Caputo’s Deconstruction = LOVE

I tried to skim thorough John Caputo’s “What Would Jesus Deconstruct?” but I couldn’t! It is so rich and deep; I was captivated by this postmodern philosophical view. Just can't do it justice in a short, so I’ll focus on his theo-poetic reading of “deconstruction”.

Caputo sees “deconstruction” not as a negative but a positive that offers the opportunity to reconfigure and reform not only our lives but the church. In the book he “deconstructs” the popular slogan “What Would Jesus Do?” to unpack his meaning of the term. In non-philosophical terms, Caputo sees Jesus as a deconstructionist. He asks the reader to look at Jesus’ life and ministry and dream about, remember, re-image, and reshape the vision of Jesus then and now; to get a sense of how and what Jesus would “deconstruct” in our time. What would Jesus deconstruct?

Jesus’ life reflected “love of neighbor and God”, characterized by justice and mercy for the poor, forgiveness of sin, compassion, radical hospitality, in what we name “unconditional love” but rarely exemplify in our everyday lives. But what would happen if we did?

Our institutions, including ‘the Church’, hide behind a veil of hypocrisy as did the religious authorities of Jesus time “…denouncing sin while concealing their own corruption” (83) in an effort to sustain their imbalance of power they fear is slipping away. One need to tap into the internet, turn on the TV, or pick up a newspaper to see the violence, greed and hate pervasive not only in our society, but the world.

What would Jesus deconstruct? According to Caputo’s view of deconstruction – a hermeneutics of the kingdom of God - Jesus would call for a reversal of it all. He writes:

“The key to the kingdom is to love those who do not love you. Who hate you, and whom you, by worldly standards, should also hate. That is exactly the madness of deconstructive analysis of love would predict. Loving the lovable is entirely possible, but loving the unlovable, those who are impossible to love, that is when the kingdom reigns.” (84)

Caputo thinks the concept of deconstruction applied to the church just might save it and us. But who on earth will heed this wisdom? What denomination would have the courage to propose it, much less lead? I live in hope, how about you?