I’ve been wondering recently whether Jesus forgot to say a few things.
Did he stop too soon when he was saying the amazing things he was saying? I am only asking because, from what I can observe, it looks like we have worked out what he forgot to say.
For example, I wonder if, when he was talking about taming the tongue, he forgot to include the exception that you can be as offensive and insulting as you like if you disagree with someone.
When he said that to be great you should consider yourself the servant of all, should he have gone on to say that this does not apply if you are in charge?
When he spoke of the Spirit of truth guiding us into all truth, did he omit the bit about saying that it was all right to ignore truth if it was politically expedient?
When he said that we should not judge other people, perhaps he forgot to say that it was OK to be judgmental if you are sufficiently sure you are right.
When he said we should take the plank out of our own eye before sorting out the speck of dust in someone else’s eye, did he neglect to mention that it’s OK to ignore the plank if you think other people haven’t noticed it or to deny the plank’s existence if they do?
When he criticized religious people for neglecting justice, mercy and faithfulness, did he forget to say that it’s OK to do it if the people affected were not born in your country?
When he was questioned about whether it was right to pay taxes and he said, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s,” did he forget to say that it was OK not to pay tax if you could find a good loophole?
And when Jesus said that the greatest commandment is to love God wholeheartedly and the second is to love your neighbor as yourself, is it correct that he forgot to say, “So long as they agree with you”?
Just wondering.
Editor’s note: A version of this article first appeared on Lear’s blog, Nukelear Fishing. It is used with permission.
Nick Lear is a regional minister of the Eastern Baptist Association in the United Kingdom.
