The Disciples are all at Murphy’s Pub at the bar. Jesus is tending. Most of the disciples are drinking cokes.
Jesus (wiping the bar with a towel): You know why I’m working here for Murphy, tending bar?
Peter (rolling his eyes): I know. So the local derelicts can get to know you?
Jesus (nodding): Yep. When people get to know me, I change their lives.
Matthew (nodding, too): ‘Course. We can attest to that.
Jesus: What do you call a Buddhist who’s getting to know me?
John (looking at the guys then shaking his head): We don’t know, what?
Jesus: A Buddhist getting to know Jesus. What do you call Jew who’s getting to know me?
Nate (raising his hand): Oh! I know. A Jew getting to know Jesus.
Jesus (smiling): Right. What will you call a muslim who’s getting to know me?
Judas (wrinkling his brow): Umm. A muslim getting to know Jesus?
Jesus: So far, so good. What do you call an atheist who’s getting to know me?
Matthew: An atheist getting to know Jesus.
Jesus (looking very serious): So, what do you call a gay guy in San Francisco who’s getting to know me?
Bart (just as serious): A gay guy getting to know Jesus.
Jesus (grinning widely): Aaaa. Nope, everyone getting to know me in North America is ‘lost.’
James: That doesn’t make any sense.
Jesus (nodding): There you go, James. It’s seriously ridiculous. There’s two types of people: Those who know me and those who are coming to know me. Don’t expect one’s culture to disappear as he or she comes to know me well.
Andrew: So, you’re talking about syncretism — everything mixed together?
Jesus: Hmm. No, I’m talking about labeling people. You’ll know they are my disciples if they love others as I have loved you, not by labels.
—
Tr8: Don’t use labels. Expect indigenous expressions of Christ in different cultures. The love of Christ adapts to, then transforms, people and cultures.