Be a schmuck for Jesus: Turn away from Trump's politics of power and greed | opinion

When our two sons were growing up they were very competitive. The loser of any contest invariably cried, "Remember, the first shall be last and the last shall be first..." In a nutshell this saying of Jesus illustrates the truth that the Christian faith has always been counter-cultural. This is religion turned upside down.

The Christian story began in a way that was upside down. The Savior of the world is born in a barn and the audience for his birth announcement is shepherds out in the fields. When the king learns about his birth, the infant Savior needs to flee for his life into Egypt. The defining event in human history does not begin with pomp, pageantry and power, but in a demonstration of lowliness and weakness.

Upside down religion fills the parables Jesus told. In Luke chapter 16 a rich man lives in luxury while poor Lazarus begs for scraps. In the next scene, the rich man is in Hades and Lazarus lies in the bosom of Abraham. In Luke chapter 10 a man going to Jericho is beaten, robbed and left for dead. Who helps him? Not the priest nor the Levite hurrying to the temple. It is the despised outsider, the Samaritan half breed, who is the hero of this story.

Our sons were right. Jesus did say "The last shall be first and the first last." He also said, "Whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant." When asked who was the greatest in his kingdom, Matthew records his words in chapter 18:1-4. "Assuredly I say to you unless you are converted and become as little children you will in no wise enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

Jesus welcomed social outcasts whom polite society rejected; people who had leprosy, the lame and blind, tax collectors and prostitutes. To the listening crowds he commended Samaritans and Romans, the outsiders, as examples of people who had true faith. Upside down religion.

His closest disciples did not understand the true nature of the peaceful revolution which Jesus came to bring. They were always waiting for him to duck into a phone booth and re-emerge as the all-powerful conquering Messiah. Even when Jesus was about to return to heaven they asked, "Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?"

Also by Pastor Nicholas:My son is a Capitol Police officer, and Rep. Perry's election denial angers me

Today much of popular culture embraces the idea of greatness as power, strength and control. When I served in the suburbs of D.C. our county was filled with large and impressive churches. Whenever I met someone for the first time they invariably asked, "How large is your church?" They wanted to know whether I should be treated as a person of consequence.

In popular culture our enemies are identified, opposed and demonized. People who are not like us, don't look and think like us must be defeated and destroyed! We alone know what the problems are and we alone know how to fix them. Dear friends, where is our sense of humility, where is our sense of compassion, where is our sense of kindness? This is the way of the world. It is not the upside down way of Jesus!

Pastor, why are you preaching about these things? I am concerned about the direction of our country. I am concerned about our deep divisions, nastiness and violence. Just because you do not agree with me doesn't make you a bad person - or make you a tool of the devil! No matter for whom we vote, Christians must stand for kindness, must stand for honesty and must stand for truth!

In his book, "Think Big and Kick Ass in Business and in Life," our former president gives advice on how to treat people and stay on top. "When somebody hits you, hit 'em back harder. Do not hesitate to go after people... When other people see that you don't take crap and you are really going after somebody for wronging you, they will respect you... If you do not get even you are just a schmuck! Always get even."

What about love your enemies? What about bless those who curse you? What about do good to those who hate you? As followers of Jesus we cannot endorse the ideas contained in "Think Big and Kick Ass." This is as far away from the teaching and spirit of Jesus as Antarctica is from Florida.

I have a friend in Michigan who tells me our former president and his followers are standing up for Christian values. There is nothing Christian about calling names and mocking those with whom you disagree. There is nothing Christian about telling your followers to "kick the crap out of someone" who opposes you. There is nothing Christian in bragging about your sexual exploits. In my opinion, I think we Christians are being used for political purposes.

No one political party has a monopoly on Christian values and no one party is all bad or all good. In his book, "Is Jesus a Democrat or a Republican?" Tony Campolo writes that Jesus embodies compassion for the poor and vulnerable which characterizes Democrats, and he stands for personal responsibility which Republicans advocate. Jesus is not a captive of either party.

As a Follower of Jesus, my first loyalty is not to a movement, not to a political party, not to a person. My first loyalty is to Jesus Christ! What he teaches needs to be obeyed! I may not agree with you, and you may not agree with me, but Jesus commands me to love you! If you hurt me I dare not take revenge but must forgive you and try to be reconciled to you, I need to do this even if it means I am a loser. I need to do this even if I become a schmuck. Dear friends, if we had more people willing to be schmucks for Jesus, this would go a long way toward healing our country! This is what upside down religion looks like

The Rev. Steve Nicholas a native of York and a retired pastor. His son, a Capitol Police officer, was assaulted during the Jan. 6 insurrection.

This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Be a schmuck for Jesus: Turn away from the politics of power and greed