Israel had strong military security and the economy was good. The temple cult leaders reported that God was favoring them for their support of the religious leaders.
Entered AMOS the Prophet, who in no uncertain words let them know that they and those like them were not being favored by God. He told them that their misuse of their might and their injustice, both to those around them and those within the nation meant that their religious practices were empty, even a slap in the face of God. Israel would fall and fall hard, believing that they could do no wrong, but were God's favorites.
Many evangelicals have bought into the Law of Discovery and Manifest Destiny ideologies of Europe and America in the past, developing an American Civil Religion that manipulates its adherents to believe in prosperity theology, personal salvation as one's only concern and purity/holiness rather than faithfulness to Jesus' Way as the goal of followers of Jesus. Folk have heard it for decades and have been subject to it for decades. The results are not healthy. Many believe that America is God's country, favored above all others in the world and can do no wrong (along with Israel). Some believe that an anti-love, anti-justice, anti- equality, anti-equitability and anti-Christ occupier of the oval office is the chosen of God. Some believe that one can do whatever one wants to others, economically, socially and civilly, and not be at odds with God because they are
"saved". Amos would beg to differ.
Read Amos. Amos speaks to America right now.
Read James. James speaks to America right now.
Read the Good News of Jesus. Focus on what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for those who would follow Him. Jesus speaks to America right now.
There is nothing new under the sun, and Empires still fall.
Pastor Jamie
Sunday, May 27, 2018
Sunday, May 20, 2018
Counting the Cost
Luke 14:25-33
There is a cost to discipleship, as with anything else.
We are in the middle of some major (and minor) repairs and remodeling on our house. We had to completely replace our porch roof so that we could minimize damage on our foundation and have a porch on which to sit. We had to replace our waste stack from basement to upstairs guest bathroom, so that we did not have a flood of water in our basement when the tub, toilet or sink were used. It meant tearing out a couple walls, one of which is in our kitchen. We had to have a gas line replaced, which meant tearing out basement ceiling. I tore out an old bar in the basement and we are making it family room space, which has taken no small amount of effort. Since the kitchen wall is torn out, we decided that now is the time to remodel the kitchen, which is a small space, but which will be re-done from ceiling to floor next month. We will be paying for this for a while, but it is part of the cost of living in a home. We knew (some) of that coming into it, and we believe it will be worth it.
I remember Pastor (PhD) Schein telling us in New Testament Theology in Seminary, "You put down your money, you make your choice, and then you live with it." It was regarding this lesson from Luke. If we are going to follow Jesus in our lives, there will be a price to pay. It means leaving behind the ways of life that are not of the Christ and living by a different set of values and rules. It means obedience to Jesus' command to love (Agape) neighbor as self, even as He loved. While some try to claim the name of Jesus and still walk in Empire, rather than Kingdom values and live by Empire rules rather than Jesus' "Golden" rule, others find it all just too hard, refuse to be so duplicitous and walk away. It would seem that very few are willing to be salt and light, or strive to become salt and light in the world as Jesus' followers. For the few, there is a cost that some find too much to pay. It means going against the tide or marching to the beat of a different drummer, and that most often leads us to the Cross.
We put down our money and made our choice in the 2016 election, as a nation. Whether out of adolescent acting out, true greed or blatant bigotry, some voted for a candidate very much more unlike the Christ and His values than the other. OK, empire values were apparent in both, but certainly not to the same degree. Now we all must live with it. Some have become emboldened by their adolescent tantrum and its results, and are now escalating their demands to be recognized above the rest. Some have become emboldened by the blatant bigoted expressions of our "president" and are now speaking and acting on their own, openly. Some are taking advantage of the loss of government protections of the most vulnerable through de-regulation and are striving to "make a killing" at the expense of the rest of us. Many or most people (women, LGBTQ, immigrants, black and brown sisters and brothers, the poor, the middle class, the disabled, the elderly, people not of a fundamentalist "christian" faith, civilians across the world in war zones, other economies) are paying the price for what the nation has done and what it is becoming, here and across the world. None of it looks like the Agape that Jesus commanded or the Kingdom values that Jesus taught. Very little of it looks even like Democracy anymore.
The cost of discipleship is to fly in the face of empire values, speak out, demonstrate, write, refuse to participate, resist and vote differently - to not be compliant through all of that. Yes, in doing so it will put us at odds with some folk who either are compliant or are complicit in the direction that the nation has chosen. Yes, it may mean a loss socially, economically and at times emotionally. Yes, it may even mean going to the Cross. That is the cost of discipleship (see Bonhoeffer). Now is the time to "put down your money and make your choice." Now is the time to stand with the most vulnerable and those held down, back and out, even those oppressed and occupied by empire. Now is the time to live Kingdom of God values as defined by Jesus in Agape Love, as we have that in the Gospels. Now is the time to follow Jesus. When others would follow "every wind of doctrine" and live like "their god is the belly", we must know who we follow and why. "Put down your money, make your choice and then live with it."
"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." We will follow Jesus, for His way is a better way for the world. His way is the Just Way, the Loving Way, the Way of Shalom. His way is sustainable. Empires fall. This one will, too. In the end, the question will not be how much wealth, power or status we had in life, but "how did we treat our neighbor(s)?" Follow Jesus' Way of Agape Love and Grace. It will lead you to the Cross, but it will also take you (and your neighbor) beyond it.
Pastor Jamie
There is a cost to discipleship, as with anything else.
