Reader 1: I am a Christian.
Reader 2: I am a Christian.
Reader 1: My name is Triumphalist.
Reader 2: My name is Suffering.
Reader 1: I am Success Christianity.
Reader 2: I am perceived as Failure Christianity.
Reader 1: I am otherwise called Imperial Christianity.
Reader 2: I am otherwise called Servanthood Christianity.
Reader 1: I ride on the back of sword and might.
Reader 2: I am carried by the power of the gospel.
Reader 1: I wear the glory of Emperor Constantine and the crown of colonization down through the centuries.
Reader 2: I wear the thorns of the cross-bearing Servant and am ashamed of the use of military might in my name to conquer and colonize peoples.
Reader 1: I am the Spirit of the Crusaders
Reader 2: I am the Spirit of the Crucified.
Reader 1: I see the cross from above.
Reader 2: I see the cross from below.
Reader 1: From the conqueror's point of view.
Reader 2: From the conquered point of view.
Reader 1: My empire stretches from the West to the East.
Reader 2: "My kingdom is not of this world."
Reader 1: Who are you then?
Reader 2: I am a Christian called Crucified Spirit. Do I know you?
You are NOT a Christian. Are you?
Reader 1: I am a Christian called Crusading Spirit. Do I know you?
You are NOT a Christian. Are you?
Reader 2: We parted company long ago when Emperor Constantine declared Christianity the official religion in the 4th century. YOU MAY NOT RECOGNIZE ME.
Reader 1: (Lifting up his or her collar) I am the majority religion here.
Reader 2: I am the Way of the Cross. Minority Christianity here.
Reader 1: I am the best-known face of Christianity known here in town.
Reader 2: I am the least-known face of Christianity here.
Reader 1: Bigger crowds will follow only a conquering model of Christianity. Triumphalist Christianity. Don't you see?
Reader 2: Discerning people may be only a few. But I know they make a bold commitment to Christ as Suffering Servant.
Reader 1: You know what? That is the dumbest way to act. To follow the suffering model. Go and IMPERIALIZE yourself. You can sell yourself better in this town.
Reader 2: You know what? You look like the tempter who tempted Jesus to fall down and worship him. I am telling you-- Christ is not for sale. Go and "Christianize" yourself.
Reader 1: A Christian to Christianize oneself? The best joke I have ever heard!
Reader 2: A Christ-like Christianity is the best thing that can ever happen to Christianity in this town.
Reader 1: Christianity in the emperor's style. That is the way to go.
Reader 2: Christianity as the Way of the Cross and Resurrection. That is the way to go.
Reader 1: There are two kinds of Christianity---Success Christianity and Failure Christianity.
Reader 2: Jesus said, "Unless I fail, my work will be useless."
Reader 1: Follow me. I will make you successful.
Reader 2: Follow me. I will make you faithful.
Reader 1: Which will you choose? Successful Christianity?
Reader2: Faithful Christianity? God grant each of us the discernment to differentiate true success from true failure.
(Taken from Glory & Jacob Dharmaraj's Study Guide on Creating Interfaith Community by R. Marston Speight. 2003. Pages 111-114).
(1) SHOW THE VIDEO ON "HOLY WEEK IN BAGHDAD.":
(2) "Holy Week in Baghdad." (11 minutes). This video describes how food and medicines from American churches have been saving the lives of malnourished children of Iraq. It also describes the American church leaders' visit to Iraq during Holy Week. Take time to listen to children singing in the Evangelical (Presbyterian) Church in Baghdad. Church World Service, P.O. Box 968, Elkhart, IN 46515. Ph. 1-800-297-1516. If you would like to borrow this video, please contact: Office of Justice Education, Women's Division, 777 UN Plaza, 8th floor, NY 10017. Ph. 212-682-3633. Fax: 212-682-5354. Give them enough time to process your order and packing and shipping.