All about the Principles

This year and this time of year specifically bring me to a stronger consideration of principles - particularly the principles around faith and life and the living of both.


I am in a new place in my 60th year of life, always evolving and hopefully developing as a spiritual being in a physical body, toward being a liver of Agape Love in the world around me and thus following Jesus.


We are now in the middle of Kwanzaa.
As a straight, white, protestant male in America, I recognize that this society and its institutions have been created to and sustained to benefit me above others who are not like me.  In fact, those like me get our privilege at the expense of others not like us.  It troubles my heart and has since I was about 14 years old.
I believe that Jesus' teachings, as we have them in the Gospels, addressed the system called empire in His day, and applied the living of Agape Love as Kingdom values as an alternative to empire values around the love of wealth, power and status.  Jesus' Good News was a Good News for those under the thumb of Rome, occupied people who were exploited and abused for the sake of the elites of Rome.  I find in the radical teachings of Jesus around living in a different way MANY similarities to the seven principles of Kwanzaa, provided by a teacher named Maulana Karenga for the living of community in a time of the occupation by a corrupt system that exploited and abused African American folk in the United States in the 60's, a practice that has not stopped but has rather evolved.


UMOJA is the embrace of UNITY as Family, Community, Nation and Race.
    People who are occupied and disenfranchised must come together, stand together, resist together and move together in order to move beyond existence to thriving.


KUJICHAGULIA  is all about SELF DETERMINATION, the principle of being responsible for ourselves and creating our own destiny in a time when others would strive to have control over a people and make their destiny bleak for the sake of promoting their own bright destiny.


UJIMA champions COLLECTIVE WORK and  RESPONSIBILITY, building and maintaining community and working together to help one another within community.  This is empowerment, when people come together to counter the forces that would hold them down, back or out.


UJAMAA represents COLLECTIVE ECONOMICS toward the building and maintaining of the means of livelihood in mutual support.  Economic Justice is social justice, and establishing economic stability is essential in building life beyond the occupation that steals the resources of those exploited and abused within it.


NIA is PURPOSE.  The purpose is the recognition of the true greatness of a people who have been held down, back and out for generations but who continue not just to survive but thrive, thanks to their ancestors and who will continue to thrive thanks to those who will follow.  It is to simply BE the great people they are who have continued in their greatness even in the face of empire.


KUUMBA is CREATIVITY, used with imagination to make community better, always better.  Resourcefulness in creativity has been a phenomenal aspect of African American expression and participation in society, often emulated and never surpassed, and a central part in continuing to make a great people even greater.


IMANI is FAITH.  Faith in God includes faith in God's people, teachers and leaders.  It means knowing that this people is a righteous people and recognizing the righteousness in their struggle for equality, equitable treatment, mutual respect, mutual power and sustained well-being.


These are, as I have learned, the principles of Kwanzaa, principles that I embrace and celebrate not just for seven days once a year but in how I live my life with those who I love, who I respect and value.


I am also being introduced in this time of my life to the 7 (8) PRINCIPLES of the Unitarian Universalist Church, principles that I also see as consistent with Jesus' teachings around Agape Love and Grace in a time of the occupation of and toward the resistence to empire.


1. The inherent worth and dignity of every person.
2. Justice, equity and compassion in human relations.
3. Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations.
4. A free and responsible search for truth and meaning.
5. The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large.
6. The goal of world community with peace, liberty and justice for all.
7. Respect for the interdependant web of all existence of which we are a part.
8*. Journeying toward spiritual wholeness by working to build a diverse multicultural beloved community by our actions that accountably dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions.
      (presented by Black Lives of UU and up for adoption by the whole church body)


I believe that I must, as a follower of Jesus, join with those who live the Agape Love that Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us, as we have witness in the Gospels.  These principles are consistent with that living of Agape Love (active commitment on behalf of the other, even stranger and enemy, and especially the most vulnerable) and Grace (loving mercy given freely regardless of merit).  These are the principles that by living them make me part of the resistence to empire.