We are in the middle of some major (and minor) repairs and remodeling on our house. We had to completely replace our porch roof so that we could minimize damage on our foundation and have a porch on which to sit. We had to replace our waste stack from basement to upstairs guest bathroom, so that we did not have a flood of water in our basement when the tub, toilet or sink were used. It meant tearing out a couple walls, one of which is in our kitchen. We had to have a gas line replaced, which meant tearing out basement ceiling. I tore out an old bar in the basement and we are making it family room space, which has taken no small amount of effort. Since the kitchen wall is torn out, we decided that now is the time to remodel the kitchen, which is a small space, but which will be re-done from ceiling to floor next month. We will be paying for this for a while, but it is part of the cost of living in a home. We knew (some) of that coming into it, and we believe it will be worth it.
I remember Pastor (PhD) Schein telling us in New Testament Theology in Seminary, "You put down your money, you make your choice, and then you live with it." It was regarding this lesson from Luke. If we are going to follow Jesus in our lives, there will be a price to pay. It means leaving behind the ways of life that are not of the Christ and living by a different set of values and rules. It means obedience to Jesus' command to love (Agape) neighbor as self, even as He loved. While some try to claim the name of Jesus and still walk in Empire, rather than Kingdom values and live by Empire rules rather than Jesus' "Golden" rule, others find it all just too hard, refuse to be so duplicitous and walk away. It would seem that very few are willing to be salt and light, or strive to become salt and light in the world as Jesus' followers. For the few, there is a cost that some find too much to pay. It means going against the tide or marching to the beat of a different drummer, and that most often leads us to the Cross.
We put down our money and made our choice in the 2016 election, as a nation. Whether out of adolescent acting out, true greed or blatant bigotry, some voted for a candidate very much more unlike the Christ and His values than the other. OK, empire values were apparent in both, but certainly not to the same degree. Now we all must live with it. Some have become emboldened by their adolescent tantrum and its results, and are now escalating their demands to be recognized above the rest. Some have become emboldened by the blatant bigoted expressions of our "president" and are now speaking and acting on their own, openly. Some are taking advantage of the loss of government protections of the most vulnerable through de-regulation and are striving to "make a killing" at the expense of the rest of us. Many or most people (women, LGBTQ, immigrants, black and brown sisters and brothers, the poor, the middle class, the disabled, the elderly, people not of a fundamentalist "christian" faith, civilians across the world in war zones, other economies) are paying the price for what the nation has done and what it is becoming, here and across the world. None of it looks like the Agape that Jesus commanded or the Kingdom values that Jesus taught. Very little of it looks even like Democracy anymore.
The cost of discipleship is to fly in the face of empire values, speak out, demonstrate, write, refuse to participate, resist and vote differently - to not be compliant through all of that. Yes, in doing so it will put us at odds with some folk who either are compliant or are complicit in the direction that the nation has chosen. Yes, it may mean a loss socially, economically and at times emotionally. Yes, it may even mean going to the Cross. That is the cost of discipleship (see Bonhoeffer). Now is the time to "put down your money and make your choice." Now is the time to stand with the most vulnerable and those held down, back and out, even those oppressed and occupied by empire. Now is the time to live Kingdom of God values as defined by Jesus in Agape Love, as we have that in the Gospels. Now is the time to follow Jesus. When others would follow "every wind of doctrine" and live like "their god is the belly", we must know who we follow and why. "Put down your money, make your choice and then live with it."
"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." We will follow Jesus, for His way is a better way for the world. His way is the Just Way, the Loving Way, the Way of Shalom. His way is sustainable. Empires fall. This one will, too. In the end, the question will not be how much wealth, power or status we had in life, but "how did we treat our neighbor(s)?" Follow Jesus' Way of Agape Love and Grace. It will lead you to the Cross, but it will also take you (and your neighbor) beyond it.
Pastor Jamie
Sunday, May 13, 2018
HOPE
In my worst moments, I think HOPE is magical thinking.
It means going against the logic of what my eyes see, ears hear and brain processes to believe that things can get better or turn around. Without evidence of the potential for change or transformation, it seems like an abdication of one's determination to MAKE change or bring transformation.
In my best moments, I believe HOPE is what I had on a T-shirt some 20+ years ago from Sojourners Magazine - "Hope is believing in spite of the evidence, until the evidence changes." There is always hope that things can and will change, turn around, be transformed.
The difference is loving faith and action - to be clear, LOVING FAITH IN ACTION.
I believe that prayer is conviction toward action and then in action.
I believe that love is committed action. I know that of Agape Love, particularly.
My faith is in God's presence and transformative power of hearts and minds. That happens through voices, hands and feet of people. God works in relationships. God works in community. God works when people find a common faith and love and put them into action. Lives are changed and transformed in God working through relationships and in community. The Holy Spirit of God is active and relentless.
I do not ask God to supernaturally intervene. I ask God to change me and move me to act in this part of God's Kingdom here and now, according to God's will. I believe that we are in a relationship with God and called to be God's feet and hands, hearts, minds and voices in the world. Prayer that is asking for God to intervene in the world is an abdication of our responsibility as God's followers. Love that is a feeling without committed action is an abdication of our devotion to obey Jesus' command to live Agape Love (active commitment/committed action on behalf of the other, even stranger and enemy, and especially the most vulnerable).
My faith in Jesus is a faith in Jesus' Way as God's Way for us and a better way for us to live in this part of God's Kingdom here and now. I have a deep faith in Jesus' Good News and in the Holy Spirit's relentless pointing to it as OUR way to live in the world, this part of God's Kingdom, here and now. "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path."
