How dumb do you have to be to miss the perfect, simple message in this song? Jesus was not, ever, in any way, a conformist. You can quote all of the scripture you want—but Jesus was, in every way, a socialist, a non-conformist, a rebel, the very embodiment of a social justice warrior. that what Jesus DID. That's who he WAS. He advocated for the poorest, the most marginalized, the saddest and most unfortunate among us. He didn't support the rich, the owners, the powerful, or the rulers. He was the champion of the folks who have nothing—Jesus loves the poorest, the most unfortunate people, more than anyone else. The people we all know, the people we dismiss every day. The people we make the choice to ignore and avoid, every day. Do you really believe? Or are you pretending to be a Christian? Only you can know the answer
The essential message of my comment was that "Jesus loves the poorest, the most unfortunate people, more than anyone else."
Was He able, or inclined— to "end all material poverty, sickness, and political oppression?" Of course not. Material poverty, sickness, suffering and political oppression have persisted throughout history, regardless of Christian fervor or Christian apathy. It could be argued that Northern European models of Democratic Socialism have made more inroads into alleviating many of the most desperate conditions of our most vulnerable citizens, providing basic needs (housing, secure access to food and services, etc.) and may be more demonstrably "Christian" than the very American, punitive approach: that, if you are truly in need—it's you're own fault. Yes, we have "welfare" and "public assistance"— but overwhelmingly these programs are seen as "hand-outs" and "a waste of taxpayer money." We just approved an $857 BILLION budget for the US Military. If 1% of that resource were redirected toward addressing American poverty, no one would be living on the streets or in shelters in this country. No one would be denied healthcare, and we could end that stupid conversation: do poor people, marginalized people, disabled people, people without resources... deserve our help? But apparently, the SCRIPTURE doesn't support caring for the poor? Really? Is Jesus just a shill for the wealthy, in your estimation? Is Jesus the guy who actually wants, more than anything, to protect the status quo?
I'm afraid that arguing for a "conservative" or "conventional" image of Jesus is a wholesale lie. Jesus WAS a revolutionary. He WAS a rebel. He WAS a champion of the poor and the marginalized and the discriminated-against. His life would have been wholly unremarkable otherwise. His life... would not have mattered, at all, if he was not, in every way, a REBEL.
Posted in: "The Rebel Jesus" - Worst Christmas Song Ever?
How dumb do you have to be to miss the perfect, simple message in this song? Jesus was not, ever, in any way, a conformist. You can quote all of the scripture you want—but Jesus was, in every way, a socialist, a non-conformist, a rebel, the very embodiment of a social justice warrior. that what Jesus DID. That's who he WAS. He advocated for the poorest, the most marginalized, the saddest and most unfortunate among us. He didn't support the rich, the owners, the powerful, or the rulers. He was the champion of the folks who have nothing—Jesus loves the poorest, the most unfortunate people, more than anyone else. The people we all know, the people we dismiss every day. The people we make the choice to ignore and avoid, every day. Do you really believe? Or are you pretending to be a Christian? Only you can know the answer
Posted in: "The Rebel Jesus" - Worst Christmas Song Ever?
Dear Dan,
The essential message of my comment was that "Jesus loves the poorest, the most unfortunate people, more than anyone else."
Was He able, or inclined— to "end all material poverty, sickness, and political oppression?" Of course not. Material poverty, sickness, suffering and political oppression have persisted throughout history, regardless of Christian fervor or Christian apathy. It could be argued that Northern European models of Democratic Socialism have made more inroads into alleviating many of the most desperate conditions of our most vulnerable citizens, providing basic needs (housing, secure access to food and services, etc.) and may be more demonstrably "Christian" than the very American, punitive approach: that, if you are truly in need—it's you're own fault. Yes, we have "welfare" and "public assistance"— but overwhelmingly these programs are seen as "hand-outs" and "a waste of taxpayer money." We just approved an $857 BILLION budget for the US Military. If 1% of that resource were redirected toward addressing American poverty, no one would be living on the streets or in shelters in this country. No one would be denied healthcare, and we could end that stupid conversation: do poor people, marginalized people, disabled people, people without resources... deserve our help? But apparently, the SCRIPTURE doesn't support caring for the poor? Really? Is Jesus just a shill for the wealthy, in your estimation? Is Jesus the guy who actually wants, more than anything, to protect the status quo?
I'm afraid that arguing for a "conservative" or "conventional" image of Jesus is a wholesale lie. Jesus WAS a revolutionary. He WAS a rebel. He WAS a champion of the poor and the marginalized and the discriminated-against. His life would have been wholly unremarkable otherwise. His life... would not have mattered, at all, if he was not, in every way, a REBEL.