Sermon 2023.09.03
Wesley Menke
One of the really big challenges we have to deal with as Christians is the way our religion has valorized and spiritualized suffering. Jesus says that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering. Jesus goes on to say that anyone who wants to be his disciple must deny themself, take up their cross and follow him. Does Jesus valorize and spiritualize suffering?
It has been the contribution of black liberation theologians like Delores Williams and James Cone to make the point that these texts have been misused to oppress and exploit black people. Once slave owners, then later segregationists legitimized their treatment of black people with passages like this from the Bible, saying that it was a person’s duty to suffer like Jesus.
We can look to history and the broader story of Jesus to help us understand. We know that in Jesus’ life there were several moments when an angry mob, or powerful group conspired to kill him and he intentionally avoided it. We also know that most of his ministry was dedicated to relieving suffering from people.
Today at Sunday School we read the biography of Athanasius of Alexandria according to Justo Gonzalez. Alexander was called the “black dwarf” by his enemies. He was African and probably a copt, that is an indigenous Egyptian. Athanasius worked tirelessly to uphold the teaching that Jesus was divine, and not just a virtuous human. He did this when the entire power of the Roman Empire was against him. For Constantine and his heirs doubted the divinity of Jesus. I wonder if it could be said that Athanasius was an original black liberation theologian. By arguing for the divinity of Jesus, Athanasius also argued for the dignity of human beings like himself. If a human being could be divine since before there was time, then our mortal selves too must not be so anathema to God, but the holy might dwell in us too. A strong Christology and incarnation makes for a strong theological anthropology.
Athanasius was a character, and there are a few entertaining stories about him. It is said that after he survived a bogus trial trumped up against him, he traveled to Constantinople to have an audience with Constantine. His enemies prevented such a meeting, so Athanasius figured out where Caesar rode his horse, and one day as he rode by the small bishop jumped out and hung onto the reins of the horse and would not let go until Constantine would talk to him.
We also know from the history of the church that when there were periods of persecution, it was taught that a Christian must do everything in their power to avoid being arrested. However, a Christian should never reject or renounce their faith once they were put on trial. Saints Perpetual and Felicitas are one such example. They used their privilege to avoid arrest as long as possible. But once arrested, they did not waver. Perpetua actually gave birth to a child while she was in prison waiting to be condemned. The guards mocked her because when she gave birth she moaned in agony. They asked her how she would ever endure the beasts of the arena.
The key to understanding in what circumstances suffering is warranted comes down to this. Matthew 16:25 says, “Those who lose their life for my sake will find it.” For the sake of Jesus is the gospel itself : that we are saved by grace through faith, and not by works.
Grace means that despite our sin God does not punish us. Therefore if God does not punish us, then nobody else has the right to punish us either. This principle of grace extends to all of God’s creatures: humans, animals, plants, and the Earth. None deserve abuse.
Faith is simply the ethical implications of believing in Jesus’ grace. If you call Jesus Lord, then you must treat all of God’s creation with grace, dignity, respect, and not punishment: even your enemies, and especially yourself.
Work is the devil’s greatest tool to trap us and destroy our faith. Work is the reason why Peter tries to prevent Jesus from his journey to the cross. The myth of work tells us that the winners of this life are the ones who have worked the hardest. Work is the standard excuse given to justify gross inequalities. We are spoon fed the deception everyday, that the healthy, wealthy, and wise are the ones who worked the hardest. This myth has endured throughout the ages. And this myth is nothing less than the work of the devil.
That is why Jesus told Peter, “Get behind me Satan.” Peter could not conceive that Jesus, who indeed was working very hard, had done nothing but good, would now have his life come to a close at a very young age before he had achieved power and political kingship.
Do you see the extremely narrow path this creates? On the one hand the entire myth of virtuous suffering is eliminated. God wants nobody to be punished or suffer. On the other hand the myth of success from hard work is also eliminated. Earthly blessing and comfort are no indicator of a person’s faith. So what path is left?
The path that is left is radical nonviolent action against unjust power and illegitimate authority. The path that Jesus walks and invites us to join is to direct our lives squarely in the face of abuse to disarm it with tools of creative love in action. When any abuser: domestic or public raises their voice or their arm to strike a victim, the Chrisitian is the one who lifts up their head and interposes their body. The rest of the world may look upon you with scorn, disdain, and see you as a fool. They will judge you and call you a traitor and an enemy, that you would dare raise your gaze against the earthly masters. Then you too may utter the words of Saint Perpetua that she spoke to the prison guards, ‘What I am suffering now’, she replied, ‘I suffer by myself. But then another will be inside me who will suffer for me, just as I shall be suffering for him.’
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