The Victorious Jesus

Tuesday night one American Jesus won. The other lost.

Whether American Christianity will be strengthened or weakened remains to be seen.

As I listened to Barack Obama eschew any note of triumph, praise John McCain as he has so many times, and call for the country to be united, I thought, He sounds like what most Americans think Christians ought to sound like.

He didn't sound like Sarah Palin. Or John McCain. Or George W. Bush. Or many of the evangelicals rousing their troops before the election. As voting began, one of those leaders said that evangelicals would vote for the devil himself rather than give support to Obama. Another warned that Obama could be the Anti-Christ and not even know it.

Their talk represented the Jesus that lost this election. That Jesus, let's call him the Fighting Jesus, is angry, punishing, highly concerned about sexual behavior and about keeping women in certain roles. He favors battle terms, focuses on his enemies and is vigilant against evil.

Only those who repent and believe properly will go to heaven. He divides the world into the sheep and goats, the saved and lost. The saved are his people. No one else is.

The Fighting Jesus protects his people, hears them and answers their prayers. He also punishes them, but he punishes those who reject him even more.

His followers, who call themselves God's people, feel compelled to speak boldly against evil and unbelief. They must rebuke and correct those who don't follow their Jesus. The Fighting Jesus is a divider.

He never changes.

He is in the Bible. Those who believe in him often know the Bible quite well and so are justifiably unapologetic before those who accuse them of being un-Christian or mean spirited.

The Jesus who won on Tuesday is also in the Bible.

This Jesus responds mildly to criticism and threat. He's respectful of others. He favors peace. He focuses far more on the needs of the poor than on sexual behavior. He is less concerned with the letter of religious law than its spirit. He isn't much concerned with deciding who is evil and who is good. For him forgiving enemies is more important than battling them. He is a uniter.

A growing number of his followers think he allows even nonbelievers into heaven.

Some of his followers know the Bible quite well. Barack Obama appears to be among those. His Jesus might be called the Peace Jesus.

He might also be called the Popular Jesus because many Americans are convinced that this Jesus is the true one. These people often judge followers of the Fighting Jesus harshly and say that they aren't acting like Jesus followers at all.

These nonbeliever delight in declaring that they like Jesus; it's the Christians they can't stand.

For decades Fighting Jesus followers have held the spotlight. In the popular mind, they've won most of their battles. They have come to represent American Christianity as a whole, as though they are the only Jesus followers.

Barack Obama didn't preach his faith nearly as much as Sarah Palin did. He didn't oppose abortion as the Fighting Jesus followers demanded and as John McCain did. But when news of Palin's daughter's pregnancy surfaced, he forbade his staff to capitalize on it and said he would fire anyone who did. Then he stopped all stone throwing by noting that his own mother was young when he was born.

I thought, somewhat ruefully, He's acting like Jesus.

In the debates when John McCain refused to look at him, when McCain answered derisively, when McCain sneered and smirked, Obama did not respond in kind. He praised McCain's virtues consistently. He ignored all opportunities to humiliate or deride McCain. He passed up easy scores, even on policy matters.

I thought with a groan, He's acting like Jesus.

And then Tuesday night, he talked of coming together, of caring for one another, of sacrifice for the common good.

I thought with delight, He's still acting like Jesus.

The Peace Jesus.

Many people are terrified of the Peace Jesus. They think he's weak.

But it didn't look that way Tuesday night. Obama didn't look weak. And neither did the Peace Jesus. They looked like hope and strength and a new way.

Let's pray they are.

