9/11.

America's response to 9/11 was the perfect example of the earthly dilemma.

America was big enough and secure enough to absorb the blow to its national ego (turn the other cheek) and increase aid to third world countries (love their enemies).

But America's leaders could not do what Jesus taught.

What they did was act according to the way of the world which is to reinforce your dominance by violence and fear (shock and awe).

So, despite what they might say, they are not Christians because they do not do what Jesus taught.

They act in this way because they do not think that Jesus teachings will work (i.e. win).

This is why modern Christianity bears little resemblance to what Jesus actually taught.

The doctrines and dogmas of the Church were formulated by people who had little faith who wanted to win (dominate).

"'Why do you call me "Lord, Lord", and do not what I tell you?'"  Luke 6:46 (NRSV)

"'"This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as doctrines."'"  Matthew 15:8,9 (NRSV)

In fact they ignore what Jesus taught and endorse a philosophy of worldly dominance disguised as religion.

They do this out of fear.

Fear of what will happen if they follow Jesus' teachings which seem foolish and impractical.

They changed what Jesus said to suit the world.

So the hippies' rejection of the Church is not a rejection of Jesus teachings at all; it is a rejection of the worldly philosophy and hypocrisy of the Church.


(Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission.  All rights reserved.)