THE "LAZARUS EFFECT"

Son,
remember that in your lifetime
you received your good things,
while Lazarus received bad things,
but
now he is comforted here
and you are in agony.

Luke 16:25 (read 16:19-31) - NIV

The error of the rich man was that he was living on a "fantasy island" which is a world of false reality. He did not realize that even though he was surrounded by walls of separation from the outside, the life of the beggar, Lazarus, on the outside would affect him deeply. By ignoring Lazarus in his misery, the rich man would become even more miserable than the poor sufferer. He was unable to avoid the "Lazarus effect". When he realized the mistake, it was too late! There was no fixing.

The rich man tripped over Lazarus. In death Lazarus was lifted up to paradise while the rich man found himself in the agonies of inferno. His relative prosperity was an illusion. In the long run our welfare depends on the welfare of others. By ignoring the less fortunate than ourselves we are eventually harming ourselves. The powerful cannot remain on top of the heap at the cost of the weak forever. In the end our well-being depends on that of others. Ignoring this law of existence is to invite future tragedy. Time levels all things in the law of the universe.

Today we are witnessing the drama of the rich man and Lazarus on a global scale. The director of the drama is the god of globalization, Profit! On the stage of planet Earth there are passing unprecedented figures: predatory plundering of non-renewable resources of nature, trafficking in narcotics, counterfeit drugs, looting of public coffers, the replacement of hand labor by technology, thefts, frauds of all species. All is being done in the name of god Profit! The immediate results are wars and generalized terrorism. Back of all the exploitation and conflicts is a small group of powerfully rich people who are enriching themselves by creating billions of Lazarus people. In the end, the exploiters will also pay the price for their greed. It will be the "Lazarus effect".

The rich man's "fantasy island" paradise turned into the fire of infernal suffering. Lazarus’ hell-on-Earth was transformed into  a feast of heaven. Death was the great leveler of beings.

We are all building a paradise or a hell. The "Lazarus effect" applies to all and in all spheres of life, including the spiritual.

Many Christians have a habit of thinking that salvation is just for them! They live within the walls of their "isms" with their private God who they think is protecting them from the "Lost World" and other belief systems. Jesus told this story to good people, convinced of their own salvation and spiritual superiority. The Lazarus people of life were also listening and getting a message of hope. The Lazarus people are the ultimate winners.

LUKE 16:19-31 - NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (NIV)

“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’

“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’

“He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’

“Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’

‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’

“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”

ESPERTEZA SANTA

Quem é fiel nas coisas pequenas
também será nas grandes;
e quem é desonesto nas coisas pequenas
também será nas grandes.

Lucas 16.10 (leia 16.1-13) – NTLH

Para entender esta parábola é necessário conhecermos o sistema financeiro daquela época. Os administradores não tinham salários fixos, mas eram compensados por comissões que eles mesmos fixavam e cobravam. Quanto mais movimento, mais lucro! Uma parte do saldo devedor de cada conta pertencia ao patrão e a outra, ao quem administrasse. O administrador da parábola foi acusado de “impropriedade” e correu risco de ser demitido. Sua estratégia de não passar fome era fazer amizades com os devedores. Chamou cada um e perdoou a comissão dele do saldo devedor. O patrão ficou contente em receber a parte dele e apreciou a astúcia do administrador. O patrão não achou ruim porque não foi lesado. O administrador ganhou novos amigos e a apreciação do patrão. Ele fez as pazes com os dois lados!

Não houve desonestidade. Jesus louvou o bom senso do administrador. Nesta parábola todos lucraram!... O patrão recebeu o que era dele. Os devedores foram perdoados da taxa de juros. O administrador conquistou amigos que poderiam ser solidários em caso de necessidade.

A esperteza santa não é nada mais do que uma boa dose de bom senso. O administrador foi astuto em abrir mão da sua comissão, pensando no seu bem estar a longo prazo. Melhor ganhar amigos do que tentar ganhar a comissão! Usou o que era dele por direito para conquistar a boa vontade dos devedores.

