Thank you for running the article “Hijacking Jesus” (Religion page, July 14). In our day, the Christian Religious Right is so prominently reported in the media that many people get the impression that Christianity is a religion of war and intolerance. However, there are many churches that are still centered on the Jesus of the scriptures.
A disturbing fact of our time in history is the resurgence of intolerant fundamentalism within the major world religions. An insightful observer of religion from outside of the Christian church, Deepak Chopra, wrote, “The reversal of Christianity from a religion of love to a religion of hate is the greatest religious tragedy of our time.” We agree.
Yet in nearly every town and city in America, there are churches that teach and preach the Jesus of the Gospels, not a Jesus primarily augmented by harsh sayings from the Old Testament or interpreted by the theologian Paul. These churches focus on the Jesus of the Gospels who becomes the standard for interpreting the rest of Scripture.
The Way of Jesus as told in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John is marked by forgiveness, love, nonviolence, compassion, healing, peacemaking, justice, humility, servanthood, stewardship, acceptance, generosity and hospitality. This way of Jesus considers every person a neighbor and its greatest concern will always be those whom society pushes to the margins. It proclaims we can trust the mystery of God in our lives.
Rich, privileged America needs this Jesus to save its soul. This is what we mean when we say, “God Bless America.”
Rev. Denis Eucalyptus
Rev. Cindy Eucalyptus
Lower Lake
The Eucalyptuses lead the congregation of the Clearlake Methodist Church.
