> Christianity has traditionally been Justice focused, which is
> one complaint I commonly here about the Judeao-Christian God: if
> God is a God of Justice, then why do good things happen to bad
> people and vicey versy?
<Christianity Rant: ON>
Reinterpretation of Christ
------ by Eric Boyd ------
Jesus Christ came to preach Justice, yes. But not a justice like you
have ever seen. Indeed, not a Justice that I think we are ready for
*even*yet*, 2000 years after he proposed it.
"You have heard that it was said 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But
I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the
right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue
you and take you tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone
forces you to go with him one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the
one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow
from you"
"You have heard that it was said 'Love your neighbour and hate your
enemy.' But I tell you: love your enemies, and pray for those who
persecute you"
Matt 5:38-44, see also Luke 6:27-42
Our current Justice system is *based* on "an eye for an eye"... we
beleive that people who commit crimes should be punished in accordance
with those crimes. That essentially, two wrongs make a right. It ain't
so, and Jesus shows us a better way. Do not respond to force with
force! Respond instead with love!
Love your enemy to peices.
"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you
judge others, you will be judged, and with the same measure you use, it
will be measured to you."
Matt 7:1-2
"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the Earth. I did not
come to bring peace, but a sword"
Matt 10:34
Jesus came to bring the *final* sword. His was the sword to abolish all
swords. By swinging a new weapon of Justice that is superior to the old
concept of Justice, he planed to wage a war against all governments and
orginazations that use *force*.
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you
rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and
humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is
easy, and my burden is light"
Matt 11:28-30
This is, of course, the exact reverse of the standard interpretation of
Christ. That has him taking our sins and releasing us. ie. He takes
our burdens, not we take his his!
But under my intrepretation, this is great! Jesus is showing us the way
to releive our suffering. Take his teachings, learn from him and
release our selves from the burden of *Justice*.
Jesus doesn't beleive in the Original Sin:
"I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little
children, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Therefore,
whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the
Kingdom of Heaven.
And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.
But if anyone causes one of these little ones who beleive in me to sin,
it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung about his neck
and to be drown in the depths of the sea"
Matt 18:3-6
"If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just
between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother
over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that
every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three
witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the Church; and
if he refuses to listen even to the Church, treat him as you would a
Pagan or a tax collector"
Matt 18:15-20
And since we already learned that you are to love your enemy, it follows
that you are to always love your brother. Notice that no court is ever
invoked. The Church, yes. But since the Church should subscribe to
Jesus's teachings (in an ideal world) there is no regular justice there.
"Why don't you judge for yourselves what is right? As you are going
with your adversary to the Magistrate, try hard to be reconciled to him
on the way, or he may drag you off to the judge, and the judge turn you
over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. I tell you,
you will not get out until you have paid the last penny."
Luke 12:57-59
"Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other
Galileans becuase they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless
you repent, you too will all perish. Or those 18 who died when the
tower Siloam fell on them -- do you think that they were more guilty
than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless
you repent, you too will all perish."
Luke 13:2-5
Repent. Forgive, and be forgiven.
"If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. If
he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to
you and says, "I repent", forgive him."
Luke 17:3-4
See also Luke 18:9-14
"If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone
at her" John 8:7
"Listen to me everyone, and understand this, nothing outside a man can
make him 'unclean' by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a
man that makes him 'unclean'. Mark 7:14-15
That is, nothing comming from outside a man, such as violence or hate
against him, can make a man unclean. It is only when the man himself
acts on his *uncleanness*, and commits those same crimes and acts of
violence against the original purpertrator that he becomes unclean.
Justice itself is the evil that Christ preaches against!
"Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided
against itself will fall."
Luke 11:17
Justice as we have formulated it *is* a kingdom divided against itself.
We respond to force and violence with *more* force and violence. Two
wrongs do not make a right!
Now, to this point I think most Christians would be with me. This is
where it changes.
The crusification of Christ.
Jesus didn't die to redeem our sins.
Instead, he died to *show* us *how* we might live a life free of sin.
Like a regular matyr, Jesus dies for what He beleived in. He beleived
in a new concept of Justice, and he died to show his dedication to it.
"'Put your sword back in it's place' Jesus said to him 'for all who draw
the sword will die by the sword. Do you think I cannot call upon my
Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions
of angels?'"
Matt 26:52-54
Jesus could respond to his arrest with force, *divine* force, even. But
he knows that is not the way. He victory will be more complete with his
death, showing the ultimate extent to which Jesus was willing to "turn
the other cheek".
"Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing."
Luke 23:34
His fine example on the Cross. He forgives them for their crimes
against him, so that his sins (and he did commit some) may also be
forgiven.
"For it is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the
third day, and repentance and forgivness of sins will be preached in his
name to all nations."
Luke 24:46-47
And the way Jesus says to have your own sins removed? Not faith in
Jesus. "Repentance and forgivness"... Forgive, and you shall be
forgiven. Do not respond to force with force, for all who live by the
sword, die by the sword.
Think the Lord's Prayer. "Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive
everyone who sins against us" (Luke 11:4)
I preach Christ, and him crucified.
I also have some words for the current Church of Christ:
"You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you:
'These people honour me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me
They worship me in vain;
their teachings are but rules taught by men.'"
Matt 15:7-9 (see also Luke 11:46-52)
<Christianity Rant: OFF>
forgive me;
ERiC