Lighten Up, People

The last several years of political campaigns have left me so disappointed in the way various religious groups have let themselves get suckered by politicians. Such partisan maneuverings have caused such sad divisions between people of religions; and then the news media can use such stupid categories as ‘the religious right’ and ‘the religious left.’ And of course, all of this has led religious leaders to take themselves too seriously and start claiming that only certain partisan political positions are ‘religious’ and then claiming that positions they disagree with are threats to religion. All that makes me want to say, “Lighten up, people.”


Anyway, deep Truth is so far beyond anything any modern partisan group could come up with that it is laughable to think they could claim spiritual insight only for themselves. Of course, it is important and commendable for political groups to keep trying to function by values that are spiritually inspired.

The word ‘light’ in the Gospels often had at least 3 different meanings. Most of the time, of course, it was a metaphor for spiritual illumination (or in other religions: enlightenment). Other times, light referred to showing the way. But sometimes it meant easy or ease up. When used in such a light-hearted way, Jesus was bringing joy into situations to try to lift people’s spirits (or lighten their load in life) so that they weren’t so negatively serious.

Too often over the last 2,000 years interpretations have missed the spiritual deep joy that Jesus brought into the world. Of course, that joy is easily missed because of the destructiveness, corruption, repressiveness, and violence of so much of history, especially the period of history into which Jesus was born. And of course, that joy has been missed also by many Christians because, unfortunately, they misguidedly allowed destruction, corruption, repression, and violence to happen in the name of religion.

When I read the words of Jesus, I like to keep clearly in mind the modern slang expression: “Lighten up, people.” When he looked out at the faces of a large audience, we can imagine Jesus seeing so many sad, suffering, disheartened, and yet expectant expressions -- the words that usually are translated “You are the light of the world,” might be translated today as “Lighten up, people.” The newly published Common English Bible translates Mt. 5:3 at “Happy are people who are downcast, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs.” That makes me think that Jesus was using the messianic expression “kingdom of heaven” in a completely new, joyful way -- giving it his own, radically new, interpretation. Of course, his completely new interpretation was not at all what people expected, then and in every century since then.

Isn’t that what he meant when Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are struggling hard and carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest. Put on my yoke, and learn from me. I’m gentle and humble. And you will find rest for yourselves. My yoke is easy to bear, and my burden is light.” (Mt. 11:28-30, Common English Bible) Lighten up, people!

Near the end of the Gospel of John, in the prayer of Jesus for his followers, we read: “I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.” (John 17: 13, New International Version) It is that special spiritual joy that Jesus brought into the world that was included in the New Great Commandment which was meant to have agape left in its original spiritual form so that it would read: “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Have [agape] for each other as I have had [agape] for you. Greater [agape] has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:11-13 New International Version)

There is no better place in the New Testament for showing the link between joy and agape than that section of John. Let God’s agape lighten you up, people!