I think we started losing Jesus
when the bible became an idol and we started worshiping words. Words were
placed before people; nametags to use for branding. The scarlet letter became
different labels for people to wear in conversations of faith. Saying words
rather than living the faith became enough. Actions no longer speak louder than
words. The faith is something used against “different from us” people.
There is so much noise in the
world. At times I feel like we’re watching an old TV and are looking at the
“snow” that appeared when the channel couldn’t be tuned in. At times movement
could be seen but nothing was clear enough to follow.
Immorality became entertainment. Immorality
became reality TV. Avarice, greed, hateful behavior, aggression, deception, all
manner of human frailties as well as bad behavior are encouraged and rewarded. All
the aforementioned sells. It lines pockets. Intolerance became a bandwagon for
the faith to follow. Get a following. Pass judgement. Exact revenge. Confessing
and acknowledging sins to Christian Judges came first. Changing the world into
a more pedestrian image of what Jesus meant became the goal.
Just as there is a natural order to
the world there is also a natural chaos. The chaos of the elements, the
physical world. So much of chaos is noise that drowns out gentler voices and
thought.
Chaos is a never-ending cycle of
destruction and building, a step forward and half a step back. We gain in
knowledge and understanding but the evil that has to be dealt with also changes
and grows. Often we acknowledge it but embrace it anyway to our own detriment—like
praying for our President to die*.
There’s no way to keep chaos out of
our everyday lives. Even if we choose to ignore it; we can’t escape it, whether
it’s a violent wind, the ground beneath our feet opening up or mankind’s
capacity for inhumanity. We are bombarded every day with horrific images,
violent actions, and incendiary language to the point of sensory overload. It’s
there pounding away, reaching farther and being more intrusive.
It’s hard not to feel adrift on the
sea with a storm approaching. We are being surrounded by technology in our
sacred islands. Church is becoming view screens, sound systems, talking heads,
bands, snack bars, advertising, data crunchers, demographics and finally the
Jesus business looking for market share. It is overpowering to me.
The struggle between Christians and
what Jesus “is” will continue. Jesus will still be Jesus. There is no chaos to
Jesus. His life is best exemplified by the way he lived it, in service to
helping mankind and two simple commands. Love God. Love your neighbor as
yourself**.
*Psalm 109:8-9 May his days be few;
may another take his office! May his children be fatherless and his wife a
widow!
**Matthew 22:37-40