Jesus was a Capricorn

He ate organic food

He believed in love and peace

And never wore no shoes

Long hair, beard and sandals

And a funky bunch of friends

Reckon we’d just nail him up

If he came down again

[Chorus:]

‘Cause everybody’s gotta have somebody to look down on

Prove they can be better than at any time they choose

Someone doin’ somethin’ dirty decent folks can frown on

If you can’t find nobody else, then help yourself to me

Eggheads fussin’ rednecks cussin’

Hippies for their hair 

Others laugh at straights who laugh at

Freaks who laugh at squares

Some folks hate the Whites

Who hate the Blacks who hate the Klan

Most of us hate anything that

We don’t understand

(lyrics by Kris Kristofferson)

Counterculture: A subculture whose values and norms of behavior deviate from those of mainstream society.

Jesus was countercultural. And because He lives today through the lives of those who follow Him, you could therefore say that Jesus is countercultural. His message was, is and always will be counter to the prevailing mainstream society. This is largely because what He represents and asks of us goes counter to human nature. This is not true just for certain people; it’s true for all of us with maybe one exception. The poorest of the poor may get it right away, after all they are the ones Jesus says are blessed.

Should a subculture claim Jesus as its leader while maintaining virtually the same values and norms of behavior as the mainstream society around it, then one can assume that the message has been significantly altered. If Christians are unfamiliar, even surprised, at the teachings of the Sermon on the Mount, then you must ask which “Jesus” are they following? If Christians bully, condemn others and claim the right to defend themselves, they have clearly found another Jesus to champion their causes.

Meanwhile all who truly follow Jesus will find it hard to do. Not because He asks so much of us, but because what He asks of us runs counter to our natural inclinations. No one can be aloof to any of this. No one can claim to “get it” — to be countercultural and cast judgment on those who are not. (I was guilty of that when I first wrote this piece.)

Let’s face it — the red letters run counter to pretty much everything we stand for in America. We have a lot of re-thinking to do. All of us. But then again, don’t you want a challenge?

Remember that list? Here it is again. These are the things you want to have define you. How are you doing? Righteousness. Justice. Peace. Mercy. Humility. Goodness. Faithfulness. Truthfulness. Compliance. Generosity. Forgiveness. Empathy. Sincerity. Trust. Lowliness. Inclusiveness. Defenselessness. Letting people in (versus keeping them out).