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February 13, 2006
What has happened to America's Jesus?
By Rob Borsellino
Mon Feb 13, 7:12 AM ET (From USAToday)
I remember when Jesus Christ was about religion.
That goes back to when he was caring and compassionate all the time, not just during the political campaign season.
He used to bring people together and give them hope. He wouldn't have his people get in your face and tell you to fight gay rights or you'll burn in hell. That's not what he was about. That's not the Jesus who made folks such as Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson rich and famous. He was a different guy from the 21st-century American Jesus Christ.
When I recently visited Sicily, Italy, the old Jesus was all over the place. His statue was on the counter at the restaurant and the coffee house. His image was on the wall at the clothing store and in the hotel lobby. And there was a huge painting of him on the side of an apartment building.
Sometimes he was with his mom and dad, and sometimes he was sitting with his pals - the apostles. Mostly he was hanging from the cross. Whatever he was up to, it was all about religion.
It was interesting because I didn't go to Sicily looking for a religious experience. I went looking for what's left of my family. My grandfather and his brother came to the United States in 1904 and left behind their parents and two sisters. The sisters had kids, grandkids, great grandkids.
I never met any of those people, and I knew nothing about Sicily except the obvious - pizza and the Mafia. My wife thought it was time to connect. She made some calls and let the family know we were coming.
We landed in Palermo, got our bags and were met by my cousin Peppino Rizzuti, who was holding a handwritten sign with my name on it.
He was there with three other cousins. They hooked us up with more family and spent the next seven days driving us all over the island and stuffing us with mozzarella, prosciutto, olives and about 50 kinds of pasta.
My cousin Maria made the sign of the cross before she ate. My cousin Antonio's car had a figurine of a saint on the dashboard. My cousin Gian Marco had a beautiful cross hanging from his neck.
But nobody was going on about God, Jesus and religion. It didn't come up. I saw all that and was reminded that you can be a decent person - a good son, husband and father - and still oppose the war in Iraq. You can be a caring, thoughtful member of your community and still question whether Justice Samuel Alito should have been confirmed. Jesus won't get mad at you.
Several times during the week, I thought about telling my family what's happened to Jesus in the United States - how he's been kidnapped by politicians and preachers who decide what he does and doesn't think. They speak for him, and it doesn't always make sense.
They say Jesus is "pro life," but he doesn't seem to have a problem with the death penalty. And he thinks stem cell research - something that would save lives - is no different from murdering babies. They say he's the embodiment of kindness, love, decency and compassion. But he hates gays, lesbians and Muslims. And he's not too crazy about Buddhists, Hindus and the rest. Jews? He can put up with them if he has to.
The Rev. Fred Phelps of the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka claims to speak for Jesus and goes around the country talking about how "AIDS cures fags." Pat Robertson says it would be a good idea if the United States killed the president of Venezuela. It would be a lot cheaper than starting another war.
All week I went over that stuff in my head and decided not to mention any of it to the family.
It would make America look ridiculous.
Rob Borsellino is a columnist for The Des Moines Register and author of So I'm talkin' to this guy ...
Posted by at February 13, 2006 10:03 AM
Comments
You start out your commemtary by saying Jesus wouldn't get in someone's face and tell them to fight gay rights or they would go to hell. How do you know? Although I think Fred Phelps and Pat Robertson are extreme the point is that Jesus did get in the face of those who found their own behavior perfectly acceptable.We have to look no further than the "money lenders" in the Temple to see that(Jesus was guilty of assault and battery).Pick the 21st century issue and you will find some who believes that they have the support of the 1st century Jesus.
Posted by: Jim Mayfield at February 16, 2006 03:11 PM
Jim,
First, it's not my commentary. You will notice that it's a repost from somewhere else.
Second, a careful read of the Gospels will show that the only time Jesus really "got in the face" of anyone was when he was dealing with the self-proclaimed "religious" people of the time.
Posted by: Larry Baden at February 16, 2006 03:46 PM
I think Jesus was in peoples faces but only to do His Fathers work. Check Mark 8:33 where He rebuked Peter. Jesus can be pretty stern when we need a lesson.
Posted by: Nancy Parsons at February 21, 2006 01:00 PM
Those politicians and preachers want to sell us Jesus. All capital with no liability. They are businessmen who know nothing of spiritual guidance. A true Christian must realize the wolf in sheep's clothing. Believe the faith in your heart instead of the voice on tv. And when we learn to love each other unconditionally, we will know Jesus.
Posted by: Lynda Amburn at March 20, 2006 09:45 PM
jesus cannot be 'kidnapped' by anybody. what the so called politicians and preachers say he does or thinks is their own selfish interpretation.
jesus is "pro life" in all situations. remember the lady caught in adultery? he set her free from her would be murderers. remember the robber with him on the cross? he gave him eternal life.
trully, there's no shadow of turning with him.
Posted by: ofori kwakye at April 4, 2006 09:37 AM
It is commentary such as what you point out...the hatred and use of the Lord's name in vain that helps me to understand the monastic life. I look for the peace and am troubled that I find it hard to find in todays Protestantism. In fact, the fact that protest is in the name may be indicative of our divisiveness. May we all speak and hate less and find peace in the Devine.
Posted by: David Crosby at April 8, 2006 06:04 PM
Jesus says, Where in my laws do I condem you?My laws are not for me to condem, but for thy to condem thyshelf.The laws were placed in the ark of the covenate.And the reason they had been put in there, is so no one can change them.If you even touched this ark,you would die.When Jesus crossed over the Jorden river back into the desert,He went to back to pick up where the law left off.This is why Moses died.His job was complete.Jesus added to the laws.He is the only one worthy to sit upon this thrown.So when some one tries to change Gods laws.What they are doing is declaring themself to be God.When a once Godly country, changes their law, to conflict with his laws, they are bring judgement upon itshelf.The law is a loveing act of god, to perswayed us to look at the life we live,To and in compareson to the life and ways he says we should be living.If you have not any concern for Gods laws when you die.He will have no concern for you.My laws are written to give everlasting life.How are we to be trusted with apointed things in Heaven. A Holy place, if we dont even try to fallow his will here on earth.Dont you people yet, know the riddle of the of the prodical son after two thousand years.Jesus is literly talking about himshelf.He is the younger son.John the baptis is the older son, that went out to the desert, so her could keep and fallow all his Fathers ways.Jesus sought out after all his young desirers of the flesh.When he saw his ways only brought on his own destuction, wallowing in the muck of sin eating anything of his desire.One day he woke up to how low he had gone, and remembered his fathers house.It is at this point in his life that he repents.This story shows us just how much God really does understands us.After receiving the Holy spirit he never falls again.King David fell after receiving it.I fell after, every man that ever lived fell, after receiving the Holy spirit.Except one,That is Jesus Christ,our Savior,lord,God.
Posted by: George in MA at April 14, 2006 04:06 PM
