Let’s start here with this neglected fact: the resurrection of Jesus was an illegal act. Pilate had put his seal on the tomb, and it was against the law to break the seal. Pilate had also set up a squadron of soldiers to keep anyone from going into or out of the tomb. When Jesus burst forth from the tomb on the first Easter, the soldiers were struck down and the seal was broken. It’s pretty difficult to top that when it comes to social revolutionary activity! The great miracle of Easter was the first act of Christian civil disobedience!
Jesus stands against much of what has always defined the political and economic status quo. The problem with many “social gospel” and “liberation theology” advocates, however, is that they take this truth and turn it into an endorsement of a thoroughgoing left-wing agenda. The Religious Right often makes a parallel mistake, using the authority of Jesus to bolster a set of issues narrowly identified with political conservatism.
The proper alternative to all of this is not to turn “apolitical.” Jesus wants us to think critically about accepted political and economic policies, as well as about widespread social practices. This means thinking together about the big issues in our culture. It even means arguing together, so that we can discern the will of God for specific areas of social concern.
I am glad that the Pope is traveling to the home of liberation theology. I hope he engages in some fruitful conversations there about matters of justice. And I hope that the rest of us can draw wisdom from those conversations. We need a lot of wisdom on that subject these days!
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