suicide. The difference between Jonestown and Jesus is the agency of the participants. Hundreds of children could not have consented to suicide. There were so many others incapable of consent. Death without consent is murder. Many were forced. Revolutionary suicide is chosen not coerced. Jesus calls us to revolution . . . not extermination.
Amen.
Back
“We can’t go back.”
—Jim Jones
Can we go back? It’s a timeless existential question that has consistently troubled the human mind. You can’t convince a people to destroy their bodies without convincing them that there’s no path back to life. Suicide is a decision devoid of a future. One would think that any spiritual leader would seek to offer hopeful words in such a dark moment. Not Jones. His primary interest was death. Honestly, it couldn’t come fast enough for him. Before the day was over, bodies littered their compound. It didn’t have to go down like this. With a hopeful word, the people could have been saved. Alas, it was not to be. Know . . . you can always go back. Redemption will find you there. The past is no match for Jesus.
Amen.
They
“They won’t leave us alone.”
—Jim Jones
THEY. It’s an odd word. The four combined letters are only needed because US has failed. You see, the distance between peoples is always THEY. THEY sneaks up into the fabric of our lives and the next thing you know everyone is THEY. The further we slip and hide, the more we THEY the world. When these words were spoken, death was near. Jones planned it that way. To complete the task, Jones reverted to a reliable word. This wasn’t the first time the words had been slung around. Constantly, Jones had talked about the evil of the THEY. On the last night, THEY were closing in. Jones wanted to make sure everyone was scared enough of THEY to stick together until they were all dead. We must be cautious of THEY. THEY have a way of isolating and destroying US.
Amen.
Jim Jones: They’re now going back to tell more lies which means more congressmen. And there’s no way, no way we can survive. Anybody . . .
Dissent
“Anyone that has any dissenting opinion, please speak . . .”
—Jim Jones
The end was rapidly approaching. In the midst of the slow march toward death, Jim Jones wanted to know if anyone had a dissenting opinion. Though this is a curious moment, it’s not completely unexpected. Throughout history, leaders have asked for dissent for the sake of appearing like they’re open to dissent. No matter what anyone would have said in those final hours, Jones was determined to make sure that nobody made it out alive. Such a moment reminds me of Jesus’ advice to be “wise as a snake.” There was a snake loose in Jonestown. There will be more. Don’t forget, the snake can’t be avoided unless you think like a snake.
Amen.
Jim Jones: Yes . . . You can have opportunity, but if their children are left we’re gonna have them butchered. We can make a strike but we’ll be striking against people that we don’t want to strike against. And what we’d like to get is the people who caused this stuff and some, there’s some people here are prepared to know how to do that . . . go in town and get Timothy Stoen, but there’s no plane, there’s no plane, you can’t catch a plane in time. He’s responsible for it. He brought these people to us. He and Deanna Myrtle. But people in San Francisco will not, not be idle over this. And not take our death in vain, you know . . .
Interruption
“Yes, Christine . . .”
—Jim Jones
In those final moments of death, there was only one person who openly dissented. Christine Miller was known as someone willing to challenge Jim Jones. As everyone offered their final praise of Jones, Miller wanted to know if there were any other options. If there was a saint in those moments, it’s Christine Miller. She stood up when nobody else would. Jesus was in her. May he be in us too.
Amen.
Late
“Is it too late for Russia?”
—Christine Miller
Regardless of what anyone said, life was still important to Christine Miller. As the only person who pushed back against Jim Jones’ rush to mass suicide, Miller deserves our admiration. Grasping for anything that would save lives, she suggested that the entire community go to Russia. Is it too late? Miller asks a question that stirs in all of our souls. When we wonder if it’s too late, let us remember that there is no such thing. The hour of grace is always here. In every situation, the choice remains the same . . . either we will speak our truth or it we will die. Like Christine Miller, Jesus spoke a truth that never died. Go and speak likewise.
Amen.
Jim Jones: Here’s why it’s too late for Russia. They killed. They started to kill. That’s why it makes it too late for Russia. Otherwise I’d said, “Russia, you bet your life.” But it’s too late.
Control
“I can’t control these people. They’re out there.”
—Jim Jones
Through a consistent use of fear, Jim Jones pushed the people closer and closer to death. There’s never any understanding of who “these people” are. If people can convince you to be afraid of “these people,” they will control your life. “These people” are everywhere “out there.” Those who feel like they’re under imminent dangerous threat will do whatever it takes to avoid that threat. Jones knew this. Ultimately, the community died because of “these people” and “out there.” Christine Miller knew better. As Jones spoke, she kept pushing for more truth. There are no lies in Christ Jesus. In the struggle for light, Miller shows us what to do when anyone tries to control us with statements like “these people” or “out there,” keep demanding the truth.
Amen.
Jim Jones: They’ve gone with the guns and it’s too late. And once we kill anybody, at least . . . that’s the way I’ve always . . .
Lot
“I’ve always put my lot with you.”
—Jim Jones
There is Christ and there is Anti-Christ. In what might sound like the words of Christ, Jim Jones declared that he was putting his lot with his community. Unfortunately, this didn’t turn out to be . Jones was pushing the community to a suicide that he would not fully emulate. When the time came, almost everyone in the community took a lethal dose of cyanide. Afraid of a similar death, Jones was found with a lethal bullet wound in his head. I can’t imagine Christ pushing people to a painful suicide and then taking an easier route. When someone tells you they’re with you, make sure they mean it. There’s nothing worse than finding out that someone is a liar than when your life is on the line.
Amen.