What are the Principles by which YOU live?


Pastor Jamie

What Christmas means to me.

Love.
Love that eminates from God.
Love that permeates these lives.
Love that calls us, drives us, commands us to selflessness.
Love that counters the quid pro quo and therefore false expressions of love presented by empire.
Love that values the other above one's own gains in power, wealth or status.
Love that enables transformation in self, in relationships and in community.
Love that empowers growth in self, in relationships and in community.
Love that does not allow ethnocentrism, xenophobia, racism, classism, homophobia, religious intolerance or nativism/nationalism, but draws from us graciousness, acceptance and the celebration of the other.
Love that demands sharing, equality, equitable treatment of those who are our brothers and sisters and respect for others.
Love that does not drive apart but draws together.
Love that identifies with the "least" among us - the poor, frail, sick, stranger, refugee, homeless, disenfranchised and most vulnerable.
Love that turns empire values on their head for the sake of Kingdom values based on it alone.
Love that changes perspectives so that wealth is seen as communal, power is seen as equally shared and status is defined by those who most exhibit it in the world.
Love that values being (gracious, generous, kind) above having (power, wealth, status).
Love that is contagious in that those who experience receiving it want to share it in the world around them.
Love that transcends culture, ethnicity, faith, sexuality, class and any other differences to re-define our commonality, our togetherness and our well-being.
Love that promotes the well-being of all and not just some, so that all may truly be well.
Love that unites us with the universe, even as it is the stuff on which the universe is built.
Love that finds a way to maintain hope in hopelessness, joy in despair and peace in chaos.
Love that will not let us go, but is relentless in its drive to be lived among us.
Love that will not go away, but exists and is lived in the most surprising places and ways.
Love that will not be taken away from all, even though many refuse to value or live it.
Love that will not fail, because it cannot.
Love that cannot be stripped from us, because it eminates from God and exists universally.
Love that leads to graciousness, generosity and kindness or it is not real love.
Love that is active commitment on behalf of the other, even stranger and enemy and especially the most vulnerable.
Love that is not about the object but rather about the giver's need to give it, selflessly.
Love that is not about feelings but rather about doing the right thing for the right reasons.
Love that promotes sustained life and well-being in life for all and not just for some.
Love that is unconditional so that it does not depend upon worthiness or merit.
Love that is self-sacrificing when that is necessary.
Love that is taught, commanded and modeled by Jesus, as we have witness in the Gospels.


Yes, there is such Love.  It is, for me what Emmanuel is all about.
Agape Love.


Shalom -


Pastor Jamie

Can you handle the blessing?

Luke 1:39-55


I hear a lot of folk talk about being blessed and highly favored.  That has been insider church lingo for a while now.  My concern has always been that some are really talking about being MORE blessed and MORE highly favored than others, which I believe is not of Christ.


Everything about this Good News of Jesus turned things upside down.  It was a message of Justice in a most unjust time.  It was a message of Shalom in a time when only the elites knew well-being, completeness and wholeness and that at the expense of everyone else.  It was a message of Hope when it seemed all hope was lost of deliverance from empire.  Jesus' presence in this Good News would reverse the destruction of empire by ushering in the Kingdom and its values.  But change is not always easy.


So, a girl of 14 years or so, unmarried would be favored to be found pregnant.  The angel came and announced this and left.   The angel was gone.  Who would believe this amazing story?  Would the angel come and rescue her from the wagging tongues over this blessed event that would surely be seen as a scandal?  How would she raise a child?  What would Joseph say and do?  Was this real?  But Mary made herself available to God.


 Mary went immediately to Elizabeth, similarly blessed by God.  But she was married, and to a priest in the Temple.  Mary went to her cousin, perhaps for support or perspective.  Mary went perhaps not to feel all alone in this blessing. 


