I just finished the WWJD? Protest Wal-Mart! article over at The Nation. The WWJD question is just a brief mention in the middle of the article - the title is just a tease to draw your attention to it. Kindof misleading.
However, since it's on my mind, let's think about this a little bit, extend the WWJD question a little bit. The preacher at the union rally in the church told the crowd that Jesus would be there protesting with the unionizers. Is that really true? Historically, the Israelites were expecting the Messiah to be a military and/or political leader, one who would obtain freedom and independence for Israel from their foreign oppressors. Jesus could have done that; it was within His power as Creator to destroy Rome with a word. But He didn't do it, because He was sent to earth to do a greater thing - to be the Saviour of the world.
People who try to draw Jesus into the latest political or social cause make the same mistake as the Jews of 33 A.D., expecting Jesus's message to be one of freedom of oppression, where the oppression is really just a symptom of a far deeper problem, the human race's alienation from God. When we expect Jesus to be organizing laborers into unions, we put Jesus into a box, saying "fix this! we're being exploited!" Jesus's reply will likely be different than what we expect. When 5000 people went looking for Jesus,
Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”John 6:26-29 ESV
I'm sure that I will be completely blown away by God's wisdom when I know His truth more completely in heaven (I believe the learning never stops either, even then). I expect we all will be. When I hear anyone say that their economic or political model is closer to God's way, my gut tendency is to walk away; our sin nature, combined with our reliance on human leadership, doom all man-made systems to failure. Which isn't to say we shouldn't try to make a better society. I just think that one which respects the lifes and liberties of its citizens is better than one that doesn't. I don't value economic equality as much because it cannot be attained, at least not in an absolute sense, without sacrificing liberty.
Posted by joelfuhrmann at November 27, 2002 11:22 PM