On This Current Moment

I’m not sure why I am writing this.

I feel compelled to, but I’m not sure why. I am a mystery to myself. Is this my attempt to share some truth, or is this some means by which I am looking for validation? I contain multitudes… I am a walking contradiction at all times. In our current era of social media and internet use, I question whether anything I say here will be shared with anyone who doesn’t already agree with me.

All that said, I would like to share something with you. Consider these the thoughts of an incomplete individual who is still learning how to integrate and incarnate paleo-orthodoxy today.

Here is what I believe and hope to humbly share:

Any rhetoric that creates an Us vs Them thinking is inherently diabolical, anti-Christian, and utterly unbecoming of anyone who believes in Christianity’s claim of tearing down the wall of separation and creating one new humanity (Ephesians 2).

Any Us vs Them thinking is diabolical in the deepest and truest sense of the word. It originates from the Greek word Διαβολος, which breaks down etymologically as Δια- (Dia- meaning “two”) and Βολλω (Bollo- meaning “I throw”). Anything is therefore “diabolical” if it takes one thing and breaks it down into two and throws them apart.

The current political discourse is inherently diabolical. When I read the news, all I can see is the scapegoat mechanism happening, the throwing of all blame, shame, anger, and fury at some “other” individual or collective. To define who you are by who you are collectively casting out is the way of the “old humanity” and not the way of the “new humanity” of Ephesians 2, mentioned above.

The solution to the issues of our day is a deep and meaningful return to Christianity by the Christians. I say this knowing that conservative-leaning people would applaud this part. At the same time, a deep and meaningful return to Christianity by the Christians might throw some people off. Other, progressive-leaning people would applaud the same statement for different reasons.

Last night, I had a great conversation with three men younger than me, and at the end of the conversation, I encouraged them to re-read the entire New Testament with entirely fresh eyes. One of the problems of Christianity is that we defer to what our religious and political parties tell us about what it is all about. And, in a world where those lines are becoming more and more blurred, I want to echo the words of Shane Claiborne and say, “What if Jesus actually meant what He said?”

For Christians (and that is the only people group for whom I am remotely qualified to speak), the way forward is always a deeper return to the words of Jesus. And, I would add that the words of Jesus are more conservative than the progressives would ever admit, and also more progressive than conservatives would ever admit.

There is goodness, beauty, truth, and love that must be protected, but it is not protected by scapegoating, ostracising, eliminating, or killing our “enemies.” Christ was to be the last Crucified One. It is utterly unbecoming and a massive missing of the point to be Christians who then want to “crucify” others. That is not the way of Christ, that is the way of the Διαβολος.

Please, I beg all of us who ever hope to be called “devout,” to follow a Christianity that looks like Christ and not some diabolical “Christianity” that is not worthy of the Carpenter from Galilee. Go back and reread the New Testament, and do your best to remove every presupposition and previous stance you have ever had and read it as if for the first time… at no point is Christ interested in creating a new empire of man, but only invites people into a Kingdom of God where people are…

patient,
kind,
not boastful,
not proud,
not crude,
does not dishonor others,
not self-seeking,
not easily angered,
and keep no record of wrongs.
Who do not delight in evil but rejoice in truth.
Who always protect (those at the Bottom),
who always trust (that fear should not rule our decisions),
who always hope (that we can find a non-violent way),
and who always perseveres (in virtues rather than submitting to vices).