Something happened

 

March 5, 2018

Because Jesus criticized and challenged the status quo—the

Roman Empire and the Jewish religious leadership—he

became a threat, was arrested, tortured, and executed.

His core group of students (the Twelve) abandoned him

and were disillusioned; they lost hope.

 

BUT something happened to the rag-tag school of Jesus.

Some believe their reports of appearances of the ghost

of Jesus (though a ghost that could materialize and

disappear).

 

Others in this tradition believe that the Christian community

shook off its disillusionment and came to a belief that

the Teacher was still with them “in spirit,” and

decided they had to continue his mission despite

the danger.

 

Some people outside the Tradition write it off as

an invented narrative for the sake of taking up his cause

of a magical kingdom with new ethical dimensions.

 

Still others outside the Tradition speculate that there

was a kind of mass hysteria in which people

had group hallucinations and began spreading the

word that Jesus was alive again, and was believed

by naïve, superstitious people.

 

Here is what I know:

Jesus was a historical figure.

He had a particular message about

a “kingdom” of peace on earth.
He was put to death by the Roman government.

Soon afterward something happened, causing

his followers to form a community and continue

his mission.

 

As with any movement, after a time it began

to crystallize into an organized community

with a hierarchical structure.

Because this happened within a patriarchal

period of history, the Church’s structure took on

a patriarchal form.

 

The Church continued the message of Jesus

in spite of the Church’s imperfect membership

and leadership.

Throughout the centuries that followed,

the Church established hospitals,

orphanages, universities, systems of welfare

for the poor, and monastics communities

which both gave shelter to women and men.

In these monastic communities people labored

to copy documents and archive important writings.

 

The Christian Tradition created great art, music,

poetry, and literature.

The beginnings of science came from Bacon,

Newton, and others who were working within the

Christian Tradition.

 

Of course there has been much harm done

in the name of Christ.

It is common to hear many atrocities blamed on

Christianity.

But, as I see it, the teachings of Christianity

do not lead to harm or ignorance.

Rather, people who are unethical or under the

influence of immature impulses behave in

very unchristian ways while claiming the name

of Christ.

The Christian Tradition itself does not create harm,

but only goodness.

 

The Core of the Tradition continues to challenge the

status quo, while the institutional Church maintains

an ambiguous relationship with culture and governments.

 

There is no doubt in my mind that the moral and ethical

framework of the Christian Tradition is a gift to the world.

Justice, peace, mercy, humility—these are the values of

my Tradition.

It is a Tradition that is rooted in Judaism, and must always

show appreciation for its heritage.

Where the Christian Tradition goes beyond the Jewish

tradition is in Love of Enemy, Word Incarnate,

Visitation by the Anointed One (Messiah), and

Realized Eschatology (resurrection of Jesus).

 

Personally, I understand the Incarnation in a metaphorical

sense.

Jesus was not literally God in the flesh,

but a human embodiment of transcendent love and truth.

In that sense I accept Jesus as Messiah—that is, one chosen

by God to initiate a divine kingdom (a kingdom begun,

but yet to come to completion).

 

In regard to the resurrection of Jesus, I am ambivalent.

I think N.T. Wright’s presentation of the resurrection as

a plausible historical event is excellent.

My hesitation is not about the historical evidence.

My doubt is more existential.