role playing

So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, striking down the Philistine and killing him; there was no sword in David’s hand. 1 Samuel 17:50

One of the hermeneutical 'tricks' I learned years ago, was to invite people to see themselves in a particular story in the Bible.  Do you see yourself as the lead, a character actress, just one of the extras who stands around for an hour, before being glimpsed in the crowd or walking in the background of a scene.  I was taught that it was a useful technique (especially if one was experiencing a 'sermon block' and Sunday was coming up fast in the rearview mirror.

But what I discovered, and still notice in social media comments/posts/memes, is that 99.9% of us (and I include myself) always, always see ourselves as the hero, the one in the starring.

We are always David, killing the giant with a stone flung with our small slingshot. We never see ourselves as the giant standing there, taunting and threatening the weak, vulnerable Israelites.  

We never see ourselves in the role of the greedy, manipulating money changers in the Temple, We are always the passionate, outraged, righteous Jesus, driving them out.

Though we might admit to being Peter (just as a brief, quickly forgotten cameo) but Judas? Never!  Never!

But, if we are privileged because of our money, education, ancestry, work, where we live, the vehicles we drive, the ease we have to travel where and when we want, the good healthcare and all the other perks, well

maybe we are more like the bully Goliath, lording it over the forgotten, the rough sleepers, the folks working menial jobs.

Maybe we are more like the money changers, paying close attention to the vagaries of our pensions and portfolios, and begrudging the requests to be more charitable towards those who are struggling.

Maybe we are more like Judas when we sell out Jesus for the politician we support, the economic system which benefits the privileged like us, the religious belief that is aligned more with our personal dislikes than God's love for every single person around us.

Maybe, just maybe, we are not as heroic as we see ourselves.

(c) 2023 Thom M. Shuman