Mulitple Personalities

In January of 2011 I am teaching a class about the changing face and character of Jesus in America. The topic has been an interest of mine since that first Religion in America class some 10 years ago at Whitworth College (now University) in Spokane, Washington. I found it compelling that from the Puritans to Thomas Jefferson to the Pro & Anti-Slavery movements, and beyond to the Hippie “Jesus Movement” and now in modern times, Jesus has undergone a series of radical face-lifts and personality changes. For some he is a enlightened teacher of morals. Others see him as the sweet and loving savior who wouldn’t hurt a fly. In the time of Billy Sunday, who once called the current state of Christianity in America as “effeminate” and “sissified”, Jesus was a manly, hard-nosed, take no prisoners Son of God who told it like it was, and was a stark contrast to the Hippie Jesus who graced the cover of Time magazine in 1971. Today we have Jesus “characters” like Buddy Christ who is everybody’s friend, and the popular t-shirt slogan “Jesus is My Homeboy” that stand in stark contrast to the Jesus of the Westboro Baptist Church whose members picket the funerals of soldiers with signs proclaiming all the things Jesus hates. Using photos, music, video, scripture, a bit of theology, history, and pop culture, we will dive into the “American Jesus” and see just how the Son of God became such a iconic American figure.

History tells us that Jesus was “used” differently by different groups at different times. The Pro and Anti-Slavery movements both invoked Jesus’ name to add credence to their interpretation of scripture and the events of the day. Their visceral, opposing rhetoric made it seem that their Jesus was the just and correct Jesus and the other side’s Son of God was an imposter. Like the two football teams that pray before kick-off for victory over their opponent, Jesus gets drafted into service and wields his holy dominion for both sides. Both sides, each with competing agendas and opposing viewpoints or goals, claim Jesus. The truth is, this reality plays out on a personal level as well.

I saw a woman pray out loud at the counter of the gas station where she purchased her lottery tickets. “Jesus, make these numbers the right ones”, she prayed as the machine randomly selected her lotto numbers for the hundreds of millions of dollars up for grabs later that night. I assume she didn’t win because I didn’t see her on TV or in the papers that next day but for our woman in question Jesus had thoughts about the possibility of her being rich.

Millions of men and women prayed on the Sunday after the earthquake that rocked Haiti about a year ago. We prayed for the health and well being of those who survived and for the families of those who died in the quake. We prayed because we believe Jesus had thoughts about those who suffered in Haiti.

“Jesus, make me rich” and “Jesus, care for the poor.” Can it be both? Are we giving the Son of God a split personality?