Podcast show links with added content: Substack<\/a>, YouTube<\/a> video, Spotify<\/a>, and Apple<\/a> podcasts. These appear a day after blog-article posts.<\/p>\n Jesus is the example on how to live with others with whom we disagree.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cYou have heard that it was said, \u2018You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.\u2019 But I say to you: Love your enemies<\/strong> and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven, for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good<\/strong> and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.\u201d \u2013 Matthew 5:43-45 (NRSV)<\/p>\n End summary<\/p>\n In Depth<\/strong><\/p>\n The outcome of living with an occupying force can be good or bad. It depends on our reaction.<\/strong><\/p>\n Many in ancient Israel didn\u2019t like the Romans having military, political, and legal jurisdiction over the land of Judaism. But from 63 BCE they protected the land from foreign invaders, which was a staple problem of the Middle East region. They were safe.<\/p>\n The Sadducees had learned to live under Alexander the Great, who invaded them in 332 BCE. As a result, many Jews adopted the Greek language, culture, and writing. The Hebrew Bible was translated into Greek.<\/p>\n The Romans could be murderous and cruel, or could be very nice. They respected or tolerated local religions. They put local people like Herod, a Jew, into kingship.<\/p>\n Public feelings about the Romans ranged from accepting, to ambivalent, to outright hatred of these invaders. Many refused Jesus\u2019 teachings and longed for a military leader like King David, a fond memory from 440 years before. Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus, shared these feelings.<\/p>\n There had been many groups of troublemakers who the Romans had to stifle, and eventually these troublemakers became the Zealot party that eventually drew the wrath of the Romans so that they stomped every trace of the Jews out of existence by 128 CE, and persecuted Christianity because of its association. The only Jews who survived were those who left Israel and went into hiding.<\/p>\n You get what you invest in.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cAn angry man stirs up strife, And a hot-tempered man abounds in transgression.\u201d Proverbs 29:22<\/a><\/p>\n Stirring up angry and divisive feelings has consequences with bad outcomes, like getting an entire civilization and religion destroyed. Jesus showed us a much better path.<\/p>\n He treated them with respect, didn\u2019t argue with them, appreciated the great faith of some, and healed them. He did nothing to stir them up.<\/p>\n Jesus could have been on the warpath against people whose behavior he didn\u2019t like. That would have been many Jews, and, gulp, us. But instead he offered each of us not only an olive branch of peace between us and God, but a way to move forward eternally through his example.<\/p>\n \u201cBut God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.\u201d Because of Jesus\u2019 methods of dealing with others, his message found fertile ground among many Jews, many Jewish leaders, many Roman soldiers, and, well, everyone who was looking.<\/strong><\/p>\n The Right Rev. Mariann Budde, speaking in a prayer service for the inauguration about unity, included the LGBTQ and migrant communities. She said to Trump, \u201cYou have felt the providential hand of a loving God. In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now.\u201d\u00a0 She referred to LGBTQ people and immigrants.<\/p>\n Many immigrants are afraid of being returned to extremely harsh lives in their home countries, and scared for their lives. Many left areas ravaged by extreme poverty, crop land destroyed by forever drought, widespread merciless gang violence, political persecution, and lack of ways to support families. In coming here, many lost their homes and walked thousands of miles in harsh conditions.<\/p>\n Rather than take on Trump in a public display of confrontation, she said on The View<\/em> she wanted her sermon to, \u2018counter the narrative that is so divisive and polarizing in which people are being harmed\u2019. She declined to address his calls for an apology.<\/p>\n Like Jesus, Budde spoke the truth, stood firm, and refused to argue.<\/strong><\/p>\n Did the path shown us by Jesus tell us to become doormats? On the contrary. Jesus spoke truth. It was rejected by many, especially leaders, but many found comfort and many lives were transformed by his message of love.