What would Jesus Do? Canteberry Tales Essay :: essays research papers

What Would Jesus Do?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Between 1951 and 1991, forty-one Catholic priests in Chicago alone were charged with sexual misconduct (Philip Jenkins). This number has only increased over the past ten years, with the recent valiancy among Catholic women and children to come forth about sexual indecencies committed against them. But while the charges against the priests may be relatively new, the corruption within the clergy is certainly not. Priests’ abuse of their position can be traced back to the origin of the church itself through both stories and historical documents. In The Canterbury Tales, Geoffrey Chaucer exposes immorality in the church (both sexually and otherwise) through his introduction of various fictional characters. Together, these characters demonstrate the ways in which the church has fallen away from its original purpose and design—to make disciples of God through church members’ imitation of Jesus’ character.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In efforts to inspire Christians to act righteously, as well as instill a sense of religious pride among young people, Christians have cleverly coined the phrase, â€Å"What Would Jesus Do† or simply, â€Å"WWJD.† Although the expression may be overused and somewhat childish, in the meaning behind the phrase lies the entire mission statement of Christian dome. The apostle Peter describes it by saying, â€Å"To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps,† (1 Peter 2:21). The message is simple; try to live as Christ lived. Of all people, most would expect the leaders of the church to strive the hardest for this level of Godliness. Quite ironically, however, Chaucer points out that the clergy possesses qualities opposite to those of Jesus—namely impurity, selfishness, and greed.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The dictionary defines the word ‘pure’ as being free of dirt, defilement, or pollution, and most Christians would agree that when the term is used in the bible, it means just that: being free of the dirt, scum, corruption, and sin in the world. According to Paul, the grace of God and the teachings of Jesus â€Å"teach us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives,† (Titus 2:12). In The Canterbury Tales, Chaucer shows that the clergy is doing anything but seeking after purity. The Friar is the best example of this defilement of Christianity with his fulfillment of worldly pleasures in the areas of women and alcohol. Because of the attachment humans have to sex and their sexual partners, the Catholic Church is structured so that the leaders of the church remain celibate their entire lives.