God in Sandals

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Jesus was God in Sandals…

 

If he was indeed God in sandals, then that means he cared about what God cared about, hated what God hated, and loved what God loved.  The incarnation gave God a face.  It gave God literal tears, literal laughter, literal hands, literal feet, a literal heart, and a literal mind.

          Rachel Held Evans

 

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If Jesus were to show up today

He might wear sandals

 

Or perhaps he would wear Hokas.

Maybe even Florsheim wingtips, although I doubt it

 

I have no clue

But I think I know where Jesus would hang out

And it wouldn’t be at the political rally “Rededicate 250.”

 

He wouldn’t be admiring the newly added gold leaf

On the walls of the Oval Office

 

And he wouldn’t smile beneficently as

Pete Hegseth abuses the gospel and talks about a “holy war.”

 

It is more likely that he would be sharing a sandwich with a homeless dude

In a doorway

 

Trying to comfort immigrant children in Dilley Detention Center

And walking in a Pride parade with his queer brothers and sisters

 

He probably would be totally uncomfortable standing behind

The resolute desk, or sitting in the pew of a White Nationalist Church

But totally at home in a homeless shelter, or a soup kitchen

 

If Jesus was God in sandals

And if Jesus, as GodInUs, the Spirit

is with us still

 

then maybe we need to take another look

at what it means to follow

 

Because I don’t think Jesus is looking for us to

Line up behind the church or the state

 

I think he is looking for us to become so permeated

With love, with his presence

That we start to think, feel, and act

More like him

 

I think he wants us to hang around and value

And love, and help

Sick people and people with mental health issues

Homeless people and helpless people

Straight people and queer people

 

Hurt people

Recovering people

Searching people

Doubtful people

Even angry and fearful people

 

I think he wants us to love

Even our enemies

To give, even if we get nothing back

To serve, without recognition

To live simply (and give away what we don’t really need)

 

I think he wants humility, not arrogance

Non-violence, not missiles and bombs

Truth not deceit

Generosity not greed

 

I think Jesus doesn’t want a fortified palace (ballroom)

For a dictator

Nor a 250 ft arch

 

I think he wants universal healthcare

And housing

And food security

 

Jesus was a radical

He loved with radicality

He taught radical things

And he forgave while nailed to a tree

 

And he calls us to be “ordinary radicals” (Thanks Shane Claibourne)

 

Following Jesus is not about intellectual belief

(Christianity is crazy illogical anyway)

But about embracing love

 

It is not about closing ourselves up to

Others (and of course, sin)

As it is to opening ourselves up to God, to love

And to all those we would rather ignore

It is not so much about prayer and praise

As it is about getting into the mix of the worlds

Hate and pain

 

And loving like crazy

 

Faith (and hope) is lived