Michael Hatch and Kenny discuss the film and spot the faith elements in Shaka King’s “Judas and the Black Messiah.” Follow link to listen to the episode.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/faithspotting-the-black-messiah/id1524339974?i=1000512632756

Faith Issues Spotted:

The Judas betrayal of Jesus Narrative- presented in each of the Gospels. Though William O’Neal (Lakeith Stanfield) did not initiate the contact with the FBI, he agreed to inform and eventually betray Chairman Fred Hampton and requested and accepted payment. 

Through his powerful voice, teaching, and personality Fred Hampton (Daniel Kaluuya) becomes the leading populist voice and Messianic leader challenging the treatment of marginilized persons and brought together competing groups.

J. Edgar Hoover (Martin Sheen) serves as a Chief Priest Caiaphas petitioning that Hampton be killed even as he was heading back to prison to finish serving an earlier sentence. 

Jesus’s teaching on not returning violence for violence, but loving even enemies. (eye for an eye, offer one’s other cheek)  Matthew 5:38-48,  Love of enemies. Luke 6:27-36.  Paul’s teaching of marks of a true Christian, Romans 12:9-21.  Such and other teaching stops cycles of violence.

Those in authority (leaders and governments) have responsibility to serve as shepherds to citizens and look out for the well being. 2 Samuel 5:1-2 (David annointed King), 2 Samuel 7:4-7  (The Lord appoints Tribal leaders to shepherd the people)  Psalm 23 (God models shepherding role for leaders and those in authority) John 10 (Jesus models shepherd for leaders) The film depicts the accumulaiton of the failure of  governing and societal agencies to ensure fair access to economic, judicial and educational resources and opportunities to establish generaltional wealth and support. Such still continues. Refer back to Faithspotting review of The Bankers in season 1.

Openness to examine oneself and one’s society as righteous or not is act of faith.  2 Corinthians 13:5-6

@revkennydickson @mikehatch