"My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness; no merit of my own I claim but wholly lean on Jesus' name." My hope is that by living Jesus' Way of Agape Love and Grace, others will take note and decide to live it as well, by the moving of the Holy Spirit. My hope is that it will transform hearts, minds and therefore lives as we repent (change our thinking and therefore our direction, turn around in our way of living.) All I can do is bear witness to Jesus by actively living His Good News of Agape Love and Grace and let the Holy Spirit do what the Holy Spirit does.
In Agape Love (active commitment on behalf of the other), Prayer (convicted action in this part of God's Kingdom, here and now ) and Faith (an act of trust in Jesus and Jesus' Way), my Hope is transformed from magical thinking into a belief in and work toward Jesus' Way in the world, and the belief that perhaps others will do the same.
So, I still have HOPE. There is still HOPE.
Pastor Jamie
It means going against the logic of what my eyes see, ears hear and brain processes to believe that things can get better or turn around. Without evidence of the potential for change or transformation, it seems like an abdication of one's determination to MAKE change or bring transformation.
In my best moments, I believe HOPE is what I had on a T-shirt some 20+ years ago from Sojourners Magazine - "Hope is believing in spite of the evidence, until the evidence changes." There is always hope that things can and will change, turn around, be transformed.
The difference is loving faith and action - to be clear, LOVING FAITH IN ACTION.
I believe that prayer is conviction toward action and then in action.
I believe that love is committed action. I know that of Agape Love, particularly.
My faith is in God's presence and transformative power of hearts and minds. That happens through voices, hands and feet of people. God works in relationships. God works in community. God works when people find a common faith and love and put them into action. Lives are changed and transformed in God working through relationships and in community. The Holy Spirit of God is active and relentless.
I do not ask God to supernaturally intervene. I ask God to change me and move me to act in this part of God's Kingdom here and now, according to God's will. I believe that we are in a relationship with God and called to be God's feet and hands, hearts, minds and voices in the world. Prayer that is asking for God to intervene in the world is an abdication of our responsibility as God's followers. Love that is a feeling without committed action is an abdication of our devotion to obey Jesus' command to live Agape Love (active commitment/committed action on behalf of the other, even stranger and enemy, and especially the most vulnerable).
My faith in Jesus is a faith in Jesus' Way as God's Way for us and a better way for us to live in this part of God's Kingdom here and now. I have a deep faith in Jesus' Good News and in the Holy Spirit's relentless pointing to it as OUR way to live in the world, this part of God's Kingdom, here and now. "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path."
"My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness; no merit of my own I claim but wholly lean on Jesus' name." My hope is that by living Jesus' Way of Agape Love and Grace, others will take note and decide to live it as well, by the moving of the Holy Spirit. My hope is that it will transform hearts, minds and therefore lives as we repent (change our thinking and therefore our direction, turn around in our way of living.) All I can do is bear witness to Jesus by actively living His Good News of Agape Love and Grace and let the Holy Spirit do what the Holy Spirit does.
In Agape Love (active commitment on behalf of the other), Prayer (convicted action in this part of God's Kingdom, here and now ) and Faith (an act of trust in Jesus and Jesus' Way), my Hope is transformed from magical thinking into a belief in and work toward Jesus' Way in the world, and the belief that perhaps others will do the same.
So, I still have HOPE. There is still HOPE.
Pastor Jamie
Sunday, May 6, 2018
heartening...
It is heartening for me to see and read the reactions to the horrible intolerance being perpetrated on the "strangers" Jesus called "the least of these", who are to be welcomed by any who follow Jesus.
It is heartening for me to see people gather together to say, "NO!" to the hatreds displayed as normative by a few hateful people.
It is heartening for me to see people stand up and say, "NO MORE!" to those who profit off the selling of weapons of mass destruction designed to create death on a large scale in public gatherings like schools.
It is heartening for me to see people help the poor, who were created by an unjust economic system and who are scapegoated and further victimized by the most ruthless and greedy in our nation.
It is heartening for me to see people refuse to see the ignorance, hatefulness, greed, lust for power and desire for status as a normative value in our nation.
It is heartening for me to see people continue to strive to provide healthcare for all people, especially the most vulnerable "least", who are to be cared for according to Jesus.
It is heartening for me to see people work toward a justice system that is equal for all and does not single out one particular segment of society for targeted, unjust oppression.
It is heartening for me to see people work toward equal education for all children, that will lead to more equal opportunities in their lives.
It is heartening for me to see people work toward bringing a living wage for all workers and equal pay for everyone who does the same jobs.
It is heartening for me to see people work toward regulation on those who would fleece much of the population for the gain of the few.
It is heartening for me to hear ANY pastor who will address the darkness in our world with the light of the Gospel of Jesus in Agape Love and Grace.
And it is heartening for me to see that the ELCA has elected its first African-American female Bishop, and in SE Pennsylvania where I live. Congratulations, Rev. Patricia Davenport! Congratulations, Southeast Pennsylvania! Congratulations, ELCA!
It is heartening for me to know that in the middle of this dark resurgence of hatefulness in racism, ethnocentrism, homophobia, classism and religious intolerance a church body has had the openness to the Holy Spirit to act on God's inspiration toward love and inclusion in love.
Pastor Jamie
It is heartening for me to see people gather together to say, "NO!" to the hatreds displayed as normative by a few hateful people.
It is heartening for me to see people stand up and say, "NO MORE!" to those who profit off the selling of weapons of mass destruction designed to create death on a large scale in public gatherings like schools.
It is heartening for me to see people help the poor, who were created by an unjust economic system and who are scapegoated and further victimized by the most ruthless and greedy in our nation.
It is heartening for me to see people refuse to see the ignorance, hatefulness, greed, lust for power and desire for status as a normative value in our nation.
It is heartening for me to see people continue to strive to provide healthcare for all people, especially the most vulnerable "least", who are to be cared for according to Jesus.
