Christianity: Following the Pharisees or Jesus?

Christianity is meant to reflect the life and teaching of Jesus of Nazareth, yet organized Christianity seems to emulate the ideology of those Jesus preached against. Jesus did not view religion or spirituality as a political weapon to target vulnerable minority groups or to use such minority groups as scapegoats for backlash politics as the Religious Right does today. From an anecdotal point of view it seems like many pastors preach more from other passages of the Bible (such as the Old Testament or Paul's letters) than they do from the good news presented in the Gospels.

It appears that the church as an organized religion and socio-political force prefers to preach from areas of the Bible that are more congruent with what the Pharisee's taught than what Jesus Christ taught. Jesus taught against the spiritual purity caste system that the strict laws of ancient Judaism had set up and certain sects such as the Pharisee's had elevated to the detriment of the poor, suffering, and ostracized. Jesus befriended and aided the marginalized in society. The Pharisee's did not approve of Jesus healing the sick on the Sabbath because they elevated tradition over the lives of other people. The religious leaders of Jesus' day did not approve of how he and his disciples would touch and eat with certain people who were considered outcasts. Lepers were to be shunned rather than helped. They were to be defined by their infliction rather than their humanity. A modern analogy can be made to how the Religious Right ignored the AIDS crisis when it primarily afflicted the gay community. Many prominent religious leaders and televangelists were quick to proclaim that AIDS was God's punishment. Even Rick and Kay Warren have said that at first they didn't care about AIDS when it was a "gay disease" but since realized that their attitude was wrong after AIDS inflicted millions of heterosexuals in Africa.

Jesus taught an inclusive message that transcended social and cultural barriers. Jesus did not approve of marginalizing segments of society or dealing out harsh judgments. Even though the Laws of Leviticus mandate that a woman caught in adultery must be stoned to death, when religious leaders brought an adulterous woman to Jesus he protected her. He pointed out their hypocrisy when he said that those without sin could cast the first stone. Yes, Jesus did tell her to go and sin no more but as the situation indicated, certain sins could get one stoned to death.

Jesus encouraged people to care for the poor, elderly, sick, and imprisoned. Jesus told the story about the Good Samaritan because many of his contemporaries held racist views about the Samaritan people. Jesus said that we should love our neighbors as ourselves. He was all about breaking down barriers. He taught redemption and forgiveness. He re-defined the family as being based on shared humanity and community-- his Kingdom of God--rather than merely along sanguine lines. Due to this inclusive and transcendent view of family, early Christians were accused of being anti-family. What would the Family Values folks think about Jesus if he was walking among us today?

How many Christians today give away everything they have to the poor and follow Jesus? How can we rationalize the mega-church and the prosperity gospel with what Jesus taught? Today many televangelists condemn the poor by blaming their poverty on their sins just as the religious leaders did in Jesus' day. Too many conservative evangelicals today seek to stigmatize and marginalize vulnerable minority groups (gays, illegal immigrants etc) just as the religious leaders did in Jesus' day to various groups such as the Samaritans, lepers, etc. Jesus taught to forgive and to turn the other cheek, yet so many Christians today are pro-war and dehumanize civilian causalities as "collateral damage".

Christianity as an organized religion emphasizes the teachings of those other than Jesus, including those that Jesus vehemently disagreed with, because it is easier. It is often easier to condemn and judge others than to love and forgive them. It is easier to point out the flaws of others rather than admit our own shortcomings. It is easier to ignore the poor and disenfranchised rather than to take action and help them. Its easier to be distracted by our differences than to notice and respect our common humanity. It is easier to be selfish rather than selfless. It is easier to seek revenge rather than to turn the other cheek.

Jesus brought us a beautiful and inclusive message. However, His message requires us to transcend our lesser natures. Sadly, Jesus' message has been co-opted by individuals and groups who seek political power. The Religious Right hides behind religious rhetoric while often taking judgmental and hateful positions that stand in stark contrast to the loving and forgiving message of Jesus Christ. Jesus grew up in a turbulent political climate. His people were being occupied by the Romans. Yet, Jesus did not start a political movement. He did not aspire for political power. Of course like the religious leaders, the Roman officials did not admire the radical message that Jesus taught. However, they simply did not appreciate or understand the transformative and inclusive message that Jesus was teaching. His views also challenged the power of the religious leaders and political leaders to control the masses and to use wedge issues and identity politics to divide them against one another. Sure, Jesus' message can affect politics through a rippling effect but it was not meant as a political movement for political power or to use religion as a political weapon against vulnerable minority groups.

If Jesus was walking among us today, where would he go? Who would he associate with, help, and defend? What would Jesus say about racism, sexism, homophobia, and xenophobia? What would he say to religious leaders and would he recognize Christianity as a movement that was inspired by his life and teachings?