Baptist News Global
Sections
  • News
  • Analysis
  • Opinion
  • Curated
  • Storytelling
    • Faith & Justice >
      • Charleston: Metanoia with Bill Stanfield
      • Charlotte: QC Family Tree with Greg and Helms Jarrell
      • Little Rock: Judge Wendell Griffen
      • North Carolina: Conetoe
    • Welcoming the Stranger >
      • Lost Boys of Sudan: St. John’s Baptist Charlotte
      • Awakening to Immigrant Justice: Myers Park Baptist Church
      • Hospitality on the corner: Gaston Christian Center
    • Signature Ministries >
      • Jake Hall: Gospel Gothic, Music and Radio
    • Singing Our Faith >
      • Hymns for a Lifetime: Ken Wilson and Knollwood Baptist Church
      • Norfolk Street Choir
    • Resilient Rural America >
      • Alabama: Perry County
      • Texas: Hidalgo County
      • Arkansas Delta
      • Southeast Kentucky
  • More
    • Contact
    • About
    • Donate
    • Associated Baptist Press Foundation
    • Planned Giving
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Advertising
    • Ministry Jobs and More
    • Transitions
    • Subscribe
    • Submissions and Permissions
Donate Subscribe
Search Search this site

For all who seek to follow Rabbi Jesus, now is exactly the time to be political

OpinionLaura Mayo  |  April 9, 2020

Laura Mayo“Now is not the time to be political.” That was a response I saw to someone’s post about the mismanagement of medical supplies. I’m not sure if the “now” referred to the coronavirus pandemic or to Holy Week (or maybe both). Certainly, this is a Holy Week unlike any I have ever known. We will not be gathering in person for worship services or egg hunts. We will not be worrying about Tenebrae candles or Easter flowers.

In the last week of Jesus’ life, the first Holy Week, Jesus marches deliberately into the center of local imperial power. He parades through the streets. He preaches in the temple. He says what he has been saying his entire ministry – only now the words seem more potent, more dangerous. He speaks of the Kingdom of God and contrasts it with the Kingdom of Rome. There is no doubt where his loyalties lie. And Rome will not ignore his treason.

In Jesus’ day, religious leaders collaborated with Roman imperial control. And Jesus, with the words of the prophets ringing in his ears, comes into the temple and brings its activity to a halt. Jesus, a Jew, is not upset about prayer and sacrifice; this is not about Jewish worship. No, he is angry that the religious leaders have turned the house of God into a hideout for their injustice.

“Economic transformation is happening before our eyes.”

He shouts, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.” Jesus is angry at the empire’s oppression and injustice. He is angry at the religious leaders who unite themselves with the oppressors and perpetuate injustice rather than protecting the abused and the powerless.

Surely we can understand Jesus’ anger. A quick look at a timeline shows the connection between cascades of misinformation from our highest government leaders and the sycophantic responses of some religious leaders. It is clear that President Trump and other government leaders knew more than they told us – and weeks before they told us (an unforgivably long period of time with disastrous consequences). It is clear they downplayed, misinformed, deflected and misdirected, while offering false hope and unrealistic promises.

Many of our government officials and elected leaders have said in plain language that their wealth – and the wealth of their friends and financial supporters – is more important than the lives of the American citizens they serve. And now the president and other government leaders refuse to take responsibility for the unfathomable delays in responding to warnings about the looming crisis, in alerting and supporting state and local leaders across the country, in providing factual information to the American public and in preparing for a rapid and equitable distribution of life-saving resources.

JESUS MAFA. The Crucifixion; Jesus dies on the cross, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN.

For their part, rather than opposing such behavior, many religious leaders have condoned and even perpetuated it – defying directives to suspend group activities and to practice social distancing; spreading their own misinformation, claiming protection and cures; and, of course, blaming. This Holy Week many of our religious and government leaders are still refusing to do what is best for the health of the people of our country – continuing to gather for church services, scapegoating minorities and immigrants, trying to suspend civil rights and environmental protections and failing to provide access to medical equipment so desperately needed. This list could go on and on.

Meanwhile, Christians are called to be faithful in the journey with Jesus during this, his final week. From a public protest march on Sunday to a public demonstration in the house of worship on Monday, Jesus’ week continues until it ends in the only way it could in a land occupied by a violent empire.

