Eastbayri.com

There’s a scene in Woody Allen’s 1986 film, “Hannah and Her Sisters,” in which Lee’s much-older and bitter boyfriend, Frederick, remarks on the world’s sorry state of affairs after spending an afternoon flipping through the TV channels.

“If Jesus came back and saw what’s going on in his name,” spouts Frederick, “he’d never stop throwing up.”

The line isn’t really Allen’s. It paraphrases a similar sentiment — using slightly saltier language — uttered by Holden Caulfield, the young narrator of J.D. Salinger’s 1951 novel “Catcher in the Rye,” as he watches a Christmas musical at Radio City Music Hall.

What would Jesus think of what goes on in his name? It’s a question Christians ask themselves whenever there’s war, whenever people are apathetic toward the homeless and hungry, even when there’s a skirmish over someone calling a decorated blue spruce a “holiday tree.”

In other words, it’s a question that gets asked a lot.

We queried several local Christian leaders on what they believe Jesus would think about the current state of affairs. Most of them chose not to respond in a public forum; one church leader said the topic “could become polemical” and that he wasn’t interested in participating.

“I really think that is what Jesus would do, too,” he added.

Others did weigh in on the question, however. Here’s a summary of what they had to say.

The Rev. William Sterrett

Pastor, Amicable Congregational Church, Tiverton

Pastor Sterrett believes Jesus would say the same thing today as he did 2,000 years ago as recorded in the Gospel of Luke from the New Testament: “As (Jesus) came near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, ‘If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace!’”

“He would weep,” Pastor Sterrett said, “because it appears nothing has changed in the intervening 2,000 years, and this in a country that claims to be Christian, followers of the teachings of Jesus Christ.

“Jesus would shake his head, discouraged, when he sees that we are so Pharisaic, concerned more about the name of a decorated tree of pagan origins than we seem to be about the plight of the homeless, hungry, (unemployed) and under-employed in this country. Or that people are more concerned about the gender of sexual partners than they are about whether genuine love, God’s love, is present.”

Jesus would be hurt by seeing the “pettiness and selfishness of those who think they have it figured out and everyone has to believe as they do,” Pastor Sterrett said. “Greed and lust for power is often veiled in religious garb, even though Jesus triumphed by not trying to possess love, rather by giving love away, generously and freely, revealing the power of love.”

On the other hand, Jesus would be pleased by the many random acts of kindness done in his name, Pastor Sterrett said. “He would bless all those who, in his name, give to food pantries, clothing drives, fuel assistance; who visit the sick and dying; who speak kind words to the least among us; who live and work for peace,” he said.

“As frustrated as I get with people who wear the cross on their lapel, but show no compassion for people in need, the truth is there are many followers of Jesus Christ who are making a big difference in the world. For all they do, for the faith they live out, I am very grateful,” said Pastor Sterrett, who added that compassionate and caring people of faith are not limited to churches. “I have been touched by the faith and grace and kindness of Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists and Native American faith traditions.”

The Rev. Esther Irish

Pastor, Baptist Church in Warren

Jesus, said Pastor Irish, would think “you still don’t get it after all these years, but that is why I came to live in your midst, so that you might know that I love you.”

She cited 1 Timothy in the Bible, which talks about the importance of being forgiving of sinners, which is what Christ taught.

“We’re all born with some area of our life where we don’t measure up, but it is easier to hate others who don’t measure up in another area than to admit that we miss the mark,” she said. “With this hate we say it is OK to treat other ‘failures’ in inhumane ways. We all struggle with one of these. But, we’re not supposed to give up and say the fight is over, for God loves each of us whatever our struggles and we should love one another whatever the struggle. We should encourage each other and fight against our personal failure rather than lash out against others.”

Ed Collins

Pastor, Eusebeia Bible Church in Seekonk

Pastor Collins, true to his calling, cited several passages from the Bible to back up his response.

“I think he is saying in his heart right now, ‘I love you all so much. Why have you strayed away from my words? Stop being seduced by the world’s system of thinking.’ It’s akin to what Jesus said to Jerusalem as they were rejecting God’s word,” he said.

Citing several different passages from The Gospel of Matthew, Pastor Collins said Jesus would tell the churches to “stop selling things ... and creating programs and gimmicks.” Pastor Collins, who said the “perversion of the Gospel” is one of his biggest pet peeves, said Jesus would tell pastors to get back to teaching the true word of God “without bending truth to fill seats in the chapel.”

In short, he said, Jesus would tell people to stop using his name without knowing his word. “Ignorance manufactures bondage, not freedom,” he said.

Robert Hollis

Pastor, Acoaxet Chapel in Westport

Jesus wants us to get back to following the word of God, according to Pastor Hollis, who said any wisdom he uses to make decisions in his personal and corporate life as a Christian comes first from the scriptures and second from a pin he saw on Facebook that says: “Jesus called and said that he wants his religion back!”

There are many issues in the public forum that can cause dissension, such as same-sex marriage, undocumented immigrants, abortion and the Christmas/holiday tree argument, he said. As a Christian American, Pastor Hollis said he must stand up publicly for what he believes while treating those who oppose him with kindness and civility.

“It is my opinion that in the public debate of issues, Christians are commanded to act in such away that all people — even those we (self-righteously) determine are evil — are treated with respect, dignity and love,” he said. “When all is said and done, people who encounter us should feel like they have been in the presence of a true and loving God (or a representative of the same), understood and invited into a dialogue of mutual respect, or else we have failed to shine his light.”

The Rev. Katherine Mitchell

Pastor, Westport Point United Methodist Church

In giving her response to the question, Pastor Mitchell said she was speaking from her own relationship with “Jesus Christ, the Jewish mystic, the political radical and the faith healer.”

“I am mindful that many of those I serve, including many in my own denominational hierarchy, would disagree with my thoughts on how Jesus would speak about what is done in his name,” she said. “For me, part of being authentically Christian means we live and serve together, even in our differences.

“Having said that, I think Jesus would have some seriously complicated feelings about what is being done in his name today. I think he would be very sad, perhaps even horrified, to see evidence of his name being used to exclude or hurt people, based on their sexual identity, when all they are trying to do is live full, loving lives. I think it would sadden Jesus to see the sacred texts and sacred spaces of other faith traditions destroyed in his name. And I have no doubt that He would be devastated to observe the behavior of those such as Fred Phelps and his followers who use Jesus’ name as a hateful weapon. I think Jesus would be quick to remind all of us that his clear directive to love our neighbor did not come with any exclusion clauses.”

At the same time, Pastor Mitchell said, Jesus “would burst with joy” to see the good work that millions of Christians have done all over the world. These acts of kindness don’t get the same amount of press, she said.

“But Jesus would be so proud of the simple folks who do their best every day to live Christ-centered lives, sharing what they have with those who have less and offering radical hospitality to strangers. Jesus would be thrilled to see those of us who do our best to stand up and advocate for those with less power, oftentimes risking our lives and livelihoods to do so.

“I know with certainty Jesus would be incredibly proud of the struggling single mother who called me today and offered a generous gift to help fix the car of another struggling single mom, even though they are complete strangers. I think Jesus would think that really rocks!”