Deformed Reform

by Mike Chong Perkinson

I have often wondered why it is that people struggle to get along with each other. Husbands find it difficult to understand their wives; wives, at times, feel like they are married to an alien that doesn’t comprehend the feminine heart; siblings fight and contend for parental affection; and those in the Kingdom of God, the Church, war with one another over right doctrine and preferred practice. Like the Zealots of old, our reformation tactics, even if well intended, are not about bettering humanity and the Kingdom of God but some form of nationalism that interjects its religious superiority and prejudice over others. After all, the best human organizations can do is to create structures that dominate and oppress – dehumanizing individuals as it turns them into human doings, functionaries within the oppressive matrix that serves the powerful and the few.

The Kingdom of God, on the other hand, is not about a power that restricts, dehumanizes, oppresses or dominates. Rather, the Kingdom of God is about the freedom (Luke 4:18-19) that Christ ushered in that results in a power of service that frees others from the bondage of the oppressive demonic matrix. The power of the new society that Jesus came to create is not one that needs to be served, creating fear in the lives of its constituency. Rather, Jesus came to bring about a Kingdom that will serve others even if by dying for them.

All this to say, the best religious structures can do is give rise to oppressive and restrictive measures that continue to live along the lines of the satanic matrix that continues to dehumanize and devalue the pinnacle of creation (humanity). As polished and right as our doctrine might be the machinery of religion still serves the few, drawing the many to support it, while the many serve the machine and lose their humanity. Maybe this has something to do with why so many are disillusioned with organized religion. It would appear that our overall efforts at reform simply deform the creation more and more.

On a more positive note, have you ever noticed that humanity is often at its best in the midst of catastrophe? When a hurricane or some natural disaster or terrorist attack strikes one of our cities, we see humanity step up in a way that normally does not take place in our day to day routines. Fireman, police officers and the like sacrifice their lives to help those caught in the throes of death’s grip. The heroic efforts of those during 9/11 are forever etched upon the minds of us all.

Why is it that during such difficult times people act more human than at any other? I submit to you that the reason is the playing field has been leveled. We are no longer doctors, lawyers, CEO’s, but simply human beings. It doesn’t matter if the person trapped in the building is a house wife, a CEO, degreed or non-degreed, all that matters is one of the human family is hurting and someone needs to help them. For a moment we get a taste of humanity at its best, as it loves sacrifices and re-humanizes the other. For a brief moment, the country is one and we are all just human beings contending for the humanness of each other. The problem, as we all know, is that we can’t maintain this.

Jesus comes to bring about a true reformation of heart that re-humanizes us through the power of the Cross. He came to level the playing field. He became human so that we might return to being human. He became a Man so that we could see how the Father (the Trinity) is and how the God-head relates to itself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He brought about a Kingdom that is based in 3 relationships: Loving God and loving others as you love yourself. More simply, relationship with God restores our relationship with the self, healing our brokenness, which then allows us to have relationship with others. The purest form of a level playing field is the power of the Church to serve and re-humanize the other. In other words, loving people is the primary characteristic that verifies we are disciples of Christ.

A man went to Rabbi Shammai and made a request, “I will believe in the God of Israel and abandon idolatry on the condition that you teach me the whole Torah while standing on one foot.” Shammai was rather irritated by this request and was holding a builder’s cubit measure rod in his hand that he quickly used to whack the would-be convert with, driving him away for asking such a ridiculous question.

The other great Rabbi of the day, Hillel (both were contemporaries of Jesus) was next in line for this foolish man’s question. He asked Hillel and Hillel responded. “What you do not want someone to do to you, do not do to him or her. The rest of the Torah is commentary upon this principle. Now go and learn it!” This is the negative application of the Golden Rule taught by Jesus.

The heart of the Torah that Jesus came to restore is highlighted by Rabbi Hillel. The issue is in how we relate to each other. Another great Rabbi and Pharisee (Acts 23:6) said something along the same line: “For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Galatians 5:14)

Dear Saint, Pastor, leader, may you find your heart overwhelmed by the love and mercy of our God that has resulted in your freedom that has released in you a heart to serve His Kingdom. May you resist the oppressive nature of the demonic matrix that seeks to overtake our churches and organizations while it dominates and oppresses people all in the name of Jesus. May you find your life more human, more alive as you and your family enjoy the liberating power of the Cross that sets us free from human domination. May the coming revolution not be about our personal prejudices, a nationalistic pride or self-serving theology. May Christ come and set me free from myself and free me to be myself for His pleasure and Kingdom so that others might be re-humanized in the love of the Cross.