America Picks a New Messiah

Our president, who art in the white house

Hallowed be thy name

Thy government come,

Thy will be done around the world, as in America

Give us this year our annual salary

And excuse our history

As we excuse those who have wronged us.

And lead us not into temptation,

But deliver us from our enemies.

For Thine is the white house,

the power and the glory

forever and ever.

 

Ok, so I guess the above prayer is a little extreme but no one can ignore the massive commotion that has struck the world, and most of all America (obviously) with the results of the presidential elections.

 

What hit me was how much people ‘worshipped’ Obama, as they welcomed him into the white house. I use the word worship here because that’s how I saw it – America had chosen a new president, one who would save them from the evil of the world – financial crisis, terrorism, racism. A new saviour was born.

 

During Roman occupation it was Caesar who was seen as the King of Kings, the bringer of peace, as the saviour and as you can imagine Jesus stood in direct conflict with all of this – no wonder he got himself killed. In fact the Lord’s Prayer was a prayer that could get you killed. It rebelled against the powers of the time and you only said it out loud if you truly meant it and would take the consequences. (A similar prayer was said to Caesar)

 

 

Caesar ruled from the top. Jesus taught from the bottom.

 

Caesar controlled and manipulated. Jesus loved and welcomed.

 

Caesar changed laws and legislation. Jesus changed hearts and lives.

 

Caesar rode victorious on horseback. Jesus rode solemnly on a donkey.

 

Caesar ruled with a mighty army. Jesus led by service.

 

Caesar tried to Romanise the world. Jesus would embrace the world.

 

 

 

But Obama is surely in a different place to Caesar.  I expect (I don’t want to assume) that he is a ‘bible believing American’ and that he will try to make the world more like God intended. He will seek to bring about God’s Kingdom… only time can tell I guess

 

 

But I think there are inherit dangers in thinking that the president of America (or prime minister of… or king of… or dictator of…) is our political saviour. For one thing, too many people rely on them to solve their problems and blame them otherwise instead of helping themselves.

 

But if the president is supposed to be my political saviour then what place does that leave Jesus – my spiritual saviour?

 

In Jesus’ time there wasn’t a separation of religion and politics. Caesar was, in so many words, God on earth, to do God’s work, his role was both political and religious. In the same way that Jesus wasn’t simply a religious teacher but a profoundly political figure, who stood right in the face of the systems of the day.

 

I often look at the governments, or kingdoms, of today and can’t help but think that if Jesus came today he would be standing in direct conflict with them as well.

 

Bush ruled from the top. Jesus taught from the bottom.

 

Bush controlled and manipulated. Jesus loved and welcomed.

 

Bush changed laws and legislation. Jesus changed hearts and lives.

 

Bush rode victorious in a limousine. Jesus rode solemnly on a donkey

 

Bush ruled with a mighty army. Jesus led by service.

 

Bush tried to Americanise the world. Jesus would embrace the world.

 

At the end of the day I’m making massive generalisations without going into huge detail and probably not making much sense. I’m also painting a bad picture of Bush and a good picture of Jesus, which isn’t always necessarily true –I’m sure Bush did change lives. Things aren’t this simple. There is a lot of politics involved.

 

But Jesus taught a topsy-turvy Kingdom which often doesn’t make sense and hasn’t been embraced by our governments.

 

And having witnessed the events of the presidential Election I saw emotional people who seemed convinced (even if they didn’t articulate it) that Obama would save the world – these same people most likely believe that Jesus has already saved the world.

 

As a BBC reporter put it ‘There is a huge expectation [on Obama] to deliver miracles’

 

Is there a conflict there?