“Be compassionate just as your Father is compassionate” Luke 6:36

As I “read” Jesus: his way, his truth, and his life I realize that the WORD made flesh (for those who like to quote the word) life was about compassion, not judgement, and certainly not fear of God.

He was present among those who suffered.
He was friends with those who were excluded from the religious/social community.
He touched the untouchables.
He preached love and prayer for enemies to the religious “law quoters”.
He suffered with and listened to the “religious law quoters” as they spewed judgment to the woman who was morally and spiritually bankrupt. He reminded her of her dignity as a child of God. He helped others to see their own falleness.

Read Jesus.

For many in the pulpits, morality is defined by the limited use of four letter words; such as the f-word, while other four letter words like: hate, kill, and shun seem to be easily accepted.

“Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” Even our good buddy Paul, who, for many who confess to be Christians, believed that love and compassion was a bigger way. Paul wasn’t Jesus. He wasn’t on the ranking order or cross. Sadly there are many folks, however, who claim to be followers of Jesus’ way, truth and life who are Paultians, not Christians and readers of the WORD made flesh.

We can’t claim to follow Jesus without having read Jesus, the Word made flesh.

And as we read the Word made flesh, we discover that he was the compassionate one in our midst.

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The following is a review from Publisher’s Weekly of Ken’s upcoming book, The Integral Vision, to be released on August 14, 2007.