It was in the reaction of Elizabeth, or rather John within her, that in an instant it was all confirmed and Mary found resolve.  Then Mary uttered beautiful words of joy and understanding of what this would mean for the world and how she was blessed and highly favored to serve.  And serve she would.  Her life would no longer be ordinary and it would in no way be easy.  Jesus was different and it meant Hope, Joy and Shalom for all, but it came at a price - a price that Mary also would pay throughout her life. 


In a world of Injustice, lack of Hope and absence of Shalom, the restoration of those things comes not so easily, even against great resistence and threat.  Jesus came to bring in the Kingdom, to restore Kingdom values.  Mary was blessed and highly favored, chosen to bring in Jesus.  This 14 year old, unmarried girl was blessed with a great and horrible task.  It had to be done for God and for God's people, and she did it.  She endured the hardships, the struggles and the pain. 


Like with Mary and with James and John, the sons of Zebedee, one must be asked the question in times like those and like these -


So, you want to be lifted up, blessed and highly favored of God?
Can you handle the blessing?


Come, Angel, come.


Pastor Jamie

Do Over

John came AS Elijah to usher in the Messiah.  It is very clear here.
His whole purpose in life was to proceed Messiah... in annunciation, birth, ministry, arrest and death.
His preparation was to set the stage for a Do Over.


In Luke 3:1-18...


John announced that it was time for necessary Repentance (metanoia - change one's thinking and one's direction).


Indeed, in order to receive the Good News of Jesus, centered on Agape Love, it would take a changing of thinking from the twisted understandings of Law and Prophets perpetrated on the people of God by the Temple Cult leaders of the time. 


Claiming their heritage would not cut it.  They had gone astray.  It was time for change.


The details were very practical with regard to defining Jesus' new way -
based on Agape Love (active commitment on behalf of the other) -
the well off must share of their abundance for the sake of those who did not have,
officials must not use their positions in order to gain for themselves at the expense of others,
and those with power must not abuse their power for their own kicks or for personal gain.


There would be consequences for those who did not practice these Kingdom values.
God was demanding this as the New Way.  John was there to prepare people for its coming.


For those who benefitted from corrupt and predatory practices it would not sound like it, but
the Gospel writer offered that what was proclaimed was "good news to the people."  Indeed, it would be good news to the masses who had been exploited, abused and disenfranchised by the elites in empire.  It would be very good news for them that they would now thrive and not just survive.


It was time to change thinking and direction -
from self-centered to other-centered
from predatory by some to sustainable for all
from idolatrous of power, wealth and status (self) to loving of God and Neighbor
from corrupt and abusive to honorable and loving.


That means that some will not have all that they have had through their ruthless greed, lust for power and desire for status.
It also means that the many will have enough and will have their Shalom (completeness, wholeness and well-being) restored.
That is, ultimately Good News for All.


Time for a Do Over.  Here.  Now.  In this Advent of a new year.  It is past time for us to rethink and change direction to a more sustainable and loving way for all.


Pastor Jamie

tis the season

This is the season of anticipation and hope.
We anticipate God's reaching into this world, into these lives with Love and Grace.
We hope for something better than the unrest, corruption and ruthlessness that we see - we hope for peace on earth and goodwill toward all.


If we truly anticipate these things and hope for them, we are either actively involved in living them or we are passively expecting some kind of supernatural intervention instead of us living them.


This is the season of Love and Grace, peace on earth and goodwill toward all - but only if WE put those things in the world around us, thus fulfilling what we are taught, commanded and shown by God. 


The world needs these things especially now.
The world around you, the people around you, need these things desperately.
These things have been put within each of us for the world around us.
How will we BE Love and Grace, Peace on Earth and Goodwill toward All this year?


Be God's hands and feet, God's voice and heart in the world around you.
Because some folks around you anticipate that in hope.


