Back to Basics with Jesus

Jesus was surrounded by conflict and rejection from his birth in Bethlehem to his death on the cross. 

He was born in a barn. Mary and Joseph had to flee to Egypt to save their baby from assassination. 

When Jesus began his ministry, he was opposed and persecuted by the religious leaders for three years until they had him executed on false charges.

His nation was occupied by brutal Roman soldiers. The Jewish people were divided between religious and political factions, religious legalists, violent freedom fighters, corrupt collaborators who worked for the Roman occupation.

In this chaotic environment Jesus loved people, cared for people, practised and taught forgiveness, loved his enemies.

The world we live in now is catastrophically messy. When I vote in an election, I am painfully aware that which ever way I vote, I am supporting some horrible anti-Christian policy. When I vote, I ask myself which alternative is worse.

There is no really good alternative on offer in most countries, no party which supports the teachings of Jesus in a balanced way. Christian churches are painfully divided by political issues. Both sides appeal to biblical principles to justify their preference.

I find myself engaged in culture wars. My opponents are often fellow Christians. 

Jesus himself had to deal with these kinds of conflicts. We need to get back to basics.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Mt 5:6–7 NIV

If we are committed to personal righteousness and moral virtue, we must also be committed to social justice, because the original bible word for righteousness included both moral virtue and social fairness.

If we are committed to mercy for unborn babies but not equally committed to care for poor single mothers, and for victims of rape and incest, we are not merciful as God wants us to be.