<\/p>\n Disagreeing with others doesn\u2019t mean being hateful to them or creating problems for them. <\/strong><\/p>\n Jesus\u2019 way was simple and his load was light: Love others. Be kind to them. It makes all the difference in the world.<\/strong><\/p>\n During the most extreme political regimes there are ways to survive and live our truth.<\/strong><\/p>\n Scot Nakagawa on Substack related Lessons from Solidarity Networks in Chile for Today\u2019s Anti-Authoritarian Organizers. (- https:\/\/substack.com\/@scotnakagawa)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Conclusion after this about church planning:<\/span><\/p>\n How can churches minister to new generations if they won\u2019t come to church? The church has been losing people at 1% a year, and now most of new generations won\u2019t come.<\/p>\n I developed and presented a course on understanding and working with new generations. I would like to say I had rave reviews, but on a scale of 1 to 5 it averaged 4.5. Well, some people were raving.<\/p>\n The course helps people understand new generations, their values, and their differences. It helps people understand how to build a bridge to them and minister to them. The old worn-out things we used to do don\u2019t work, and for good reason. This solutions focused course enables people to find new ways, appropriate ways, to minister to these generations in their local circumstances. It\u2019s for church groups and generates deep discussion. <\/p><\/p>\n \u201cWith hate, we have more to lose than gain. Break the cycle\u201d \u2013 Dorian Scott Cole<\/strong><\/p>\n Hate gets hate in response.<\/p>\n Violence gets violence in response.<\/p>\n Love gets a much better response.<\/p>\n Jesus showed us the better way of working with others. He showed us the way to transform ourselves and the world. He didn\u2019t argue with others, he just spoke truth and stood firm, citing the law that they had twisted into their own image. He said the leaders were snakes and the end would not be good for them.<\/p>\n We can ridicule and argue, and that\u2019s what we always get in return.<\/p>\n Choose what you want to give others. <\/strong><\/p>\n What probability spaces can we open in our minds to see how we can work with others and influence them?<\/p>\n (A probability space is where all of the elements necessary for something to happen are present and it\u2019s almost inevitable. All it takes is intention.)<\/p>\n If you think creatively and allow your mind to wander and explore, can we show those who oppose us a better way to resolve differences?<\/p>\n (A potential space is a virtual space in our minds where entirely new things can take shape.)More: Is Music A Form Of Prayer?<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n Would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. This helps me improve my work. ________________________<\/p>\n \u2013\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Dorian<\/p>\n Our answer is God. God\u2019s answer is us. Together we make the world better.<\/p>\n Restore and recreate. Take time to celebrate life. Laugh, sing, and dance<\/a> regularly, even every day. Happy<\/em><\/a>. This is why we dance to celebrate life: Reindeer actually running and dancing.<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Jesus](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/1453\/2025\/01\/JesusRomanSoldier-1024x585.jpeg\")
Reference verses<\/h3>\n
Living with an occupying force<\/h2>\n
What did Jesus do about the Romans?<\/h3>\n
\n\u2013 Romans 5:8<\/p>\nBudde example in speaking to Trump<\/h3>\n
Don\u2019t be complacent or submissive<\/h2>\n
Chile resistance example<\/h3>\n
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\n[My comment: many faith based organizations in the US organize and support efforts to prevent harm to those less fortunate.]<\/strong><\/li>\n
\n[My comment: this can be accomplished by new generations through social media.]<\/strong><\/li>\n
\n[My comment: Public pressure on Congressional legislators through journalism gets results in the US.]<\/strong><\/li>\n
\n[My comment: Organizing not only creates strength in numbers, it gets people involved and committed.]<\/strong><\/li>\nChurch planning season \u2013 strong impact course<\/h2>\n
Conclusion<\/h2>\n
Probability Space<\/h3>\n
Potential Space<\/h3>\n
\nPlease subscribe to <\/strong>my Patheos Newsletter<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\nSpecial opportunities<\/h2>\n
Free video preview of the course<\/h3>\n