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Jesus and Empire

Jesus counseled peace, but the [Roman] empire practiced violence. Jesus counseled humility, but the empire engaged in a ruthless pursuit of power. Jesus counseled concern for the poor, but the empire practiced exaltation of the rich. Jesus counseled modesty, but the empire practiced extravagance. Jesus counseled simple living, but the empire encouraged luxurious living for those with the means to embrace that way of life. And while Jesus counseled forgiveness and love for one’s enemies, the empire practiced vengeance. Like that ancient empire, the United States abounds in Christian trappings. And yet the United States embraces virtually all the values that have been common to empires for centuries on end. It pays lip service to peace but thrives on violence, exalts the rich over the poor, prefers power to humility, places vengeance above forgiveness, extravagance above modesty, and luxury above simplicity. In a word, it rejects the values of Jesus. How, then, can we claim that the United States is a Christian nation?

Richard Hughes (via azspot)

Undercover Nun wonders the same.  The US rarely seems a Christian place to me.

I pray for us all.

(via hedwyg)