Jesus in the Check-Out Line

Yesterday I stopped at Grocery Outlet to get some eggs, and OK fine, full disclosure, I spent $124 instead of $2.95 because who can stop at Grocery Outlet and only buy one thing? It’s like Costco for the people who can’t or won’t spend $299 on the end cap shiny things you didn’t know you wanted or needed.

Anyway, when I went to check out, the person in front of me had some bows and bags in her hand. In normal chit chat in a check-out fashion, she stated she was making bread (if cheesy cornbread counts as bread?) to take to church the next day and needed something to put it in. That’s so nice, I thought as I eyed the Almond Joy calling my name. Then she said something, something derisive about Oregon leadership (clearly discussing the Governor), followed by, ‘What are ya gonna do? I do what I can because God always wins. Now that line got my attention. ‘God Always Wins’

God always wins what, exactly? Because in my opinion if God was WINNING, that lady wouldn’t need to make cheesy cornbread to give away because everyone would have enough already, wars would cease, manna would rain down from heaven three times a day and the lions would laying down with the lambs for a wee nap.

Maybe I misread the whole ‘God Wins’ chapter of the Bible. Probably not reading the right translation; multiple denominations tell me so. Maybe Trump’s branded one got it right.

Regardless, I don’t understand this conflation in these United States of God to Government, as if the translation of the Bible, cherry-picked to the most judgmental parts, but conveniently leaving out the death by stoning and love the stranger bits, should be the Law of the Land , despite, you know, the actual Law of the Land. Like, where in the Bible does God discuss America as God’s most favored LAND? I freaking thought that was Israel.

This latest rise ( we've been there, done this before) in the more fundamentalist version of ‘How to be a Christian’ features folks dutifully heading to church on Sundays to learn about this version of Christianity. (I guess).

Thou shalt:

•  Judge Thy Neighbor: especially if they’re not white, straight, and feature 2.5 children and two cars in the driveway.

• Condemn thy Neighbor: as criminals because they want to work and eat.

• Tell Thy Neighbor to SPEAK ENGLISH: (which is Jesus’ preferred language)

• Dictate Thy Neighbor’s love life: and obsess about what that looks like.

• Condemn Thy Neighbor for the sin of carrying predatory Student Debt (as if there’s a better way to finance an education).

• Condemn Thy Neighbor for vaccinating their children because God will Provide.

Condemn and dictate, condemn and dictate. I see a pattern here.

As a refresher: Here are The Ten Commandments (This is a Catholic website)

1.      I am the Lord thy God. Thou shall not have strange gods before Me.

2.      Thou shall not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.

3.      Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day.

4.      Honor thy father and mother.

5.      Thou shall not kill.

6.      Thou shall not commit adultery.

7.      Thou shall not steal.

8.      Thou shall not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

9.      Thou shall not covet thy neighbor's wife.

10. Thou shall not covet thy neighbor's goods.

As another refresher, here are Jesus teachings about  Thy Neighbor:

• Matthew 25:34-40: 

The "Sheep and the Goats" passage where Jesus says, "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me," including welcoming strangers.

• Luke 10:25-37 (Good Samaritan): 

Defines "neighbor" broadly, beyond nationality or status, teaching compassion for anyone in need.

• John 1:14: 

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us," highlighting Jesus' own experience as one who came from elsewhere.

• Hebrews 13:2: 

"Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it".

• Leviticus 19:34 (Old Testament, referenced by Jesus): 

"The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt".

To be clear here, I am not condemning the person who made these statements. I genuinely believe that this person is a kind, well-meaning member of this community truly trying to be a responsible, loving person. I think 80% of people living their lives on this planet do the same regardless of race, religion, gender or sexual orientation, career choice, or preference for an iPhone vs an Android.

I’m just saying, I don’t understand, based on the teachings they are leaning on for the guidance on how to BE that person, they manage to conclude that THIS is how to do THAT.

And I never will.