Zealots

The Zealots were a Jewish political movement in the 1st century which sought to incite the people to rebel against the Roman Empire and expel it from the country by force of arms. The Zealots continued to oppose the Romans due to Rome's intolerance of their culture and on the grounds that Israel belonged only to a Jewish king descended from King David. They believed that there should be some type of hostile takover of the goverment to make sure that their religion was supreme. The Zealots objected to Roman rule and sought violently to eradicate it; Zealots engaged in violence. They raided Jewish habitations and killed Jews they considered collaborators, while also urging Jews to fight Romans and other Jews for the cause.
I wonder if this sounds like any of the "Christian" sects today? How many people want to overthrow the govermental rule that they see as too liberal, unchristian, and/or ungodly? How many fights and discussion has there been because we need to restore this nation back to being a Christian nation? What was Jesus' reaction to the Zealots? Did he join them in this attempt to overthrow the goverment? The Zealots where expecting the Messiah to be a king, a person who would come back and overthrow the unholy reign of the Romans and re-establish the rule of the Jews. Jesus did not do that. Actually he taught the opposite:

"You're familiar with the old written law, 'Love your friend,' and its unwritten companion, 'Hate your enemy.' I'm challenging that. I'm telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.

Matthew 5:43-47

And Paul (a one time pharisee) wrote and taught this:

Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he's thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don't let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.

Romans 12:20-21

So any Zealot in me? If I was really going to follow the way of Jesus, what it really mean to be a Christian? How do I really over come the world? What is the real power that I hold? I believe that the real power that Jesus holds and held was the tremendous power of good, kindness, and peace. It was a revolution, but not the kind the Zealots where looking for. This is the real power we have today as followers of Christ, Christians. To bring goodness, kindness, grace - salt and light - into this world of evil. This is a revolution that will overcome anything evil. It is not to join the evil in acts of violence, but to overcome it with acts of love.

Today overcome all the challanges you may face with acts of love, kindness, and compassion. Become aware of the awesome, tremendous power you have as you live as Christ.

Namaste'