During the only performance of Godspell I have seen there was applause from the audience when Jesus was brought back on stage after his death wearing all white. Applause? I thought this was interesting because it was not as though the people did not know Jesus comes back, but could the applauding be an expression of our cultures embedded theology? That is to say we American Christians really like the Resurrection.
For example there was no clapping during the parables of Jesus, or his baptism, or his Crucifixion, or his touching the unclean. (Although there was clapping when Jesus did the robot!) Although these events are remarkable in their own right. In fact the Resurrection would not be possible without the Crucifixion.
Why did we not clap when Jesus told the story of the prodigal son? This is a beloved story of resurrection. Why was there no clapping when the younger son came back to his home? Or when his father hugged him?
I guess that is part of the reason we go to church on Easter more than any other day (Christmas might be a close rival). We really like the resurrection. But the question remains:
For all that we like about the resurrection do we even know what it means? Do we just think it means that we too will get to be resurrected?
If we understood the political dynamics of the resurrection (that is God saying yes to the politics of Jesus and no to the politics of empire) then would we American Christians clap at the resurrection?
I guess it makes a different if we are Americans or Christians.
For example there was no clapping during the parables of Jesus, or his baptism, or his Crucifixion, or his touching the unclean. (Although there was clapping when Jesus did the robot!) Although these events are remarkable in their own right. In fact the Resurrection would not be possible without the Crucifixion.
Why did we not clap when Jesus told the story of the prodigal son? This is a beloved story of resurrection. Why was there no clapping when the younger son came back to his home? Or when his father hugged him?
I guess that is part of the reason we go to church on Easter more than any other day (Christmas might be a close rival). We really like the resurrection. But the question remains:
For all that we like about the resurrection do we even know what it means? Do we just think it means that we too will get to be resurrected?
If we understood the political dynamics of the resurrection (that is God saying yes to the politics of Jesus and no to the politics of empire) then would we American Christians clap at the resurrection?
I guess it makes a different if we are Americans or Christians.