AT CROSS PURPOSES

THE SON TIMES
The Gateway Gospel of Destiny

AT CROSS PURPOSES

by Marc Yul Angelou

Dateline: Caesarea Philippi, February 25, 2018, 08:31:09:01--Since John Dunker’s arrest and subsequent demise, Jesse Benjo has intensified his itinerant teaching and advocacy. These actions have brought challenges from temple and government offices alike.

Failing any indication that Benjo has ever had any medical training, some allege Benjo is practicing medicine without a license. To date, many have claimed that Benjo has healed them of psychic trauma, leprosy, deafness, and blindness. One of those cured was a paralytic man who thought some friends had kidnapped him. Then they lowered him through a roof where Benjo spoke words over him, and he was healed. Although it was against his will, no specific charges have been brought.

Officials have also charged Benjo with fomenting large crowds to action at covert political dinner parties that served, conservatively speaking, some nine thousand people, where, after some healing razzle-dazzle, he spoke about equal rights for all people. He espouses that every person is to be valued as an equal without considering the station or education of the other.

Benjo has gone so far as to say that God does not favor one race above another, that Jewish people are to be an example to the world not superior to the world. Even the emperor has no special status beyond his office of caring for the people of the empire. Some even claim that Benjo is able to control the weather.

His teachings have predictably increased Benjo’s popularity among the people, but they have, in turn, caused critical pushback from religious and government leaders. Our nation’s leadership is concerned about maintaining social order if Benjo continues to be allowed to rampantly run over traditional values.

After a recent closed meeting, Judas Iscariot, a disciple, leaked that Benjo believes the authorities are out to get him. Benjo alerted his disciples that most likely a contract has been taken out on him. Iscariot quoted him as saying, “Life sucks. The movement is really getting organized, and now I am on some most wanted list. It looks like my time is short. Now is the time to rise to the occasion. We cannot let the banner fall. It is clear that some have died for the cause, and others have died because of the systemic rule of terror and associated violence and discontent in our society.”

Unfortunately, conflict in the Benjo camp arose this past week as the political pressure intensifies. Peter, another disciple, who may be particularly hard-headed, is concerned about future Benjo activities. He is encouraging Benjo to give up his service of feeding, of teaching equality to the people, and even of healing anybody who shows up because “it is time to take a more conservative line that supports some of the more influential policy peddlers. In this way, we will gain the support of the status quo and get off the most wanted list.”

In a moment of ire, Benjo responded to Peter, “You are thinking like that Network of Roman Aggression! The NRA expects to find peace through aggression. Aggression is not peace; it is terror and fear. It only serves to depress and oppress the people. What you are suggesting is that I be part of the process of escalating violence and death. I am trying to stop the cycle of violence.

“While we debate what my role should be, people are dying in the streets. If you want to follow me, then get behind me. How do you think that you can be a follower when you continue to work at controlling the agenda? We are at cross purposes.

“We always knew that crossing the Roman authority meant the possibility of death. If I have to die trying to stop the violence, then I will die; and I will depend on all of you to forgive the people who make it happen, even the government and the penal system that brings it about. It is time to take those symbols of death, like the cross, and repurpose them for bringing life.

“In doing this, we will be able to raise up those whom the government despises and bring honor even to the blind. This will mean putting the needs of others before yourselves, but if we are to have a better life, then it will be that kind of concern that will make the difference. I tell you today, if we can learn to stop the violence and care for others, then there are some of you here today that will witness a new life in peace that does not depend on fear and military might.”