WWJD: What does Jesus do?
Building on concepts developed by St. Augustine and subsequently popularized in the 1990s in the centuries, WWJD became the topic of discussion in federal court last month when US District Court appointee Judge Anareyes asked one of Justice Department's attorney Jason Lynch how Jesus Christ would respond. Presidential order defending women From transideology.
Reyes raised a strange question after reading aloud the email she received from a Christian who tried to evangelize her.
Reyes I said:
Now, the email assumes I am not already in a relationship with Jesus. But let's assume that's not the case. I want to know what Jesus is thinking about something.
What do you think Jesus would say to telling a group of people that they don't allow them to be homeless shelters because they are so unworthy and unworthy? Do you think Jesus “sounds right to me”? Or Jesus said, “wtf? Put them in, of course.”
To his achievements, Lynch dumbed, but refused baiting and told Reyes “the United States is not going to speculate on what it has to say about anything or what.”
Reyes admitted that her questions were “unfair” and “impossible,” but declared, “but I can't tell me that trans people are not discriminated against today.”
What's shocking is that the exchange actually took place in federal court last month, and the problem is clear.
DOJ File Complaints
After the hearing, DOJ filed a complaint against Reyes It accused her of violating the US judge's code of conduct.
The complaint, among other allegations, accused Reyes of “questioning Lynch about his religious beliefs and then unwillingly using him as a physical prop in court plays.”
That specific accusation raises an important question: Did Reyes's question violate the Constitution?
Josh Blackman, a professor of constitutional law I think so. Quote Religious Examination Clause (Article VI, Section 3) – states that “religious tests are not necessary as qualifications for offices or public trusts based in the United States” – Blackman argued that Reyes sought “pure theological questions” from Lynch.
“It's a test of religious beliefs in every sense,” he explained. “And this issue assumes that Jesus is God.”
Jesus, I'm tainted
Aside from potential misconduct, Reyes, acting like an anti-Trump activist, attempts to use Jesus as her prop, stripping the resurrected Christ from his identity and reforming him into an image of her own: a political activist.
But Jesus is not an LGBTQ activist who smoked his mouth.
The problem is nothing more than a sarcasm-filled rhetorical piece of hand.
When Reyes evokes Jesus, she is trying to use his moral authority to reinforce her claim that the Trump administration is immoral. However, his false traits indicate that she rejects Jesus' actual teachings.
Yes, Jesus preached the gospel of love. Love God and love your neighbor is the greatest commandment (Matthew 22:36-40). However, Reyes ignores the opposite side of the equation. Love in the Bible's imagination is not merely affirmation, but inevitably involves following Jesus' teachings.
“Anyone who loves me will follow my teachings,” Jesus said (John 14:23).
Importantly, Jesus does not abolish the Old Testament. In the mountain sermon, Jesus reveals that rather than abolishing the Old Testament, he is making it happen, and explains the true meaning of many Old Testament commandments, including laws related to sexuality. Furthermore, Jesus reaffirms that Genesis teaches about male, female and human sexuality.
“You have not read,” he replied, “The Creator said, “He made them men and women,” and “For this reason, the man leaves his father and mother, unite with his wife, and the two are not one more, not one meat.
Reyes thought she appealed to Jesus' moral authority, but what she really did was remake Jesus into a progressive mold. She ignored the fact that Jesus had come to redeem the world from sin, ignored the fact that Jesus asked for repentance, and ignored the fact that Jesus told his followers to take the cross and chase him and follow him to eternal life.
Ultimately, Reyes' argument is based on a false dichotomy. Jesus would have demonstrated her version of compassion.
What we remain is “Jesus,” who does not look like the king of the king, the Lord of Righteous, who demands repentance and faith.
What does Jesus do?
It's not clear that Jesus didn't say “Scrum!” for a while, so let's entertain Reyes' questions. Also, “You're as good as you.”
First, Jesus does not intentionally misunderstand his interlocutor, as his kingdom is based on truth.
To that point, the Trump administration has not described trans persons as “valuable” and neither is Jesus. Sin makes us worthless. Rather, God was standing in our place to create all mankind, take on the flesh of man, and make us reconcile with ourselves. And because we are precious, Jesus will probably meet the real needs of those who present themselves to him, as he has repeatedly done through earthly ministry.
Second, Jesus will share good news about His kingdom.
“The kingdom of God is approaching. Repent, and believe in the good news!” Jesus said (Mark 1:15).
Needless to say, definitively repent and believe in the good news means turning away from all actions that do not align with God's kingdom. This includes all Sexual immorality is not only a sin against God, but a sin against ourselves.
In other words, Jesus meets not only our physical needs, but our eternal needs. And in doing so, Jesus invites us to live in the truth.
Third, Jesus will probably return the question to Reyes, as he often did to those who question him. Perhaps he even challenges Reyes with the same questions he asked his disciples.
The real question is not “What does Jesus do?” or “What does Jesus say?” The question is, are we willing to follow Jesus rather than using Jesus to strengthen our own agenda?
