Monday 28 September 2015

Low life (not the Low Light at North Shields)

At one point in the weekend's three church services (ordination and retirement, of a Baptist minister and an Anglican Cathedral Dean) and two church meals there was some consideration of Jesus being with the low life, tax collectors and prostitutes. It is to me a key question: I believe we are called to turn from sin, to turn from belittling others. But we might rapidly think that means no to tax collection and prostitution. Yet tax collectors are essential. One of my FB friends who I have actually met several times lobbies for sex worker rights and protection. Perhaps I am more low life than high life anyway and glad of it. I can be happy at the end of a railway platform. One person I follow on Twitter is Frejadottir. What would Jesus say if he encountered her? Would it be no big deal, lets chat, what you wear is none of my business? Would he be concerned lest the children were upset (think children's comics)? Could he be critical by simply saying this is an extreme end of fashion, personal vanity? Or might he think (as I tend) that dressing this way is a form of art with your body? We can be sure Jesus never met a rubberbeing, he did however meet with a lady of the street who shocked those around by covering him in Oil. https://twitter.com/Frejadottir/status/641691573533691905 and http://biblehub.com/luke/7-37.htm .

And if you follow the Bible link you will see that the different treatments of the event quickly take you to the challenges of the Historical Jesus. Yet the story is so extra-ordinary, so counter intuitive that I personally believe it. Some event like this happened. Focus as well on "belittling". Does that not actually go a long way. Were'nt the Hadj pilgrims belittled in the care shown for their safety? There is no doubt a proportion of pornography belittles but the religious person may judge that more belittles than actually happens. If you are brought into the country and forced to be a prostitute you have been belittled. But if you freely choose that path, is there any belittling going on?

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