The Core Vision

 March 5, 2018

I belong to the Christian Tradition.

And it is a powerful Tradition.

Despite the fact that it has branched off into warped and weird

forms, if we stick to the Core of the original Vision of

the Tradition,

it is a Vision of life that mandates justice,

encourages peacemaking,

stands for reconciliation,

nurtures mercy, kindness, and non-judgmentalism.

The Christian Tradition was initiated by a first century

Jewish teacher and healer

who continued the prophetic tradition of Israel.

He spoke in parables—extended metaphors,

modeling nuanced language and narrative truth.

He associated with the untouchables (people with leprosy),

the disenfranchised (prostitutes, sex workers),

traitors (tax collectors), extremists (zealots),

the establishments (Sadducees),

the enemy (Roman soldiers), and

the nobodies (the poor).

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