The notice on the cross where Jesus was executed by the empire was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek: “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” Charges of political sedition dogged the first Christians. In his book, The Christians as the Romans Saw Them (1984), historian Robert Louis Wilken speaks to the broad and deep antipathy that developed in the first five centuries toward the Christian movement. Christians were thought to be fanatical, seditious, obstinate and defiant.

“Your Kingdom come on earth,” Jesus prayed and taught and lived. And they killed him for it: for his treason; for his loyalty to the realm of God. Jesus deliberately uses kingdom language. If he had wanted to avoid the political connotations of kingdom language, he could have. He could have spoken about the family of God, or the people of God or the community of God.

But he doesn’t. Instead he tells story after story of the Kingdom of God. Jesus says the kingdom of God is like a mustard seed, like a merchant in search of pearls, like yeast, like lost sheep, like a lost son. He says, “Let the little children come to me for to such as these belongs the Kingdom of God.” Jesus is presenting an alternative to the oppressive empires of this world.

In each Gospel account, Jesus is warned repeatedly that he is in danger from the empire. Jesus had every reason to be afraid. Perhaps he was. But he keeps going through his fear; he keeps going knowing his vulnerability.

Jesus shows us until his last breath a realm of peace, created not through violence, but through love; a realm of justice created through sharing, compassion and social and economic transformation; a realm of welcome created through radical inclusion.

“This is a matter of justice.”

Economic transformation is happening before our eyes. Workers considered unworthy of a living wage are the very people providing essential goods and services, in many cases putting their own health and lives in peril. These days will transform us. Let’s do what we can to ensure that transformation is toward justice, toward peace, toward compassion.

This pandemic requires us to live into the realm of God’s love and justice in new and creative ways. Our actions in these days matter. We are changing our behaviors, changing our plans, changing our lives.

Laura MayoThis is a matter of justice. Those of us who can stay at home must. We must demand that our government provide adequate protective equipment and other resources for medical personnel. We must demand that our government distribute life-saving resources based on need, not on favoritism. We must demand a just response to the crisis of the now unemployed and underemployed. These days are changing us. We must decide what kind of realm we want to create.

Especially for those of us who seek to follow Rabbi Jesus, now is exactly the time to be political.

Read more BNG news and opinion on this topic:
#intimeslikethese

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)

OPINION: Views expressed in Baptist News Global columns and commentaries are solely those of the authors.
Tags:Racial JusticeHoly WeekReligion and PoliticsEconomic JusticeCoronavirus#intimeslikethese
More by
Laura Mayo
  • Get BNG headlines in your inbox

  • Featured

    • Peter James Flamming, ‘bridge-building’ pastor in Texas and Virginia

      News

    • Religious leaders must step up to support our trans siblings

      Opinion

    • Antisemitic-motivated assaults at record levels

      News

    • Lent, confession and the ‘no true Scotsman’ fallacy

      Opinion


    Curated

    • At launch rally in Waco, former president sets the stakes for Trump ’24 campaign with apocalyptic, violent, genocidal rhetoric

      At launch rally in Waco, former president sets the stakes for Trump ’24 campaign with apocalyptic, violent, genocidal rhetoric

    • Judge rules immigration officials violated pastor’s religious freedom rights

      Judge rules immigration officials violated pastor’s religious freedom rights

    • A ‘historic’ day in Israel ends with a political compromise — and big questions about the future

      A ‘historic’ day in Israel ends with a political compromise — and big questions about the future

    • NY’s power to regulate religious schools trimmed by judge

      NY’s power to regulate religious schools trimmed by judge

    Read Next:

    Christian nationalism runs rampant as Christians and cult leaders alike believe Trump was chosen by God

    AnalysisLaura Ellis

    More Articles

    • All
    • News
    • Opinion
    • Curated
    • I’m one of the female pastors on the SBC’s hit list

      OpinionCarlisle Davidhizar

    • How the church of the Nashville shooting winds through history, gender wars, church discipline and the SBC sexual abuse study

      AnalysisMark Wingfield

    • Baptist church jumps into service as reunion point for Covenant School children and parents

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • School shootings: How can we respond to children, parents, teachers and others affected?

