I have read a number of posts on social media recently which state that whatever that person believes means that they will go to Heaven; of course, if you don’t believe that, you are going to Hell – if that place ever existed – which probably means I’m going there as well. Is it correct to suggest that, as a faith, Christians are quite exclusivist?
In the Gospel according to Luke this week, we’ll hear of Jesus’ visit to a Synagogue in Nazareth, his home town, his birth town? He has just said something quote profound, ground-shaking actually. Those Jews congregating in that place, on that Sabbath, would have been waiting to hear of this young radical preacher. We may have all heard of someone much younger than the rest of us – it’s not that difficult with today’s Methodists (in GB).
Jesus is citing from the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures, and in particular Isaiah 61:1-2. He says: “bring good news to the poor, …proclaim release to the captives, ..recovery of sight the blind, …let the oppressed go free“. Not one mention of the ‘chosen people’. Not a mention of skin colour, gender, race, nationality, caste, or faith. But to those who are poor, inhibited, unable to see what’s really out there, or persecuted – Jesus brings a fresh new, alternative message of hope.
Everyone Matters
In Luke 4: 21-30, he has yet to leave the Synagogue. He can still hear the praise of the listeners filling the air. They speak of Joseph, incredulous that such a son of his could become such a profound speaker. But then Jesus continues to speak.
He posits that they will ask ‘why has he not done all these cool things he did in Capernaum’, which is odd as he has yet to go there in this Gospel account. Perhaps “Luke” failed to mention that this was his second visit to Nazareth (Mark 6:1-6)? But the main thrust of Jesus’ point is that they are expecting great things to happen there, in Nazareth, his hometown (not Bethlehem), where he was raised. He recalls that Elijah didn’t heal the sick (leprosy can refer to many illnesses) in Israel, but did heal a Syrian named Naaman – ooh, a foreigner! Ok, that’s too far. This has gone beyond the pale, they had never signed up for Jesus to speak of helping all, everyone.
In the Gospel according to both Mark and Matthew (13:54-58), the story is different – Luke has added something. He has added a purpose. It isn’t about those supporters of the cause only getting the benefits, but all. If someone generous donates a huge sum to the cause, should they get preferential treatment over someone who is poor, unable to relate to their circumstances, unable to see where they are, or even bullied by the world around them?
God reaches out unfairly, or so it would seem.
When we think of the migrants seeking refuge, those homeless seeking a place of warmth and sustenance, how might we respond? Is it to compare them to ourselves and wonder why they never had the privileges we might have had?
When we think of those of other faiths, do we consider them second best, and reject them as not able to receive the blessings we ask of God? Can we not see the face of Jesus as we look upon them? Looking beyond what may separate us, but bringing us together.
We can see Christianity as a capitalistic western business, of persuading people that they’d be far better off with us, or denigrating other people as ones who failed to see ‘our vision’ of God: or we could see that offer to the poor, those in captivity, the blind, and the oppressed wasn’t just for those we might associate with, but for all. Everyone Matters.
I observed that Christians, even in places where they are a minority, form this belief that all the rest of the world is bound to go to hell as they do not believe in the God we believe in. In fact, I remember, in our Methodist church in India, someone I know dared to ask this question during a sermon – what about the non Christians who are good people who serve others, will they go to heaven? And the answer from the preacher then was “No”.