First things first: every picture or illustration I found when I search the terms “Jesus Vote” displayed the “white Jesus.” Let that fester for a moment….
Festering complete?
In the wake of last night’s GOP debate, I reminisced about all the many voices that say Jesus voted Democrat, or Republican, or the Green party. Christians on both sides of the aisle attempt to “get Jesus on their side.” If they can convince people that Jesus would indeed vote for them, well, automatic votes.
Not so fast.
A couple of problems with that logic.
First, Jesus didn’t know a republic, and he certainly didn’t fare well in political processes. I suspect that both sides of the aisle might scoff at his political agenda. After all, he hung out with the poor, chilled with the religious elite, had a ragtag following, and collaboration was his forte. To put it simply, Jesus’s words are by no means easy to bear on liberal or conservative ears. They are tough words that no political state could ever embody.
Second, Jesus was more concerned with his fellow human beings than allegiance to a political party. Let’s examine the Debt Talks: Congresspersons were made to cave under party demands – forget personal conviction. In the end, the party wins out. Seems to me that Jesus would not be too keen on listening to some talking head, political junkie telling him what to do. It would suffocate attempts at a prophetic voice, a challenging word, and in the end bringing about the Kingdom of God.
Third, Jesus depended upon hospitality, not campaign contributions, to make his life-work feasible. Jesus would have looked at both sides, and asked about where the money was going? To vote a candidate into office? Seriously? Are those giving money to campaigns giving to organizations pursuing justice? While some certainly are, there are many that do not. Their own self-interest(s), their own protection is their investment. Caring for their fellow human beings is second on the list only to their own being.
In the end, there are parties that, at times, reflect elements of Jesus’s teachings. It is true, Democrats have, more often than not, reflected their teachings in their policies. But for those Christians that so fervently believe in the teachings of Jesus, do not use Jesus as a political endorsement. If his teachings are that powerful, don’t dilute them by aligning them with a political party. False hope is raised that some politician, some political party can actually reflect the teachings of this man.
Rather, we must engage our communities, and affect change within our own realms. Occupy Wall Street (OWS) reflects the remarkable power of community, not a political party. They reflect, however subtly, the subversive way of life Jesus lived. While they are not all Christian, and not all there because Jesus called them, we can still find that in the many faces, voices, and lives a common thread of powerful change. That is nothing less that the power of Jesus’ life.
OWS is not affiliated with any political party, but a common humanity calling for change. If this is not proof that people, not political parties can change the conversation I know of no other contemporary proof within American life.
Jesus is no political leader, but an inspiration for subversive, world-changing action. If we want to embody this, then we must stop finding political parties for Jesus to endorse, and start finding our common humanity. Whether on Wall Street or Main Street, there are lives to enhance, and a world to change.
Thomas Jefferson; 3rd President. Author of the Declaration of Independence.
“Christianity neither is, nor ever was, a part of the Common Law.”
“We discover in the gospels a groundwork of vulgar ignorance, of things impossible, of superstition, fanaticism and fabrication .”
“They [preachers] dread the advance of science as witches do the approach of daylight and scowl on the fatal harbinger announcing the subversions of the duperies on which they live.”
“I have recently been examining all the known superstitions of the world, and do not find in our particular superstition (Christianity) one redeeming feature. They are all alike founded on fables and mythology.”
“Millions of innocent men, women and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burnt, tortured, fined, imprisoned; yet we have not advanced an inch towards uniformity. What has been the effect of coercion? To make one half the world fools, and the other half hypocrites. To support roguery and error all over the earth.”
“I do not find in orthodox Christianity one redeeming feature.”
http://freethought.mbdojo.com/foundingfathers.html
John Adams, 2nd President:
“As I understand the Christian religion, it was, and is, a revelation. But how has it happened that millions of fables, tales, legends, have been blended with both Jewish and Christian revelation that have made them the most bloody religion that ever existed?”
“I almost shudder at the thought of alluding to the most fatal example of the abuses of grief which the history of mankind has preserved– the Cross. Consider what calamities that engine of grief has produced!”
-letter to Thomas Jefferson
“Have you considered that system of holy lies and pious frauds that has raged and triumphed for 1,500 years?”
FAMILY VALUES? . . . “And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.” (Matthew 10:21, Mark 13:12, and Luke 21:16).
- – “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.” —Luke 14:26—-
– - “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.”
(Matthew 10:34-37 and Luke 12:51-53)
THOU SHALT NOT KILL?
But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.
-Luke 19:27
Did Jesus speak out Against Slavery? No. In fact, there is much information in the Christian Bible on how to deal with your slaves: – - – And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
-Luke 12:47