Recognizing Authority

This week's gospel reading in the lectionary schedule is Mark 1:21-28.
This is one of those passages that always amazes me. Jesus encounters a demon or demons, they recognize him as the Son of God, they always obey his command.

It's weird, isn't it.
Followers of Jesus say they recognize him as the Son of God -- as God Incarnate, but so often refuse to obey his simple commands. I know the "love your neighbor" thing is tough, especially when Jesus considers everybody to be your neighbor. 
Feeding the hungry, clothing the needy, welcoming the stranger, taking care of the sick -- why do we as a "Christian nation" oppose these things?

It would be one thing if the secular side of the nation opposed these Christian acts, but it is too often the party that professes to be the Christian party that is so against helping those in need. I know it doesn't sound right for the one sharing the gospel message to drop an F-bomb, but I can't help but say, "WTF?"

I like to try to differentiate between what I call Christianism -- believing in the church and doctrinal stuff of Christianity, and actual Christianity -- actually following the teaching and commands of Jesus. The Christian nationalism of today is very much like the Pharisees and Sadducees of Jesus's day. It just seems too weird that the demons are the actual followers of his instruction.

As one who has been demonized by the evangelical church of today, maybe it isn't too weird after all.
It's just sad that actually following Jesus means going against the organized churches that are supposed to be teaching us how to follow Jesus. 
But, I've said it before -- Church leaders teach us to follow church leaders, not Jesus. They have no control of people that follow Jesus. They only have control over people that follow them.

If you know who Jesus is
If you believe he is the Son of God
What are you doing to...
    feed the hungry?
    clothe the needy?
    welcome the stranger?
    help the sick?
    Love your neighbor?

John