Pastor Jamie

Unimpressed

Jesus seemed unimpressed with what empire considers to be greatness.
The beauty of the Temple building itself, with all its grandeur did not receive Jesus' adulation.
False teachers, regardless of their achievements or wonders got no love.
Paying the Temple tax, dietary codes, purity codes and other religious protocols seemed like a mere nuisance to the Son of Man.
Certainly the Temple fiscal practices, though seen as quite normative and necessary, drew disdain from Jesus, exhibited in a mighty way.
The "righteous" stoning of women caught in adultery elicited fierce opposition from the Son of God.
The Powerful Herod and Pilate, along with other "officials" did not impress Jesus.
The Sanhedrin - Pharisees, Scribes, Sadducees, Chief Priests, Elders did not receive much collegial consideration from Jesus, regardless of their status in society, but indeed drew a lot of Jesus' most extreme criticism.
The wealthy and how they got to be wealthy made them examples of immorality in the moral lessons of Jesus.
The Roman Empire itself seemed to draw more disdain than fear, awe or admiration from Jesus.


What empire values in displays of wealth, power and prestige/status did not impress Jesus.
In fact, they seemed to draw from within Jesus criticism, disdain and opposition from the one sent by God to teach, command and model Kingdom values in Agape Love and Grace.


So, why are we so impressed with such things today, we who claim to follow Jesus?
Grand temples, modern day elders prancing around in thousand dollar suits, mega anything, wonders and signs, and other displays of wealth, power and status, along with any concern for self purity or holiness draw the dedication of many,  rather than making those who claim Jesus question what is at the heart of them or why Jesus in the Gospels does not lift them up as something to be lived.


What impressed Jesus was people living Agape Love with one another.
Lifted up by Jesus were the most vulnerable and the downtrodden by a society dominated by those who benefitted from adopting and living empire values:
The Good Samaritan, the Owner of the Vineyard hiring those overlooked, The Poor Widow, children, Lepers, the Blind, four friends of a paralytic, Syrophonecian woman, Samaritan woman at the well, etc., etc., etc..


What does that tell us?
What is great in the Kingdom of God is humility and the living of Agape Love and Grace in the world.
What is valued by God and modeled by Jesus is the lifting up of those beaten down by empire values and those who have chosen NOT to live those values in their lives here and now, in THIS PART of God's Kingdom.


The movement of believers who are the People of the Way of Jesus live these values, shedding light on what is truly unrighteous and striving to live the Agape Love and Grace with Neighbor that are faithful expressions of our Love for God.


The grandest, greatest, richest, most powerful, most full of bravado and most admired in empire are those with whom Jesus seems to be least impressed.
The greatest are the most humble and giving servants to those most vulnerable, downtrodden and excluded by empire.  For Jesus, they seem to be quite impressive.


With empire and its values, and those who represent them Jesus seems most UNIMPRESSED.


Pastor Jamie

Looking Good

Status in society can be heady stuff. 
We like to be recognized, honored, favored above others and blessed more than others.
We like the status that our name, our position, our power and/or wealth can provide.
We like to look good to others and to be lifted up because we have high standing in society.
If that were not so, there would be fewer famous people, particularly famous folk who are famous
     just for being before us in "reality tv" programs and for what last name they hold, regardless of
     what they have achieved in life or contributed to society.


The Scribes were the same.  The problem was that they were the religiously famous of their day.  They were the ones whose names were known because they held and exploited their positions of power over others in the religious community.  They liked their status.  They flaunted it in public by what they wore.  They demanded respect out in public and made an appearance in order to be publicly adored.  They had their reserved parking spots and restaurant tables and seats of honor in the assemblies and they always sat at the head table at dinners, with all the recognition that came with that.  They liked their status and made the most of it.


There are two problems with this.


1. Their position was meant to be one of service.  Their function was one of helping others with their faith.  They were to serve God by serving God's people in humility and with honor.  They and the status-driven society in which they lived turned it into a show of status.  Jesus, who said that He (Son of God), came not to be served but to serve (as Son of Man) (10:45), criticized them and exposed their unfaithfulness to God. 


