In 1998, an Aryan Nation security guard, outside the compound founded by Richard Butler, their white supremacy leader, shot at a woman, drove her off the road, and assaulted both her and her son, justified by a tainted mix of nazi-ism and religion.
That's not my Jesus.
During college I studied how the Aryan Nation hates mixed marriages. I studied how shockingly, this sect twisted scripture and used MY God to justify their so-called elitism. They called anyone not white from Satan, and those light-eyed straight from the angelic throne room of God.
On June 10, 1999, the Aryan Nation marched through Coeur d'Alene making public their distorted belief system, publicly trying to shame those not looking like them, while exulting their own twisted ideations and worth.
That's not my Jesus.
And if we are not smart Biblical scholars ourselves, if we don't wield the sword, soak ourselves in scripture, asking for the Holy Spirit to guide us ...
What is the difference between any kind of racial supremacy, and "us vs them" mentality on any stage or context?
After all, people use education, religion or any other platform they can find to divide and elevate themselves by comparison. They try to separate worth and inherent value, claiming a few chosen and others cut off or dismissed based on wealth or appearance, position or pretense, color or so-called spiritual giftedness?
I mean, when did we get so arrogant thinking it's okay to separate or segregate while blaming or excluding others?
That's not my Jesus.
A man planted a vineyard and set up a hedge around it. It was HIS vineyard, yet by grace, He LET others live and work on it. Then he went far away. The season came to collect the fruit from this vineyard. So the OWNER sent a servant, but the wine-dressers beat and ridiculed him, sending him away empty handed. Another servant was sent to collect what was HIS, the owner's, but the same thing happened to him. Finally, the owner sent His son. "Surely they will respect him." But sure enough those living on the owner's territory somehow dismissed the authority of the owner and viciously KILLED the owner's son as well.
What is this owner to do? What provoked the wine-dressers to act this way? (Mark 12:1-9) What spirit makes a renter bold and arrogant, audacious enough to think they can over-run the owner and keeper of his own land?
That's not my Jesus.
My Jesus is a man, who confronted racial divide. He walked into Samaria to a land that the Jews at the time didn't like or even dare walk through. (John 4) The Jews felt superior and wanted nothing to do with this mixed breed, the Samaritans. They were viewed as not chosen or worthy. But Jesus saw the need and became overcome with compassion and radical love for the lady standing by the well. He knew she needed hope and healing, so He walked towards her - not away from her.
Jesus reached her, not loudly, with disciples watching, but in a quiet one-on-one relationship, approaching her with truth AND compassion. He kept interacting, talking and communicating long enough for her to see her own sin and for this Savior to meet the thirst that led her to this well all along during the day.
Jesus was a magnet of grace - not a hater who condemned sins violently. He once said, "He who is without sin cast the first stone." (John 8:7) And yet TODAY, so many STILL STAND staring with hate boldly, holding their stones.
Out of love Jesus compelled this sinner to repent and turn towards His perfect love and grace. Then she ran to her village - leading everyone back to Jesus.
That's my Jesus.
Jesus saw the outcast. He didn't chase them down and beat them. He walked with compassion even stepping where other Pharisee didn't approve of. He healed on the Sabbath, despite religion's rules. He met with the sinners. He touched the lepers and those shunned by the masses.
That's my Jesus.
Jesus entered the battle to release people to purpose and freedom. He confronted sin but never diminished the God-image spirit in another person. When Peter cut off the ear of the soldier, Jesus didn't rally and chant and condone his act of violence. Instead, Jesus did what came naturally. He brought healing. He repaired what was broken. He replaced the ear and offered his accuser wholeness.
That's my Jesus.
William Wilberforce was a philanthropist, English politician, and a man determined to fight to his death to stop the slave trade movement.
When Wilberforce became a Christian in 1785, his heart was moved, his lifestyle changed, and he experienced true compassion and a determination to create real reform, leaving a legacy that eventually put a halt to the slave trade.
That's my Jesus.
Injustice, self-righteousness, hate, superiority, wanting our own way, flaunting our 'rights', trying to surpass the supremacy and authority of God...that is and always has been the artillery of Satan.
Yet, let's face it...There will always be those that DEMAND the owner's vineyard. The truth is God is Ruler and King, Maker and Owner, and He will never relinquish His dominion or supremacy...though Satan even tempted Jesus during His forty days in the desert.
Sin has wormed its way in ... let's call it what it is, because scripture has been taken not only from our courts and our schools - the hearts of men want their own way and will do anything to get it.
As Americans we are a country founded on truth, Biblical, authentic Christian principles, "One Country, Under God" for the sake of freedom, not forced vindication or the rights of a few who think they are better than the rest! Yet when we doubt God is just and act like Saul, taking our destiny into our own hands - we divide this nation. We separate based on color and religion, strength or weaknesses, poverty, and materialism...
And that, my friend, is a terrible travesty that breaks the very heart of God.
Let's question where our own minds have become enslaved to the enemy of our souls, lying and deceiving us, saying we must have our own say. Let's be brave, asking questions like "How have we contributed to this chaos and division?"...Maybe not in big loud boisterous protesting ways, but even in small subtle ways that might have resulted in dividing and separating individuals.
Like Him, let's walk into another's territory, always with love and compassion and grace.
I love my African American friends, my Latino friends, my middle eastern and oriental friends and the array of colorful children that come with - from mocha to caramel, to light and dark brown.
To me, this is Jesus.
To me the world is not made of varying skin colors, have or have nots, or grandiose thinking of who is supposedly better or more superior. We are born and die the same. We bleed the same. We all breathe this air, having "Ruach Elohim", the very breath of God moving through our being.
We all deserve respect and courtesy, patience and kindness, understanding and empathy.
One nation. Under God. A God who loves. A Savior who set aside HIS rights to die on a cross, out of mercy and grace. Regardless of what you saw in Charlottesville, what you saw in Charleston, what you saw in Ukraine and other states and nations ...that is my Jesus!