---
Christine Wicker is the author of "The Fall of the Evangelical Nation." Her website is www.christinewicker.com

Comments

[dcrinaz]

On 10/26/08, I posted a comment to the Huffington Post article, "OTB Writers Respond to Anti-Muslim, Anti-Arab Slurs." I noted that Barack Obama: he turns the other cheek, which showed me his Christianity. I later wrote an essay that was posted on a local web magazine, www.barriozona.com titled "Barack Obama and One Way to Recognize a Christian." I developed the theme of recognizing a Christian by particular actions. In part I stated: "Sen. Obama lived one of the most important but difficult Christian values when put to the test. He turned the other cheek and showed charity to his enemies. That is what Christians are called to do in the teachings of Jesus and the saints. It is not easy, but it is exactly what Barack Obama has done and continues to do throughout his campaign." This essay can be found at: http://www.barriozona.com/david_c_rubi.html if anyone is interested in reading it. I am glad others see these qualities in Barack Obama. If we are Christians, we need a return to leaders who act as Christians and not merely say they are as they practice unjust war, torture, imprisonment without trial, greed, love of money, lying, hypocrisy and false accusation. If we are Christians, we will live and let live, not judge others, accept all as the image of God, be charitable and forgiving, and do these things even when it is hard to do.

[PoliSci2008]

I enjoyued reading your article, Christina. And just wanted to added that the angrey Jesus manifestations are the same ones who stongly believed in and fought for slavery, Jim Crow & separate but equal; the same ones who thought nothing wrong with the persecution and encampment of Jews; and the same ones who commit genocide. They're the reason for the phrase, "you can disagaree without beign disagreeable."

[souroil]

Thank God for helping us get a True Man Of God into the White House. I really question preachers who did not support Obama. Are they listening to thier God or are they stuck in old religious doctrine?

[pokemon]

I believe in the peaceful Jesus, half of my family the violent Jesus. Of course I being the peaceful one have all the combat experience and could give any believer in the fighting Jesus a thumping if needed :)

[LeaderofMen]

Funny how that works. The military people know what's going on.

The non-military ones believe they know what's going on.

[pokemon]

Look at the number of Dem's and then Rep's that have prior military service (were talking leaders). I believe that the Right will not really be surprised if they look:)

I would not have a problem ensuring that in the future people had no choice but to serve after they turned 18 for a minimum 2 years, we would participate in fewer conflicts thats for sure.

[woodcut]

Lots of non-believers in USA. They will come out as such, as we're seeing in CA.

"The way to see by faith is to shut the eye of reason." - Benjamin Franklin.

[drl15son]

The fighting Jesus you suggest is not the Jesus of the Bible. Nonbelievers do not enter heaven. Jesus is concern about all sin. The religious right has done more harm to the loving nature of God than any anti-Jesus person. They talk like what they are saying and doing is in agreement with the Bible. They run from the Bible when they are called out in their error. They return with scripture taken out of context to continue their argument. This was the case with all the Christian haters of Obama. They are fake Christians and they will hit hell before any of the people they fight against. Jesus command the believer to take His Gospel to the World, and these clowns decide to hook up with some political party.

[lesterbud]

While I agree completely with your idea that those that espoused hatred of Obama were certainly not very "Christian". I do get a chuckle from the term "fake Christians". I can put fake Christians right up there along fake Jews, fake Muslims, fake Hindus, fake Rastafarians, fake Zeusians, fake .........
Its all fake - creations by man to impose certain beliefs, condemning all others and controlling wealth.
Sure I am a candidate for hell, by just about any credulous standard.
But you "true believers" should honestly ask yourself this question:
If you were born in the Egyptian time of the god Ra, wouldn't you be the Ra-iest Ra-ian of all the Ra believers? Sure you would, because that is what your group would have demanded from you.
My attempted point - Christian values can be great as long as they espouse the positive human traits of love, kindness, generosity, forgiveness and humility. Using the collective peer pressure of Christianity to impose your agenda - not so good.

[papapj]

Hear, hear...brilliant!

[LeaderofMen]

Incorrect, my friend. Totally incorrect. Read your Bible: Matthew 10:34, "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword."

The militant Jesus himself proclaimed his militancy.