2. They used their status to exploit others by abusing the power that came with it.  They lined their own pockets at the expense of the most vulnerable because their status allowed them to do so.  They did what they needed to do in order to appear to be pious, faithful, spiritual, godly and upright.  Their words and public actions were a good show.  But they took what little the poor and desperate had for their own gain, exploiting the status that was normative in the Roman Empire and adopting Empire values for their own personal profit at the expense of the most vulnerable. 


Jesus said that they will receive the greater condemnation in the Kingdom of God.  They have pretended to represent the Kingdom while representing and upholding empire values.  They have embodied everything that is wrong with empire, while claiming to be faithful to God and God's Kingdom.  It seems clear that they could not have done that without others expressing their adoption of empire values and valuing the status that they gave them in the society.  This unfaithfulness was a communal one, to be sure.  Folk would not be famous except that people have made them so.


Juxtapose this with the lowly, ignored, poor widow who gave her best and even last faithfully.  She offered her pittance without fanfare and was lifted up by Jesus as an example of faithfulness.  She had no sycophants adoring her every word or action.  Faithfulness is not about how much we have for ourselves or how much we give to keep up appearances or with the expectation of any kind of return.  It is about our humility in heart and generosity toward God and one another.  That is the way of Agape Love.  That is the way of Jesus.


Status is necessarily not a Kingdom of God value.  It is a construct within empire to promote the other empire values of power and wealth, and the getting more and flaunting more of both.  It runs contrary to the humble living of Agape Love that Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us - in the witness of the Gospels.  In the Kingdom, even this part of it, what is valued is what we humbly and generously give for the sake of the other.  That is faithfulness to God and Neighbor.


Pastor Jamie

It's the Law

For all my sisters and brothers who advocate a strict adherence to the Law (and Order)... Deuteronomy 6:4, Mark 12:28-34...


From Deuteronomy through all history, Love has been the Law for those who worship the One God.
It is the COMMAND of God.
It is God's IMPERATIVE.


"There is no other commandment greater than these" ...


That we LOVE GOD with all our HEART, SOUL, MIND and STRENGTH...
That we LOVE NEIGHBOR as SELF...


More important than offerings and sacrifices (tithes, penance), even Worship or Praise.


The word is Agape in Greek.
Active commitment on behalf of the other, even stranger and enemy and especially the most vulnerable, according to Jesus (Matthew 22:34-40, Luke 10:25-37, Matthew 25:31-46). 


We love God by loving those who God loves - actively committing to their well-being.


It is not just suggested or expected.  It is THE COMMAND of Jesus.


With all our heart,
With all our soul,
With all our mind,
With all our strength... all of our selves engaged in, focused and committed to living this Love...


We are COMMANDED to love others, commit to their well-being (even stranger and enemy) just like we love our selves!


With our words and actions. 
By keeping our mouths shut at times and in what we don't do.


By how we interact in society, do our work, engage in politics and economics and raise our children.


We are COMMANDED to love God with all we have and love our Neighbor as we love our selves.
We are COMMANDED to not want or allow any lack or harm come to them anymore than we would want or allow that for ourselves.
We are COMMANDED to do what we can to enhance their well-being in life, even as if it affects our own well-being (and it does).


The immigrants at our border, who God loves.
Our black and brown sisters and brothers, who God loves.
The poor, the sick, the disabled, all children, LGBTQ folk and people of all faiths within our land and across the world.


For if we do not, we are rejecting, hurting, discriminating against, abusing, exploiting JESUS.
For if we do not, we are slapping JESUS in the face with our blatant apostasy (walking away, abandoning) of Jesus' Way..and are "FAR from the Kingdom of God."


