Who's the Boss of Me?

You may remember the argument of childhood...as the oldest, I exercised "leadership" in many arenas, but in the sisterly one, said leadership led to cries of, "You're not the boss of me!" Probably true. But I would vehemently defend my authority...and, if heeded, I usually kept us all out of trouble.

What struck me about the 2 Peter reading today (as Amos continues to come down hard in judgment on a reluctant nation screaming "You're not the boss of us!") is the need to establish "bossdom." Peter is the self-proclaimed author of the letter, but who knows. In this section there are many references to Peter's authority and his place in the community of Jesus-followers.

The two passages dancing together in my head and real-life events raise the question and the danger of authority. Republicans, having swept congress, are defiantly passing a tax bill that has an average 36% approval and 51% disapproval by the American public. (538 blog) They keep reminding us they are the boss. So even if we collectively disapprove, even if procedure has been ignored, even if they are doing everything they have spoken against (deficit raising bills, one-party bills), they are the boss of us.

I wonder what Jesus would think of Peter's letter. Jesus who left nothing written. Jesus who lived and served in a way that benefitted others and, apparently, had no need to assert his own bossdom. We don't get gospels which put him into those categories until well after he died.

What Jesus had was Kingdom. Love God, love your neighbor as yourself. No barriers. His condemnation was for those who set themselves above others, for those who refused to see their own complicity in the brokenness of relationships and rules, for those who put their own welfare above the shalom God intends for. all. people.

We as a country, as communities, as churches, call on others to follow our commandments, to follow our Jesus, to follow our lead. But we better be really sure we are leading in the way Jesus led...and not in the way that benefits us over others.

Israel didn't listen. Couldn't listen? Wouldn't listen? By the time we get to 2nd Peter, we have to ask if  the author was more concerned about the welfare of others or his own power and authority.

Maybe the question of Advent is which Jesus is the boss of us--the one who lived and served others, or the one who we claim says we can be the boss of everyone else?