I really am in two minds this morning on what to quote from the lectionary. There is part of Job which refers to wanting to die, and then there is this bit of the gospel. It would normally be entitled something like “this teaching is hard“.
But I am aware of the powers of censorship. Local speech codes — labelling any criticism as hate speech. — including on facebook & twitter.
I never thought I would defend trolls. I have a policy on this — one warning (and if it is really defamatory, no warnings). New Zealand takes the approach that NZ citizens are bound by its laws when they post — even though my server is somewhere in the US, and Twitter and Google have their server farms spread throughout the world.
I really wonder if Jesus would have got away with his preaching given that Mrs Grundy is policing the intertubes so that no ones feelings are hurt.
60When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?” 61But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, “Does this offend you? 62Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64But among you there are some who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. 65And he said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father.”
66Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. 67So Jesus asked the twelve, “Do you also wish to go away?” 68Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” 70Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve? Yet one of you is a devil.” 71He was speaking of Judas son of Simon Iscariot, for he, though one of the twelve, was going to betray him.
Now Jesus was implying that our efforts to complete the Law, to be holy… are without any efficacy. It is a useless effort. It is in him that there is salvation.
But he had talked about eating his body and his blood. This was so deeply offensive many left.
Jesus was not afraid to lose people. He was not afraid to speak the truth, regardless of what he was called.
Jesus could be offensive. Now, I have no worries about agnostics and atheists saying things… provided I can say things right back. I am half Irish and was raised by a father who used the socratic method: arguing is fun. Good speech generally drives out bad speech.
But to be so moronic as to demand a lad is arrested for a sledging tweet… simply wrong.
Let speech flourish. If that puritan Milton can defend it, so should we.