A person who thinks only about building walls and not building bridges is not a Christian. Such things are not in the gospel. —A certain pope
For a religious leader to question a person’s faith is disgraceful. I am a Christian! —A certain president
* * *
Jesus would not be with the pope on everything, but he would be with him on this: Those who build walls are not Christians. Such things are not in the gospel.
That’s true. Walling people out is not in the gospels.
But this is.
Once upon a time, there was a certain rich man named Dives and a certain beggar named Lazarus who squatted at the rich man’s gate every day.
Dives ignored Lazarus. Didn’t see him. Offered no assistance. Not even crumbs from his sumptuous table. Dogs licked the sores on Lazarus’s body.
Dives and Lazarus died.
Dives went to Hades. Lazarus to the bosom of Abraham.
Dives could see across the great divide. He could see that Lazarus was blissfully comfortable. Dives begged Abraham to send Lazarus to warn his five brothers not to do as he had done lest they, too, end up in a place of torment.
Abraham replied, They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.
No, Father Abraham, that’s not good enough. But if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.
Sorry. If they don’t listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.
That’s a parable. (Luke 16.19–31, paraphrased)
Hades, Abraham’s bosom, Dives, and Lazarus are fictions, but the moral lesson is not. How we treat others has long-term consequences. Social divisions are hard to overcome. But gaps can be bridged.
As it turns out, the right way to live is given in the books of Moses (the Torah) and the prophets—and in all the great religions and ethical systems of the world. The Golden Rule is universally acclaimed. Truth is shouted from every mountaintop and along every byway.
Be kind. Practice justice. Be humble.
We don’t need the Resurrection to make those imperatives any more obvious. The way is well known: Love one another.
That’s in the gospels. And so is this.
Woe to you who are rich, said Jesus. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. What will it profit you to gain the whole world and lose your soul?
Do you still want to be a Christian, Mr. President?
