Month: November 2012

Thanksgiving and Succession?

I wonder if Hollywood is on to something? Outside of the hype around the latest vampire flick which seeks to steal as much of the Black Friday money as they can, the movie about Lincoln opened post-election. After the re-election of America’s first African-American President along comes a movie about the president who led the country through a Civil War and the Emancipation Proclamation. Any student of Lincoln should be well aware that his personal views on the “rights” of black and brown people were nothing to be celebrated. What I find interesting is the timing of the release of a movie about a time when states were trying to secede from the United States and the calls for secession by folks in all fifty states following the most recent election. Those calling for secession claim the rest of the country has become less American, which of course translates less white, less Christian,  less English speaking, etc. The secessionist claim the Constitution, written by and for white, property owning, men is under attack.  Their America has been lost. And, these nationalist are correct. The America they believe in, a nation of white, male, Christian privilege, is on the way of extinction because of an inability to adapt to the changing environment the American experiment created in the first place. Gareth Price recently blogged:

The curious aspect of U.S. state secession is that the agitation is not to become more Floridian, Tennessean, or Alabamian. Instead, secessionists define their states as more American than America itself. By seceding, they wish to preserve America against the encroachment of, well, America.

Tomorrow many in America will enact the annual gluttonous day of gorging on over-sized meals in a pale attempt to give thanks for the abundance of this great land.  Following the tradition, rooted in days when people ate the fruits of the harvest in mass before they rotted, many will participate in the “make or break” retail event of the year. All the while, the bitter divides of color, income, gender, language, belief, sexual orientation, etc. boil under the surface and in increasing cases right in our faces.

I’d like to ignore the whole talk of succession, however even though the numbers of people signing petitions are quite small, the sentiment they represent is quite large. Fear of losing some fantasy identity based on the supremacy of one group of people, is powerful and dangerous. History has too many examples of the destructive nature of such fear.

Well, whether Hollywood has the pulse of their consumers or some vision of the future, the question for each of us should be how will we contribute to making this place we call home a more perfect union?

  • Will we dispel the myths which work to divide us?
  • Will we counter the naysayers with hope for the future?
  • Will we give thanks for the America we are becoming and not just the America we once were?

We may choose to join the fear bandwagon and believe the worst or we may tune out from the fear mongers and take notice of the success of the American experiment so far. I hope we continue to become a people embracing diversity, valuing persons over all else, and growing in our identity as members of the Global, human family.

I’ll close this post with a quote from President Abraham Lincoln establishing Thanksgiving Day:

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God…
…It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union.

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The END is Near! Another Myth Bites the Dust

The Gospel text appointed for this week by the Revised Common Lectionary is Mark 13:1-8 which begins a section known as the “little apocalypse.” The disciples of Jesus comment on the grandeur of the Temple complex in Jerusalem which leads Jesus to share an ancient Jewish apocalyptic vision of the end of the world.  The disciples, of course, wanted directions on how they will know when the end is near, seemingly so they may be prepared or more probably in the case of Mark’s story, so they may actually recognize it when it appears. (As commentators remind us, Mark is a narrative of several examples of failed discipleship.)  Jesus warns them of the Antichrists, or those who will attempt to mislead the followers for their own glory and to the demise of the faithful.

The images of apocalyptic writings found in scripture are frightening and hopeful at the same time. The graphic descriptions read like a popular horror novel and yet good is always triumphant. The visions of the end of the world presented in scripture rely heavily on an ancient understanding of existence wherein which the forces of good and evil wage battle for control of a dualistic universe. The universe is divided into a spiritual realm and a physical realm. And, depending on your belief system, we are living in the pre-tribulation, tribulation, or post-tribulation age in the physical realm. The Great Tribulation is a chaotic time with great suffering, wars, natural disasters and persecutions (especially religious persecution), typically dominated by the Antichrist or the Beast  or whatever personification of evil fits your fantasy.  I’d list the movies and books written with this ideology, however, no one reads blog posts a mile and a half long (this one’s only a mile).

So many signs and so little time to exploit them all for one’s personal gain! 

With the Mayan Calendar all but debunked as a prediction of the end of the world, and Harold Camping’s May 21st/Oct 21 predictions out of the way, I’d love to believe that all the hubbub about the end is near would grow quiet. But, of course, throw in a Presidential Election along with a couple natural disasters, especially a climate-change-enhanced super storm, and the fearful will raise the strains of pending calamity!  For example, the Rev. Dr. Robert Jeffress received national attention last week when he took to his bully pulpit at First Baptist Church of Dallas, TX before the election and told his congregation that the President was “paving the way for the future reign of the antichrist.”  Dr. Jeffress stopped short of claiming that President Barack Obama is the Antichrist, but made it clear that he believes the President is opening the door for the apocalypse. Dr. Jeffress urged his congregants to vote for righteousness to delay the way for the Antichrist (which could not have been for Mitt Romney since, Mr. Jeffress declared Mormonism a non-Christian cult in 2007 as Mr Romney began his first, failed attempt to campaign for President.)  And, that was before the election, so better get your end of the world readiness kit ready, right? Not hardly!

