I’ve imagined myself in the role of a political campaign advisor as I hear the words of Jesus in Luke 11 and 12 that we’ve been reading these last several weeks. Back in chapter 11 he made a bit of a scene at the house of a Pharisee and with some lawyers. As a campaign advisor I would commend Jesus for that. I’d say, “That was a savvy move. By criticizing and embarrassing the powerful and educated elite you are setting yourself apart. Creating divisions is smart. You can blame Pharisees and lawyers for everything bad that happens. You can then present yourself as the candidate for the ‘common person’.
“You followed up with the parable of the rich fool. Again, a savvy move. You exposed the greed and exploitation of the powerful. You hinted that God will get them and that you are for equality.
“Then you told them not to worry about what they will eat and drink, and what they will wear, and about the basic necessities of life. You said that if they believed in you that all of that stuff will be given to them as well. Of course you can’t make good on that promise, but who cares. If they believe you it’ll get their support. And when you get elected and inevitably can’t make good on those promises, just blame the Pharisees, lawyers, and rich people in general. Say it’s their fault and they need to be opposed even more strongly. It’ll never actually happen, but it’ll keep getting you re-elected.”
Yes, that’s the kind of advice I could see a political strategist giving to Jesus for what we’ve read these last few weeks. But then there is what we just read today from Jesus:
unknown delays but readiness for action,
beatings and punishments,
divisions,
conflict within families,
criticisms for the ignorance of his hearers,
and warnings to act immediately because delaying is perilous.
Now when I imagine myself giving campaign advice to Jesus I’d be saying, “Jesus, what are you thinking?!? These are your supporters. You can’t go criticizing them and condemning them too! It’s fine to attack your political opponents, but don’t go attacking your allies too! No one will follow you if this is how you’re going to be, whether any of it is true or not.”
And indeed, if we were to jump ahead to the crucifixion we see that none of Jesus’ followers did stick with him. All left.
Of course Jesus was not running for public office. He wasn’t trying to win anyone’s support, but we do find ourselves asking what Jesus is thinking? It’s fine if he has hard news to share. If he’s teaching tough truths then he shouldn’t be sugar coating it. But does he have to be this brutal with it? Who wants to hear this? Who would want to be a disciple if it’s all suffering?
I imagined the role of a political strategist giving advice to Jesus because I find that many people in America today want to use Jesus’ teaching for their own ends. St. John’s is part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). In recent decades the ELCA has been moving ever farther to the political left; in many cases to the extremes. I hear lots of things from the denomination that present Jesus as a political advocate for the poor and the oppressed. Pastors are being pressured into becoming political activists. While it is true that Jesus associated with many people of high society didn’t care much about, Jesus was not a political advocate. He did not (as is so often said today), “speak truth to power.” Those who take this view like to say that Jesus was crucified by the powers of the world because he challenged them.
I say there is biblical evidence that can support those ideas, but taking that approach is an error. It misses the point. What ends up happening with those who take that approach is that they end up claiming moral superiority for themselves. Again, that is not at all what Jesus intended.
Then there is the other side of the political spectrum in America today. Christian nationalists use Jesus’ teachings as a means to their own ends. They believe that God will bless those who adhere to so-called Christian values. Many of those values are good and are from the Bible, but they can be applied in hurtful and oppressive ways. And many of those values are not from the Bible at all, but those who adhere to them claim that they are. Those who follow this approach also put themselves on a pedestal and claim moral superiority for themselves.
Ultimately, whether you’re on the left or the right, whoever you are, if you’re using Jesus for political purposes, or if you’re using Jesus to advance your own agenda in the world of business, social groups, or even just your own family, you’re missing the point.
I hope you can see from the chapters in Luke’s gospel that we’ve been reading this summer that Jesus challenged everybody. He could easily point out the abuses of the rich and powerful. And he had to challenge the weak and dispossessed too, because they also would use things of faith to suit their own ends.
In the first verses of what we read today Jesus is telling the crowds to be ready and waiting for the coming of the Son of Man. It is true that first century Christians thought Jesus would return very soon. You see that throughout the New Testament. Obviously they were wrong. Jesus has not returned. We no longer have their sense of urgency. Regardless of whether they were right or wrong, and regardless of whether Jesus’ return is soon or long, the point remains. If you’re being strategic with your faith you’re misunderstanding it.
History is full of people who have had death bed conversions to Christianity: Emperor Constantine, Charles II of England, Buffalo Bill, and even John Wayne are among the most famous. You can see their thinking. They’ll live it up as much as they can to indulge in all that life as to offer, then convert at the last moment, be forgiven of their sins, and then get eternal life as a reward. While some deathbed conversions are genuine, if it’s your strategy you’re missing the point of Christian faith.
When Jesus teaches his followers to be on their guard and ready for his return he’s telling them that they can’t sit back and strategize. They shouldn’t think things like:
-God is delayed, or it’s going to be a long time before he comes, and so I can get away with stuff.
-God doesn’t see what I’m doing and so I’ll indulge.
-It’s not all that bad and so it doesn’t matter.
All of these things are apt to go through our minds. All of them are strategizing with our faith.
Or, perhaps thoughts like these:
-I’ll suffer now in order to be rewarded in eternal life.
-I am a good and moral person. God certainly approves of my attitude.
-I have the moral high ground because I follow Jesus and I have the right to demand change from others.
-I am honest and kind and humble. I am good and right in God’s eyes.
Any number of thoughts like these might go through our minds as well. The last one is ironic – it is being proud of how genuinely humble you are. All of these miss the point as well.
As we have been reading warnings and harsh criticisms from Jesus week after week, and as he has aimed them at the wealthy and powerful, and the poor and the weak, we learn this overall truth. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. I don’t care who you are, or where you fall into categories of wealth, religion, politics, power, gender, or whatever the case may be; it is human nature to turn in towards itself. This message should be abundantly clear from Luke’s gospel.
Perhaps the easiest way to find the correct attitude comes from St. Paul’s writings. In our second Bible reading Paul writes to the church in Corinth (1 Corinthians 15:10):
“…by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me has not been in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I but the grace of God that is with me.”
Or as Martin Luther put it in the Small Catechism when he was explaining the Apostles’ Creed:
I believe that by my own understanding or strength I cannot believe in Jesus Christ my Lord or come to him, but instead the Holy Spirit has called me through the gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, made me holy and kept me in the true faith, just as he calls, gathers, enlightens, and makes holy the whole Church.
Do you have faith? It is the work of God and by God’s grace.
Are you moral? It is the work of God and by God’s grace.
Are you hard working? It is the work of God and by God’s grace.
Are you selfless and humble and kind? It is the work of God and by God’s grace.
Authentic faith, and authentic morality, and authentic humility do not judge others. They do not strategize or scheme. They know that even the “right” impulses come from God; as opposed to being the product of some inherent goodness within ourselves.
I think that is the point Jesus is trying to get across to the many people that he encountered from many walks of life.
Such trust of God, and authentically grounded love, is not the way of the world. When Jesus says his followers shouldn’t be surprised that their faith in him causes divisions within communities and families this is what he means. But he had come. And this is what he proclaimed.
So, consciously realize that you do all things through the grace of God. It is the right direction for relationship with God, and the right direction for all of life.
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