beyond insurgence...deep revolution

you say you want a revolution?

"repent and believe the good news! The kingdom of God is at hand..."

this is the revolution Jesus announced...challenging the status quo with a revolutionary counter-agenda: the Reign of God.

Jesus brought a revolution to the world with this kingdom-invitation He was issuing. of course, in the 21st century, people always want to 'revolutionize' something...they supposedly want radical change of this or that. has revolution even lost it's meaning? what was the revolution Jesus offered?

well...what does revolution mean?

[definition: revolution - a sudden or momentous change in a situation; fundamental, drastic or far-reaching change; activity or movement designed to effect fundamental changes.]

Jesus' radical, revolutionary message was the good news of the Kingdom of God in Christ Jesus.

the Kingdom of God is in opposition to this world's systems. this is the conflict that lead to the cross...Jesus being crucified as a revolutionary. and He was revolutionary: Jesus disturbed the status quo, but not for mere love of change...not as a rebel without a cause.

it was his commitment to shalom - to wholeness and right relationships promised and influenced by the Father - that make him a disturber of an unjust peace.

Jesus brought right relationships between men and women, between rich and poor by his radical challenge to the status quo.

yet Jesus' counteragenda was utterly risky...it was a revolutionary way of being. He countered the compromise of the sadducees; He went beyond the righteousness of the pharisees; He also countered the violence and armed insurrection of other jewish zealots.

His is the revolution against the powers-that-be by turning the other cheek...going the extra mile...losing your life to gain it...Jesus said: 'Love your enemies.'

radically subversive! this is a message and a call to action that although it began in ancient times, still echoes afresh today.

can we see the utterly risky way of Jesus in the heart of his 'Sermon on the Mount'...love your enemies? when was the last time we actually did that? or is that just too much to expect from people bound by their vested interests of an ever interconnected world in the 21st century?

do we have the courage and faithfulness to follow Jesus' revolutionary agenda:

• to lay down our rights and 'love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength'
• to seek first His Reign and His justice/righteousness
• to 'love our neighbors as ourselves'
• to 'love our enemies'?

the apostle paul echoes Jesus in Romans 12: overcome evil with good!

that's how we love our enemies...it is right in line with Jesus' sermon on the mount: love your enemies.

and paul echoes Jesus' agenda in other places too:

• bless those who hate you...
• pray for those who persecute you...
• do not repay anyone evil for evil...

this then is the revolutionary difference of following Jesus: loving one another.

alas, the misunderstandings and linkages of violence to revolution are strong, and there are those who can't quite bring themselves to actually do what Jesus did, even though they call themselves his representatives.

i'm fairly certain that Jesus and paul were not saying we should be saying prayers of imprecation for people we perceive as enemies...as some have become (in)famous for of late in the media for praying for the death of president obama:



is that really representative of Jesus Christ? no, of course not.

i like crispin schroeder's (who is planting a church down new orleans-way) response:

"I was saddened today to hear of a pastor in Tempe Arizona by the name of Steven Anderson who has reportedly preached against President Barack Obama even to the point of praying for his death by brain cancer so that he could die as Ted Kenedy last week (which he no doubt links to God's judgment)

While this kind of hate-speak would be disturbing from anyone, it is particularly disturbing to hear such talk from minister who identifies himself as a Christian. Though the words from this pastor present us with an extreme case of Christians opposed to Obama, they do raise the question of how Christ followers are supposed to treat enemies and furthermore who can even be considered an enemy. I suspect that most Christians in America would probably very much disagree with this pastor's rhetoric and yet many would still have absolutely no problem with associating Obama with the highest forms of evil and feeling very much justified in criticizing, opposing, and wishing ill to him.

It would do us good to remember as followers of Christ that no matter how much we may disagree with certain people, people are never the real enemy (no matter how much you may disagree with Obama he is not the true enemy). As Christ-followers we are to fight for people rather than against people, to love when hated, to bless when reviled, to return good for evil (Matt 5:43-48 , I Peter 3:8-9 , Romans 12:14 ). In this we reveal what God is like and overthrow evil. This doesn't mean that we need to completely discard any views on politics, religion, or morality but that we cannot ever let our views excuse hatred, a desire for revenge, or even our own self-righteousness.

The path of Jesus is not easy, nor popular for that matter, but it is the only true option for those of us who consider ourselves Christ-Followers. We must be diligent to remember that Jesus overcame the evil of the world not by force or violence but by loving people sacrificially even when it cost him his own life.

So perhaps we can take our lead from Jesus and instead of criticizing Obama for his beliefs and actions we can pray for him, asking God to grant him wisdom and understanding and to surround him with His Holy Spirit. Perhaps we can pray for God to bless him physically, emotionally, and spiritually, and to bless his relationship with his wife and children and even with his colleagues. Perhaps instead of slinging more mud we can choose to love instead.

A prayer for Obama
Father God,We thank you for President Obama
We ask that you would bless him right now Refresh him and renew him by Your Spirit
Let him feel Your grace and Your strength
We ask that even in this moment that You would lift the stress and anxiety from his mind and body.
Grant him the wisdom he needs for this day in all of the situations he is facing.
Let him sense Your presence
And let his ears be open to what You are saying
We pray that every spiritual attack directed against him would be thwarted
And that You would uphold him and protect him from those who would wish him harm.
In the name of Jesus
Amen"

amen...and again i say amen!