Fear of the future is high octane fuel for those who continue to subscribe to a superstitious universe full of powers and principalities chasing after one another and obviously so utterly interested in every person on the planet they will try anything and everything to defend or destroy humanity.  I find it hard, although not impossible, to believe highly educated persons cling to this view of the universe or this notion of God’s final judgement of God’s creation, which God deemed inherently good in Genesis 1, in this time and this place. To reject every accomplishment of discovery made through human history since the first century of the common era, in order to hold onto the fantasy of rapture and cosmic Antichrists, is folly at best and destructive at worst.  But then, what do people like the bold Texas pastor really fear?

Radicalized in the decades following WWII, nationalism infiltrated and conquered much of Christianity in America. Seen as the heroes of the world, defenders of freedom and bearers of light, Americans saw themselves as messiahs for the nations. Having just watched the entirety of Band of Brothers on Veteran’s Day, I can assure you I’m not un-American, anti-patriotic or a secret operative of any foreign agency. I do believe, however, that the once distinct messages of church and country have become blended, re-shaped, twisted and indistinct since the days after the war. The propaganda of war, combined with the challenge of civil rights and liberties created a recipe for the fear we hear in rants and sermons today. The belief that America, especially an America at a specific time in history such as the mid 1950’s, is the light unto all the nations and Savior of the world stirs the stew of apocalypse whenever the definition of “that America” is challenged in any way. So, if I believe “1957 America” (when Anglo Protestants and Catholics were prosperous, other than the arms race peace was presumed, good families all looked like the Cleavers, school children wanted to learn and resembled their teachers in all ways, etc) is the bearer of Salvation for all the world, and my belief  is challenged (by a historical reality check complete with fire hoses turned on segregated peoples, a changing population dominated by new immigrants and black and brown people exercising their citizenship and rights, growing spiritual but not religious or non-religious generations, or a redefinition of the family, etc.) then I may conclude the end of the world is near. And, it is for those who stand to lose the privilege and power they have taken for granted as the “providence of God” who in their imagination chose them to save the world.

The Good News is the re-election of a president is not any more a sign that the end is near, than Harold Camping’s Apocalyptic camper or the incomplete Mayan calendar. Scriptures tell us we will not know, if and when the end will come. And, over and over again, we are told Do Not Fear. That’s because God doesn’t desire for us to be caught up in fear about what the future will bring, but rather to live in this moment with  joyful confidence in God’s grace, mercy, peace and justice revealed in Jesus Christ. When we choose to live without fear of the future, we may begin to see how God’s hopeful, life-giving, justice-bearing spirit is at work all around us bringing us closer to the reign of Christ’s compassion and all-inclusive love. Look around you this week. Where do you see God at work, changing lives, breaking addictions, bringing hope, helping the suffering, supporting the weak, feeding the hungry, ending the root causes of poverty and injustice, caring for the widowed and orphaned, expressing kindness, speaking power to power for the oppressed, forgiving the enemy, or conquering fear?

God is active in the world, this world, right now. Don’t let fear blind you or bind you from being a part of what God is doing in our midst.

Happy Day After an Election!

Congratulations to all who participated in our nation’s democratic process! Running for office, managing campaigns, getting out the vote, standing in line to vote, engaging important social, economic and global issues all require enormous investments of passion, energy, and patriotism. Truly every election, in the end, tallies winners and losers as do all competitions. Some former candidates will have the honor of serving our nation as elected officials and others will chose from a variety of pathways now before them.

For the electorate, you, me and others who filled in ovals, punched out chads, or touched screens yesterday, early or at the last minute, there are no losers. Sure, your choice may or may not have won, but you the voter are always victorious when you choose to claim your responsibility to express your choice, your values, your hopes and dreams for the present and the future of our nation and indeed global society. The I Voted sticker is a medallion of victory!

Generations of people, here and in other lands, never had the opportunity or still cannot claim the responsibility of choosing their government. If your candidate was not chosen or your issue not adopted, you may feel as if your vote was for nothing, a waste of your time. No matter what your issue or who you wanted to win, our nation is bigger than one idea or any one person. Our nation is what it is because of you, me and others who disagree on ideas and issues, choose and support different candidates, invest our hearts and minds into this grand experiment, as messy as it is, of governing for the people and by the people.

So, now as the signs are discarded (recycled), the ads cease, and eventually the pundits calm down (if possible), our next great responsibility is to not start whining or gloating, but rather to hold those elected accountable to the electorate, to not only be the governed but to govern as active participants in support or protest of our local, state and national manifestations of government. And, most importantly, to see our nation as bigger than a red and blue map, to see the value of every person beyond their politics, and to see the future as an opportunity for making our nation and the world, better yet.  Well done, voter!

To those who chose to protest by not participating in the election, yes, part of the freedom of the democratic process is your right to choose not to participate. Now that the election is over, it is time for you to get to work on whatever you were protesting, maybe even time to run for office or organize a campaign for someone else; it is your right and responsibility.