It is heartening for me to see people work toward a justice system that is equal for all and does not single out one particular segment of society for targeted, unjust oppression.
It is heartening for me to see people work toward equal education for all children, that will lead to more equal opportunities in their lives.
It is heartening for me to see people work toward bringing a living wage for all workers and equal pay for everyone who does the same jobs.
It is heartening for me to see people work toward regulation on those who would fleece much of the population for the gain of the few.
It is heartening for me to hear ANY pastor who will address the darkness in our world with the light of the Gospel of Jesus in Agape Love and Grace.
And it is heartening for me to see that the ELCA has elected its first African-American female Bishop, and in SE Pennsylvania where I live. Congratulations, Rev. Patricia Davenport! Congratulations, Southeast Pennsylvania! Congratulations, ELCA!
It is heartening for me to know that in the middle of this dark resurgence of hatefulness in racism, ethnocentrism, homophobia, classism and religious intolerance a church body has had the openness to the Holy Spirit to act on God's inspiration toward love and inclusion in love.
Pastor Jamie
Sunday, April 29, 2018
When their position is threatened... in light and recognition of James Cone
The Pharisees and Sadducees, Chief Priests and Scribes within the temporal and geographical context of the writing of Jesus' life and teachings, were threatened by the Good News that Jesus brought.
The message of Agape Love, a central Kingdom of God value in the face of empire, threatened their collusion with empire (Rome) in their pursuit of wealth, power and status. Selflessness and even self-sacrifice does not fit in with those agendas of empire.
They tried to prove Jesus wrong, shout Jesus down, debate Jesus away and eventually they simply had the messenger eliminated, like had been done to so many prophets of God before them.
James Cone died this week. For me, his legacy is one of pointing out that this empire with its value for the wealth, power and status but only of the few, the elite and the white was occupying and oppressing God's children here and now. He pointed out the collusion of the political and religious leaders in that system of empire that lifted up the powerful and wealthy (predominantly white) on the backs of the poor (predominantly black and brown). He called for equal rights, equal justice, equal treatment and opportunity, and he did it forcefully. I get accused of being verbally pugilistic at times, but I must say that I learned it from some of the best. He was one of them.
Some things never change. When Barak Obama got elected, it was a sign of hope for many that there was some healing in the divisions over race in America. The vehement and vitriolic attacks on him, blatant obstructionism of many in Congress (purely to not allow him to succeed in governing and in the economic recovery, even at the cost of the nation) and polarization that followed exposed just how deep the divides are over race. It was not a time of healing, but rather a time of revelation concerning just how much we must heal, not just along racial lines but also along those of class.
The 2016 election was the ultimate expression of reaction by those who are the majority (of power and wealth) having their position (or aspirations) threatened by those not like them - those who they have actively oppressed for generations.
Recent reports indicate that it was not about religious fervor or economic struggles that people voted for the current occupier of the oval office, but rather simply over race and class, and the feeling that the status quo of empire hierarchical power and wealth was being threatened.
The irony is, of course, that many of those who voted for the empire status quo had little power or wealth, but they voted to double down on the very system that has also held them down, back and out from economic well-being. They colluded with those who had the power and wealth because they aspired to BE THEM someday. They believed they could be because they had one thing in common with them - they were white. The 1% are not by any means "color blind." They are very indiscriminate in who they will oppress for the sake of their own gain, but their exclusive club is very largely exclusive by race. Even those among the 1% who are black or brown in America are not seen as being equal to those who are white among the ruthless 1%.
The elites of empire got their wealth, power and status by being ruthless on everyone else. They got what they got at the expense of and off the backs of others. They have since the first empire. In order to keep their wealth, power and status they have to do a few things:
1. They must convince everyone else that this is the only or best system going.
2. They must make some of those oppressed believe that they can reach their level.
3. They must divide the masses under them, using #2, so that most people do not turn on them.
They are masters at this. They have been doing this since the first empire. They have perfected it over generations.
So, individuals believe it is about "taking care of your own", "looking out for number one", "getting yours", "climbing to the top", "having it all" and "making it." Rather than be about changing an unjust and inequitable system that goes against the Gospel teachings of Jesus in Kingdom values, they aspire to be the ones on top WITHIN the unjust, inequitable and ungodly system. Religious leaders have colluded with empire by feeding this ideology through prosperity theology and focus on individual salvation and being "blessed and highly favored." Jesus taught that we are connected through His Commanded Agape Love, and compelled to lift up "the least of these." Empire teaches us to worry about ourselves and emulate the ruthlessness that has rewarded those with wealth, power and status. Politicians use our "self interests" as manipulative leverage at election time and then they ignore the promises they made and serve themselves and those just like them. Jesus taught and Paul re-iterated that we must "look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others." We are to have the same mind in us that was in Christ Jesus - who sacrificed Himself, called for self-denial by those who would follow Him and commanded that we care for the most vulnerable, even making our salvation contingent upon it (Matthew 25:31-46).
The behaviors since the 2016 election expose the truth about a base of voters who believe that they were supposed to be entitled to more than "those people". They reveal a group who believe they should by now be benefitting from the promises of empire - a system that they have supported for generations. Rather than being included in the club that they aspired to be a part of, they have been used as fodder for the gain of more wealth, power and status by the elites AGAIN, STILL. Being well-conditioned to do so for generations, they are now turning on those who, like themselves, have been oppressed and exploited for generations. But they are also acting on their bigotry, believing that being white should mean that they naturally get more than those who are not. They are reacting to years of fear that had its origins in guilt over the shameful treatment of generations of human beings by this nation that has benefitted them systemically for their generations. They are reacting in hatred born of that fear and guilt, desperately trying to hold onto the notion that they are somehow, any way superior to others, ANYONE else. But the false teachings of empire have left them frustrated in that belief, so they hate and blame and hurt - not those who have devised this system that holds them down, back and out - but those who are easily scapegoated because they are different by race, ethnicity, sexuality, religion or anything else.
