1. Essay: Justice part 7: What Was the Faith of Christ?
It is difficult to discern the faith of Christ. There are passages
indicating that people are justified by works (e.g. Matthew 7:21) and
passages that indicate that people are justified by faith (e.g. John 14.6).
Jesus described the “kingdom of God” with enigmatic parables that are open
to a wide range of interpretations and understandings. We might gain a more
consistent understanding by examining what Jesus did.
Jesus repeatedly sided with society’s outcasts – widows, orphans, those with
diseases and disabilities, and even sinners and tax-collectors. Given that
his ministry was dedicated to service to God, it is reasonable to conclude
that Jesus’ faith compelled him to serve these people. Indeed, he declared
that service to “the least of these my brethren” (Matthew 25:40) was service
to him.
It is hard to know how much of Jesus’ ministry was dedicated to the truly
“least of these” – the nonhumans who are most vulnerable and suffer most
grievously at human hands. The story of Jesus liberating the animals slated
for slaughter at the Temple gives us a clue that animal issues might have
been central to his ministry. And, it is telling that the first followers of
Jesus – the early Jewish Christians – were vegetarian. (See Keith Akers’
book Disciples.) It would be surprising those who experienced Jesus’
ministry got the message, but not the messenger. Perhaps animal issues were
central to Jesus’ ministry, but relevant sayings and teachings were largely
lost when the writings of “heretic” sects were burned, and animal-friendly
messages might have been omitted from Gospels aimed to appeal to carnivorous
Christian communities.
Next week, I will consider the “Lord’s Prayer” (Matthew 11:9-14, Luke
11:2-4).
Stephen R. Kaufman, M.D.
2. All-Creatures.org Ministry