No, they're not 'fake Christians'. ALL of them are REAL Christians. You can't find a single one of them who doesn't call him or herself anything other than Christian. What is the 'real' definition of Christian anyway? Catholic? Baptist? Mormon? Really. What is the REAL definition. You can't nail it down. Anyone can call themselves a Christian and totally get away with it.

Indeed, they've been doing it for 1700 years and counting.

This is precisely what religion does to people. It causes them to mistake mythology for reality. They become schitzo. Religion is designed to do two things: control people's minds and divide people for purposes of conquering them.

That's exactly what the religious 'right' has done in this country. They've raised ignorance and intellectual violence to an artform, controlled people's thought processes (witness the church lying about Prop 8 in CA) and used it as a wedge to divide the electorate (witness Liddy Dole's lies in NC).

Now. Who are those 'real' Christians again? Really. Where were they on the campaign trail.

[GoVeg]

oh God, christians are fighting among themselves again. Go seek a living enlightened Master.

[GayGrandpa]

JESUS CHRIST Please, A PLEA to God.

Nothin' personal Jesus but every time I hear your name I get a bit of a headache...it's not you but it's your followers - they're the worst...we keep trying to make baby steps and these Jesus freaks just want to tear every thing down. For twenty years I have worked to try to make the world better, give thousands of dollars each year to help others, take care of the disabled, sick, dying and post surgery people in need and all I get from your followers is I can't get married now and that they don't support my "life style". These are the California Christians, thanks a lot for them God. What did I ever do? God I keep trying to do my best and to follow you but these other followers slam me down every chance they get...how are we to move forward when all they want is to live in the 1950's and just be stupid, can't you please protect me from your followers and send them ALL to Alaska? Send 'em all North to Alaska!

[negotiatethis]

While I understand your pain and your point, the followers you are talking about may be using "Jesus" as a justification for their own ignorant or hateful reasons. They are not a true reflection of the loving God that Christians follow. The people of faith that I love and respect are not judgemental, or hateful, or living in the 50's. And while we do disagree about many issues, we are not here to tear each other down, but to feed each other when we're hungry, take care of each other when we're sick, and be a friend to each other when we're lonely. So, as we learned from the Obama Campaign, you can't always judge someone (Jesus) by his past associations (ignorant or hateful "followers").

[kellygrrrl]

while WE are busy taking America back to Democracy
let's also take Christianity back to the true teachings of Jesus Christ

[babyboomerorig]

I grew up listening to the preacher telling us week after week about the "rath of God". Then, after growing up and starting to understand my version of the New Testiment, realized that Jesus could get angry over the treatment of people by the "overseers". My grandmother always said that the most important thing in life was to treat others the way you wanted to be treated, that all of us are imperfect and although we agree on principles, we can go about it in radically different ways, depending on personalities.

The Evangelicals don't want any of us around with different religious beliefs because they're not the teachings of their preachers. The Bible is interrpreted by each individual who reads it...discussion gives us the insight of others.

Separation of Church and State is what we need, not this convoluted belief that the extreme far right will tell us all how to live and believe. Every radical religious group wants it's followers to "do as I say and not as I do". Case in point...the 13 year-old girls who was raped, then stoned to death this week in an arena. Is this what we want our country to be?

[TxTeacher08]

RIGHT ON! I have been saying that the Bible is to be read and interpreted critically by the individual and the preacher is only a tour guide on the path to Heaven. I am very happy with out new President-elect but I take offense in referring to him as Jesus. There was only one Jesus, he died, was buried and rose again. However, Obama is more what Christians of all denominations should sound and act like. I am very excited to see the great things he will do in his first term. I started on the Obama bus got off to get on the McCain bus but I am back on the only Bus that matters and that is the Obama UNLIMITED!

[2Hope4ever]

TXTeacher08, I think you missed the point. You said, ...but I take offense in referring to him as Jesus...