It is an old song and dance. The piper keeps playin' this tune and somehow folk believe they must still dance to it. They believe that by dancing the same dance to the same tune, only more, they will finally get what this dance can never and will never give them - Shalom. Shalom can only come when we love one another humbly and make sure that everyone has their needs met in all aspects of life. Until then, some will have more than they could ever need while others go without what they need. Until then, some will pit others against each other who believe they can get Shalom by pushing someone else down, not realizing that they will necessarily stay down with them. And thus "but at least I/we..." is the best they can hope for in life. And the cost is their soul, and perhaps the soul of their nation with it.
James Cone (along with Gustavo Gutierrez, Segundo, Sobrino, Sider, Freire, McAfee Brown, Wright, Wallis, Dyson, West and others) has been a modern prophetic voice of the God who is on the side of the oppressed. He has been ignored, debated and shouted down like the rest and is in good company. I will miss James Cone. I will not forget him.
I will take what I have learned and RESIST empire and its inequities of wealth, power and status. I will speak and write and demonstrate against that which is against the Good News of Jesus in Agape Love and Grace. I will strive toward Shalom - the completeness, wholeness and well-being of ALL people, together.
Pastor Jamie
The message of Agape Love, a central Kingdom of God value in the face of empire, threatened their collusion with empire (Rome) in their pursuit of wealth, power and status. Selflessness and even self-sacrifice does not fit in with those agendas of empire.
They tried to prove Jesus wrong, shout Jesus down, debate Jesus away and eventually they simply had the messenger eliminated, like had been done to so many prophets of God before them.
James Cone died this week. For me, his legacy is one of pointing out that this empire with its value for the wealth, power and status but only of the few, the elite and the white was occupying and oppressing God's children here and now. He pointed out the collusion of the political and religious leaders in that system of empire that lifted up the powerful and wealthy (predominantly white) on the backs of the poor (predominantly black and brown). He called for equal rights, equal justice, equal treatment and opportunity, and he did it forcefully. I get accused of being verbally pugilistic at times, but I must say that I learned it from some of the best. He was one of them.
Some things never change. When Barak Obama got elected, it was a sign of hope for many that there was some healing in the divisions over race in America. The vehement and vitriolic attacks on him, blatant obstructionism of many in Congress (purely to not allow him to succeed in governing and in the economic recovery, even at the cost of the nation) and polarization that followed exposed just how deep the divides are over race. It was not a time of healing, but rather a time of revelation concerning just how much we must heal, not just along racial lines but also along those of class.
The 2016 election was the ultimate expression of reaction by those who are the majority (of power and wealth) having their position (or aspirations) threatened by those not like them - those who they have actively oppressed for generations.
Recent reports indicate that it was not about religious fervor or economic struggles that people voted for the current occupier of the oval office, but rather simply over race and class, and the feeling that the status quo of empire hierarchical power and wealth was being threatened.
The irony is, of course, that many of those who voted for the empire status quo had little power or wealth, but they voted to double down on the very system that has also held them down, back and out from economic well-being. They colluded with those who had the power and wealth because they aspired to BE THEM someday. They believed they could be because they had one thing in common with them - they were white. The 1% are not by any means "color blind." They are very indiscriminate in who they will oppress for the sake of their own gain, but their exclusive club is very largely exclusive by race. Even those among the 1% who are black or brown in America are not seen as being equal to those who are white among the ruthless 1%.
The elites of empire got their wealth, power and status by being ruthless on everyone else. They got what they got at the expense of and off the backs of others. They have since the first empire. In order to keep their wealth, power and status they have to do a few things:
1. They must convince everyone else that this is the only or best system going.
2. They must make some of those oppressed believe that they can reach their level.
3. They must divide the masses under them, using #2, so that most people do not turn on them.
They are masters at this. They have been doing this since the first empire. They have perfected it over generations.
So, individuals believe it is about "taking care of your own", "looking out for number one", "getting yours", "climbing to the top", "having it all" and "making it." Rather than be about changing an unjust and inequitable system that goes against the Gospel teachings of Jesus in Kingdom values, they aspire to be the ones on top WITHIN the unjust, inequitable and ungodly system. Religious leaders have colluded with empire by feeding this ideology through prosperity theology and focus on individual salvation and being "blessed and highly favored." Jesus taught that we are connected through His Commanded Agape Love, and compelled to lift up "the least of these." Empire teaches us to worry about ourselves and emulate the ruthlessness that has rewarded those with wealth, power and status. Politicians use our "self interests" as manipulative leverage at election time and then they ignore the promises they made and serve themselves and those just like them. Jesus taught and Paul re-iterated that we must "look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others." We are to have the same mind in us that was in Christ Jesus - who sacrificed Himself, called for self-denial by those who would follow Him and commanded that we care for the most vulnerable, even making our salvation contingent upon it (Matthew 25:31-46).
