“If Christ was on Earth today undoubtedly he would stand with the people in opposition to bullying, ill-tempered and expansionist powers. If Christ was on Earth today undoubtedly he would hoist the banner of justice and love for humanity to oppose warmongers, occupiers, terrorists and bullies the world over. If Christ was on Earth today undoubtedly he would fight against the tyrannical policies of prevailing global economic and political systems, as He did in His lifetime.”
So said Iran's President Ahmadinejad today.
How many Christological errors are contained within these three sentences?
1. Christ never "stood with the people" on anything. The people, even those closest to him, had a hard time understanding this.
2. Christ opposed the rule of Satan. Jesus held to two-kingdom theology. The real battle, as Paul later wrote, is not really against other people.
3. Christ did not come to fix prevailing and ailing global economic and political systems. He didn't "do that in his lifetime," as Ahmadinejad wrongly claims. The prevailing religious-political leaders wanted him to side with them against the Roman empire. He refused to do this.
Ahmadinejad sounds like the self-righteous Pharisee who thanked God that he wasn't like the hated tax collector.
Christ doesn't stand with America, either. Jesus is far too revolutionary and radical to stand with any earthly empire. He came to save the whole world from their sins and deliver them out of the kingdom of darkness. This cannot be done by aligning with some socio-political system. Jesus once said that his kingdom is "not of this world." He said we are to love our enemies, not wage war against them. Christ lived out his message as he went to the cross, forgiving his enemies as he hung there. Both Ahmadinejad and America are a long way from the real Jesus.
