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Dos Equis Jesus

This piece was originally published at Patheos on December 13, 2012.

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You may have seen the Dos Equis beer commercials that feature the most interesting man alive. His charm is so infectious that vaccines have been developed just for it. Whereas many guys have tattoos saying “Mother,” his mother bears a tattoo saying “Son.” Unlike many men, if he had a feminine side, he would show it. His legend is so great that it goes before him like lightning before thunder.

Sometimes you get the impression that Jesus is framed as the most interesting man alive or the strongest man alive or the smartest man alive. Was Jesus the strongest man alive, the smartest man alive, the most interesting man alive? What epitomized Jesus’ greatness?

According to the doctrine of Spirit-Christicism, Jesus chose not to exercise such attributes as omnipotence and omniscience in his human state; rather, he depended on the Spirit in all things. He provides us an example to follow; more than that, he shares his life which we are called to participate in through the Spirit. Jesus may not have leaped tall buildings in a single bound or bent steel bars with two fingers (though he could have done so, if he wished…). He probably didn’t ace all of his mathematics or physics exams growing up. He may not have been voted the most likely person to succeed in his graduating class or most handsome since he had no majesty or beauty to attract us to him (Isaiah 53:2). However, I do know he was hailed as “demon-possessed and mad” (John 10:20).

Was Jesus the most interesting person alive? It depends on what you mean. I do know he was the most relational, as he depended on the Father in the Spirit, as he cared for those for whom no one else cared, as he put our needs above his own.

One can learn a lot about what others esteem based on how they view Jesus. I have had a hard time over the years coming to terms with him because I have often wanted him to be what I need him to be for my own growth and advancement. Grievously, I have often approached Jesus according to worldly standards of power and wisdom and wealth of personality and a host of other things (See Jeremiah 9:23-24; cf. 1 Corinthians 1, including verse 31). As I grow older, I am learning that “truth is relational” is really true. Relational truth is more powerful than brute force, more wise than a mental warehouse of facts, and more beautiful and interesting than dazzling charm. Like me, you may find that Jesus epitomizes relational truth, but will we desire to pursue him even when the other “truths” of Rambo Jesus, Einstein Jesus or Dos Equis Jesus compete for our attention? You and I don’t have to drink beer to feel a buzz when confronted with these alternatives. The only way to stay sober and make the right choice is to be filled with Christ’s love. Stay relational, my friends.

 

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How to Sustain Jesus’ Justice Movement

This piece was originally published at Patheos on December 10, 2012.

Listen to me read “How to Sustain Jesus’ Justice Movement”.

Many Christians today are getting involved in various justice initiatives as they take to heart Jesus’ life and love that has transformed individual lives and entire communities ever since his first advent. I am excited about their passion for holistic and equitable compassion. I only hope that they will finish well the race that they have begun. It won’t be easy. “Justice” often appears sexy to people at first. But the injustices that we must confront are by no means sexy or funny or exhilarating. Those of us who enter the justice race in view of Jesus will find ourselves challenged and weighed down at times and wonder how in the world will we be able to bear the world’s burdens for much longer. Burnout may very well occur as a result, possibly even despair.

So, how is a justice movement sustained? I am speaking here to those who have been inspired first and foremost by Jesus and his example to pursue justice. First and foremost, a justice movement is sustained by knowing that Jesus alone can and will sustain it. Apart from him, we can do nothing (John 15:5). My particular Christian convictions in view of the Bible lead me to argue that Jesus is not simply the catalyst but also the ultimate embodiment of justice; no one has more of a burden for justice than Jesus does, as he bleeds justice through every pore of his being as our just judge and God’s reconciling force of holy love. Jesus must be more than a role model. He must be the source and substance of our just endeavors, for he is justice.