The behaviors since the 2016 election expose the truth about a base of voters who believe that they were supposed to be entitled to more than "those people". They reveal a group who believe they should by now be benefitting from the promises of empire - a system that they have supported for generations. Rather than being included in the club that they aspired to be a part of, they have been used as fodder for the gain of more wealth, power and status by the elites AGAIN, STILL. Being well-conditioned to do so for generations, they are now turning on those who, like themselves, have been oppressed and exploited for generations. But they are also acting on their bigotry, believing that being white should mean that they naturally get more than those who are not. They are reacting to years of fear that had its origins in guilt over the shameful treatment of generations of human beings by this nation that has benefitted them systemically for their generations. They are reacting in hatred born of that fear and guilt, desperately trying to hold onto the notion that they are somehow, any way superior to others, ANYONE else. But the false teachings of empire have left them frustrated in that belief, so they hate and blame and hurt - not those who have devised this system that holds them down, back and out - but those who are easily scapegoated because they are different by race, ethnicity, sexuality, religion or anything else.
It is an old song and dance. The piper keeps playin' this tune and somehow folk believe they must still dance to it. They believe that by dancing the same dance to the same tune, only more, they will finally get what this dance can never and will never give them - Shalom. Shalom can only come when we love one another humbly and make sure that everyone has their needs met in all aspects of life. Until then, some will have more than they could ever need while others go without what they need. Until then, some will pit others against each other who believe they can get Shalom by pushing someone else down, not realizing that they will necessarily stay down with them. And thus "but at least I/we..." is the best they can hope for in life. And the cost is their soul, and perhaps the soul of their nation with it.
James Cone (along with Gustavo Gutierrez, Segundo, Sobrino, Sider, Freire, McAfee Brown, Wright, Wallis, Dyson, West and others) has been a modern prophetic voice of the God who is on the side of the oppressed. He has been ignored, debated and shouted down like the rest and is in good company. I will miss James Cone. I will not forget him.
I will take what I have learned and RESIST empire and its inequities of wealth, power and status. I will speak and write and demonstrate against that which is against the Good News of Jesus in Agape Love and Grace. I will strive toward Shalom - the completeness, wholeness and well-being of ALL people, together.
Pastor Jamie
Sunday, April 22, 2018
Shalom - Peace and so much more
When the prophet of old cried that people spoke of "peace, peace, when there is no peace", he was going against the climate of the nation. The country was not at war at the time and some in the nation were quite well off. The Babylonians loomed large on the horizon, but every indication was that God was blessing them with peace, prosperity (for some) and power. Hananiah, the FALSE prophet spread a message of God's blessings and favor. Jeremiah told the unpleasant truth. Jeremiah also demonstrated hope in the nation's future by making an investment that would mean nothing if the nation was not restored in the end, but the people needed to know that there was not going to be Peace, because the things that make for peace were lacking: Justice, Equality, Enough for Everyone, Humility and Mutual Up-building.
Jesus came to His disciples and said, "My peace I give you... not as the world gives (peace) do I give...". Jesus promised this in a time when there was no peace - shalom - well being and completeness and wholeness. Jesus promised a different peace than the Pax Romana, which may have meant law and order and a lack of war, but came at the cost of well-being for the masses, coercion, occupation, oppression and injustice. The empire values that brought about a relative lack of open war, fueled conflicts and divisions and caused most to suffer for the benefit of the few. Jesus' values were very different, in that ALL in the Kingdom of God are to have Justice, Equality, Enough and be built up. THAT brings true shalom - completeness, wholeness and well-being for ALL. When ALL in the nation have that, then the WHOLE nation has that. If some are lacking that, there can be no real, lasting, sustainable shalom.
So, Paul wrote that we must work toward "the things that make for peace." We must recognize that the well being of my sister and brother is tied to my well-being, ultimately. We must recognize that until ALL have shalom, none of us has shalom. In order to make that happen, we must have a different value than empire values that divide on the basis of wealth, power and status. We must adopt Kingdom of God values that unite in common love for one another. Those values demand Generosity over Greed, People over Profit, Shared Power over Abusive Power, Humility over Hubris and Mutual Respect over Status. Agape Love commands us to actively commit on behalf of the other, even stranger and enemy and especially the most vulnerable. If we live that love with one another, we will have shalom. Until we do, we will not.
Peace starts from within. If a person has well-being, completeness and wholeness within, that is what he or she will live out in the world around them. That affects the well-being, completeness and wholeness of the world around them. If a person lacks what he or she needs in order to be complete or whole (Enough, Justice, Respect, Equality, Equitable Treatment, etc.), then they cannot have shalom (well-being) and it will not be peace that they put out in the world around them, the world in which we all live.
If you want people to respect you, offer respect. If you want to be treated fairly, treat others equitably. If you want to have enough of what you need, make sure others around you have their needs met. If you want to be treated with dignity, treat others with the same.
If you want more than what you need and believe that you are superior and should have unequal and higher treatment than others get, then you are not operating out of shalom, but rather a sickness. If you think that you should have more wealth, power and status than others around you, then you are operating out of sick empire values that do not produce shalom within you and will not produce shalom from you in the world around you.
Shalom is God's sustainable way for the world; based on Agape Love, this well-being, completeness and wholeness can only happen because ALL value and have what makes for shalom in their lives -
Enough, Justice, Equality, Equitable Treatment, Respect and Acceptance. When ALL have that, there will be PEACE. Until then, "we cry 'Peace, peace', where there is no peace."
Pastor Jamie
Jesus came to His disciples and said, "My peace I give you... not as the world gives (peace) do I give...". Jesus promised this in a time when there was no peace - shalom - well being and completeness and wholeness. Jesus promised a different peace than the Pax Romana, which may have meant law and order and a lack of war, but came at the cost of well-being for the masses, coercion, occupation, oppression and injustice. The empire values that brought about a relative lack of open war, fueled conflicts and divisions and caused most to suffer for the benefit of the few. Jesus' values were very different, in that ALL in the Kingdom of God are to have Justice, Equality, Enough and be built up. THAT brings true shalom - completeness, wholeness and well-being for ALL. When ALL in the nation have that, then the WHOLE nation has that. If some are lacking that, there can be no real, lasting, sustainable shalom.
