Should Christians be rulers or servants?

The great religious divide in the world today is not a divide between Christianity and other religions. The great division is within Christendom.

The careful and conscientious student of the Bible recognizes the age-old divisions. Running throughout the Bible are profound disagreements. If the Bible student does not recognize the ongoing divisions among the Children of Abraham, s/he concludes that the Bible is confused, inconsistent, or even unintelligible. The arguments are about very basic questions. What is the nature of God? Is God loving? Or is He vengeful? Are neighbors to be loved or killed? Both sides of the arguments can be found in the writings that are commonly called Holy Bible. The most meaningful reading of the Bible takes place when the reader decides to join in the arguments.

In discussions about the differing opinions in the Bible, one side is commonly called the great tradition. The other side is called the small or lesser tradition. The great traditions were developed and enforced by the ruling classes. Their religious interpretations were found almost exclusively in larger cities where rulers, the rulers’ retainers, priests and religious leaders lived. Under the great tradition, rules always multiplied. This is especially true of worship practices. Making proper sacrifices, observing holy days, keeping purity rituals and bringing proper gifts were mandatory for a person to be right with God.

In the eras in which the Bible writings were produced, the small tradition was found in rural areas away from the seats of power. In the Old Testament writings the prophets were typically a part of the small tradition. Over and over again they critiqued the religious practices of kings and priests. The champions of the small tradition never sought power. Their repeated concern was for the poor, the widow, the orphan and the foreigner. Their role was to call for justice. They were scathing in their criticism of the great tradition and the people who enforced the traditions.

Jesus was raised in a very small village in northern Palestine. It was a great seed-bed for the small tradition. Apparently, Jesus participated in the synagogue gatherings in Nazareth at which Torah (the law or message of God) was vigorously debated.

He emerged out of village life in Nazareth as a rabbi without formal training but empowered by his reputation as a skilled teacher and debater of the truth of his faith. The base of his followers was recruited in the small towns of northern Palestine. There were two very large cities within a few miles of Nazareth. Apparently he never visited either one of them. The two large cities were centers of wealth and power. Life in Sepphoris and Tiberius were controlled by the great traditions of the era. They would have been very dangerous places for Jesus to speak. Most scholars believe Jesus visited Jerusalem (70 miles to the south) only once. He spoke out and was killed.

Jesus can best be understood as a practitioner of the small tradition. His faith practice was expressed simply. Love God. Love your neighbor. Do justice. His idea of greatness had nothing to do with wealth or power. According to Jesus, greatness is achieved by being a servant of a loving God. Serving God is expressed by being a servant of all.

The corrupting of the message of Jesus began soon after his death. His greatness became tied to King David, the most powerful king in the history of Israel. The conquering King David became the image of the ideal Jesus. Jesus became ruler of all rather than servant of all. It is startling to realize how fast Jesus the practitioner of the small tradition, after his death, became Jesus head of the great tradition. Over the years the vast majority of the leaders of Christian churches have unwittingly embraced the great tradition and has abandoned the small tradition.

I suspect the appeal of power is very attractive to most people. Many lose their souls in the pursuit of wealth and power. Apparently there was a struggle even among the disciples of Jesus for positions of power. Jesus steered them in a different direction, but the impulses never left.

I am convinced that the information age has triggered a revolution of religious attitudes. Our younger generation is smarter, better informed and obviously restless. Young believers are leaving their churches in droves. The exodus is from every Christian church, denomination and group. As they leave, they are speaking up about their reasons for their exodus.

I confess I do not have a clear vision of the Christian church of the future. What is called “the emerging church” holds great promise because of their focus on Jesus and his teachings. The ultimate shape of the emerging church is still unknown. Emergents are apparently found in most every congregation. They are restless. If they stay rather than leave, they may become the salt, leaven and light that brings a new day for the small tradition. If they listen to Jesus, they will become servants rather than rulers.

The Rev. Howard Bess is a retired American Baptist minister, who lives in Palmer. His e-mail address is hdbss@mtaonline.net.