If Christ Came Back Today

It seems that if God really wanted to communicate to all of humankind, Christ would have come in the 20th century. Jesus Christ Superstar suggests that if Christ would have come when we had mass communication, then the world would have reacted much more favorably towards him. It certainly seems that he could have been exposed to many more people; but on second thought, what would be the response if Christ were to come to America today?

Would not the people who call themselves Christians be most offended by him, rejecting him because he associated with outcasts: blacks, hippies, radicals, street people, and other "undesirables"? They would be appalled that he hung around bars, communes, the streets, and other "questionable" places. "Surely the company you keep and the places you go are a reflection of what kind of a person you are." They would fail to see that these were the people who were most realistic about their personal and social situation, and their need for liberation. Seeing him only as a threat to their comfortable way of life, they would totally miss his real message of how he could set them free personally and socially, and transform their whole existence.

When he refused to fight in our army, wouldn't our militarists call him a subversive, our nationalists claim that he was not a true American? When it got around that he was telling people not to let America squeeze them into her mold, people would realize that he was a traitor. Their suspicions would be confirmed when it became visible that he was actively organizing people, calling them to be salt and light and to have transformed minds, living with another kingdom in mind. People would see that he was trying to destroy the American way of life.

The FBI would set up a file and begin full-scale investigations on him to determine how much of a threat he was to national security. Evidence would show that he identified with the poor and the oppressed; and that he denounced our leaders, the "respectable" of our society, those with wealth and power.

When he continued to talk of peace, justice, love, and obedience to a higher authority, they would have to find a way to get rid of him. A conspiracy charge could easily be created that would put him behind bars, especially if he crossed state lines. When he still caused an enormous amount of trouble, organizing the prisoners as well as embarrassing the guards by talking about their personal guilt and need for liberation, more drastic measures would be sought.

Christ in the 20th century would be hated, rejected, and perhaps even killed as he was in the 1st century. It seems that he would certainly be "crucified" in a 20th century way.

Tom Loudon was an associate editor of The Post-American when this article appeared.