Pat and Al

Hey! Have any of you seen the commercial or advertisement of Rev. Al Sharpton and Rev. Pat Robertson sitting on a couch together? It's a commercial about climate change and the point these two pastors make is that regardless of your political/theological/social or financial views this is something we all should be acting on. I like the commercial. Individually, I'm not a big fan of either one of these guys, but together, they make a compelling point. That point, of course, is that there are some things, there are some issues that should unite us - that are bigger than our differences. I like the fact that they acknowledge that they do indeed have major disagreements among them, but that doesn't stop them from working towards a common good concerning an issue as pressing as climate change. And I thought to myself...whoa!...I think I see a glimpse of the kingdom of God here. Ya see, this is what Jesus was constantly doing. Jesus was finding common ground with people and helping them work toward something better. Remember the woman at the well (John 4)? She was a Samaritan. Samaritans were an ethnic minority that Jews tended to despise (does this sound familiar)? Jews didn't associate with Samaritans and certainly a Jewish man wouldn't have been caught dead with a Samaritan woman. But here Jesus was, in broad daylight at a well, engaging this woman in some rather robust conversation. What was Jesus doing? He was finding common ground. They both were descendants of Jacob and as a matter of fact were standing at Jacob's Well, so Jesus starts talking about water and their common need for water and this new kind of water that the Messiah (Jesus) could offer. This woman was thirsty for something more than the well offered. She had been married five times and was living with a man who was not her husband. This way of life was looked down upon even among Samaritans. This woman was an outcast of outcasts. But Jesus invites her to come and drink the water anyway. When Jesus' disciples returned, they were surprised to see him talking to a woman (for reasons I mentioned above). But no one says anything, because they realize something is happening. They realize that the grip of nationalism and elitism and oppression and sexism are being confronted. They're beginning to understand that this kingdom that Jesus speaks of is different than the kingdoms of this world. Apparently, in the kingdom Jesus talks about, Samaritan women "living in sin" are invited to the table. Apparently, in the kingdom Jesus talks about, Pat Robertson and Al Sharpton can find something good to agree upon and work towards making that thing a reality. Apparently, the kingdom that Jesus talks about doesn't pose people and groups against each other but instead invites them to come together to work towards the good of all people. Al Sharpton and Pat Robertson...working together??? Democrats and Republicans...putting their own agendas behind them to serve the common good??? Liberals and Conservatives...understanding there are more important things than being "right" (or "left")??? I never thought I'd say this about either one of these guys - but when I see Pat and Al together, I see Jesus working. I see the Kingdom of God. Now, that, is amazing.