My first article in the Crossring “Mark Marathon” has been published. It is entitled “Is Jesus Calling You Today?” and may be read here. The passage is Mark 1:14-20, although I spend most of the time dealing with the first couple of verses!
I was meaning to blog about this a few weeks ago but I happened across this article on the BBC news website today and it reminded me.
The BNP are using Jesus’ words in a poster campaign to try and garner support from the Christian community. The exact quote they are using is, “If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.” (John 15:20). Let’s leave behind the fact that this rather ignores the context (Jesus immediately follows this by saying “If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.”, and the whole thing is set within the context of people being rejected because they follow Christ).
The BNP just seem to be using the same tactic they use with all their other campaigns: fear and paranoia (or, as geeks like to put it, FUD: Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt – what Microsoft like to spread about their competitors. But that’s another story). They bandy about the cry that we are “losing our national identity”. In this case, they claim that we are losing our Christian identity.
Now (to borrow a phrase from Gavin & Stacey) I won’t lie to you – I am a bit concerned about the spread of Islam in this country. But not because it’s somehow eroding our Christian identity and values or what have you.
In my opinion, Christianity should not spread by legislation or force. God’s kingdom is a heavenly kingdom, not made by human hands. Take these words, for example:
Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:25-28)
Which, to me, seems to highlight the problems with the BNP’s approach. On their poster, the BNP conclude with the words “What Would Jesus Do?” (their emphasis). I think we know the answer to that question. And it’s definitely not what the BNP would do.
I just hope that the BNP’s usage of this poster campaign won’t make people think that the Christians in this country actually endorse their message!
… Now stop worrying and enjoy life. This is the slogan from the atheist bus campaign – although it’s been in the news for a while, it is starting today. It was brought to my attention my Anne-Marie’s excellent blog post earlier today.
I always found this statement to be quite funny. “Probably” no God? Most atheists I’ve talked with on the matter are more convinced than that. Although I believe the original wording was supposed to say something like ‘almost certainly’ but for some reason they had to change it. The other thing is, it implies that people who do hold religious conviction are worrying and not enjoying life. That doesn’t seem to be my experience – but maybe I’ll come onto that.
It does seem ironic that the bus campaign should be starting now, when we are in the midst of a financial crisis. The slogan brings to mind the parable of the rich fool. This parable tells the story of a man who was rich in this life, but spiritually poor. He selfishly stored up goods for himself, and didn’t worry about God.
Does this sound familiar? I think a lot of the problems we’re in have come from greed. Too many individuals and companies have acted greedily, trying to make as much money as possible. Storing up goods for themselves. The thing is, I think this is a consequence of not believing in God and “enjoying life”, as the bus campaign puts it. OK, so the financial crisis is a very exaggerated version of it, but it still remains that if there is no God and no accountability then people can pretty much behave exactly as they want and there are no repercussions other than what you might have in this life. So, really, if you’re the right kind of person you can get away with murder (sometimes literally), and there will be no justice.
I don’t think a message like that is going to go down too well in the current climate. And it certainly doesn’t provide a reason for us not to worry and enjoy life! But this is what I found interesting: immediately after the parable of the rich fool, Jesus says these famous words:
Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
…
“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.”
That’s strange! People of religion are apparently worriers and don’t enjoy life. But Christians are told not to worry! That God will provide! (Surely a much more appropriate message given the financial situation). Of course, we are not promised riches, or lots of material goods – but we do at least have the hope of heaven, and that justice will be done (“will not the God of all the earth do right?”).
Jesus came not to make us feel guilty and force us to do things we don’t want to do. He came to liberate us, to give us hope. I think the Christian message is the most powerful message in the world, and it’s more relevant than ever. Hope is a powerful thing, and I think the atheist bus campaign is rather underestimating it.
Hmmm, this blog post has ended up being a tad different to how I envisioned it. Guess that’s why it’s a bit rambling and incoherent… like every other one of my blog posts :p Apologies to Anne-Marie for nicking her idea.
Had my work Christmas meal at lunchtime yesterday. We have our Christmas Eve carol service at Fordham tonight. I feel like Christmas has finally arrived!
Aaanyway. I hope that you all have a lovely Christmas this year, and do spend some time reflecting on the Christmas story. Remember, despite all the cute pictures of Joseph and Mary and the baby in a manger, Jesus is so much more:
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Colossians 1:15-20
The reason for Jesus’ coming to earth? To “reconcile” us to himself – to make us friends with himself, instead of enemies!
Take care and I’ll probably update sometime over the Christmas period.
I mentioned in my last post that I quite liked The Passion, despite them putting words in Jesus’ mouth on one or two occasions. Well, having watched the third episode this evening, I still think it’s quite good – but I do wish they would stop messing around with Jesus’ words!
It seems quite clear to me that whoever wrote the screenplay for The Passion doesn’t actually have an appreciation for why Jesus used the words he actually did. I can understand then making up some dialogue to fill in the bits of the account which aren’t covered by the gospel writers, but why did they actually change what the gospel writers recorded Jesus having said? I don’t understand it.
Case in point: at the last supper, in The Passion, when Jesus gives his disciples the wine he says: “This is my blood, given for the healing of many” (or something similar).
According to Mark’s gospel, what Jesus actually says is: “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.” (Mark 14:24, ESV). Matthew makes it even more explicit: “…this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” (Matthew 26:28, ESV).
Theologically, what was in The Passion and what is in the gospels are quite different. Now, I realise that the makers of The Passion are trying to make a film about the life of Jesus which is accessible to everyone, not just students of theology – but surely if they’d have just used what Jesus actually said – from the gospels – that would have checked both those boxes? I actually think “dumbing down” Jesus’ words like that actually empty what he said of a lot of its power.
Another example was on the cross – in The Passion Jesus didn’t say to the thief, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43, ESV).
I like The Passion, I just wish they would have stayed a little truer to the gospel accounts of what was actually said – changing the words just seems so pointless. It spoils what is otherwise an excellent production – they’ve obviously gone to a lot of effort, and it shows. The characterisation is just about right, the acting is good, I like how they have really brought out the difference in what the disciples expected Jesus to do against what Jesus actually came to do.
Ah well, you can’t have it all, I just hope and pray that people watching will want to find out for themselves a bit more about Jesus, and come to know who he really was!
In case you hadn’t realised, Jesus is actually on Facebook!
This article explains…
[Warning: Article may contain humour]
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