So, it really is this simple -


If we Worship, Praise, Tithe, Pray, exhibit spiritual gifts, live pure and holy lives according to some deeply "religious" code but do not actively live AGAPE LOVE with ALL PEOPLE, IT ALL MEANS NOTHING.
(see I Corinthians 13)


Truly, we live by THIS Law or we die by THIS Law, according to Jesus, who many of you claim as Savior and Lord, and who is the Judge of the living and the dead.


So, how are we doing at living within the Law?


Pastor Jamie

Relevance...

Does the Good News of Jesus have any relevance in our lives here and now?
Is the Gospel just about "pie in sky when we die", or is it illuminating and authoritative in guiding how God wants us to live in this part of God's Kingdom, here and now?
Do Kingdom Values apply to life here and now?
Does what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for His followers, as we have those in the Gospels, speak to us on how God wants us to live as children of God here and now?


Relevance is in the eye of the beholder.  I remember Jim Wallis at a SCUPE Conference (Seminary Consortium on Urban Pastoral Education) talking about his Bible full of holes, left from a Seminary project of literally cutting out passages on the Poor and Oppressed to put on a poster board... he said that what was left, a swiss cheese looking thing, is America's Bible because we don't want to look at those things relative to our faith.  We all know that folk "cherry pick" their favorite passages to "prove" their ideologies, while ignoring scores of others that challenge those ideologies.  Is what is truly relevant only what we WANT to be relevant?  Can we ignore the rest and be right with God or our Neighbor(s)?


At the risk of some personal "cherry picking" of my own, there are two passages that strike me regarding relevance to how we live in the world in light of Jesus' teachings on the Kingdom.  Both come from the same Gospel, so they have the same writer who worked from a singular context in which the Gospel was shared and to which the Gospel addressed life with God.


Matthew 20:1-16 has long been used to talk about Grace in the Kingdom.  I believe that it is a fine example of that.  But is it Grace solely relative to getting into the Kingdom of God or is it a picture of Grace expectations of God in how we live in this part of God's Kingdom, here and now?  If Grace is a Kingdom value, is it not supposed to be valued by those in the Kingdom here AND there?  Do we wait to value Kingdom Grace when we get into heaven only, or is there value for its living here and now?  What does God want from us? 


It is here that I must interject that I believe the propensity for much of the church that claims Jesus to reduce our faith to concern only for our personal salvation through Worship, Praise, Tithes and verbally claiming Jesus as personal Savior has challenged the relevance of the Gospel in the world today.  I also believe that those who superimpose their beliefs of personal purity and holiness to concerns regarding salvation as if they are the only concern, have further challenged its relevance for us.  These works are not Grace.  Personal salvation, I contend, is not an issue for those who are faithful to Jesus as Lord.  So, what does being faithful mean?


I believe it means what Jesus is witnessed as sharing that it means - abiding in His Word, living His commandments, following Jesus.  The Gospel IS Jesus' fulfillment of The Law and Prophets.  Living what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us as Lord and Savior IS faithfulness to God.  We live in the Kingdom here and now.  We are called to follow Jesus, what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us, here and now.


So when the Landowner (God), goes out into the vineyard to hire laborers at 6am, and then goes again at 9am, Noon, 3pm and 5pm - it is pure Grace.  These are the day laborers who have not been chosen to work for the day and are in danger of not having the daily subsistance pay to feed their families for the day.  The landowner seeks to help out unhirable laborers, for their sake.
And when the Landowner then pays those who came later the daily subsistance wage so that they can feed their families, just like the ones who worked 12 hours, it is because they needed it, though they had not "earned" it.  That is pure Grace.  That is what is valued in the Kingdom of God.