Colocar dinheiro como meta principal é ser desonesto com as riquezas deste mundo. As riquezas materiais não são nossas e devem ser administradas para o bem comum. Ganância é desonestidade. As verdadeiras riquezas são as pessoas que conseguimos beneficiar, usando os recursos que temos em mãos.

A esperteza santa é abrir mão das vantagens imediatas e investir no bem estar comum. Ao sermos solidários aos outros, estamos, também, investindo em nós mesmos. Ao sermos escravos do dinheiro nós nos tornamos inimigos da humanidade. A esperteza é um mal quando usado para levar vantagem às custas dos outros. Os corruptos políticos e os empresários exploradores são inimigos do povo como também os golpistas e assaltantes. Servir dinheiro em qualquer nível é desprezar o próximo.

A religião entra no mesmo jogo quando apela para as “vantagens” de ser crente. Visar somente a salvação pessoal e trabalhar para acumular “méritos” espirituais é outra forma de ganância. Ser fiel nas pequenas coisas é abrir mão de direitos e agir para o bem dos outros. Servir os outros é servir a Deus. Nisto consiste a “esperteza santa”.

LUCAS 16:1-13 – NOVA TRADUҪÃO NA LINGUAGEM DE HOJE 2000 (NTLH)

Jesus disse aos seus discípulos:

— Havia um homem rico que tinha um administrador que cuidava dos seus bens. Foram dizer a esse homem que o administrador estava desperdiçando o dinheiro dele. Por isso ele o chamou e disse: “Eu andei ouvindo umas coisas a respeito de você. Agora preste contas da sua administração porque você não pode mais continuar como meu administrador.”

— Aí o administrador pensou: “O patrão está me despedindo. E, agora, o que é que eu vou fazer? Não tenho forças para cavar a terra e tenho vergonha de pedir esmola. Ah! Já sei o que vou fazer… Assim, quando for mandado embora, terei amigos que me receberão nas suas casas.”

— Então ele chamou todos os devedores do patrão e perguntou para o primeiro: “Quanto é que você está devendo para o meu patrão?”

— “Cem barris de azeite!” — respondeu ele.

O administrador disse:

— “Aqui está a sua conta. Sente-se e escreva cinquenta.”

— Para o outro ele perguntou: “E você, quanto está devendo?”

— “Mil medidas de trigo!” — respondeu ele.

— “Escreva oitocentas!” — mandou o administrador.

— E o patrão desse administrador desonesto o elogiou pela sua esperteza.

E Jesus continuou:

— As pessoas deste mundo são muito mais espertas nos seus negócios do que as pessoas que pertencem à luz. Por isso eu digo a vocês: usem as riquezas deste mundo para conseguir amigos a fim de que, quando as riquezas faltarem, eles recebam vocês no lar eterno. Quem é fiel nas coisas pequenas também será nas grandes; e quem é desonesto nas coisas pequenas também será nas grandes. Pois, se vocês não forem honestos com as riquezas deste mundo, quem vai pôr vocês para tomar conta das riquezas verdadeiras? E, se não forem honestos com o que é dos outros, quem lhes dará o que é de vocês?

— Um escravo não pode servir a dois donos ao mesmo tempo, pois vai rejeitar um e preferir o outro; ou será fiel a um e desprezará o outro. Vocês não podem servir a Deus e também servir ao dinheiro.

HOLY SHREWDNESS

Whoever can be trusted with very little
can also be trusted with much,
and whoever is dishonest with very little
will also be dishonest with much.

Luke 16:10 (read 16.1-13) - NIV

To understand this parable it is necessary to know the financial system of that time. Managers had no fixed salaries, but were compensated by commissions based on a percentage of the amount of the fees that were charged. The more the financial movement, the more the profit! A portion of the outstanding balance of each account belonged to the masters and the other part to the managers. The manager of the parable was accused of "impropriety" and ran the risk of being dismissed. His strategy to not starve was to make friends with the debtors. He called in the debtors and forgave them of the amount equivalent to his commission on the outstanding balance. The master was pleased to receive his part of the owed fees and appreciated the cunning of the manager who was able to make the debtors pay up. The master did not disapprove of the manager, because he himself suffered no loss. The manager gained new friends and the appreciation of the master. He made peace with both sides.

