8.16.2007

"Where Would Jesus Park?"


It has been remarked that, unlike most college campuses, parking is not usually a problem around here. However, there have been complaints from people living across from the seminary about people parking in "their" spots on the street. They haven't talked to me personally about it (as Matthew 18:15-17 directs people to do), so I'm not sure what specific issues there may be. However, this being a seminary, the initial question is not as hypothetical as they may have intended; Jesus didn't just tell us to play nice, after all.

So: where would Jesus park? Or rather, where wouldn't he park? He seems to have accepted all invitations, particularly the ones that should have been at best awkward. He would have parked in front of the prostitute's house. He would have probably parked in front of the house of the Islamic militants' house as well, as long as he was invited.

What troubles me about the asking of the question, "where would Jesus park," is the implication that we--the recipients of the email--should be more considerate of... whom? It's not clear who we would benefit, other than the people who live across the street. Jesus' response is clear with regard to people who aren't welcoming:

"But whenever you park on the street and they do not welcome you, pull away from the curb and say, 11‘Even the dust of your parking place that clings to our tires, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.’ 12I tell you, on that day it will be more tolerable for Sodom than for the people living across from the seminary." (Matt 10:10-12)

But then, people have commented that my translation of the Bible takes undue liberties with the Greek.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

What would Jesus charge for a parking permit?

Mr. Miro said...

A pearl of great price.
(That keeps people from unnecessarily registering multiple vehicles.)