in order to take my mind off of my imminent final papers and just continued to mull issues in my head. I am currently in a Life of Jesus class which is one of the few which I don’t need to entertain myself by surfing the internet for the newest beer brewing ideas. Instead I find myself intently listening and responding, even speaking up in class to answer questions, which any of my peers will tell you is a rarity.
I hate speaking in class, unlike in the outside world.
Anyway, the final paper is a response to a book on five views of the Historical Jesus. The arguments range over a broad spectrum, from some claiming that Jesus never stepped foot upon the earth, but instead was merely a societal construct along the lines of myth, to the traditional evangelical understanding in which the gospel material is a reliable source of history (both of which seem slightly crazy to me).
Well, I got to thinking about how different the arguments are, but how each truly believes they are right. In fact, each has devoted countless hours scouring the text in order to support their argument, and in so doing have come to a strikingly different conclusion than their associates.
I was on the last leg of my run when “God on our Side” sung by Straylight Run, came on my iPod. This is originally a Dylan song I believe, and if anyone wants to truly understand what I was contemplating they should listen to the song as it sums up my thoughts and likely caused me to select Straylight for my run in the first place.
I mean it goes on to speak of the countless times humanity, individuals, and societies have had God on their side to do something strikingly contrary to anything “good.” From WWII to countless other atrocities, God is always on the side of the victor. It is odd. It is scary.
The song goes on to contemplate Judas, finally questioning whether or not Judas too had God on his side. It is a valid question which we rarely ask. I mean the guy gets a bad rap, he killed the Christ for crying out loud. But pre-Easter, there isn’t much wonder why he doubted the guy. I mean Jesus seemed to pretty much stick his nose up at the religious establishment multiple times. He was certainly flying lose with the law on multiple occasions, and his social practices were not beyond reproach. He was accused of being a drunkard and possessed by Satan.
We often look at Judas as the idiot who wanted the damn silver, but often I wonder if he just wanted to do the right thing. I mean, from one side of the line Jesus looked pretty ridiculous. He was playing lose with the Scriptures, taking all the laws which were meant to keep Israel in God’s good graces and placing them under the single banner of loving ones neighbor. How often have I heard it preached that God won’t let you into heaven for merely being a “good person.” Jesus sure seems to disagree here. Jesus was suggesting that the Jewish people fundamentally alter their beliefs. No wonder Judas began to believe that perhaps this was not the Christ after all.
Yet, as I began to open the gate at the end of my run I contemplated my own beliefs. I wondered, if Jesus came back and spoke of something contrary to my expectation what would be my response? All too often I believe I would be the first to hammer in the nail. I mean, if he came and proclaimed that people were created for Hell I would probably hammer in two for good measure. I don’t say this with flippant regard, but in utter honesty concerning my convictions. I fear my convictions at times, for the same convictions concerning who I believe is the Christ were in Judas as well.
The question is who is right.
Or perhaps the question is, who is capable to hold these beliefs loosely enough to never pound in a single nail in the first place.
Those people probably don’t exist in Seminary.