Take for example Luke 4:16-21. As the Lord says, the word of Isaiah is fulfilled in his person, as the Spirit of the Lord is upon him. It was such a staggering claim for a hometown boy to tell his neighbors in the local synagogue at the outset of his public ministry (before he had performed any great feat!) that he was the Messiah and that the Messianic age had dawned in his person (the Spirit’s special presence coupled with the inauguration of the ultimate year of Jubilee with all that it entailed for such matters as cancelling debts, freeing prisoners, healing and restoring people to equitable relations in his person is why I claim that he is declaring himself to be Israel’s long-awaited Messiah). Here is what Luke 4:16-21 says:

He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

This teaching was fulfilled in their hearing there in that synagogue in Nazareth over two thousand years ago; it is still fulfilled to this day. While we who are his followers certainly have an important role to play in Jesus’ justice movement, we must come to see that our role is participatory, not a replacement of Jesus or even an extension; Jesus continues his incarnational ministry in and through his people (Acts 1:1-2; see my article on incarnational ministry). We participate in Jesus’ just life and experience his passion as he moves the world forward toward the realization of justice throughout our world in view of his kingdom that will never end and that will surely come in its fullness.

I often tell people in such a discussion as this that Jesus has been to Mordor and back again. As you watch The Hobbit this Christmas season and possibly go back and watch The Lord of the Rings trilogy, perhaps you will consider themes in those tales that resonate with the Gospels in various ways. Jesus has borne the ring of oppressive power to Mordor and cast it in the fires of Mount Doom. This very Jesus has very big shoulders on which to bear us. He can carry the load and confront injustice head on. We must hold tightly to him. The bigger our view of Jesus the greater the possibility that we will be able to run the marathon race of justice as we bear witness to his victory in conquering the forces that destroy humanity and the whole cosmos, not simply the fictional world of Middle Earth. We now live in light of what will be as the same Jesus who triumphed over the oppressive rule of the grave will triumph over the other forces of evil such as racism and poverty and violence. While these forces bring death in the short term, Jesus will realize his kingdom rule of life and shalom throughout the world. Don’t try to replace him. Rather, bear witness to Jesus—for Jesus is Victor!

This is the first of several posts addressing the subject of how to sustain Jesus’ justice movement.

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Approaching the Alien with a Benevolent Spirit not an Alien Idea to President Bush—or to the Bible

This piece was originally published at Patheos on December 7, 2012.

Listen to me read “Approaching the Alien with a Benevolent Spirit not an Alien Idea to President Bush—or to the Bible”.

On Tuesday, former President George W. Bush encouraged lawmakers to engage in debate on immigration reform with a benevolent spirit (The Dallas Morning News, article by Tom Benning, republished in The Columbian titled “Bush Urges New Approach to Immigration” on Wednesday, Dec. 5, A7). The former President had hoped to bring about widespread immigration reform during his tenure in the Oval Office. Still, his remarks could and should spur Republican lawmakers on to consider bi-partisan work with the Democrats in overhauling the country’s stance on immigration. This is an area where I hope Mr. Bush will have an enduring impact on his party. He has been known to lead his party in the past on building ties with the Hispanic community. While my larger concern is simply care for the alien in our midst rather than strategic demographic connections for either party, nonetheless, it can only help our nation if both major parties are building strong ties with various ethnic communities.

Mr. Bush noted that new immigrants benefit our society in a variety of ways. Going beyond Mr. Bush’s remarks, I hope Christians would not base our welcome primarily on the ways in which the new immigrants benefit our society economically, but rather on their shared humanity and their need. The Bible makes very clear that God’s people were and are to care for the alien in their midst as equals regardless of how they benefit a GNP or a political party: “The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the LORD your God” (Leviticus 19:34). I believe Mr. Bush would share this conviction. Emma Lazarus certainly did. As her poem “The New Colossus” makes clear, she envisioned America as the gracious and welcoming host to the least fortunate souls of other lands. A benevolent spirit concerning the alien is not alien to Mr. Bush, Ms. Lazarus, or to the God of the Bible who rules over all lands and is not limited by any nation’s borders.

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Cyber Bullying

NEW: Listen to me read “Cyber Bullying”.

This piece was originally published at Patheos on December 6, 2012.

Social media isn’t always so social. In fact, it can be downright anti-social. Of course, much of this has to do with how people use it.  But there is also something built in to various forms of media that shape us in certain ways.

