The Rebel Jesus

[DreamGypsy]

4. If I feed the poor, they call me a saint, but if I ask why the poor are poor, they call me...

...a communist.

Jackson Browne evidently wrote The Rebel Jesus after conversations with a Mayan friend, according to Steve Stockman:

On the genesis of the song Browne has shared that he was very much looking forward to singing a traditional carol on that particular Chieftains’ album but could not find one to fit. A Mayan Indian friend suggested he wrote his own. On a Christmas radio special, hosted by Canadian singer Bruce Cockburn in the 1993, Browne explained a little more of the song’s birth, “We had also been talking about Christianity and the impact of Christianity on the Mayan people and somehow the two things got combined into this Christmas song. I didn’t really mean to but it came out as an indictment of Christianity. I just want everyone to know you can indict whatever major religion you feel like indicting on this song here. I didn’t mean to lay it all at the feet of Christianity so I hope you take it in the spirit of which it is intended.” After Browne has played the song and they are tuning up for the next one, you hear Bruce Cockburn say, I think Christianity can take an indictment like that anytime, speaking as a Christian.”

<snip>

In another verse the poor are ignored but might be thrown a token gesture in our Christmas generosity. The irony of the poor being ignored on Christmas Day when the baby celebrated was without a bed or food is the crux of the hypocrisy. How have we shut the door to the marginalized for a warm romanticized day of decadence is the question posed? Browne then paraphrases Helder Camara’s quote, “If I feed the poor they call me a saint but if I ask why the poor are poor they call me a communist,” to powerful effect. If we decided to turn the world on its head by seeking social and economic justice for the oppressed we would get the same as The Rebel Jesus. In conclusion the Mayan Indian, whose views Browne is singing, claims he is a pagan and a heathen BUT on the side of The Rebel Jesus.

Thanks for the post, Mia. I have that Chieftains album and immediately recognized the song, though I haven't listened to it for several years. This pagan and heather appreciates your reminder.