‘Jesus Taught Love’ is an Ambiguous Statement

This week I heard a sermon at my urban Los Angeles church that was partially about road rage.  The priest said that road rage is a result of radical individualism, because we assume that where I need to be is more important than where you need to be.  That is where the impatience and honking originate.  We’re so wrapped up in ourselves that we don’t even think that maybe the person in front of us is lost, or driving on a spare, or feeling ill.  All that matters is that I reach my destination in as little time as possible.

The sermon reminded me of an incident that I had experienced involving road rage at this particular church.  You see, St. John’s Cathedral Los Angeles is located on a major cross street and a ramp to the 110 Freeway, a major thoroughfare to Downtown LA.  To take advantage of this ideal position, an activist group of the church has a weekly peace protest out in front of the church during rush hour traffic.  One Wednesday when I wasn’t busy, I decided to give it a try.  After all, I hadn’t been to a protest before.  So, I showed up early to choose a sign.  Some weren’t appropriate for me, like the one that said “Soldier’s Mother for Peace.”  Others didn’t quite for me like the one that said, “Bring the troops home now.”  I didn’t want to advocate a particular position if I didn’t know the ins and outs of what it would entail to withdraw all forces at once.  So, I settled on a sign that was appropriately religious and vague.  All it said was, “Jesus Taught Love.”  I grabbed my sign and headed out for the street corner.  We were a small crew but what we lacked in size, we made up in gumption. 

As I became more comfortable, I ventured further up the street a little away from the group and the other signs.  Eventually, I was on the edge of the property, near a permanent billboard sign that read “St. John’s Cathedral.  No On 8.  Stop the Marriage Ban.”  As cars pulled by, some people waved at me and my “Jesus Taught Love” sign.  Others honked but most people ignored us.  One car caught my eye, and as it rolled by, the man in it flipped me off.  But right then, he was forced to halt by a red light.  What an awkward situation to be standing next to a car, the driver of which just made a rude gesture at you.  Not deterred, I wanted to examine the driver more closely.  As I looked at his car, I noticed several bumper stickers for Obama/Biden, Kerry/Edwards. and No on the Death Penalty.  I couldn’t understand why, if this guy was a die hard Progressive like his car made it seem, he was flipping me off for protesting the war, a Progressive cause.  As I looked on with perplexity, he motioned to me again, this time to move towards the car.  Waiting to be cussed out, I moved up to the car as the gentleman rolled down his window.  He shouted across the passenger chair, “I’m so sorry!  I thought you were protesting the No on 8 sign but now that I see the other protesters.  You’re doing good work!  Keep it up!  I apologize.”  I forgave him just before the light turned green and he moved on. 

I think the best way to sum up this experience is what my friend Erin said when I told her about it, “Apparently ‘Jesus Taught Love’ is an ambiguous statement.”  As an act of faith, I was trying to make one statement, but my sign was misinterpreted as another.  What does it say about us that the phrase “Jesus Taught Love” can be used to justify so many things? 

Jesus Taught Love

Support Universal Healthcare

Jesus Taught Love

Don’t get road rage

Jesus Taught Love

Ostricize Sexual Minorities

Jesus Taught Love

Christianity is the only true religion

Jesus Taught Love

Help the Homeless

Jesus Taught Love

Accept those different from you

Jesus Taught Love

You don’t have to obey the laws of the land

I could go on and on.  Our bumper sticker culture has done us a disservice.  Things have become so simple that they don’t make sense anymore.  Maybe next time I’ll hold up a sign that says, “I believe the USA should be more peaceful but I also recognize that foreign policy is a complex issue that may require some military intervention.”