Jesus For President?

I have a lot of respect of Shane Claiborne, but I don't know what to make of "Jesus For President". It's not that I have mixed feelings - it's that I really don't know what to think. I really like the idea but something just doesn't feel right - and I don't know what it is.

In America, everything is complicated.

Update on December 3, 2007 by [rhymes with kerouac]

Okay... What I like about this project is that Shane is challenging us to think about how we strive to marry politics and our Christian faith when, in fact, Jesus absolutely rejected the notion. There's going to be some really great discussion arising from this, and I love that. What gnaws away at the back of mind, however, is the sense that something else is amiss - and it's not Shane's fault. It just seems like no matter what the problem is, a book and conference tour is the answer.

Or maybe it's just me.

Comments

[The lady at the end of the couch]

Not having read the book, Yeah, I dunno, either. My gut reaction is, "Oh dear, another bus tour by somebody with a book."

First it was Rob Bell renting Bon Jovi's bus or whatever, then it was James MacDonald hitting the road with a travelling salvation show. Now Shane Claiborne?

It's like Nooma. When it came out it was different. Now there are dozens of imitations. (OK, not dozens. Just seems like it.)

Are we going to have to put up with the same thing with these bus tours?

"This one's different! We use veg. oil."

Whatever.

(Interesting to see Jim Loney's name, though. I'm a oddly itchy at worshiping through a liturgy written by a gay guy. I'll have to think about that.)

[chief320]

This reminds me of the triumphal entry where the they tried to make Jesus the king. Jesus seemed to shun the notion of being an earthly king.

[Phil]

Jesus = Heavenly father
President = worldly job

He's so much more. Besides, could you really see the voting public allowing a Middle Eastern Jew into the White House?

[eclexia]

Here's what doesn't feel right about it to me: Jesus ticked a whole lot of people off in his day because he didn't do the politically expected thing of delivering them from Rome. He cared a lot more about the kingdom of God in people's hearts than rescuing and transforing and supernaturally trumping earthly kingdoms. And that didn't fit some people's expectations then. It certainly wouldn't now. As Huckabee (I think) said when pressed to answer what would Jesus do in his situation, "Jesus wouldn't have been stupid enough to run for President" :)

[amber]

Oh my. I just invited Shane to speak at a gathering next August. Hope he doesnt' get too weird. I think he's been talking about Jesus for president for a while although I had no idea what he was talking about. I'm still not sure I do. I've not read the book. I did read everything on that web site. It seems to me that he's calling people to live under Kingdom principals and renouncing nationalism. Not a bad thing. I just hope he doesnt' get too weird and look like another stuipd Christian.

[Dustin]

I honestly think his book has more to do with living in the "empire" that is America than actually advocating for any real political movement. In addition, I very much believe there are political elements to Jesus' life, but, as someone already stated, they weren't the political elements one would think. Rather, he confronted the violence of the empire by allowing himself to be killed by its powers. He confronted the collusion of the faithful with the state when he continually provoked the religious leaders of his day, even cleaning the temple out. Jesus was very political, but we must understand the term "political" in more nuanced ways than we do now.

[JOANEE]

I agree with Phil .Why would Jesus want to lower Himself to President. It doesnt feel right because its a mockery of Jesus.

[The lady at the end of the couch]

(Again, not having read the book), but isn't that the whole point of choosing this title? It's going to annoy people. (Like "Sex God", or "The Foreskin's Lament") Controversy is an easy sell. The title and marketing materials will tick off the left, the author himself ticks off the right, while the content of the book (if we ever get around to reading it) will appeal to the small centre.

Isn't this less about the selling of Jesus and more about the selling of Shane Claiborne? Zondervan isn't a bad corporation, but it's still a corporation.

The more publishers I know, the more I like the independent, self publishers.

[Barbara]

Hey, great conversation going on here. I didn't even hear about this book till just now. Does your post about Brian McLaren's latest book speaks to this too? Is Shane becoming just another traveling talking head?
I think he IS different because he DOES vs. talking about doing but yeah, something disturbs me. I am not sure why or what yet.

You crack me up with your statement about everything in America being complicated - THAT IS SO TRUE! Its why I plan to move to Australia :)

[[rhymes with kerouac]]

The Lady at the End of the Couch - I'm surprised at your reaction to the liturgy. I don't know why I'm surprised, but I am. (Said even though I have lately been discovering exactly how old school and coservative I am, too)

chief320 - He rejected it at every turn, didn't he?

Phil - Your question about the voting public really got me thinking. What if he came to earth today, as a gay black man from Birmingham? A homeless woman from Manchester, a young Turk from the Welsh hinterlands? Who would be your most unlikely Jesus?

eclexia - My estimation of Mike Huckabee just rose considerably.

amber - I don't think he'll go all weird on you. And we agree - calling people to live Kingdom principles seems to be what he is actually doing, and that's a good thing.

Dustin - You are most certainly right. I think Mike Todd has said much the same thing about the political elements of Jesus' life. I must admit, I'm not very good as seeing the nuances - less so as I get older. Mostly I'm discovering that everything I thought I knew about Jesus' was askew. He continually surprises me.

Joanee - You're absolutely right - it's a terrible slogan (unless it was designed to be controversial...)

The Lady at the End of the Couch - Yup. We are completely blind to the corporatization of Christianity. My conference tour really will be different. I'm calling it the "I'm Smarter Than Jesus Tour", 'cause if Jesus really was that smart he would have at least had a book table at the back of the room. I mean, really - did he even have a corporate sponser?

Barbara - I don't think Shane is becoming just another talking head (yet), but the temptation is so real. There's a real danger in Shane Claiborne becoming Shane Claiborne(tm). We have enough of that already.

[lorna (see-through faith)]

liked phil's comment

and I will read the book before I stick my foot in it :)

[nancy]

it will be nice when we all have a home, together, with God.

God bless your heart, brother.
nancy

[[rhymes with kerouac]]

lorna - I'm trying not to stick my foot in it - not having much luck, though!

Nancy - Indeed it will - we really do see through a glass, darkly - don't we?

[The lady at the end of the couch]

Re liturgy. Yeah, I know. I'm not sure why I react that way. It's visceral. Like I said, I'm thinking about it.

[Kelly]

isn't a book and conference the answer?! i agree with you and think that this would be much more effective if it were simply a "tour" with town hall-like meetings and no book promotion. though the circus acts do seem intriguing.

[Mike]

My only fear is that Jesus will get elected and he will be the same one who heads up the institutional American Church.

How scary is that? Break out the bombs and watch out world!

[ron]

What makes us think that Jesus even wants the job...the devil offered him more than that in the wilderness.