Tax-collectors were usually lumped together with a group called "sinners." They were avoided by the godly people because of the bad influence they had on others and because of OT scriptures such as the Psalms that encouraged separation from sinners.
Tax-collectors were separated from other wealthy people in Israel. Why?
It could be they were shunned because of their intimate ties with Rome. Indeed the Saducees and Pharisees owed their well being and their positions to Rome, but their allegience to Rome was not a warm friendly one. Theirs' was a submission based in part to Rome's superior armies. To keep their positions secure they had to do whatever services and taxes were required of them by Rome. They were Rome's puppets who dreamed of losing their strings and becoming even more powerful in their positions.
The tax-collectors were like suckers, willingly attaching themseles to and feeding from the shark called Rome.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Early Conclusions About Jesus and Politics
Even though we know very little about John the Baptist's teaching, we know that he spoke out against Herod's adulteress affair. He also called Herod into question for other Law related issues about which we know nothing more; we only know that he said "many things about Herod", and I would therefore conclude he talked about his politics. From the writings we do have, I would conclude that John's sermons focused only on Herod's breaking of the Law of Moses. I also would dare to say that John did not talk about Herod's politics beyond his breaking of the Law of Moses.
Jesus was unusually silent about the political situation of his day. he did speak very strongly against the religious leaders who did represent Rome's dominion to some degree. They tried to keep the masses under Rome's control fearing their own positions which were held under the careful watch of Rome.
Jesus did teach about another kingdom and that may have seemed to be a political attack on Rome, (in fact, that argument was used against Jesus at his trial). On the surface this looks like Jesus was a political figure, but even though the charges were brought up against him at his trial, his judges (who did in fact represent Rome's interests) found nothing wrong with him. For some reason Jesus' teachings did not threaten Rome's position.
Not only do the Gospels present Jesus as one who posed no threat to Rome, the Gospels and history itself tells us that the disciples lived and ministered after Jesus was executed thus demonstrating that the rulers of Jesus' day did not see them as a threat.
If Jesus did have political aspirations, or if he did speak out against the political leaders of his day, the writers of his story kept it in the background of his works and his messages. At least that is what I see so far.
Jesus was unusually silent about the political situation of his day. he did speak very strongly against the religious leaders who did represent Rome's dominion to some degree. They tried to keep the masses under Rome's control fearing their own positions which were held under the careful watch of Rome.
Jesus did teach about another kingdom and that may have seemed to be a political attack on Rome, (in fact, that argument was used against Jesus at his trial). On the surface this looks like Jesus was a political figure, but even though the charges were brought up against him at his trial, his judges (who did in fact represent Rome's interests) found nothing wrong with him. For some reason Jesus' teachings did not threaten Rome's position.
Not only do the Gospels present Jesus as one who posed no threat to Rome, the Gospels and history itself tells us that the disciples lived and ministered after Jesus was executed thus demonstrating that the rulers of Jesus' day did not see them as a threat.
If Jesus did have political aspirations, or if he did speak out against the political leaders of his day, the writers of his story kept it in the background of his works and his messages. At least that is what I see so far.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Temptation - The World Chokes Out the Word
...but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for nice things, so no crop is produced. (Mark 4:19)
In the parable of the seed, Jesus explained that many people receive the word of God, but the word cannot grow to fuition in some people because of this world's worries and promises (weather real or not). The world offers promises and possibilities that naturally consume us as human beings. They consume our time, our thoghts and our energy. These are not evil in and of themselves but rather because we get so consumed by them the word of God cannot grow properly.
Jesus mentioned wealth and possessions, but again says nothing about politics. At best we can say that the desire to become a politician can easily become a worldly desire that chokes out the word of God. Then again, we could say that about pretty much any job or any past time of this life.
In the parable of the seed, Jesus explained that many people receive the word of God, but the word cannot grow to fuition in some people because of this world's worries and promises (weather real or not). The world offers promises and possibilities that naturally consume us as human beings. They consume our time, our thoghts and our energy. These are not evil in and of themselves but rather because we get so consumed by them the word of God cannot grow properly.
Jesus mentioned wealth and possessions, but again says nothing about politics. At best we can say that the desire to become a politician can easily become a worldly desire that chokes out the word of God. Then again, we could say that about pretty much any job or any past time of this life.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Who Is the Greatest in the Kingdom of God?
"I tell you, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John. Yet even the most insignificant person in the Kingdom of God is greater than he is!" Luke 7:28
So Jesus called them together and said, "You know that in this world kings are tyrants, and officials lord it over the people beneath them. But among you it should be quite different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be the slave of all. For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many." Mark 10:42-45
The kingdom of God is opposite in many respects to the world. In the world we seek preeminance. We want to rise, to become alpha male, to be the highest we can. It is something deep within our nature ultimately connected to survival. Jesus calls us to act contrary to our own nature and follow something he did in putting away all his splendor and glory and taking upon himself human form, submitting himself to the cruelty of crucifixion.
So Jesus called them together and said, "You know that in this world kings are tyrants, and officials lord it over the people beneath them. But among you it should be quite different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be the slave of all. For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many." Mark 10:42-45
The kingdom of God is opposite in many respects to the world. In the world we seek preeminance. We want to rise, to become alpha male, to be the highest we can. It is something deep within our nature ultimately connected to survival. Jesus calls us to act contrary to our own nature and follow something he did in putting away all his splendor and glory and taking upon himself human form, submitting himself to the cruelty of crucifixion.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Crossing Ethnic Boundaries - Jesus and the Centurion
In Matthew 8 a Centurion came to Jesus for healing of his servant. The Centurion showed a remarkable faith that compelled Jesus to comment, "And I tell you this, that many Gentiles will come from all over the world and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven. But many Israelites-those for whom the Kingdom was prepared-will be cast into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Matthew places this story about the Centurion in the midst of stories of unclean people and spirits. The Centurion was a Gentile, which meant that he was unclean by Hebrew standards. The story of the Centurion is a story of an unclean Gentile being cleansed because of his unparalleled faith.
When the early church told or read this story about the Centurion's faith, they no doubt thought about another Centurion who would come a few short years after who was the first officially accepted Gentile convert to Christianity. To be sure, there were others before him, but he the Centurion in Acts 11 is the first one officially accepted by the leadership of Jerusalem. Furthermore, he is also the first to have a Jewish Christian leader to enter his house.
The faith of the Centurion is contrasted with the disiples' lack of faith later in the same chapter when they were caught in a storm on the sea in a boat.
Matthew places this story about the Centurion in the midst of stories of unclean people and spirits. The Centurion was a Gentile, which meant that he was unclean by Hebrew standards. The story of the Centurion is a story of an unclean Gentile being cleansed because of his unparalleled faith.
When the early church told or read this story about the Centurion's faith, they no doubt thought about another Centurion who would come a few short years after who was the first officially accepted Gentile convert to Christianity. To be sure, there were others before him, but he the Centurion in Acts 11 is the first one officially accepted by the leadership of Jerusalem. Furthermore, he is also the first to have a Jewish Christian leader to enter his house.
The faith of the Centurion is contrasted with the disiples' lack of faith later in the same chapter when they were caught in a storm on the sea in a boat.
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