Posted on 07/19/2008 11:50:34 PM PDT by CANBFORGIVEN
Jesus Christ's epic Sermon on the Mount, with its calls for peacemaking, helping the poor and working for justice, could well be compared to a modern political campaign speech in front of the multitudes in a modern stadium.
Now a Gilbert church is launching a Jesus for President campaign and will conduct a two-month effort starting in August - parallel to the U.S. presidential campaign - that emphasizes a familiar issue in the 2008 campaign: change.
"Advocating for Change Since 33 A.D." is the secondary theme of the campaign that Pastor Mark Connelly is launching this weekend at Superstition Springs Community Church at 4450 E. Elliot Road.
Members will be asked to put "Jesus for President" signs in their yards and wear buttons with the same appeal. And like all candidates, it will be promoted by a Web site, www.anewplatform.com.
"In the midst of political chaos and social inequality, Jesus ran a platform where people did not just lobby for change; they became change," say the organizers of the campaign, which will be launched Aug. 9 and conclude Oct. 5.
Connelly isn't saying who might have filled Jesus' Cabinet almost 2,000 years ago - perhaps Peter as vice president, Paul as secretary of state and Judas Iscariot as the treasury secretary.
Connelly says he is capitalizing on the buzz of this year's national presidential campaign by driving home the message that people should not look to politicians to remedy problems and "produce change for us."
"Things don't seem to be changing all that much depending on who is in office," Connelly said. "What if Jesus were running for president? What would be the platform that he would be running on?"
The pastor said Christ's platform can be best summed up in the Gospel of Matthew, Chapters 5 and 6.
They are the heavily quoted biblical passages of the talk Jesus gave on a mountainside, beginning with the eight "beatitudes" - "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven ..."
The Sermon on the Mount has been called the "Charter of Christianity."
While planning a late summer sermon series, the church's staff looked to a book, "Jesus for President: Politics for Ordinary Radicals" by Shane Claiborne and Chris Haw, which targets Christian skeptics and calls for them to immerse themselves in the world's struggles to transform the planet as well as themselves.
"While we are not necessarily following what the book is about, we were inspired to take that direction," said Brian Kaufman, the church's communications director.
Sermons for four weekend services spread across nine weeks discuss new kinds of "issues, peacemaking, purity and righteousness."
Superstition Springs Community Church, founded in 1995, puts a heavy emphasis on social justice issues, Kaufman said.
One target is sex trafficking in Arizona, Fiji and Africa.
"Ending human trafficking is one of our biggest ministries," Connelly said.
They work to rescue teens, especially girls, from sex trades, then settle them in safe environments, he said.
One project includes developing a 43-acre village for girls in Fiji. Another center in either India or Jamaica is being explored.
Moreover, the church, which draws about 2,000 worshipers each weekend, has adopted an African village with 900 children who are AIDS orphans.
"We provide food, water, schools, community centers and shelters for these kids - and give them a second chance," Connelly said. Ministries also include supporting transitional housing for the Valley's homeless women and children.
The Jesus for President campaign, Connelly said, will stress that "we have to politically embody those changes and become the changes that we desire to see in our communities and our nation."
Lasting change, he said, "emerges from the hearts of the people who have been transformed, rather than just seeking people to legislate for us."
When Jesus shows up to run things, no election will be necessary. :-)
MM
1. Gainfully employed as a carpenter, aka a "working man."
2. First Jewish president.
3. Solid cabinet of 12 folks from various walks of life.
Cons:
1. Messiah complex.
2. Relationship with a woman of questionable virtue.
3. Men with beards no longer get elected president.
The holy and most powerful God of the universe reduced down to campaign slogans and platforms. Christianity has come to this????
Absurd.
He already is King of Kings, and Lord of Lords - and someday, upon a timing of His choosing, every knee will bow, and every tongue will wag acknowledging His power and authority.
They are the heavily quoted biblical passages of the talk Jesus gave on a mountainside, beginning with the eight "beatitudes" - "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven ..."
The Lord of the covenant comes and announces covenant blessings and covenant curses. Sure you want this?
Exactly...
Act 7:49 Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?
1Co 10:26 For the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof.
Compete with Black Messiah Obama? I wonder.
No he isn’t reduced down to campaign slogans and platforms. Didn’t you read the article or visit the weblink?
This church is starting a sermon series that uses SCRIPTURE to tell of the message of Jesus Christ.
So many people are looking to politicians & new legislation to change their lives when they should be looking to Jesus for real change. The platform is from Jesus Christ, it is the gospel. This is no different than when Paul uses this comparison in Athens (Acts 17: 16-34)vs.23 “for as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you”.
So please tell me how that demeans Christianity or Christ? This Pastor is just looking at the world around him that is so enthralled with what politician is going to bring about the greatest change, when REAL change would happen if all would turn to Christ.
“Sermon on the Mount, with its calls for peacemaking, helping the poor and working for justice . . . .” There is nothing in the Beatitudes on helping the poor.
The Beatitudes
1And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. 2Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:
3”Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted.
5Blessed are the meek,
For they shall inherit the earth.
6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled.
7Blessed are the merciful,
For they shall obtain mercy.
8Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see God.
9Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called sons of God.
10Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11”Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Jesus is talking about the Kingdom of Heaven not earth.
Okay,so using your argument that the beatitudes are about the Kingdom of Heaven and it isn’t about earth, are you sayng God does not comfort us here on earth (vs.4), that we cannot receive God’s mercy until heaven? (vs.7). How about verse 11, that we will be reviled and persecuted because of following Christ here on earth. I can’t imagine that this verse is referring to heaven, could you? I believe this particular verse is there to encourage us to hang in there and keep on spreading the gospel despite reaction from others.
I’m not sure how this Pastor will deliver the message. I just know he said he was going to be talking about change. (see website link) Since we have a clear picture from the beautitudes about the type of people that will inherit the Kingdom, than one can determine to use this scripture as an examination of our own hearts. Could you agree with that?
Do you still believe by a church advertising their sermon series “Jesus for President” in some way demeans Christ or Christianity, I would like to know how?
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