There was no dishonesty in the story. Jesus praised the good sense of the manager. In this parable everyone profited. The master received what was his. Debtors were forgiven half of the amount of their debts. The manager won friends who could be supportive of him in case of need.

Holy shrewdness is nothing more than a good dose of common sense. The manager was clever enough to give up his commissions in exchange of his long term well-being. It was better to gain friends than to try to collect his commission. He used what was rightfully his to win the goodwill of debtors.

Putting money as the main goal is to be dishonest with the riches of this world. Material wealth is not ours and must be administered for the common good. Greed is dishonesty. The true riches are the people we can benefit by using the resources at hand.

Holy shrewdness is to relinquish immediate benefits and invest in the common welfare. By being supportive to others, we are also investing in ourselves. When we are slaves to money we become enemies of humanity. Intelligence is a liability when it is used to seek personal advantages at the expense of others. Corrupt politicians and economic exploiters are enemies of the people as well as scammers and thieves. To serve money for present gains is to sacrifice the future.

Religion plays this game when it appeals to the "advantages" of being a believer. Targeting only personal salvation and work to accumulate spiritual "merit" is another form of greed. To be faithful in small things is to give up rights and act for the good of others. Serving others is serving God. Herein is "holy shrewdness."

LUKE 16:1-13 – NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (NIV)

Jesus told his disciples: “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. So he called him in and asked him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.’

“The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg— I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.’

“So he called in each one of his master’s debtors. He asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’

“‘Nine hundred gallons of olive oil,’ he replied.

“The manager told him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred and fifty.’

“Then he asked the second, ‘And how much do you owe?’

“‘A thousand bushels of wheat,’ he replied.

“He told him, ‘Take your bill and make it eight hundred.’

“The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

A IRONIA DAS 99 E DAS 9

Haverá mais alegria no céu por um pecador
que se arrepende dos seus pecados
do que por noventa e nove pessoas boas
que não precisam se arrepender.

Lucas 15.7 (leia 15.1-10) – NTLH

Jesus tinha pouco interesse nas pessoas que professavam ser religiosas e piedosas. Ficar com elas era perda de tempo. Era inútil lidar com pessoas convencidas de serem as escolhidas de Deus e que se separavam dos demais por considerá-los pecadores. Os “outros pecadores” tinham mais possibilidade de serem salvos do que “as noventa e nove pessoas boas que não precisam se arrepender” (ironia). Quem se julgava “salvo” estava mais perdido do que os pecadores assumidos!...

Nesta parábola, a ovelha perdida e a moeda perdida eram as pessoas que os fariseus consideravam “pecadores”. Jesus usou ironia em identificar as noventa e nove ovelhas e as nove moedas com os fariseus hipócritas que se achavam já salvos. Quando o pastor, cheio de alegria, voltou para casa com a ovelha perdida nos ombros ele chamou os amigos e vizinhos para a celebração. As noventa e nove ovelhas eram incapazes de celebrar o retorno da ovelha perdida. A dona das moedas fez festa com as amigas e vizinhas pelo mesmo motivo.

Ironicamente a nossa tendência é nos identificarmos com as noventa e nove ovelhas e as nove moedas. Ao nos identificarmos com elas, inconscientemente somos iguais aos fariseus, ficando na segurança do curral ou do cofre, nos alegrando com a nossa “salvação”.

Os heróis da parábola são o pastor e a mulher, não as noventa e nove ovelhas e nove moedas. Nosso lugar não é o aprisco ou caixa forte. É estarmos juntos, misturando com os pecadores, sendo iguais ao sal e fermento. O sal, enquanto no saleiro, é inútil. O pastor da história estava junto com a ovelha perdida, não com as que estavam no curral.

