Hi unsafe,
It takes time to discover who the person we meet really is. Remember that sometimes angels come disguised as strangers. We do well in walking the second mile. Even should the one met along our way be an adversary. Even there we need not be concerned. All things work together for the good of those who love God and are called by the name of God revealed in the gospel of Jesus Christ the Holy Spirit.
God called Moses to intercede where the powers and principalities were exploiting and oppressing the children of God. In the same way God called the prophets where the powers and principalities were exploiting and oppressing the children of God. In terms of rebellion against the way of God there is no difference between Pharaoh and Solomon. Both sat at the table of power, profit, prestige, privilege and pride. They were both well served by religious persons who blessed their enterprise and in return were included at the royal table.
You may not like my prophetic denunciation of power used for profit at the expense of children, women and men here and everywhere. You may characterize me as a false teacher or a lost soul. Your judgement changes nothing. I am called by God to a purpose and I am obedient to that call. This not on the basis of approval from my peers. I do not seek any such approval. With many more now rising in the land I am not moved by external directive. We are motivated by the spirit of God which is quickened in us by the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The arrest was a form of state persecution. It was not aimed at me. It was aimed at the Anti Poverty Committee which had been harassing Premier Campbell at every available opportunity. Campbell instructed the police to round up the anti-poverty activists and serve them warrants. This was the circumstance when God prompted me to perform a symbolic action. At the critical moment, an order was made to arrest me. Evidence from sound and photographic materials verified this. They mistook me for a member of the Anti-Poverty Committee. I was locked in a van, driven to the jail. There I was physically abused. Stripped naked and forced to turn my bum towards two police officers holding batons. I was told to spread my bum cheeks. A ritual of sodomy subjecting me to the power of the state. For more than thirty hours I was kept under lock and key, with no permitted contact with the outside.
Following my release I did not call a lawyer. I called an Old Testament professor met while in seminary. We discussed the matter in the light of my prophetic understanding and responsibility. The professor supported my explanation and position. His wife was the president of the United Church conference. She wrote a letter to the state wondering what explanation there might be for what happened on the day of my arrest.
I began my defence by noting the names of Socrates and Jesus. Socrates because he was not familiar with the formalities of the courtroom and determined to simply speak truthfully regarding the charges against him. Jesus because he said faithful persons had a good chance on finding themselves before a judge someday. Jesus said that this should provoke no worry. The spirit would provide words adequate to the situation. I went on to say that I would speak truthfully about my actions and the motives for those actions.
After testifying I returned to my seat. A lawyer well respected for his social advocacy passed me a small note. It said simply: "I really must read that book again." This in reference to the Bible which informed my testimony to the judge. At another point a young mother was being interrogated by the Crown Attorney. After some general questions the Crown Attorney asked if the mother was not offended that a minister would act this way in public. The mother said if more ministers acted as I did she might begin bringing her children to church. You see the whole experience gave me opportunity to bear witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ in many ways and among many people. During the trial a fundraising social was held. There were about five hundred persons present. It was called "Everybody loves a Clown" and the posters had a picture of two police officers pressing my face against the concrete wall.
The Jesus I revealed in word and deed was very well received among persons of all kind seeking justice and a new world order. It was not well received by those conformed to the way of this world.
George
In the first verses you will notice that Jesus did break the laws of his people. Later on you will see that God does have a preferential option for the poor. This made very plain in the parable of the Rich man and the Beggar by his Gate.
"On a sabbath, while he was going through the grain fields, his disciples plucked and ate some heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands. 2 But some of the Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the sabbath?” 3 And Jesus answered, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: 4 how he entered the house of God, and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those with him?” 5 And he said to them, “The Son of man is lord of the sabbath.”
6 On another sabbath, when he entered the synagogue and taught, a man was there whose right hand was withered. 7 And the scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the sabbath, so that they might find an accusation against him. 8 But he knew their thoughts, and he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Come and stand here.” And he rose and stood there. 9 And Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful on the sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?” 10 And he looked around on them all, and said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored. 11 But they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.
12 In these days he went out to the mountain to pray; and all night he continued in prayer to God. 13 And when it was day, he called his disciples, and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles; 14 Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew, 15 and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot, 16 and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.
17 And he came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; 18 and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. 19 And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came forth from him and healed them all.
20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said:
“Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
21 “Blessed are you that hunger now, for you shall be satisfied.
“Blessed are you that weep now, for you shall laugh.
22 “Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, on account of the Son of man! 23 Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.
24 “But woe to you that are rich, for you have received your consolation.
25 “Woe to you that are full now, for you shall hunger.
“Woe to you that laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.
26 “Woe to you, when all men speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.
27 “But I say to you that hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To him who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from him who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. 30 Give to every one who begs from you; and of him who takes away your goods do not ask them again. 31 And as you wish that men would do to you, do so to them.
32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the selfish. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
37 “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38 give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”
39 He also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? 40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but every one when he is fully taught will be like his teacher. 41 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 42 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.
43 “For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit; 44 for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thorns, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. 45 The good man out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil man out of his evil treasure produces evil; for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
46 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? 47 Every one who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep, and laid the foundation upon rock; and when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house, and could not shake it, because it had been well built. 49 But he who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation; against which the stream broke, and immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”
