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Christendom, a World of Hypocrites
by tim Sunday, Jan 13 2013, 10:06am
international /
prose /
post
Whether or not Jesus and the events detailed in the Gospel narratives refer to historical reality is irrelevant -- the Christian narratives are clearly pedagogic and were designed to instruct and reform a society that had clearly lost its theological way. The theme is set early in the Gospel of Luke and culminates not with the crucifixion, but with Christ's supreme gesture at the Temple, which earned him a death sentence.
The temptation in the desert clearly sets the theme of the narrative - the protagonist's battle with the antagonist and those that represent or serve him. The context is a thoroughly corrupt culture ruled by a corrupt, wealthy elite.
Readers are left in no doubt whatsoever regarding the values extolled/lived by the protagonist, Christ, and his foes the devil and his representatives on earth -- from Luke 4:
5 And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.
7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.
8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
It couldn't be clearer, material wealth and temporal power are of the devil who has dominion over all the world's capitals, their wealth and power, which he offers to Christ in return for his allegiance. Christ informs the devil he can shove it and therein lies the theme of the New Testament; a religious social reformer opposing corruption, material wealth, inequality and temporal power -- values that are pursued today with a vengeance!
If Christ had a grave he would surely be rolling in it viewing the HYPOCRITICAL world of Christendom today; as the narrative develops we also learn that Christ's opinion of hypocrites is extremely unfavourable.
So if we would truly follow the example set for us by Christ we would reject money, bankers, exploitative corporations and the exercise of State power, war, etc! It is written in black and white.
The truly interesting thing about the Christian narrative is that its an unfinished story, the ending will be 'written' by the actions of future generations and what a 'wonderful' ending humanity is writing today.
I would re-iterate to emphasise the point -- money/BANKERS, wealth and temporal power/CORPORATIONS are anathema to Christ's values.
[I would add that the great religious reformer of the East, Gautama Buddha, also emphatically rejected wealth and tore into the corrupt ruling priest class of his day.]
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