Joe

In a world that is all about power, where do you learn to believe in love?

As I read the Bible, the unifying theme that runs from front to back involves humanity struggling with God. People want to live by power while God insists that love is the only way. So as God comes to people, there is an ongoing invitation to embrace the way of love. In this framework, the story appears to conclude on Good Friday with power defeating love. But then comes Easter and love lives on.

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Love lives! Although, based on how the Gospel According to John treats the resurrection, maybe I should just say, “Love lives, duh.” Of course Jesus is alive.

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“It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

John 19:30

In the Christian world, today is Good Friday. It is the day when churches around the world remember the crucifixion of Jesus. But what makes Good Friday, good? I mean, no matter how you parse it, violent death and capital punishment seem rather bad.

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What does it mean to be human? When I ask that question I am not talking about biologically, but to live into the fullness of our humanity.

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Sometimes it feels futile calling on people to live by love instead of power. The whole invitation seem like asking people to live on blind faith. I mean, what is the point of inviting people to consider a different way of being in the world when nobody else in the world seems to live that way? How can I not wonder if I am just getting people set up to be trampled on? Maybe, instead of talking about some utopic pipe dream, I should operate in the real world.

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“You will always have the poor.” It is not uncommon for people to use these words from Jesus in John 12 to dismiss the plight of the least among us. I get why, at face value, it sounds like they are saying just that. After all, if Jesus says we will always have the poor then trying to end poverty is an exercise in futility. Why should we even try? Some could even interpret it to mean that human plans to end suffering works against God’s declaration. But is that what Jesus means?

[Read more…] about Having The Poor Without Poverty