So, Paul wrote that we must work toward "the things that make for peace." We must recognize that the well being of my sister and brother is tied to my well-being, ultimately. We must recognize that until ALL have shalom, none of us has shalom. In order to make that happen, we must have a different value than empire values that divide on the basis of wealth, power and status. We must adopt Kingdom of God values that unite in common love for one another. Those values demand Generosity over Greed, People over Profit, Shared Power over Abusive Power, Humility over Hubris and Mutual Respect over Status. Agape Love commands us to actively commit on behalf of the other, even stranger and enemy and especially the most vulnerable. If we live that love with one another, we will have shalom. Until we do, we will not.
Peace starts from within. If a person has well-being, completeness and wholeness within, that is what he or she will live out in the world around them. That affects the well-being, completeness and wholeness of the world around them. If a person lacks what he or she needs in order to be complete or whole (Enough, Justice, Respect, Equality, Equitable Treatment, etc.), then they cannot have shalom (well-being) and it will not be peace that they put out in the world around them, the world in which we all live.
If you want people to respect you, offer respect. If you want to be treated fairly, treat others equitably. If you want to have enough of what you need, make sure others around you have their needs met. If you want to be treated with dignity, treat others with the same.
If you want more than what you need and believe that you are superior and should have unequal and higher treatment than others get, then you are not operating out of shalom, but rather a sickness. If you think that you should have more wealth, power and status than others around you, then you are operating out of sick empire values that do not produce shalom within you and will not produce shalom from you in the world around you.
Shalom is God's sustainable way for the world; based on Agape Love, this well-being, completeness and wholeness can only happen because ALL value and have what makes for shalom in their lives -
Enough, Justice, Equality, Equitable Treatment, Respect and Acceptance. When ALL have that, there will be PEACE. Until then, "we cry 'Peace, peace', where there is no peace."
Pastor Jamie
Sunday, April 8, 2018
Grace or Law?
It seems to me that following Jesus means making choices about how I live my life and how I see the world and treat those in it.
I did not choose to believe in Jesus. I was created to be in a relationship with God. I was given Faith as a gift. It is a part of me. The Holy Spirit moves me to faith in Christ Jesus, even relentlessly. I passively accept that as my state of spiritual being, and actively strive to follow Jesus as my Rabbi, my Redeemer and Lord of my life.
I believe that Jesus' Way in the Gospels is a better way for us on how to live in THIS PART of God's Kingdom, here and now.
It is centered on Agape Love - "ACTIVE COMMITMENT ON BEHALF OF THE OTHER, EVEN STRANGER AND ENEMY, AND ESPECIALLY THE MOST VULNERABLE" (Lk. 10:25-37)
It is also centered on Grace - "UNDESERVED LOVING MERCY GIVEN FREELY." (Jn. 1:14-18)
God has been Gracious with me. I do not deserve it. I KNOW that I do not deserve it. I am not only sinful by my nature, but have acted on THAT nature and have sinned, which has hurt people who God loves and has therefore hurt my relationship with God. God has loved me with Agape Love, however and is "Gracious and Merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love." God has forgiven me. I live within God's Grace. I am filled with God's Agape Love. For that I am thankful, grateful and determined to live that out in the world around me. I know what it has meant to me, and I know what it can mean to others. When others have been Gracious and Loving with me, I have seen it as God's work through them to put Grace and Love into my life. I want to be God's instrument of that in the lives of others around me, because I know how much it has changed my life to receive that.
Those who live by the Law often do not understand Grace and Love. There are a number of things that prevent that:
1. The Law is about keeping rules, rather than about living in Covenantal relationship. Folk who live by the law tend to live a "check list" existence, making sure they keep the letter of the law, but not worrying so much about the intent of it in enhancing relationship. There is a tendency to do just enough and not do just enough to be in compliance with a set of rules, rather than faithful to our relationship with God and neighbor. As long as they do not sin, they believe that they are righteous...
2. ... so, it inevitably feeds a perspective built on "self-righteousness" by living the Law. Rather than understanding that our only righteousness is in Christ Jesus, because we rely on God's Grace, given our sinful nature, folk try to deny their sinful nature and live above and beyond that, not out of response to God's love, but rather to earn their merited righteousness status and with it salvation. It negates the gift of Grace and Mercy on the Cross, and sets us up for the pitfalls of self-righteousness...
3. ... making us aware of our COMPARATIVE righteousness with others around us, it makes us judge others for not being "as righteous" as we are in keeping the Law. Now, if I only have to be better than someone else, then I can look for loopholes in the Law that would allow me to do what I want, even sin at will, while twisting the Law to rationalize or justify my actions. I can judge others for their "sins" and excuse myself for my own. I can withhold mercy and Grace from others, while expecting it for myself...
4. ... you see, that's the thing. Being conservative means that I want Grace and Love for myself, but feel legalistically justified in withholding it from others, and even sometimes obligated to do so. I believe I should have everything that I want, because I am "righteous", but should not let others have the same, because they are not, and I can prove that they are not. That is the Conservative, Law-oriented mindset in this world.
But JESUS...
COMMANDED Agape Love and Grace as our way of being in the world around us - which is God's Kingdom.
