It is human nature to categorize people, try to put them into a definable box and label them. Pilate was trying to get a handle on who Jesus is, and asked him,
“So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth.”
I wish it could be said of more kings that they were born to testify to the truth. Leaders like that are more often exception than rule. And perhaps testifying to the truth is incompatible with the demands of political power. I don’t mean that political leaders have to be liars (though many are…), but they need to live in a strategic relationship with the truth, speaking the right things to the right people at the right times, and knowing when not to speak at all.
And what is the truth to which Jesus testified? The truth about God: that power belongs to God.
The truth about justice: that God alone is qualified to judge the human heart. The truth about love: that God operates in an economy of love, a love so deep and vast it can be dangerous to the human spirit. As Miroslav Volf puts it, this God who is Love is compelled to love, cannot but love, even the worst in us, with a love that has the power to transform that which it loves into its best.
Those who follow Christ are also born to testify to the truth – and in our tradition, the Truth is personal, the Truth is Jesus. In these days, many who claim to follow Christ are allowing fear and bigotry to draw them away from the very clear teachings of Jesus, from faith in the goodness of our God. Shutting our doors to refugees fleeing for their lives is never a valid choice for Christians, not if we’re serious about Jesus. Closing our hearts to those who look, think, act, love, vote, and live differently than we do is never a valid choice for Christians. We don't have to agree or always condone, but we are not entitled to condemn or close our hearts. If ever there was a time to testify to this truth in our national discourse, it is now.
Jesus could not have been a political leader; his allegiance to the truth made him too threatening to the powers that be. We need to stand up to our political leaders when they turn their back on the truth, and stand with those who have the courage to speak for justice. We need to be bearers of this dangerous love of God – maybe because it is inevitably diluted in us, and therefore tolerable for mere humans.
On this national day of giving thanks, and every day, let us be bearers of Christ's truth. Let us be bearers of Christ, bearing witness to overwhelming Love.
I wish it could be said of more kings that they were born to testify to the truth. Leaders like that are more often exception than rule. And perhaps testifying to the truth is incompatible with the demands of political power. I don’t mean that political leaders have to be liars (though many are…), but they need to live in a strategic relationship with the truth, speaking the right things to the right people at the right times, and knowing when not to speak at all.
And what is the truth to which Jesus testified? The truth about God: that power belongs to God.
The truth about justice: that God alone is qualified to judge the human heart. The truth about love: that God operates in an economy of love, a love so deep and vast it can be dangerous to the human spirit. As Miroslav Volf puts it, this God who is Love is compelled to love, cannot but love, even the worst in us, with a love that has the power to transform that which it loves into its best.
Those who follow Christ are also born to testify to the truth – and in our tradition, the Truth is personal, the Truth is Jesus. In these days, many who claim to follow Christ are allowing fear and bigotry to draw them away from the very clear teachings of Jesus, from faith in the goodness of our God. Shutting our doors to refugees fleeing for their lives is never a valid choice for Christians, not if we’re serious about Jesus. Closing our hearts to those who look, think, act, love, vote, and live differently than we do is never a valid choice for Christians. We don't have to agree or always condone, but we are not entitled to condemn or close our hearts. If ever there was a time to testify to this truth in our national discourse, it is now.
Jesus could not have been a political leader; his allegiance to the truth made him too threatening to the powers that be. We need to stand up to our political leaders when they turn their back on the truth, and stand with those who have the courage to speak for justice. We need to be bearers of this dangerous love of God – maybe because it is inevitably diluted in us, and therefore tolerable for mere humans.
On this national day of giving thanks, and every day, let us be bearers of Christ's truth. Let us be bearers of Christ, bearing witness to overwhelming Love.
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