Where We Christians Are From Where We've Been

by Pastor Ed Evans

Today, boys and girls, I share with you the thoughts and writings of a fellow pastor, John Sellers. John is the Pastor at a Community Congregational Church.  He and I are also part of a Disciples of Christ Christian Church discussion group on LinkedIn.com.  John, several others and myself have been discussing the topic: "Judgment Day: The Religion of Empire and the Second Coming."  Of his writings that follow, John says, "It has taken many years for my own theology to develop to the point where I have realized how important it is to call out those elements of the self-styled Christian community whose teachings are in fact in direct contravention of the Gospel."

As part of the discussion, John Sellers writes:

"I think there are many misconceptions about Jesus' relationship with the Roman Empire and also with the Jewish authorities.

"He was not so much against them, as he was apart from them and held them to a higher standard. This was especially the case with the Jewish leaders. When one uses the law as a means of imposing their own views on others, hypocrisy is the necessary outcome. Thus the law, for Christ, was a tool to be used to better oneself and one's own relationship with God and others. It was not a tool with which to abuse, criticize or judge others.

"The issue with the Roman Empire arose after Jesus' death when the greeting "Jesus is Lord" could be seen as sedition in a society where the general affirmation was "Caesar is Lord." Christ's lordship, however was not in conflict with Caesar's authority.

"The irony has been the embrace of empire by supposed followers of Christ. The American empire is in fact the largest and most successful in the history of the world. Never has so much of the world's produce flowed from so far into one country. The Pax Americana is not so unlike the pax Romana... be at peace or we will kill you.

"Jesus of Nazareth and followers of Christ may well love their countries, and should. We should all be proud, loyal, hard working citizens of whatever nation we are in. That loyalty though is second to our loyalty to all people, all around the world whom we know to be children of God, just as we are.

"The eschatology dominated by the idea of the 2nd coming usually ends up being truly anti-Christian in that it divides the world into "us" and "them" and marginalizes those with whom we have differences. It is a dangerous theology, especially given the numbers and types of weapons possessed by the states of the world today.

"Never has the gospel of the Prince of Peace been so essential as today. (recognizing that it will be yet more true tomorrow.)"

The end of what I wished to share with you, with John's permission.  Any thoughts?