The always relevant question is how ought we live in the light and life of God, given the disturbing darkness of the world? With the ways of death present everywhere, how are we to oppose or defy them?
Basically, we are to live according to what we observe in Jesus. Imitation is the key, which is why originally his followers were simply of ‘the Way’ (Acts 9:2). Though this is obvious, too often pragmatic responses to the systems of this world, ones which are deemed practical, take precedence over doing what Jesus actually did, so let’s consider how Jesus reacted to the corruption that was all around him.
Concerning the Roman Empire, the ultimate systemic power of his time, Jesus clearly did not follow its dictates. He did not bow the knee to Rome. However, he said little about Rome, and when he did, it was typically only because he was asked. Jesus did not seem to choose to discuss at length the empire and its evils.
Jesus definitely had much more to say about the corrupt Jewish establishment and its toxic leadership, the local and immediate authorities who often assailed him. Jesus named what was wrong with the system. In his view, the temple was already in ruins even though the facade still glistened, and Jesus was clear in condemning the abusive and self-serving practices of the religious leaders. When Jesus called out these problems, it was often to warn common people against being duped.
But despite his critique, Jesus did not attempt any concerted reform of the places where power resided. He did not seem interested in trying to change the temple system, cleanse the priesthood, or takeover and renew religious sects like the Pharisees. Instead, Jesus spoke cryptically about building a new temple, the coming kingdom, and being a good shepherd.
His approach was not to try and raise any dead system back to life, but to create a new one, a new temple, his body, a body composed of his followers. This is significant. Rather than change the existing structures, Jesus was creating communities of change which could live into the reign of God that he described.
His method was to teach ordinary people an alternative way to live, one which resisted the directions and corruption of the world, not through outright confrontation as much as non-conformity. Jesus proclaimed that God’s Kingdom had already become present through his work.
We see a grassroots revolution arising from the bottom of society, from among powerless peasants. He did not want them to seize decrepit institutions and seats of power, but claimed that they could, through their daily actions, enter this new kingdom, one unlike the kingdoms of this world. The way forward was powerlessness, and as such, was well within reach of the common people.
Jesus fought the corrupt systems by describing and encouraging a new form of shared life, largely centered among people of humble circumstances who could join together in mutually supportive communities. This was an alternative to both the Jewish and Roman systems of his day.
The revolution was not coming through the typical channels of power and institution. It was birthed through people loving their neighbors as a way of resisting the powers of the day. In fact, if the people holding power and influence wanted to enter the kingdom of which Jesus spoke, they needed to do so through the very same powerlessness. In essence, they had to abandon their privilege.
The way of Jesus involves people coming together in loving community, sharing and supporting each other, and seeking a common good. These startup communities are lights shining in a dark world, a city set on a hill.
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