Jesus COMMANDED us to NOT JUDGE and to FORGIVE... and said that what we give in either or both of those is what we will receive, "a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over (and) put in your lap." (Luke 6:27-38)
Jesus TAUGHT those who would judge others for their seeming lack of adherence to the Law, to learn what it means when God says, "I desire mercy, not sacrifice." (Matthew 9:10-13)
Jesus MODELED Agape Love and Grace in that He did not come to be served, but to serve and in the giving of His life for sinners on the Cross.
Jesus FULFILLED the Law and Prophets in "So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do so to them; for this is the law and prophets." (Matthew 7:12)
I believe that we are called to be VERY CONSERVATIVE in our judgment of others, and VERY LIBERAL (generous toward the well-being of others) in our forgiveness of them - CONSERVATIVE in our punitive thinking with regard to others' words, behaviors and actions and LIBERAL in our graciousness and kindness with them. CONSERVATIVE in our denial of others what they need and LIBERAL in making sure that they have SHALOM (completeness, wholeness and well-being) in their lives. I believe that we are called to adhere to Jesus' Law of Agape Love and Grace, and strive to live it openly, fully and faithfully in every aspect of our lives, here and now.
THAT is following Jesus. THAT is faithfulness to what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us on how to live in THIS PART of God's Kingdom, here and now.
Pastor Jamie
I did not choose to believe in Jesus. I was created to be in a relationship with God. I was given Faith as a gift. It is a part of me. The Holy Spirit moves me to faith in Christ Jesus, even relentlessly. I passively accept that as my state of spiritual being, and actively strive to follow Jesus as my Rabbi, my Redeemer and Lord of my life.
I believe that Jesus' Way in the Gospels is a better way for us on how to live in THIS PART of God's Kingdom, here and now.
It is centered on Agape Love - "ACTIVE COMMITMENT ON BEHALF OF THE OTHER, EVEN STRANGER AND ENEMY, AND ESPECIALLY THE MOST VULNERABLE" (Lk. 10:25-37)
It is also centered on Grace - "UNDESERVED LOVING MERCY GIVEN FREELY." (Jn. 1:14-18)
God has been Gracious with me. I do not deserve it. I KNOW that I do not deserve it. I am not only sinful by my nature, but have acted on THAT nature and have sinned, which has hurt people who God loves and has therefore hurt my relationship with God. God has loved me with Agape Love, however and is "Gracious and Merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love." God has forgiven me. I live within God's Grace. I am filled with God's Agape Love. For that I am thankful, grateful and determined to live that out in the world around me. I know what it has meant to me, and I know what it can mean to others. When others have been Gracious and Loving with me, I have seen it as God's work through them to put Grace and Love into my life. I want to be God's instrument of that in the lives of others around me, because I know how much it has changed my life to receive that.
Those who live by the Law often do not understand Grace and Love. There are a number of things that prevent that:
1. The Law is about keeping rules, rather than about living in Covenantal relationship. Folk who live by the law tend to live a "check list" existence, making sure they keep the letter of the law, but not worrying so much about the intent of it in enhancing relationship. There is a tendency to do just enough and not do just enough to be in compliance with a set of rules, rather than faithful to our relationship with God and neighbor. As long as they do not sin, they believe that they are righteous...
2. ... so, it inevitably feeds a perspective built on "self-righteousness" by living the Law. Rather than understanding that our only righteousness is in Christ Jesus, because we rely on God's Grace, given our sinful nature, folk try to deny their sinful nature and live above and beyond that, not out of response to God's love, but rather to earn their merited righteousness status and with it salvation. It negates the gift of Grace and Mercy on the Cross, and sets us up for the pitfalls of self-righteousness...
3. ... making us aware of our COMPARATIVE righteousness with others around us, it makes us judge others for not being "as righteous" as we are in keeping the Law. Now, if I only have to be better than someone else, then I can look for loopholes in the Law that would allow me to do what I want, even sin at will, while twisting the Law to rationalize or justify my actions. I can judge others for their "sins" and excuse myself for my own. I can withhold mercy and Grace from others, while expecting it for myself...
4. ... you see, that's the thing. Being conservative means that I want Grace and Love for myself, but feel legalistically justified in withholding it from others, and even sometimes obligated to do so. I believe I should have everything that I want, because I am "righteous", but should not let others have the same, because they are not, and I can prove that they are not. That is the Conservative, Law-oriented mindset in this world.
But JESUS...
COMMANDED Agape Love and Grace as our way of being in the world around us - which is God's Kingdom.
Jesus COMMANDED us to NOT JUDGE and to FORGIVE... and said that what we give in either or both of those is what we will receive, "a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over (and) put in your lap." (Luke 6:27-38)
Jesus TAUGHT those who would judge others for their seeming lack of adherence to the Law, to learn what it means when God says, "I desire mercy, not sacrifice." (Matthew 9:10-13)
Jesus MODELED Agape Love and Grace in that He did not come to be served, but to serve and in the giving of His life for sinners on the Cross.
Jesus FULFILLED the Law and Prophets in "So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do so to them; for this is the law and prophets." (Matthew 7:12)
I believe that we are called to be VERY CONSERVATIVE in our judgment of others, and VERY LIBERAL (generous toward the well-being of others) in our forgiveness of them - CONSERVATIVE in our punitive thinking with regard to others' words, behaviors and actions and LIBERAL in our graciousness and kindness with them. CONSERVATIVE in our denial of others what they need and LIBERAL in making sure that they have SHALOM (completeness, wholeness and well-being) in their lives. I believe that we are called to adhere to Jesus' Law of Agape Love and Grace, and strive to live it openly, fully and faithfully in every aspect of our lives, here and now.
THAT is following Jesus. THAT is faithfulness to what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us on how to live in THIS PART of God's Kingdom, here and now.
Pastor Jamie
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