For one, there is often an undue sense of immediacy and familiarity with social media. People feel comfortable barging ito other people’s lives (especially those they don’t know) on their Facebook pages and in other spaces and forums on the internet in ways they wouldn’t do going to their houses and walking right in through the front door without knocking or ringing the bell. They feel they have the right to accuse, taunt, and threaten, and at any moment. All it takes is a few clicks on a keyboard. No one ever has the right to make false accusations, insult, taunt, and threaten, whether in person or online. Still, some think they can do it, especially online; perhaps they think they can say what they want because they believe they really know someone, even someone they have never met because they have access to certain profile features and other details, many of them superficial. One fear I have with this form of online familiarity that breeds contempt is that at some point people fail to make the distinction between virtual and actual: they may eventually move from attacking with words to attacking with fists and sticks and stones, when they actually do meet those they’ve bullied online.

There is also a false sense of anonymity with various forms of social media. People can hide behind aliases and take shots in virtual space behind cover. Or even if they use their real names, you can’t see them. They may even hide their identity through non-descript pictures that do not include them. Often people fail to recognize that everything they post is permanent, even if they delete it. It might hurt their chances at getting jobs or getting dates or getting on after the damage has been done. Their sense of anonymity is as false as the aliases they use.

Some people gain a sense of superiority over others. As one teenager told me in reflecting on the problem, people are much tougher behind their keyboards than in person. They feel that they can hide behind their computer screens. They also rely on a vast network of their friends to back them up instantly online. Such actions on their part coupled with their sense of superiority do not come across like courage and security, but as cowardice and inadequacy to me.

 

Don’t get me wrong. I love social media. I use Facebook and Twitter and engage in other forums online. Still, we need to guard against abuses and do our part to protect people from harm when social media turns ugly. The tragic story of Amanda Todd is so disturbing. If only people had come around her to defend her from those who attacked her online. We all need to do our part to make sure that social media truly is social. Some steps are already being taken. What parts can you and I play? How shall we proceed?

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Warren Buffett to the Rescue: Follow His Lead and Invest in Character

This piece was originally published at Patheos on December 3, 2012.

It’s hard to argue with success, especially when the financially successful person is saying to the effect: “Tax me more. It won’t hurt me or the economy. It will only help us all”. Warren Buffett is a refreshing and most welcome voice, especially at a time when our country is at the edge of a fiscal cliff, where lawmakers are pondering what steps to take to guard against a financial downturn.

Buffett’s optimism on America’s future and his wit also complement his sagely investment wisdom to make his advice on taxing America’s most wealthy come off well. While there will no doubt always be critics, and not simply of the school of Grover Norquist, I am struck by Buffett the American. I am no economist, but as a theologian, I am interested in the common good which entails consideration of sound economic policies.

Mr. Buffett’s recent New York Times op-ed tells me something about Buffett the American. He is troubled by those lobbyists who are “warriors for the wealthy” and those loopholes that make it possible for the rich to avoid paying higher taxes: “Above all, we should not postpone these changes in the name of ‘reforming’ the tax code. True, changes are badly needed. We need to get rid of arrangements like ‘carried interest’ that enable income from labor to be magically converted into capital gains. And it’s sickening that a Cayman Islands mail drop can be central to tax maneuvering by wealthy individuals and corporations.” To me, Buffett sounds like a prophet, not simply like an investor trying to make a profit. And for those who are concerned that the rich won’t invest if they will be taxed more as a result, Buffett has this to say in the same op-ed, “Maybe you’ll run into someone with a terrific investment idea, who won’t go forward with it because of the tax he would owe when it succeeds. Send him my way. Let me unburden him.” Not only is Buffett a profitable investor and prophet for our current economic climate; he also comes across sounding like a sound therapist.

In Whatever Became of Sin?, psychiatrist Karl Menninger wrote that the rich who came to him for treatment for maladies that were bound up with their wealth would applaud his counsel that they should give generously to charities. Still, according to Menninger, they never did it. I don’t know how much Mr. Buffett gives to charities, but his willingness to be taxed more for his great riches is, from his vantage point, a means to benefit the country as a whole, not just himself. I am sure he feels good about it. I do, too.

We need more Warren Buffetts in America today. We could all learn a thing or two from him, not simply from his business skills. His concern for the common good not only makes common sense for the economy in terms of the deficit but also it should make all of us feel good in terms of his common decency. Far beyond investing in making capital gains, Buffett is investing in making gains in character for our country concerning the tax structure. The rest of us should follow suit and invest now.