Rock & Roll Jesus

Perhaps you’ve noticed lately that the world seems a bit….divided.  In America, we are encouraged to rip to shreds anyone who disagrees with us.

In Greece there is anger at the government for not being responsible and running the country’s economy into the ground.  The Scottish are talking about breaking away from the UK to be their own country.  The Russians have gone through a contentious and suspect election cycle.

In Asia the Koreas as threatening open war again and the Iranians are just threatening everyone, while Pakistan can barely hold it together.

In the Middle East, Syria openly slaughters its own people and Israel threatens to pick a fight with Iran that will drag the rest of the world in.

In Africa, the Sudanese have turned from Darfur to the Nooba people.  Congo is still fighting itself, and people the continent over are starving.

In South America, Venezuela bullies its neighbors, and Mexico is ripping itself in half.

Australia and the U.S have agreed to "naval exercises" to saber rattle against China.

When you think about it, the only continent with nothing going on is Antarctica.

That’s kind of a lot of doom and gloom…or the evening news.  But we can’t really be bothered with that, because we’re too busy tearing each other down…except for that hour a week we’re at church, and most churches would prefer to hide under a rock and hope it all blows over.  When the Church has weighed in on the social issues of our day, it is not to help bring peace, but to stoke the fires of rage, hate, and discontent.

However, as Jesus said, “If they keep quiet, even the stones will cry out!” (Luke 19:40).  And so they have, in a manner of speaking.

While the world yells and screams and the church (when not hiding) joins the madness, the rock band Nickelback quietly released a new song.  It is not a song of rage and angst, but a cry to unite and stand together for the benefit of humanity.

Here’s is what Nickelback, the rock band, lifts their voices to say:

One more depending on a prayer
And we all look away
People pretending everywhere
It's just another day
There's bullets flying through the air
And they still carry on
We watch it happen over there
And then just turn it off

They tell us everything's all right
And we just go along
How can we fall asleep at night?
When something's clearly wrong
When we could feed a starving world
With what we throw away
But all we serve are empty words
That always taste the same

The right thing to guide us
Is right here, inside us
No one can divide us
When the light is leading on
But just like a heartbeat
The drumbeat carries on
And the drumbeat carries on
(Just like a heartbeat)

Chorus:
We must stand together
There's no getting even
Hand in hand forever
That's when we all win
That's, that's, that's when we all win
That's, that's, that's when we all win

Yet our church, who by its very name declares us followers of Jesus, has not listened to His words. 

“You will always have the poor, but you won’t always have Me.” (John 12:8). 

“When you put on a luncheon or a banquet,” he said, “don’t invite your friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors. For they will invite you back, and that will be your only reward. Instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. Then at the resurrection of the righteous, God will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you.” (Luke 14:12-14)

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’

“Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’ (Matt 25:34-40)

There are many, many other instructions in the Bible about taking care of each other, of looking out for one another.  We are called to lift each other up!  Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises.  Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven! (James 5:13-15).

So how about it?  Can we set down our hatreds, our squabbles, our petty differences, and instead fulfill what Jesus has told us to do? 

“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” (John 13:34-35)

Or will we, as Christian followers, remain silent (or join in the world’s hate fest) to the point where the rocks must cry out?

Encounter: How can you be Jesus to someone this week?