Gimme that old time religion
Christian theologians just aren’t what they used to be. The Tennessean quotes some recent remarks by Lipscomb University professor, Lee Camp:
“We need to forsake the Christendom model,” Camp said. “The most basic Christian commitment … is that we say we believe in the Lordship of Jesus. But, if we claim that, how can a Muslim or Jew trust us, if we say Jesus is the Lord of all Lords?”
How indeed? Recent theological discoveries teach us that the highest duty of any Christian is to be trusted by Muslims and Jews. Earning this trust won’t be easy:
First, Christians must examine their “sins of omission,” he said — such as not taking the time to learn about other religions. Then they must look at their “sins of commission.”“We have such short historical (memory) spans as white Christians,” he said. “There is a history of anti-Semitism, the violence and bloodshed of the crusades and cultural imperialism. We have to deal with the reality of what Christians have done, which in some cases has been to kill people.”
I rather like the bit about white Christians. No sense missing a chance to wallow in racial guilt. No doubt that’s what Jesus would have done, had he only lived long enough to become politically correct. A bit more maturity and He would certainly have outgrown that Matthew 10:34 “I come not to bring peace but a sword” stuff.
Posted on November 30th, 2006 by pwyll
Filed under: religion
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Jesus’s radical way did bring a sword… the sword of persecution against those that followed him, who refused to serve in the Roman army, who refused to submit to the pharisees. Do you not think that Jesus is upset at the way his name has been used in the West. Slavery. Segregation. The Crusades. Salem Witch trials. How many of those do you think Jesus is ok with?
That first quote was also taken out of context. He asked that question, and then said,
“How can the Jew or Muslim trust us Christians if we hold onto the exclusive Lordship of Jesus? Given that I refuse to deny the Lordship of Jesus, what can I or other Christians possibly contribute to peace-making, whether global or local?
Here’s my answer: Because I profess that Jesus is Lord of Lords, I have committed myself to loving both neighbor and enemy. Because I profess that Jesus is King of Kings, I have committed myself to serving and honoring all people. Because I profess that Jesus is the ultimate authority to which all other authorities must submit, that authority requires of me to extend gracious, generous hospitality to the stranger, the pilgrim, and those who do not see the world as I see it.”
Maybe you should withhold judgement on someone who spoke for hours, yet had a few sentences, one a rhetorical question no less, put in the paper.
Here’s the correction article.
http://tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061130/NEWS06/611300406
That’s an interesting interpretation, but it seems strained. Jesus said “I come not to bring peace but a sword.” I, not the Romans.
To answer your direct question, no I don’t believe Jesus is upset about anything. I don’t believe in his divinity, or his continued existence after his death. That said, I am always a bit surprised that so many Christians seem to believe they know what Jesus would have (or does) believe about all manner of things. You mentioned witch trials, of all things. I have no idea what Christ would have thought about witch trials, or witches. I can play devil’s advocate for you. Exodus 22:18 states “thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. Matthew 5:17-18 states “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” So tell me, what would Jesus have thought about witch trials, and how do you know?
You are commanded to love your enemy. Fair enough, but I fail to see how that will bring about peace if your enemy simply decides to kill you. The peace of the grave perhaps.
As for whether I should withhold judgement on any matter, that is for me to decide. I may have placed too much faith in the accuracy of a newspaper. My experience is that newspapers often lie, and even more often make mistakes. If Mr. Camp was misquoted or his words were taken out of context as you suggest, then my criticism may be amiss.
Tell me, were you there? Did you hear Mr. Camp? I am curious whether he actually said that bit about white Christians. I find all that wallowing in guilt over the sins of others, the slavers, the segregationists, the Crusaders, the witch hunters, etc., a bit disingenuous. The man ever so concerned about his neighbors sins of ages gone by might do better to worry about his own, here and now.
Yo, Justin, here’s a little something to think about.
Jesus of Nazareth was a Jewish man raised in a Jewish culture. On that cross, he died a Jew. If he were to come back today and try to find a sacred building to pray in, He would certainly be more comfortable in a synagogue than a Christian church.
About the time of this post, with 80 minutes left before the morning Sun washes out the stars from the sky, Mecury is going through a two week high visibility phase.
Lore has it that Copernicus never saw Mercury because of the perceived dificulty in seeing it.
Seems like a much more sensible thing, Mercury, not Copernicus, to worship.
What are you talking about?