      OpinionBrad Schwall

    • Part of former student’s case against Patterson and Southwestern dismissed by judge

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Why we should amplify women in all roles of church leadership

      OpinionBrittany Stillwell

    • Lent, confession and the ‘no true Scotsman’ fallacy

      OpinionRobert P. Jones

    • What pastors may not say, but really want us to understand

      OpinionMark Tidsworth

    • Religious leaders must step up to support our trans siblings

      OpinionPaul Brandeis Raushenbush

    • Antisemitic-motivated assaults at record levels

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Peter James Flamming, ‘bridge-building’ pastor in Texas and Virginia

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • New court documents show First Baptist Houston leaders knew of allegations against Pressler in 2004

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Ministry jobs and more

      NewsBarbara Francis

    • A tragic tale of death on the Mediterranean Sea amid Tunisian and British migrant backlash

      NewsAnthony Akaeze

    • To increase congregational health, decrease domestic violence

      OpinionGeneece Goertzen-Morrison

    • Movements expand and contract, Black Lives Matter co-founder says

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • From a Gen Z perspective, another ‘Jesus Revolution’ seems improbable

      OpinionMallory Challis

    • Trumpism is leading America to the valley of dry bones

      OpinionRodney Kennedy

    • Christian nationalism runs rampant as Christians and cult leaders alike believe Trump was chosen by God

      AnalysisLaura Ellis

    • Dear churches who invite women to preach

      OpinionSarah Boberg

    • ‘He Gets Us’ is feeding information to data analysts and, ultimately, conservative political groups

      AnalysisKristen Thomason

    • Ukrainians join European Baptists to help quake victims in Syria and Turkey

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Two Baptist seminaries among six ‘recommended’ by new Global Methodist Church

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • How dare they publish that list

      OpinionArthur Wright Jr.

    • Advocates for constitutional ban on female ‘pastors’ in SBC publish a list of 170 churches they deem in violation

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Baptist church jumps into service as reunion point for Covenant School children and parents

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Part of former student’s case against Patterson and Southwestern dismissed by judge

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Antisemitic-motivated assaults at record levels

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Peter James Flamming, ‘bridge-building’ pastor in Texas and Virginia

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • New court documents show First Baptist Houston leaders knew of allegations against Pressler in 2004

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Ministry jobs and more

      NewsBarbara Francis

    • A tragic tale of death on the Mediterranean Sea amid Tunisian and British migrant backlash

      NewsAnthony Akaeze

    • Movements expand and contract, Black Lives Matter co-founder says

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Ukrainians join European Baptists to help quake victims in Syria and Turkey

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Two Baptist seminaries among six ‘recommended’ by new Global Methodist Church

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Advocates for constitutional ban on female ‘pastors’ in SBC publish a list of 170 churches they deem in violation

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Former staff at Knoxville church see a familiar pattern in Northern Seminary’s complaints about Shiell’s leadership

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Egged on by evangelical influence, Ugandan Parliament passes harsh new anti-gay bill

      NewsAnthony Akaeze

    • Judge’s dismissal of 36 churches’ lawsuit holds implications for other UMC departures

      NewsCynthia Astle

    • Barna finds pastors are exhausted and isolated, which could be an opportunity for change

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • One-third of Northern Seminary students express no confidence in trustees

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • He was wrongly put on Death Row and believes you could be too

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Paula Faris makes a case for motherhood

      NewsMaina Mwaura

    • Sociologists find LGBTQ United Methodists, allies stay in UMC out of hope

      NewsCynthia Astle

    • First American woman appointed a missionary beat the system by funding herself

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Jimmy Carter leads by example one last time

      NewsMallory Challis

    • Ministry jobs and more

      NewsBarbara Francis

    • Karen Swallow Prior to leave Southeastern Seminary

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Acting chair of Northern Seminary board resigns in protest of board’s ‘official silence’ about Shiell

      NewsElizabeth Souder

    • Amid rampant antisemitism, most Americans think highly of Jews 

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • I’m one of the female pastors on the SBC’s hit list

      OpinionCarlisle Davidhizar

    • School shootings: How can we respond to children, parents, teachers and others affected?

