Jesus from the cheap seats . . .

A couple of weeks ago a visitor at "the ongoing Bible Study" at Lester made the observation that he was a Methodist, and Methodists had learned how to be Christian without the persecution. He was speaking a truth while smiling (a tired smile, but a smile nonetheless). It is not just we Methodists. It is most all American Christian churches. This is partially because we live in a country that does not, ideally, persecute anyone for the exercise of religion. Jesus did not mean for us to seek out persecution for persecution's sake. But neither did he mean for us to be so timid about joining in His journey to love and serve the world. Maybe we are not persecuted because we are careful not to be in positions that might bring persecution. Obviously some do. We usually hear about them and pay attention to them for a day or two after one of them is killed.

Often I hear somebody complain about the persecution of Christians in America. No prayer in schools. No Bible passages on courtroom walls. We cannot get the car tags we want. This is the stuff of which martyrs are made?

So I find it ironic that the those American Christian martyrs who are suffering these unspeakable persecutions (some of which are not real) generally have been critical of Barack Obama for his church membership.

Obama apparently has been a member of the same church for 20 years or so. It is a Christian Church that does amazing acts of love in the city of Chicago, serving thousands of people who are not its members. It claims Jesus as Savior, and actually seems to attempt to follow Him as Lord. Perfect. No. Radical. Yes. But so was Jesus. But if you belong to a church that is never criticized, you are going to a church that is not following Jesus. Maybe watching Jesus. But not following. Like Peter when he denied Jesus. If he had been named a follower, he might have had problems. He might have been persecuted. So he stood and watched.

It is ironic that the person in America whose Christianity is being scrutinized perhaps more than anyone in the history of the world, is one who is being persecuted for living his Christian faith . If he had not been so faithful a member, or if his preacher had not been so important to him in his life, if he had just been willing to throw his church under the bus, he would have no political problem. But he has suffered greatly for the sake of his decision to follow Jesus.

His commitment to his church made the rest of us uncomfortable for a number of reasons. One of those reasons is that we have become comfortable as spectators. We like it up in the stands where no one gets hurt (at least in America). I heard good Christians suggest that Obama should have left his church before he started his run for president. We do not want a leader of principal, of calling, of commitment. We do not want a president who will struggle with the truth instead of avoiding it. We are afraid of a leader that calls us to something higher.

So, pick up your stones. Give us Barrabas.