SANIBONANI GOOD DAY OUT THERE: JOHN THE BAPTIST AND JESUS OF NAZARETH PERSONIFIED INTEGRITY. John disturbed the powers that be of his time, by confronting a corrupt system of government, Herod, and got his HEAD CHOPPED OFF. Jesus did something similar and GOT CRUCIFIED. Many ministers/priests/pastors/deacons who preach an AUTHENTIC GOSPEL OF LOVE, JUSTICE, COMPASSION, UNITY AND TRUTH often end up disturbing the so-called people of influence (the so-called ‘founder members’ and ‘moneyed people’) in their congregation and as a consequence often face a kind of slow death through…stress….financial sanctions (‘I will not give money until the minister is removed’, syndrome)….removal …health deterioration… depression… etc. A dear friend and colleague once said to me: “The authentic Gospel is good news for some and ‘bad’ news for others.” When the call comes for racial; tribal; gender or age unity, the messengers are often ‘crucified ‘or get their heads ‘chopped off’ (metaphorically speaking). PEOPLE LEAVE AND GO TO OTHER CHURCHES WHO PREACH WHAT THEY WANT TO HEAR and where the majority are more ‘white’ or more ‘black’ or more middle and upper class etc., – so that engagement with a more AUTHENTIC KINGDOM REALITY where THERE IS “NO LONGER JEW OR GREEK, THERE IS NO LONGER SLAVE OR FREE, THERE IS NO LONGER MALE AND FEMALE; FOR ALL OF YOU ARE ONE IN CHRIST JESUS ” and who bring GOOD NEWS FOR THE POOR, is avoided. Have a wonderful wet Tuesday. Shalom Bishop Mike. (Inspired by Matthew 14; Galatians 3; and Luke 4 & Words for Today 2013, p306) (29/10/2013)
Posted on: Tue, 29 Oct 2013 04:05:51 +0000