Onde estaria Jesus hoje se voltasse na carne? Duvido que ele estaria perdendo seu tempo batendo palmas nos “louvorzões” nas casas de culto ou promovendo grandes concentrações de crentes para fazer “oba oba”. Ele estaria junto com aqueles dos quais os “bons” se separam. Jesus não seria encontrado nos templos. Estaria próximo aos favelados, famintos, doentes, sem terra, sem teto, sem família, desempregados, explorados e manipulados.

A parábola é um julgamento contra qualquer tipo de elitismo espiritual e social. Jesus introduziu uma nova espiritualidade que até hoje não é compreendida. A espiritualidade de Jesus nos desafia a repensar as nossas prioridades e valores. A igreja de Jesus não tem paredes que a separa da massa da humanidade. A sua identidade não consiste em ser “diferente” ou “melhor” dos outros, mas em ser solidária, transmissora de esperança. Ela vai ao encontro dos necessitados, participando das suas lutas. Não se protege dentro de “apriscos” ou “cofres”.

LUCAS 15:1-10 – NOVA TRADUҪÃO NA LINGUAGEM DE HOJE 2000 (NTLH)

Certa ocasião, muitos cobradores de impostos e outras pessoas de má fama chegaram perto de Jesus para o ouvir. Os fariseus e os mestres da Lei criticavam Jesus, dizendo:

— Este homem se mistura com gente de má fama e toma refeições com eles.

Então Jesus contou esta parábola:

— Se algum de vocês tem cem ovelhas e perde uma, por acaso não vai procurá-la? Assim, deixa no campo as outras noventa e nove e vai procurar a ovelha perdida até achá-la. Quando a encontra, fica muito contente e volta com ela nos ombros. Chegando à sua casa, chama os amigos e vizinhos e diz: “Alegrem-se comigo porque achei a minha ovelha perdida.”

— Pois eu lhes digo que assim também vai haver mais alegria no céu por um pecador que se arrepende dos seus pecados do que por noventa e nove pessoas boas que não precisam se arrepender.

Jesus continuou:

— Se uma mulher que tem dez moedas de prata perder uma, vai procurá-la, não é? Ela acende uma lamparina, varre a casa e procura com muito cuidado até achá-la. E, quando a encontra, convida as amigas e vizinhas e diz: “Alegrem-se comigo porque achei a minha moeda perdida.”

— Pois eu digo a vocês que assim também os anjos de Deus se alegrarão por causa de um pecador que se arrepende dos seus pecados.

BEING WHERE JESUS IS

There will be more rejoicing in heaven
over one sinner who repents
than over ninety-nine righteous persons
who do not need to repent.

Luke 15:7 (read 15:1-10) - NIV

Jesus had little interest in people who professed to be religious and pious. Staying with them was a waste of time. It was useless to deal with people who are convinced that they are God's chosen ones and who separate themselves from others by looking down on them and considering them to be unworthy. Those "other sinners" were more likely to be saved than the "ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent." (irony) People who consider themselves to be "saved" were more lost than the self-assumed sinners!

In these parables, the lost sheep and the lost coin represented the people whom the Pharisees considered to be "sinners". Jesus used irony to identify the ninety-nine sheep and nine coins with the hypocritical Pharisees who were already “saved”. When the shepherd, filled with joy, returned home with the lost sheep on his shoulders he called friends and neighbors to celebrate. The ninety-nine sheep were unable to celebrate the return of the lost sheep. The owner of the coins made a party with her friends and neighbors for the same reason.

Ironically we tend to identify ourselves with the ninety-nine sheep and nine coins. When we identify ourselves with them, we are unconsciously equal to the Pharisees, staying within the security of the “sheep fold” and rejoicing in our "salvation."

The heroes of the parable are the shepherd and the woman, not the ninety-nine sheep and nine coins. Our place is not in the safety of the flock. It is in mixing with sinners and being equal to salt and yeast. Salt is useless as long as it is in the salt shaker and yeast as long as it is in the package. The shepherd of the story was with the lost sheep, not with those who were in the sheep fold.

