DEFENSIVE CLICHES

HEAR IT AS IT MIGHT SOUND IN ANOTHER CULTURE

When the uncomfortable conversations about race occur, often you hear people resort to what might be referred to as defensive clichés. Sometimes it’s easier to recognize a cliché in another culture. I got to thinking about how some of our more frequent cliches might sound in the biblical culture. See if you can identify how my clichés might reflect a similar cliché in our culture.

1. I don’t think the Publicans get all the advantages. That’s reverse prejudice if you ask me.
2. Not everything has to be about religion. Why can’t we all just get along with each other and stop referencing religion that divides us?
3. Let’s stop arguing about who Jesus is. It’s not worth the division it causes.
4. I think tax collector are the ones who are really greedy. They should clean up their act before we let them in.
5. Sometimes all that forgiving is unfair to those of us who try to behave correctly. If you ask me, I think the elder brother in Jesus’ parable has a right to complain.
6. I think Paul’s emphasis on grace is unfavorable to the rest of us who work so hard.
7. Jesus is always forgiving the sinners. It makes it unfair for those of us who try to follow the rules,
8. So what are we supposed to do, fill the church with sinners and leave the good people on the outside?
9. All this talk about including the Gentiles, who aren’t even circumcised, is just social engineering.
10. Why is Jesus and Paul always favoring the Gentiles. After all, it was we Jews who fought our way out of slavery and rose to the top—others can do the same.
11. I think all this talk about Pharisees and Sadducees is political and divisive. We should just all get along together.
12. Jesus is always playing the GRACE card. What’s wrong with just trying to be good.
13. So what if Pharisees like to sit together. I’ve seen tax-collectors do the same.
14. I know that what Caesar said was offensive, but he is a good person. I’m sure that he didn’t mean it that way.
15. So Caiaphas was a little rough, inside I know he is really a good person.
16. Why was Jesus always healing lepers? Lots of clean people also need help, you know.
17. I’m not prejudice against Gentiles. Some of my best friends are Gentiles.

Now, try to convert some of those statements into comments about race and see if they have a familiar ring to them.

You might also see if you find yourself agreeing to some of the statements. Then what does that do to the challenge Jesus raises for you in your life.

A LITTLE FUN DOESN’T HURT