I often think about what early Christian faith looked like. I mean really early -- like the first couple centuries after the earthly life of Jesus. What did it look like before the Roman Empire got a hold of it and made a state religion of it? I'm not so sure why many Americans want so badly to claim America as a Christian nation. Following Jesus was never meant to become the religion of any empire. Might I say that wearing a flag on one lapel and a cross on the other, has absolutely no resemblance to following a revolutionary Jewish holy man who was put to death by the Roman Empire. I am reading a book called "A People's History of Christianity" by Diana Butler Bass. She speaks of this early Church as focused on Jesus' great command to love God and love one's neighbor,. Here is how it got lived out:

 

Hospitality -- the practice of welcoming those whom Jesus calls the "least of these" into the heart of community

 

Communalism -- treating possessions as common property

 

Peacemaking -- the rejection of all forms of violence and the practice of pacifism

 

Strangers and aliens -- citizens of another reality --- settled migrants wherever they lived

 

The point is not to agree with all this, but that we be challenged by it. We want to be careful not to water down the meaning of Church to the point that we have just a nice social club or service club. The point is that we are participating in something that transcends political parties and geographical boundaries.

 

I will participate in politics to some degree and I will do my civic duty and vote for the candidates that I think best serve the common good. But my focus will be on communities of faith that embody the radical message of Jesus' teachings on caring for the least, sharing our goods, making peace, and caring for the stranger and the immigrant.

 

Empires will always fall short and must be challenged continually by prophets and faith communities. Let's not be casual about what we have here. Sharing life in a faith community is not about making room in a very busy calendar to go to church. There will never be enough time. It is about organizing your life around living out your faith in community. Do you see the difference?

 

Shalom,

 

steve