From the Pastor’s Desk:
As I have told you over and over, I am a history person. I continue to study history, watch the history channels and love to travel to historical places. What I continue to observe is that the human race never seems to learn from the past, but continually repeats the same mistakes. Jesus came into human history at a time when much of the civilized world was ruled by the Roman Empire. Roman rule was maintained through brutal force, economic exploitation and society was dominated by military force.
There were very few freedoms. Information was controlled by a select, powerful, colonizing group, which used local secular and religious leaders to push the Roman Imperial agenda. Dissent was not tolerated and those who protested and who dared to resist the dominant government system faced harsh punishment, torture and even death, as did Jesus. Roman rule would like other colonial dominations throughout human history, slowly collapse and disintegrate. Even before Jesus, there had been civil wars, but 300 years after Jesus, the Empire would become frayed and weaken because of its arrogance, political corruption, and overall loss of what was good for the community. We can throughout history see those same problems and characteristics occur over and over.
Jesus began his mission in the period of what was called the Pax Romana (Roman Peace). It was basically a time when the western world was without major wars. However, that promised wave of Roman prosperity did not reach the bottom of society, especially in the conquered provinces. Jesus challenged the political, financial and religious elite that created burdens for the people, rather than meeting the needs of the people. Global prosperity did not work for the Roman Empire, neither did it work for the British Empire and now we have found that there are problems today throughout the world.
People during the time of Christ were searching for answers, good news, and hope. Is that not the same today? The modern poor are confused, disappointed, uncertain, and angry. The middle class is wanting answers and less taxation, while the rich upper class is looking for a way to move their wealth so it would not be taxed. Jesus talked about taxes, the plight of women, disability, social and economic exclusion, and the arrogance of power. The mission of Jesus is not about offering the poor mirages, miracles, or quick fixes. The mission of Jesus is about accompanying vulnerable people in a struggle to make the structures of life resonant with the values and dignity of the individual in the light of the Gospel’s good news. We are in a time of change, and we must be certain that God is at the heart of the changes in our country and that the state does not become God and religion. We must look to the past and learn.