      OpinionBrad Schwall

    • Why we should amplify women in all roles of church leadership

      OpinionBrittany Stillwell

    • Lent, confession and the ‘no true Scotsman’ fallacy

      OpinionRobert P. Jones

    • What pastors may not say, but really want us to understand

      OpinionMark Tidsworth

    • Religious leaders must step up to support our trans siblings

      OpinionPaul Brandeis Raushenbush

    • To increase congregational health, decrease domestic violence

      OpinionGeneece Goertzen-Morrison

    • From a Gen Z perspective, another ‘Jesus Revolution’ seems improbable

      OpinionMallory Challis

    • Trumpism is leading America to the valley of dry bones

      OpinionRodney Kennedy

    • Dear churches who invite women to preach

      OpinionSarah Boberg

    • How dare they publish that list

      OpinionArthur Wright Jr.

    • ‘Woke’: I don’t think that word means what you say it does

      OpinionRoger Lovette

    • The Russian Orthodox Church is a big loser in the Russian-Ukrainian war

      OpinionAndrey Shirin

    • On the path to immigration justice, it’s time for Biden to change course

      OpinionSalote Soqo

    • If a story is meant to evolve, then so are we

      OpinionKaitlin Curtice

    • Angels among us

      OpinionMary Alice Birdwhistell

    • Let’s stop treating the dignity of women as a secondary issue good Christians can disagree on

      OpinionRick Pidcock

    • An Anglican in Babylon

      OpinionLee Enochs

    • Listen to the voices of women

      OpinionKathy Manis Findley

    • Stranger in the Village: James Baldwin and inclusion

      OpinionGreg Garrett, Senior Columnist

    • How can we say thanks? Reflections on the influence of Andrae Crouch

      OpinionDoug Haney

    • The SBC: ‘They are who we thought they were’

      OpinionKris Aaron

    • Blowing the whistle on wedding fouls

      OpinionBrad Bull

    • ‘Grandmas make the best banana bread’

      OpinionJustin Cox

    • Troubling the water, a gospel for the ‘unmet’

      OpinionBill Leonard, Senior Columnist

    • At launch rally in Waco, former president sets the stakes for Trump ’24 campaign with apocalyptic, violent, genocidal rhetoric

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Judge rules immigration officials violated pastor’s religious freedom rights

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • A ‘historic’ day in Israel ends with a political compromise — and big questions about the future

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • NY’s power to regulate religious schools trimmed by judge

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Amid rise in antisemitism, Yeshiva University focuses on Holocaust education

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Is Pope Francis ‘The Only One Who Can Make A Difference’ In Uganda’s Anti-LGBTQ Bills?

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • “We Will Fight You for It”: Can Womenpriests Save the Catholic Church?

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Whitney Houston’s family wants to highlight her gospel roots

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Pelosi on cleric who barred her from Communion: ‘That’s his problem, not mine’

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Criminal or Not, Trump’s Case Is a Moral Test for Christians

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Netanyahu vows more active role in Israel’s judiciary fight following a day of tense protests

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Jimmy Carter’s religious values were never far from his presidency or his policy

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Pioneer of gospel music rediscovered in Pittsburgh archives

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • As The King’s College faces closure, scrutiny turns to its backers

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Communicators for Christ: how homeschool debate leagues shaped the rising stars of the Christian right

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Israeli leader halts bill against Christian proselytizing

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Trump’s arrest ‘prediction’ inflames holy war narrative and sanctifies violence — welcome to Trump ’24

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • German prosecutors examined late pope in abuse probe

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Court rehears case to protect Oak Flat, an Apache sacred site in Arizona

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Antisemitism on Twitter has more than doubled since Elon Musk took over the platform – new research

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Israel’s Reform rabbi and legislator on judicial overhaul: ‘It doesn’t look good.’

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Israel, Palestinians pledge moves to curb violence ahead of Ramadan

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Pope promotes ‘humanitarian corridors’ for asylum-seekers

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Tim Keller and Beth Moore, On and Off the Stage

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Alarmed by their country’s political direction, more Israelis are seeking to move abroad

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    Conversations that Matter.

    © 2023 Baptist News Global. All rights reserved.

    Want to share a story? We hope you will! Read our republishing, terms of use and privacy policies here.

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • RSS