Where would Jesus be today if He returned in the flesh? I doubt that he'd be wasting his time clapping his hands in praise and prayer services, organizing mega churches, or promoting any kind of mega events to promote some cause or impress the general public. He would be with those from whom the "good" people separate themselves. Instead of being in the houses of worship He would be close to the slum dwellers, the immigrants, the hungry, the sick, the landless, the homeless, those without family, the unemployed, the exploited and the manipulated. Ironically, many American professing Christians are in favor of deporting immigrants (hiding behind the word “illegal”), denying assistance to the needy (considering them to be lazy) and keeping the lower income people on less than a living salary.

The parable is a judgment against any kind of spiritual and social elitism. Jesus introduced a new spirituality which is still not understood. The spirituality of Jesus challenges us to rethink our priorities and values. Jesus' church has no walls separating it from the mass of humanity. True Christian identity is not to be different from or better than others, but to be supportive and transmit hope. To follow Jesus would mean to be sensitive to the needs of the social outcasts and participating in their struggles.

Jesus would not be holed up in some church striving for spiritual perfection and protecting himself from this evil world. Our challenge is to get out there where the “lost” are and to be where Jesus is!

LUKE 15:1-10 – NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (NIV)

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep. I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

SEGUIR JESUS HOJE

Quem quiser me acompanhar não pode ser meu seguidor
se não me amar mais do que ama
o seu pai,
a sua mãe,
a sua esposa,
os seus filhos,
os seus irmãos,
as suas irmãs
e até a si mesmo.

Lucas 14.26 (leia 14.25-33) – NTLH

Duras são estas palavras de Jesus!!!! Parece que Ele está contra laços familiais fortes e que seguí-Lo significa repudiar o lar. Mas, antes de tentar entender estes dizeres, devemos, primeiro, definir o que é “seguir Jesus”.

No conceito popular dos cristãos (católicos e protestantes), seguir Jesus é aceitar os dogmas da igreja, ser batizado em nome do Pai, do Filho e do Espírito Santo e ser fiel aos ensinamentos aprovados por ela. Seguir Jesus é agir dentro das doutrinas e normais que as igrejas estabelecem.

Quando Jesus falou estas palavras ainda não existia “esta igreja”, com corpo de doutrinas, práticas e leis de conduta, que conhecemos hoje. Seguir Jesus hoje é algo muito mais profundo do que a aceitação incondicional de um sistema de crenças sobre a pessoa de Jesus e normas de comportamento determinado pelo cristianismo. Na linha da história do mundo cristão, “fieis” chegaram a perseguições, torturas, guerras, discriminações, escravidões, atentados, assassinatos e outras violências como “formas” de seguir Jesus. Os praticantes destes atos se julgavam pessoas piedosas e seus seguidores. A liderança dos Estados Unidos promove o imperialismo com o raciocino de levar os princípios democráticos cristãos ao mundo no combate ao mal.

Seguir Jesus independe de laços formais ou informais com o que chamamos de “igreja”. Ser seguidor de Jesus significa adotarmos um estilo de vida compatível com o seu espírito, fundamentado em amor, cujo fruto é compaixão e misericórdia! Amar Jesus mais do que pai, mãe, cônjuge, filhos, irmãos ou a si mesmo, significa ter amor não possuidor, não egoísta. É amá-los como eles são, sem impormos a nossa vontade. É não fazermos o papel de Deus e agirmos como se fossemos “seu dono”. Ninguém é dono de ninguém. Amar como Jesus amou é abrirmos mão de privilégios e reconhecermos que tudo ao nosso redor é dádiva e não nos pertence.

Jesus disse que devemos calcular quanto vai custar o discipulado. Praticando o amor de Jesus pode nos levar ao confronto com os valores sociais, institucionais e interesses econômicos. Pode nos fazer objeto de discriminação e perseguição, nos custando a vida física. Isto aconteceu com Jesus e pode acontecer com seus seguidores.

Não somos donos da criação. Nada nos pertence. Fomos criados para pertencer ao Reino e não o contrário. Não temos nenhum controle sobre ele e nem o direito de julgarmos as outras criaturas de Deus! Nossa única meta é tentar amar como Jesus amou.

