught their followers etc...we call this the Church and we don't need to ask "How should we do communion" and even if we did we certainly wouldn't answer it with the vague: "I've heard..."

The Church: Old and crotchety guardian of the truth...some would say stale and dusty, yes...but also never-changing and beautiful - as truth should be...check that...as Truth (being the second person of the Trinity) is. A Rock and not sand foundation. Hip today, passe tomorrow, The Church is not. The Church is what the Church is and she makes no pretenses about it. She is not here to APPEAL to you, she is here to CHANGE you.