And, finally to those who just don’t want to be bothered by it all I share this much used but powerful quote from Martin Niemöller a German pastor and theologian who was imprisoned in a Nazi concentration camp (1937-1945):

 First they came for the communists,
and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a communist.

Then they came for the socialists,
and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a trade unionist.

Then they came for me,
and there was no one left to speak for me.

Voting is a precious right and responsibility. If you didn’t vote yesterday, I hope you will consider voting in the next election, local, state or national. Then you will be able to join the victory party on the day after election and celebrate your accomplishment!

All in All, God is Still God

On a recent Thursday morning as we were trying to prepare the newsletter and I was busy with last minute details for the Regional Assembly, the electricity went out. Fortunately, only one computer file was damaged beyond repair, the newsletter, of course. We were forced to let go of the deadline for that newsletter and resolve to begin again later, frustrating as that was.

Friday morning I loaded my car to travel to Normal, IL. As Vice Moderator of CCIW, the Regional Assembly was my responsibility. After nearly two years of organization and planning, the Assembly was scheduled to kick off on Friday afternoon. I started the car and Low Tire on my dashboard remained lighted. Sure enough a front tire was low on air. My arrival time would have to wait, but eventually I was on the way.

On Friday evening we honored congregations who have added new members and gave to Disciples missions, and recognized individuals whose life of commitment to CCIW has been exceptional with Disciples of Merit awards. After the scrumptious banquet we gathered in worship led by the spiritual gifts of many Disciples from across the region including an awesome hand bell soloist, flag drill team, praise band, singers and a dramatic presentation of scripture. Then, the Rev. Dr. William “Bill” Lee proclaimed the truth of the good news, that whatever our journey, wherever we are on the way, we have a Cosmic Companion who walks with us, indeed carries us along the way.

In the midst of outer dangers I have felt an inner calm and known resources of strength that only God could give. In many instances I have felt the power of God transforming the fatigue of despair into the buoyancy of hope. I am convinced that the universe is under the control of a loving purpose and that in the struggle for righteousness [humanity] has cosmic companionship. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

On Saturday we adopted a new Constitution and By-laws to re-organize our region for mission and ministry in this time and place, we approved a budget for 2013, elected new officers for the next two years, renewed our Global Mission Partnership with Guatemala, and participated in Holy Conversations led by our youth as we seek God’s guidance for the future of CCIW.

I was impressed by the youth leadership and the healthy conversations. Formerly a three-day, two night event, the 22hr assembly concluded on-time and we were sent to join Jesus on the Way!

Upon my return, it was time to prepare for Sunday worship and a Monday funeral. And, I was briefed on the tragic event that had unfolded in our community while I was away. We may never understand the why’s of evil that takes place in our midst. Murder is a senseless act. And yet, as disciples of Jesus we walk with God, who mourns violence and tragic death with us. We face this, not alone or dependent on our own strength. We lean on the everlasting arms filled with mercy and love. May God’s peace be with all who suffer as a result of this tragedy.

At the end of October we explored the Faith of Job. We heard how when confronted with the prevalent understanding of the cause or nature of suffering, you get only what you deserve, Job resisted the notion that he was accountable for his suffering. Job remained faithful, trusting in God which allowed him to protest his suffering. God’s response in this pre-modern parable was to remind Job that he was not God. Nothing more was available to the author(s) of this attempt to explain why presumably good people suffer as do presumably bad people.

Perhaps most valuable for us today is the wisdom that while we may be able to explain much of the suffering in our post-modern world as a consequence of economics, environment, genetics, social ills, psychological maladies, etc, we are not in control of every variable in life. Faith grants us the assurance of God’s good-will and love for all of God’s creation; God does not will suffering in a post-modern understanding of the world. God’s promise to humanity through Jesus is to be present in our sufferings. Contemplate the Gospel characters Jesus was always reaching out to (prostitutes, oppressed women, ethnic minorities, physically and mentally differently abled), bringing restorative healing, abuse ending mercy, and vision creating hope. God is with us in the person who stands next to us at the graveside of one we have loved, in the surgeon who reroutes our arteries and saves our lives, in the teacher who inspires our love for learning and understanding, in the garbage maintenance person who removes our trash and prevents the potentially hazardous growth of bacteria. God is present when we enact care, compassion, love and justice with and for other humans. God is not our adversary, the accuser, or a deadbeat creator. God desires a relationship with us. And in the end as in our beginning, God is God.

As we prepare for a season of discerning God’s will for the future of our congregation, we will be invited to journey together in the presence of God, seeking vision for the future God desires for us.

Eventually, everything needing to be done on that stubborn Thursday was completed, even the newsletter and I was reminded once again that my plans are not controlling the universe! Thank goodness! And, sometimes we need to step out of the way and let the Spirit of God lead us through the frustrations, delays, losses and game changers into the new life God desires for you and even me.