LUCAS 14:25-33 – NOVA TRADUҪÃO NA LINGUAGEM DE HOJE 2000 (NTLH)

Certa vez uma grande multidão estava acompanhando Jesus. Ele virou-se para eles e disse:

— Quem quiser me acompanhar não pode ser meu seguidor se não me amar mais do que ama o seu pai, a sua mãe, a sua esposa, os seus filhos, os seus irmãos, as suas irmãs e até a si mesmo. Não pode ser meu seguidor quem não estiver pronto para morrer como eu vou morrer e me acompanhar. Se um de vocês quer construir uma torre, primeiro senta e calcula quanto vai custar, para ver se o dinheiro dá. Se não fizer isso, ele consegue colocar os alicerces, mas não pode terminar a construção. Aí todos os que virem o que aconteceu vão caçoar dele, dizendo: “Este homem começou a construir, mas não pôde terminar!”

— Se um rei que tem dez mil soldados vai partir para combater outro que vem contra ele com vinte mil, ele senta primeiro e vê se está bastante forte para enfrentar o outro. Se não fizer isso, acabará precisando mandar mensageiros ao outro rei, enquanto este ainda estiver longe, para combinar condições de paz.

Jesus terminou, dizendo:

— Assim nenhum de vocês pode ser meu discípulo se não deixar tudo o que tem.

CHRISTIAN HATE

If anyone comes to me
and does not hate
father and mother,
wife and children,
brothers and sisters
yes, even his or her own life
such a person cannot be my disciple.

Luke 14:26 (read 14:25-33) - NIV

These sound like awfully harsh words to be attributed to Jesus! This would put Him against strong family ties, and following Him would involve repudiating family. But before we try to understand these sayings we must first define what "following Jesus" means in the context of Jesus’ time which is quite different from our understanding today.

Today to follow Jesus in the popular concept of Christians (Catholics and Protestants) is to accept the dogmas of the church, be baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and be faithful to the teachings approved by it. To follow Jesus is to be faithful to the Church with all that it requires.

Historically the Church has applied the concept of “following Jesus” to “following the Church”. To be faithful to Jesus we must be faithful to the Church. Being faithful to the Church has led to aggressiveness in the form of persecutions, torture, wars, discrimination, slavery, genocides, executions, deportations and other violence as a part of following Jesus. Practitioners of these acts were judged to be pious people. Even today in the United States the leadership of conservative Christians promotes armed conflict, torture, discrimination and other forms of violence under the guise of combatting the evils of terrorism. Islam and Christianity have become mirror images of each other.

When Jesus supposedly spoke these words the Church as we know it today did not exist. To follow Jesus today should be something much deeper than the unconditional acceptance of a system of beliefs about the person of Jesus and norms of behavior determined by Christianity. Following Jesus should be independent of formal or informal ties with what we call "Church." To be a follower of Jesus should mean the adoption of a lifestyle compatible with his spirit, grounded in a love which produces the fruit of compassion and mercy. By harmonizing these words with the totality of the teachings of Jesus, to love Jesus more than father, mother, spouse, children, siblings or self means not to idolize them or be limited by them. It means having the autonomy of unconditional love, not ruling over them or being ruled by them. They are not our property to be controlled by us, but are free to be themselves. It is to love as Jesus loved. To love as Jesus loved means giving up our privileges and recognize that everything around us is a gift and does not belong to us. That would be the Christ like form of “hate”.

Jesus said we must calculate how much such a love will cost. Practicing the love of Jesus could lead us to confrontation of the social, institutional and economic evils of our age. This could make us the object of discrimination and persecution, even costing us our own physical life. This happened to Jesus and his followers and could happen to us.

We do not own creation. Nothing belongs to us. We were created to belong to the Kingdom and not the opposite. We have no control over it, or the right to judge the others who have been placed here with us. Our only goal is to try to love as Jesus loved. That is Christian hate.

LUKE 14:25–33 – NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (NIV)

Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’

“Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.”