They writer wasn't referring President elect Obama as Jesus, she was indicating which character of Jesus Obama represented to the people. The Fighter Jesus or the Peace Jesus. Well I did see the Peace Jesus in his character throughout the campaign. I appreciated his message of Hope >Jesus, Unity > Jesus, Peace > Jesus, Lifter others up > Jesus, Encouraging > Jesus, Respect > Jesus. These are the characters of Jesus and this is the message Obama delivered.

[negotiatethis]

I was always taught that the bible was the inspired word of God, and that meant it provided inspiration and insight. It is not an owners manual meant to simply be applied to the situations we find appropriate. We can learn much from reading the bible, some good, some bad and some ugly.

[M.S. Bellows, Jr. - Huffpost Blogger]

Great post. There's also a wonderful, balanced, insightful book that uses the "two Jesuses" metaphor that lots of readers may like: "The Gospel According to Jesus" by Stephen Mitchell. http://is.gd/6En6

[Ajita]

New research shows that people are biologically divided along the lines you bring up. Of course conditioning is a large part of that biological difference but the truth is that the usurpation of the different religious perspectives happens after the fact.

[derik]

We do need to understand that religion serves the useful purpose of social control (my understandig is that Thomas Jefferson also understood that). So, we should thank "god" (whoops) that the evangelicals have religion. Anyhow, reading Tom Paine (whom Jefferson seemed to espouse Paine's tenets) we appear to be going through the same thing that our young America was going through back then. Obviously: to levelset my understanding of what evangelicals actually believe in, I usually read Paine's writing, over and over again. For his book on religion, "The Age of Reason" is quite elegant.

[reasonshouldrule]

Thank you, Ms. Wicker. The Obama kind of Jesus is the one I believe in.

[stell]

Ms. Wicker I wanted to get your thoughts on this article.

Obama election shows deep racial divide in church:

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/nov/06/obama-election-shows-deep-racial-divide-in-chur-1/

[retus]

I guess God voted Democrat.

So what do you think Sarah Palin, James Dobson, her pastors Larry Kroon and Ed Kalnins, Pastor Thomas Muthee, the Wasilla Assembly of God members and 30 million evangelicals were thinking the morning after?

Apparently, the Big Guy voted Democrat.

In an interview with James Dobson, Ms. Palin indicated that she was “putting this in God’s hands, that the right thing for America will be done at the end of the day on Nov. 4.”

“When we hear along the rope lines that people are interceding for us and praying for us, it’s our reminder to do the same, to put this all in God’s hands, to seek his perfect will for this nation, and to of course seek his wisdom and guidance in putting this nation back on the right track.”

She went on to talk about her support for the Republican platform on three issues important to evangelicals: abortion, a constitutional ban on gay marriage, and banning embryonic stem cell research.

If, indeed, the outcome was in God’s hands, as Sarah and others claim it to have been, then there are only two possible conclusions.

God is pro-Choice, pro-gay marriage and pro-embryonic stem cell research.

Or there is no God.

Take your pick. But Sarah, let go of the delusions of somehow being Chosen. You weren’t.

http://iplicensing.net/2008/11/04/i-guess-god-voted-democrat/

[donndublin]

God allowed Hitler and other tyrants to gain power over man as well. I am NOT saying in any way that Obama is a tyrant but by allowing political power to tyrants in no way implies that God favors what He clearly describes as sinful behavior.

You are free to believe there is no God, even God along with most Christians and Jews allow you to do so.

My question to you is, if the Nazis had won the Second World War, which they nearly accomplished, would you consider the atrocities they committed morally justified?

[TimberGhost]

Are you saying people can't be or act morally in the absence of religion?

Does it really take blind faith in a mythical person for someone to be a good person, to care about your fellow man, our planet and the other creatures we share it with?

If there never was any religion, do you think people would lack compassion, ethics and common courtesy?

[kittyarmy]

To think that God is responsible for every act and outcome that occur in the world is to deny that people have free choice, moral judgment, that they are responsible for their choices and bear the consequences of their actions.