Not Too Long Didn't Read

This POV seems to suggest the following, “Jesus is the truth and therefore a threat to everyone who wants to live a materialistic, atheistic, self centered life.” And those who do not, cannot, or will not, give themselves over to “Christ” with their entire being, are the enemy. Ages old, and even way back in Sunday school, I recall the message that harbingers of Christ will be persecuted. It is a rallying cry of the devout and it empowers those who would spread the message to find greater strength to overcome resistance.

However, by identifying others as Haters, along with the very weird juxtaposition of authority figures in the personages of uniformed police officers, this meme seems to also be promoting a message of division. I think so anyway. e.g. “Stand with Us, against Them.”

However, it begs the question, “Do people actually hate Jesus, or do they hate those who spread hate in Jesus name?” My own opinion is that Jesus would not have embraced hate in any form.

I am inclined to wonder if people who spread hate and weaponize the Word of God are not real Christians or followers of Christ in general.

Is/Was Jesus a divine incarnation of God, or a Prophet, or a Poet? Does that really matter more than the message of peace that can be found in the words attributed to Jesus? As a lifelong Doubting Thomas, I try to look for meaning without closing any doors to consider other points of view.

Look for the positive and that is what you will find, right? Do you also struggle with that one? Do not we all?

My own early lessons about Jesus focused on unity not division. Love, not Hate.

I do not recall if it was old or new testament when we were warned not to listen to the lies of Satan or demons. We are instead encouraged to be discerning and not to be swayed by negative or misleading thoughts, feelings, or voices. So, how does that play out in this age of misinformation? Regardless of values or political positioning, it ties to another aphorism… “Measure twice, cut once.” and I will say if you are not sure, then measure a few more times.

So go look stuff up. Do not accept single sources. And messages including the one I am responding to, are also maybe divisive if they imply anyone “not like me” is an enemy to be resisted and fought. Do not listen to other people, also means, you cannot speak with them and understand them. How then will we get to know each other and share a position of empathy that will allow for a better way?

Why not instead maintain the open hand and the open mind that might lead us to find our common ground, rather than trap us in silos of division? If we stick together, are we not even better able to resist the lies that are tearing us apart?

It seems more likely these days that those who try to divide us are not listening to the lessons that Jesus taught. Jesus is also quoted to be less approving of others who were hypocritical and corrupt, “Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?” Matthew 23:33

So, I remember clearly something else like, Love your neighbor, and treat your enemy as a brother.

Its gets corrupted when people have agendas that require that we are not working together to form workable compromises. Nobody is perfect and if one or the other “side wins” then a lot of people get left behind in the cold. That way is no way.

We need to embrace our fellows, even if we cannot understand them, and find that common ground that allows us to live together, however imperfectly, in peace.

Reflections on this images as seen on Facebook posted by the usual suspects…