Did Jesus make us Fat and Greedy?

There is a very interesting article in today's SMH from Elizabeth Farrelly. Elizabeth is one of my favorite issues commentators in Sydney. Though sometimes falling into sweeping generalizations, she regularly makes sensible and many times profound reflections on Sydney culture and people. Her book "Blubberland ~ The dangers of happiness" is well worth reading.


Today's article "Did Jesus make us fat and greedy?" is provocative and interesting. She makes the typical swipe at the prosperity Gospel prevalent in some Churches in the West. She hypothesizes on whether Christianity is the root of western capitalism. She then has a look at 2 hunger strikers and their fight for a better world. But it is her conclusion that I found most thought provoking.

"So me, I'm hoping the Jews are right and that the messiah is still en route."

This statement made me sad. That an intelligent commentator would make this reflection on Jesus Christ in a city with such a rich Christian Heritage, where there are 100's of faithful churches and thousands of Christians living and proclaiming Christ. It would be easy to say that it is the 'world' fault or she is a pagan - arguing that they are blind or selfish or .... But reading the article carefully we cannot argue this. Behind Farrelly's provocative humour is a valid point - the Messiah we proclaim and live for is not clear, nor appealing. Our Jesus gets mixed up with self seeking hedonism. Our Jesus gets mixed up in strange and sometimes horrible politics. Our Jesus appears to have little to say to the poor, the climate, the minorities. So at Christmas - Farrelly sadly declares - I hope the Messiah is still coming because the one she sees in us is not a valid messiah.

For us who love and follow Jesus - we know the true Messiah has come. Our failures do not change the fact that Jesus Christ is the King, the Saviour, the Hope of this world, the hope of all people. So how do we respond? One thought - It would be wonderful if by the end of 2010 Farrelly can say that the real Jesus is thoroughly different to what she expected - He is enthralling, challenging, an answer to the world - because she sees it in the people who follow him. The not only proclaim salvation, forgiveness of sins - they live a new life - a life that is shaped by our certain future - when Jesus will rule with justice and mercy over a redeemed new creation.