Can You Be a Christian Without Pissing Someone Off? (Reflections on Pentecost 13)

Okay. So suppose somebody does this:

A guy (or gal) runs for President of the United States. The candidate announces that he will stop all US support to Israel on the grounds that Israel has violated international law repeatedly by building settlements in Palestinian territory thereby leading to poverty and oppression for the Palestinian people. The candidate cannot support any human rights violation anywhere. In fact, he will immediately order the closing of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility and will pardon, forgive, and repatriate all detainees. He will then pursue a concentrated effort to to achieve peace and reconciliation with the Muslim world.

Then the candidate announces that he will overturn Obamacare. Instead, he will use executive power to create a national healthcare system which excludes no one—not even illegal aliens—and will be funded by tax revenues paid by the wealthiest of Americans. He will also implement a similar program for universal education.

Next, the candidate proclaims his intent to abolish all abortion in the US—and outlaw all capital punishment on the grounds that all lives are sacred to God.

Would this guy stand a snowball's chance of getting elected?

One thing would be certain: he'd get everybody's attention, and he'd make more than a few people very angry.

We all know that any attempt to change things—even if that change has the most idealistic of motives—will spark controversy and polarization. Jesus knew this too. In this week's gospel lesson from the Revised Common Lectionary we read these words:

‘I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! From now on, five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three; they will be divided: father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.’ (Luke 12: 49-53)

Although we like to think of Jesus as the Prince of Peace, the scriptures still portray a revolutionary. What do we do with this picture? Pretend it isn't there or embrace it? Do we want a passive church focused only on our individual salvation or a powerfully militant church in action and service to the world? Which version, do you think, will inspire the young people of today?

Ask yourself: Where would the Christian faith be without the fiery Martin Luther or the equally fiery Martin Luther King, Jr? Or defiant lawbreakers like Corrie ten Boom and Dietrich Bonhoeffer? Or the outspoken Oscar Romero and Desmond Tutu? All of them inspired faith, and all of them made enemies. I think that, sometimes, a little division is good for the faith.

Personally, I'm a mite suspicious of a church that has no division. Homeostasis, I'm told, is one of the symptoms of a dysfunctional family. Even Saint Paul tells us,

“Indeed, there have to be factions among you, for only so will it become clear who among you are genuine.” (1 Corinthians 11:19)

Jesus has this annoying habit of forcing us to reevaluate our positions and our purpose, and this always leads to controversy. But rather than run from disagreement and strife, we should be grateful for the challenge of speaking our faith. If this leads to division, then we are blessed with the challenge of learning to forgive those whom we oppose. Our sinful nature will always rebel against Christ's command to reconciliation, charity, and humility. But a passive, “feel good” religiosity will never set fire to our spirits.

The saying is true: Jesus came to comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable.

Thanks for reading, my friends! Stir up a little trouble for Jesus' sake this week, won't you?

PS- If you're Lutheran or Roman Catholic, help celebrate the upcoming 500^th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation by making this plea for Christian unity. Ask Pope Francis to let Lutherans and Catholics share the Holy Supper once again. Just click here.