Weblog Entry - 03/27/2004: "Jesus: Private or Public?"

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03/27/2004 Entry: "Jesus: Private or Public?"

In response to an earlier post, Phil writes

I have heard this response to Jesus words on turing the other cheek, carrying the pack the extra mile etc before:
"There's a difference between interpersonal relationships and a government's responsibility to protect its citizens"
I am a little confused by it. Why do we see Jesus words as only refering to our private relationships?

And it's a good question. Why do we? The Gospel is presented, especially in "evangelical" circles, as though it is primarily personal. Sometimes it is conceded that that the gospel has social implications. But that is wrong. The Good News of the Kingdom of God doesn't have social implications, it is social. How could a Kingdom be anything but? The only sermon that we know Jesus preached in a synagogue was based on Isaiah 61: 1-2

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has annointed me to bring good news to the poor...to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour

(As an aside, it is interesting that Jesus stopped short of the next line, the day of vengeance of our God. Picking & choosing?)
The mission of Jesus is not merely the repentance of the individual, but the inclusion of those not of Israel into the people of God. In the Church we express this inclusion via the signs of baptism and Holy Communion. By sharing in the death of Christ, we receive the promise of his risen life. So the church is not merely a social club of like-minded individuals, a gathering of those who like the sound of this or that religious theory. It is, as Peter puts it a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a chosen race. The church should not be identified with the Kingdom, but it does stand in the world as a visible symbol of the Kingdom and our calling is surely to proclaim and live by the standards which Jesus set for his people.

As individuals. And as communities.

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