Job Interview

Read Luke 4:1-13

Some have compared the temptation of Jesus to a job-interview. These would be fascinating questions to ask in a job interview. I extrapolate some questions we might ask of our leaders now that we have heard the “State of the Nation” address and the budget speech.

What will your strategy be?

Firstly, Jesus is tempted to turn stone into bread. Jesus responds that people live on more than bread – they need the Word of God (cf. Matthew’s version of the story). I presume that Jesus refers to the prophets that came before him, whose consistent refrain was for Israel to care for the “widow, the orphan and the stranger.” These were the most vulnerable in society then as they are even today. A society is measured by how well it cares for such people.

The people who applauded the recent speeches in Parliament, including some of the rebuttals by the opposition party and other parties, were largely powerful and wealthy. The poor and disenfranchised were not applauding…

Jesus is tempted to meet people’s immediate needs as a way of gaining their favour. Instead he spends his time, not only responding as best he can to their immediate distress, but also examining the systems that cause ordinary people’s distress. There was nothing in the President or Mr. Manuel’s addresses that left me confident we are addressing the causes of our nation’s distress.

What is your hope / vision?

Secondly, Jesus is tempted to embrace Satan’s power and give his allegiance to the expediency of the devil. Jesus responds that such worship is for God alone. Only God deserves our ultimate allegiance.

Where one’s hope is can be seen immediately when one examines one’s budget. South Africa’s hope is in Big Business. We believe that creating a climate that benefits the largest companies is where our hope lies. Not in small businesses, not in the vast majority of the people of this country – the wretched of the earth - but in those companies whose Apartheid complicity - not to mention inhuman African operations - has yet to be interrogated. We are investing in “economic growth” (read “Trickle Down Economics – ala Thatcher / Reagan) and “black economic empowerment” (read “buddy economic empowerment”) rather than genuine social capital.

Jesus is tempted to follow political expediency and instead follows the dangerous path of compassion. I shudder to think that our leaders know nothing of the truth of people’s suffering.

Whom (or what) do you trust?

Thirdly, Jesus is tempted to play dice with God; availing himself to the truth of Scripture. But instead, Jesus points out how Scripture itself is contradictory.

For the past 13 years our government has implemented economic policies consistent with the rules of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. Adherence to these policies is required of all countries that receive loans from these institutions. Most of the countries that have received such loans are from the so-called developing world. These policies have consistently led to the impoverishment of the vast majority of these country’s people. South Africa has no loans with the IMF or the World Bank that require adherence to these policies. South Africa implements them because they are policies laid down by the economic bible of globalisation.

Jesus is tempted to seek the security of religious fundamentalism yet casts himself instead in faith upon the mercy of a Living God who goes with him to the glory and agony of a cross. I recall the words of my friend, Alan Storey, “I do not follow the Bible, I read the Bible, that I may follow Jesus.”

Our leaders have retreated in fear from the risk of trusting the people who elected them. They have placed the trust in people who have never lived without clean water and electricity, lived in fear of state police or worked 16 hour days. What these “experts” know about the “real” world leaves me at a loss for words…