10.18.2011 12:00 AM

In today’s Sun: WWJD?

What would Jesus do?

This week, the question is quite relevant. If He was here, to see all that we have become — with the chasm dividing rich and poor growing ever-wider, with governments bailing out bankers but never the masses, with average folks having to borrow just to keep food on the table — what would He do?

The question occurred to me on Sunday, at the Catholic church I attend, and on the very same weekend the Occupiers finally came to Canadian cities.

The gospel was a well-known one — the one about the attempt of the Pharisees to trap Jesus Christ with a question about taxes (Matthew 22:15). “Give back to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s,” Christ said to them. “And to God what is God’s.”

Doesn’t sound much like a tax-fighter, does He?

28 Comments

  1. James Calnan says:

    “If you strive to know Him, like some of us do, there can’t be much doubt that the rabbi named Jesus Christ was no capitalist. Nor is there any mystery WWJD with the Occupiers, this past weekend. He’d be right down there with them, chanting against the bankers and the politicians who do the bankers’ bidding.”

    No, I don’t think so. He’d more likely be back at the campsite in one of the places where this is getting out of hand, stiching up those who’re getting their heads bashed in a disagreement over money. “Let Caesar have what’s his” means don’t play into his game, you don’t need to be a part of that, there’s another kingdom that’s already yours, and you only make yourself a slave of Caesar’s when you trade in his coin. He’d say you don’t need money to be free, so why fight over what’s Caesar’s? You make yourself his dog when you fight over the scraps that fall from Caesar’s table.

  2. Patrick Deberg says:

    I can hardly wait to see how Ezra Lavent will react to this since he want’s to occupy the CBC !!

  3. Roger says:

    Not sure what He would do here, but I know he’s none too pleased with some at the Rome rendition of this’protest’…..see below..

    http://youtu.be/81hZlRYPW0M

  4. Marc L says:

    The problem with these protesters is that they are against everything, but don`t know what they are for. Like most of the Michael Morres and Naomi Kleins of this world (after all, the USSR didn`t work out so well, now did it?)

  5. Warren says:

    Gord, I rather suspect this comment of yours will elicit a response or two.

  6. JenS says:

    True story: my polling station for the Prov election was in a church, and I voted under a giant banner asking, “What would Jesus do?” in massive font.

    • Warren says:

      He sure wouldn’t have voted PC.

      • Marc L says:

        I guess he wouldn’t have voted Liberal either, since their economic policies are, in practice, virtually indistinguishable.

        • JenS says:

          Good job there’s more to platform and practice than economic policy, huh, Marc.

          • Marc L says:

            Ok, so what have the Conservatives done on the Social policy front that is so radically different from what Liberals could have done? The tough on crime thing? Maybe.That’s all I can think of. Believe me, if they even come close to going down the true Social Conservative route I’ll be the first one out in the street. But it looks like they want to avoid that at all costs — must be something about getting re-elected. Foreign Policy? Israel? There’s a bit of a difference but in practice it’s nuances more than anything else. Harpers’ so-called heavy-handedness? Of course, we know what a pussycat Chretien was. Nope, in practice there is little real difference betwen the two parties.

      • JenS says:

        Then I did the right thing. 🙂

        • JenS says:

          There are plenty of matters of concern at the federal level, Marc. However, since we were talking about the Ontario Provincial election from the very first post in this thread, I would say my concerns are wrapped in how Hudak started and finished his Ontario campaign: by making anti-immigrant remarks and by not only his refusal to condemn but his endorsement of anti-gay propaganda that was not only based in hate but in lies. And there was plenty in between to choose from.

  7. Andrew says:

    Good summary, Mr. Kinsella. My impression from reading and listening to the Gospels was that Jesus was a sharp thorn in the Establishment’s side. Unfortunately many deluded conservatives think he was a good old boy from Texas.

  8. Heaney says:

    Make the tax system more progressive …
    The Widow’s Offering
    41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.
    43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.” Mark 12:41-44

    • Marc L says:

      It’s already very progressive. You think more of the same is going to solve these problems? I have a suggestion: look at where your tax dollars go. Then ask yourself whether the money is being spent properly.

    • Marc L says:

      A flat tax can be progressive as well. Just exempt the first X dollars of income, and you get your average tax rate rising with income. that is the way most serious proponents of a flat tax look at it.

  9. Robbie says:

    Warren, your quote citing John 2:1 is incorrect. The reference can be found in James 2:1-5.

    On the subject of Jesus participation in the Occupier Movement, He did infer in a parable that His disciples should occupy until He comes. (And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, ‘Occupy till I come’. Luke 19:13 KJV)

    However, a close reading of the entire parable indicates He viewed profit as desirable and, in fact, was highly critical of the passive and lazy servant who did not even put his allotted amount into the bank to collect interest.

    http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+19&version=KJV

    If members of this Occupier Movement are indeed true believers, then they may well be gone by the weekend anyway, as the illustrious billboard buying preacher Harold Camping is predicting Jesus to Rapture the faithful around October 21, 2011.

    http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-world/2011/10/18/failed-doomsday-prophet-harold-camping-world-will-end-on-october-21-115875-23497945/

    Stay tuned.

  10. dave says:

    Whatsoever thou does to the least of these, so doest thou unto me.

  11. Jon Adams says:

    Just for the sake of argument (and not to troll like I usually end up doing) but what charities and causes does Gordon Tulk support of his own accord? Obviously he doesn’t think his tax dollars should be going to such things.

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