Was Jesus Being Naieve
We call it The Great Commission. Go therefore and make disciples of all Nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.” (Mt 28:19-20) Remember, we are talking about nations, not just individuals. Now think about what Jesus taught. We are to teach nations to forgive 70 X 7 times. We are to teach nations that they can not serve God and wealth. What does it mean for nations to love their enemies. Do we seriously believe that Jesus wants us to be a servant nation and not lord it over others like the Gentiles do?
Weren’t we a lot wiser than Jesus when we concluded that religion was a private affair? Isn’t it a lot more comfortable to believe that Jesus couldn’t have really meant what he said when he commissioned those disciples? Or maybe he meant it for them, but surely not for us.
A Matter of National Security
Perhaps the Bible got it wrong. You know how translators are subject to error. Surely Jesus couldn’t have intended us to take him seriously when in Matthew 25: 31-46 he suggested that God would judge the nations according to how they fed the hungry, welcomed the stranger, took care of the sick, and provided serious hospitality to those who were in prison. If we took that seriously, what would that do to our budgets, immigration policy, healthy care policies, and prison system. No one would argue that we are a blessed nation, but surely it’s not good politics to suggest that to whom much is given, much is expected. And how dare Jesus declare that a nation’s security and survival is dependent on how they meet those criteria. (Mt 25:46)
The Narcissistic Nation and Church
Surely Jesus wasn’t being serious about how a nation or church should pattern their activities. Can you imagine either a church or a nation obeying Jesus’ instructions in Mt. 20:26-27 when he said:”whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave, just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life for many.” Imagine a church trying to attract new members, not by having lots of programs to please, but by inviting people to come and serve others. Imagine a nation shaping their immigration policy not on the basis of how to protect boarders but on how to serve those in need.
Maybe for Jesus but not for Church or Nation
It is inspiring to hear Jesus declare that “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recover of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free.” But doesn’t the Body of Christ have to be practical in how they shape their ministry? Can the church afford to take Jesus seriously? And even if they do, surely they cannot recommend to the nation that this be their policy.
