AMERICAN EXTREMISM

   Since the colonialists, who "discovered" this land (though for thousands of years civilizations of people lived here) and used their technology and ruthlessness to dominate and eventually all but exterminate its original inhabitants... this has been a country of extremists... shunned and persecuted for their religious beliefs because of extremists in Europe, they then shunned and persecuted any who did not believe their way, which is also extremist.  "There is only ONE WAY to be (legitimate)", is an EXTREME view.
   These same extremists, along with others from yes, Europe, decided that it was perfectly fine to build their economy on the backs of people they enslaved because again, they were more technologically savvy and more ruthless.  So, for 500 years people were labeled "less than fully human" in order to justify their slavery of them.  Anyone who did not agree was either not a patriot or just socially deviant.
   After slavery was abolished, it was the same extremist mentality that kept "Jim Crow" and segregation alive, and then the enslavement of Asian-Americans during WWII, then the exploitation first and then vilification of those from Mexico, the continued holding down of American black folks, and eventually the exploitation overseas by our companies so that WE could get cheap labor, pollute, destroy and waste resources at will and dominate the World Trade Organization to pad our pockets at the expense of others in the world.
   Having nearly exhausted the potential for us to exploit others overseas, and in the face of more and more backlash for doing it, extremists are now turning on their fellow citizens, even those who look just like them, though they still doubly "stick it to" those who do not.  They will throw the poor, the middle class and even our elderly under the bus for more profit for themselves.

   We live in a country of extremists.  Now, our current President is accused of being an extremist often, but compared to the last guy (his daddy and the guy that got the REAL extremist ball rolling in 1981), along with his administration... our - just barely left of center President - is a MODERATE liberal at best, and NOT AT ALL and extremist.  Unfortunately, he at times blows way too far to the right in the political wind for that.

   We are a nation of extremists.  Our focus on personal freedoms and rights above all else naturally puts  us at odds with what is best for our whole society.  Our love for no limits in Capitalism (laissez Faire) and profit for those who have the means to achieve it, reflects an EXTREMIST view, as does the pursuit of ANYTHING with no limits, especially when it NECESSARILY means that others must be held down for any one person to have it.  The EXTREME desire for prestige, position and wealth is reflected in the HUGE VEHICLES we waste and pollute with, HUGE HOMES we sprawl the countryside with and the HUGE LIVES we try to live that eventually kill us for the living of them.
   We are a nation of extremists.  The 2nd Amendment, adopted in 1791, was done so in the aftermath of the American Revolution, and many point out was also to arm those who had slaves in order to suppress any revolts by them.  It does guarantee rational people the right to own firearms.  It does NOT guarantee the right for people to own weapons of mass destruction that can kill 17 people in 17 seconds.  EXTREMISTS make no distinction, and throw out any concern for the WHOLE of society for their individual liberty to own assault weapons.  Anyone trying to make the logical, rational distinction is labeled and disregarded or (brow) beaten into submission, which by definition makes the extremists who want no limits in this irrational.
   We do not allow people to own cannon.  We do not allow people to drive tanks on public streets.  We do not allow people to buy bazookas, mortars or hand grenades.  They are implements of war.   They are too dangerous to have in the general public.  So are assault rifles dangerous implements of war.  The extremists WANT people to legally own weapons that with extended clips can kill between 17 and 20 people in as many seconds.  I question how rational that is.  The absurd arguments about people being stabbed with knives, beaten with bats and poisoned are thrown up by the most illogical and irrational among them.  These arguments are to distract us from the truths of how many people LEGALLY owned assault weapons and used them in mass shootings.  The resistance to strengthen the scrutiny of screenings before one can buy ANY weapon, is an admission that many of these same EXTREMISTS are afraid they would not pass the scrutiny, and/or that they do not rationally see the need to limit WHO can legally purchase any weapon.  And the rest of us are expected to shut up and allow this, or are driven to buy our own weapons to protect us from these very same EXTREMISTS someday.
   These are EXTREMISTS, who want NO LIMITS on their firepower, at the expense of the whole of our society.  Their "ALL OR NOTHING" mentality is consistent with "The American Way".  They are unable to differentiate degrees of good or bad, and anything LEGAL must be GOOD to them.  Their sense of entitlement as individuals over the public good is EXTREMISM.  They view their insensitivity and insensibilities as personal rights as well, and they often exhibit EXTREME reactions to any who would have differing opinions or ideologies, labeling and vilifying them as being "less than" themselves.
  They are merely an extension of the ideology of greed for power, prestige and wealth that has defined our nation since its beginning and has been perfected since 1981.  The games our children play are training for their adult entitlement in this ideology.  The television shows and movies we watch largely reflect our "no limits" values, along with the internet of infinite, unlimited entertainment and cultural propaganda.  The news that feeds us "ignorance for truth" messages, and fearful images to keep us reliant on unscrupulous politicians, gun dealers and control-mongers who will be all too happy to take away our collective liberties and rights in order to "make us safe".  Our government that is now mostly made up of those in the pockets of corporations, because we value laissez faire Capitalism over Democracy, allows our water, air and ground to be polluted and our resources to be ravaged all in the name of profit for a few over the needs of the many.  "No limits!  No limits!  No limits!"is the cry of the EXTREMIST.
   American Christians are EXTREMISTS in our views of "literalizing" scripture, superficial spirituality, justified judgement and exclusion, entitlement and prosperity, and even in our views of what is unacceptable and a justification for shunning others - views of extreme abstinence and extreme control over others' behaviors and beliefs.  They want to have UNLIMITED control over the many by severely LIMITING their behaviors and beliefs.  They want UNLIMITED prestige and recognition, prosperity and position in the society, this bunch who claim to follow the one who said, "Deny yourself, take up your Cross and follow me."
   The results of their EXTREMISM are troubling.  The scope of their vision for limitless everything for themselves over the needs of others is alarming.  The means by which they are willing to achieve these ends are frightening.

The God who gave just enough manna daily in the wilderness, who promised to provide daily bread, who lifted up those who were NOT greedy, power hungry or lusting for prestige and self-indulgence, has something else to say, which the EXTREMISTS in THIS time and place consider EXTREME:

"Do to others as you would have them do to you."  Jesus
"Love your neighbor as yourself."  Jesus
"All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful.  All things are lawful, but not all things
     build up."  Paul
"Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private
     ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common... and there was not
     a needy one among them..."  - no, not Marx, Lenin, Mao or even Obama... writer of Luke/Acts,
     describing those who actually FOLLOWED JESUS.

You cannot be a follower of Jesus and ignore the good of another or others, or intentionally or ignorantly hurt others in order to gain for yourself.  If you are doing that, you are an EXTREMIST, and you are following something or someone, but it ain't JESUS...

Engage in socially deviant behavior... I know it sounds extreme, but - Do what is best for EVERYONE and not just yourself.  If THAT sounds extreme to you, it must necessarily reveal to you how EXTREME the "normative" alternative is...

God bless you all.

Pastor Jamie