The Cross: Road to Perdition or Path to Paradise
In my previous post on the second word of Jesus from the cross, I pointed out the striking similarities between the religious dignitaries standing at the foot of the cross mocking Jesus, and the two rebels on the crosses next to Jesus, joining them in their cruel sport. Birds of a feather. Who would have imagined it?
I want to expand on that a little bit today.
We live in a world of tribes and tribal politics. But as I mentioned in a previous post, it was the Christian existentialist Soren Kierkegaard who said that truth is not found in the crowd. And it is important to understand that the crowd can be the majority or the minority. Either way, tribal politics is idolatry. It is not the way of Jesus. Neither tribe genuinely seeks to be peacemakers. Neither demonstrates much, if any, forgiveness, compassion, or, God forbid, reason and compromise, which allows for unity in diversity. Both seek to dictate how the other lives. Both tend to rub the other’s nose in their victories.
I mentioned President Trump’s post declaring that his MAGA supporters were “very unforgiving.” But what about a few years back when the Supreme Court of the United States legalized gay marriage, and President Obama lit up the White House in rainbow colors, effectively ignoring the moral conscience of half of Americans? Not exactly a unifier in a time of division.
Let me say it again - tribal politics is idolatry. It is not the way of Jesus, who plainly demonstrated that truth, and the life that comes with it, is not found in the crowd. The broad path accommodates many on the way to destruction. And to be clear, Jesus is not speaking of heaven and hell when he speaks of broad and narrow paths. He is speaking of the way of life right now, right here, in this world. Eternal consequences notwithstanding.
That thief, who turned away from the worldly crowd of religious power brokers and anarchist rebels, both of whom lived by the motto "might makes right" chose the narrow path. He left the broad path, did a U-turn, also known as repentance, and he chose to believe that a rejected, dying man in all his worldly weakness and naivety was the true King and Lord.
Throughout history, many religious leaders accumulating power and position have led followers of Jesus into the idolatry of Christianizing worldly leaders who demonstrate little or nothing of the way of Jesus.
Chinese theologian C.S. Song supported Mao Zedong’s rise to power, claiming that it was a work of the Holy Spirit. Chairman Mao is known for some of the most horrific acts against humanity in history. Walter Grundmann, a respected theologian in Germany, supported Hitler’s rise to power and in post-war East Germany, served as a spy for the Stasi, reporting on what theologians in East Germany were teaching. Eusebius of Caesarea, in his speech for the thirtieth anniversary of Emperor Constantine’s accession, claimed that the emperor Constantine was “hailed by angels and armies alike as master, lord, and king.”1
The evidence of Christian leaders supporting godless leaders abounds and is, sadly, repeated again and again as God’s people, placing their faith in these leaders, follow them down a broad and destructive path.
Some of you reading this post voted for Donald Trump. Some of you voted for Kamala Harris. As Christians, you voted your conscience, praying for God’s leadership through the chaos and division that is America today. I condemn no one for their vote. I do, however, want to warn you not to be deceived. Populist politics, whatever form it takes, is foolish. It is idolatrous. And it will lead many away from the one who calls us to be peacemakers, to love our enemies, and above all, to place our faith in Him.
“Beware,” Jesus warned his disciples, "of the yeast of Herod and the Pharisees." A word for our day, if there ever was one.
In Christ,
Dan
Here’s the website for those interested in listening to the messages on the “Seven Last Words of Jesus.” You can also find them on You Tube, Embrace Church of High Point, NC.
From “Jesus and the Powers,” by N.T. Wright and Michael F. Bird