Resisting in Jesus’ Name

Perhaps you’ve heard about The Resistance.

After the most recent election, some say that they are leaving the country for their own safety. (This is no joke for people whose very existence is at risk.) I understand this completely.

Others want to organize politically. I get this too.

But I suggest that we resist in Jesus’ name. Our King (today is Christ the King Sunday) and the Incarnate Word (next week we begin Advent) is Jesus. And Jesus has many things to say about loving our neighbors, sharing our wealth, tending to “the least of these” and standing up to tyrants.

(Note to all who don’t want politics in the pulpit: Jesus was crucified for his loving response to the politics of his time. The pastoral is 100% political.)

Yesterday, the Presbytery of Charlotte held an Affordable Housing Symposium to introduce/share/teach about the need for more affordable housing in this area. The stats are overwhelming all across the country: there are not enough homes for low and middle income people: service workers, teachers, police officers, childcare providers. All I can say about this event is that my cup overflows. God is doing some very cool things via church people/disciples of Jesus who are open to being moved by the Spirit.

A couple folks recommended this book by the great Joan Gray. (We exhaust ourselves rowing the boat for years and years without getting very far. Let’s try a sail boat and let the Spirit move us.) Read it. Invite your friends to read it.

At least in my denomination, we are builders. We have not only built church facilities over the past 300 years in this country. We have built colleges and universities (4 in my Presbytery alone) and hospitals and camps and schools.

What will God move us to built next? That depends on where we live. What breaks God’s heart where you live? Build something to address that in the name of Jesus.

This is what Resistance in the Name of Jesus looks like:

• The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. The Gospel of Matthew 11:5
•  I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me. (What serving “the least of these” looks like) The Gospel of Matthew 25:35-36.
• In everything do to others as you would have them do to you. The Gospel of Matthew 7:12

I could go on but you get the gist. Yes, this is a time to resist those who do not hold abusers accountable. This is the time to resist cruelty. This is the time to resist greed. This is the time to resist those who make life unbearable for the poor. This is the time to resist those who say “Lord, Lord” but they only serve themselves. We resist in the name of Jesus. God is doing amazing things. And resisting will be hard.

Image of the Housing Huddle Team at the end of yesterday’s symposium. Thanks be to God.