“My kingdom is not of this world” is not a poetic aside. It is a direct refusal to sanctify political dominance. Jesus does not negotiate with empire. He does not improve it. He exposes it?" Which empire? The Roman empire of his day? Or the empire of the Word? All the reality-labeling words humanity creates with language? The tool for communication, and self, other people, and world manipulation, in the competitive challenge of survival? An empire that conflates the 'explicit' experience of our communication, with the 'implicit' reality of our lived experience.
Why do Christians nationalist or otherwise routinely fail to contemplate the personal implications of Jesus pragmatic reason for teaching about the perceptual-paradox inherent in language, when he said: "Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand?"
And why are historical figures like the Buddha & the Christ also known as realized beings? Why does a fig tree & night-time flowing into day-time, feature in two stories that include subconscious storytelling tropes about our human form of consciousness? Tropes like "3 days buried in the heart of the earth" as an allusion to the 'immersive' nature of our existence within a synchronous reality?
I was reminded of the empire of the word last night, as I watched the first 'so-called' full moon of a so-called year, conceptualized as 2026, appear to rise above a so-called horizon? While looking at the apparent horizontal line of an ocean & feeling the earth-turning cause of my optical-illusion & the cognitive-illusions of the reality-labeling words I could use to describe the prior-to-humanity reality, I was witnessing. While recalling Jesus diagnosis of the human condition & the Zen koan perception puzzle, "don't mistake your finger for the moon?" As realized being advise about not mistaking the empire of the Word, for Reality?
Well said. Thank you. And I want to share your appeal:
"May your God be large enough to unsettle you.
May your faith survive without supremacy.
And may the Spirit remain gloriously uncontrollable".
For Christian Nationalists, this is just too messy, too difficult, too time-consuming. But if we are to be Christians, this is the work. When we are uncomfortable, we open up to let Spirit in.
History has a brutal sense of humor. It always laughs last, and it’s never kind to theocrats who thought God needed a strongman and a branding strategy.
🔥 The fiery prophet erupts with truth that cannot be contained. So much of this is quotable, it should be numbered like the scriptures for easy reference.
Holy moly - the truth - we need to frame this! Make tiny little post it notes and spread it far and wide ""
Bravo! Well stated! Amen and a holy hallelujah! Love it, but I'm the black sheep of the choir, so that's not a surprise. Preach on!
“My kingdom is not of this world” is not a poetic aside. It is a direct refusal to sanctify political dominance. Jesus does not negotiate with empire. He does not improve it. He exposes it?" Which empire? The Roman empire of his day? Or the empire of the Word? All the reality-labeling words humanity creates with language? The tool for communication, and self, other people, and world manipulation, in the competitive challenge of survival? An empire that conflates the 'explicit' experience of our communication, with the 'implicit' reality of our lived experience.
Why do Christians nationalist or otherwise routinely fail to contemplate the personal implications of Jesus pragmatic reason for teaching about the perceptual-paradox inherent in language, when he said: "Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand?"
And why are historical figures like the Buddha & the Christ also known as realized beings? Why does a fig tree & night-time flowing into day-time, feature in two stories that include subconscious storytelling tropes about our human form of consciousness? Tropes like "3 days buried in the heart of the earth" as an allusion to the 'immersive' nature of our existence within a synchronous reality?
I was reminded of the empire of the word last night, as I watched the first 'so-called' full moon of a so-called year, conceptualized as 2026, appear to rise above a so-called horizon? While looking at the apparent horizontal line of an ocean & feeling the earth-turning cause of my optical-illusion & the cognitive-illusions of the reality-labeling words I could use to describe the prior-to-humanity reality, I was witnessing. While recalling Jesus diagnosis of the human condition & the Zen koan perception puzzle, "don't mistake your finger for the moon?" As realized being advise about not mistaking the empire of the Word, for Reality?
Amen, brother!
Well said. Thank you. And I want to share your appeal:
"May your God be large enough to unsettle you.
May your faith survive without supremacy.
And may the Spirit remain gloriously uncontrollable".
For Christian Nationalists, this is just too messy, too difficult, too time-consuming. But if we are to be Christians, this is the work. When we are uncomfortable, we open up to let Spirit in.
Exactly. Christian Nationalism wants God tidy, obedient, and pre-approved. The Spirit keeps flipping tables and ruining the aesthetic.
Absolutely bracing and well said. Thank you.
Truth spoken. Christian Nationalism found guilty. (GAVEL BANGS). Case closed & dismissed. Sentence to be decided upon & announced. Let us pray. 🙏
I wish it were that simple.
This article will age well.
History has a brutal sense of humor. It always laughs last, and it’s never kind to theocrats who thought God needed a strongman and a branding strategy.
It doesn't hire Jesus, it pressgangs him.
A shame this really needs to be said.
This one's actually tough to satirize, since the truth itself is pretty absurd! Well done, though, brother.
When reality starts doing the satire for you, all that’s left is pointing and saying, “Yep. That’s actually happening.”
Preach! Good stuff!
🔥 The fiery prophet erupts with truth that cannot be contained. So much of this is quotable, it should be numbered like the scriptures for easy reference.