If a Company Owner or CEO follows Jesus, would they not do what Jesus taught is the Kingdom value thing to do?  Would they not hire as many people as possible so that people have work?  Would they not pay them enough on which to live?  In fact, if we value this Kingdom of God Grace that Jesus taught, would we not take less willingly so that others would at least have enough on which to live (be generous like the Landowner)?  Would CEOs not take less than 300x what laborers make so that those laborers can have enough for their families?  Would stock holders not be willing to take fewer dividends because it means that others have what they need?  Yet, people in those positions, many of whom claim Christ Jesus as personal savior, ignore what Jesus taught as Lord.  Some of them claim it would be "socialism" or "communism" and that it flies in the face of American values for Capitalism.  But what does any of that have to do with what Jesus taught?  Is our first loyalty not to the Jesus who taught this?


Yes, you can "spiritualize" this passage and make it only relevant to getting into heaven, except for our second passage from the same Gospel.


In Jesus' vision of the Judgment (25:31-46), it is not those who Worship, Praise, Tithe or claim Jesus as personal Savior, or those who consider themselves (more) pure or holy who are the sheep separated for salvation vs. the goats, separated for "eternal punishment". 
According to Jesus, who IS the Judge as Lord and Savior - salvation is based on how we live Agape Love and Grace - how we took care of the most vulnerable or refused to take care of them here and now, in THIS PART of God's Kingdom.  In fact, Jesus likens our treatment of them to our treatment of Him.  Our salvation is based on how Gracious and Loving we are with:  the Hungry, thirsty, stranger in the land, naked, sick and imprisoned - the most vulnerable who are crushed by the injustices the world creates (in systems like Capitalism), as some take more than they need and leave others without food, clothing, welcoming inclusion in the community, healthcare and justice.  There is little room to "spiritualize" this, so we cut it out of our Bibles, or at least out of the relevance of our faith.


And yes, this may be seen as a works instead of Grace orientation for our faith.  Or it may be seen as obedience in faith to the living of it as it is defined by Jesus.  James 2:14-26 (in fact all of chapter 2)comes to mind. 


For me, Jesus is the fulfiller of the Law and Prophets, Savior and Lord of my life.  Jesus taught, commanded and modeled Kingdom of God Values, and at their center are Agape Love and the living of it, and Grace.  These Kingdom Values are meant to be lived HERE AND NOW, in THIS PART of God's Kingdom.  I do not concern myself with heaven, but rather with living faithfully to the Good News vision of what God values in the Kingdom.  God takes care of salvation.  I must focus my life on living the Agape Love and Grace that Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for me.


How is it for you?  Do you try to make Jesus relevant only as personal Savior for getting into heaven, and not Lord of how you live your life?  Do you have a Swiss Cheese Bible that cuts out the parts you don't like or that don't fit into your American Civil Religion ideology, hoping that other works will still qualify you for heaven?  Or do you strive to be faithful to God by being faithful to what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us in His Good News?


Relevant or Irrelevant?  Sheep or Goat?  We are children of God and rely upon God's Grace.  We are ALL children of God and rely upon God's Grace being lived among us, here and now.


God loves you and not only you.  God loves those who are in need and those considered strangers or enemies.  Our faithfulness to Loving God is expressed in how we Love (Agape) Neighbor as self. *


Pastor Jamie


*For further understanding of what Agape Love is, please read Luke 10:25-37.  It has been central for me (along with Matthew 25:31-46) in defining Agape Love as active commitment on behalf of the other, even stranger and enemy, and especially the most vulnerable.  

greater than...

Two of the twelve wanted to be elevated above the rest in status, according to empire values. 
They wanted to be considered greater than the rest of their sisters and brothers, to be privileged and among the elite who are entitled to more acclaim, adulation and admiration for being closer to the greatest of them all.
Jesus, considered the greatest among them, pointed out to them that there is a price to being the greatest, at least for those who live Kingdom values.  The greatest servant among servants in the Kingdom is the one who sacrifices the greatest, and perhaps they were not ready for that kind of being lifted up.
The other ten were angry.  Perhaps they too aspired to be considered for elevation above others, and these two brothers dared to come out and ask for it.  It was a teaching moment on the Kingdom.


Jesus addressed the Roman values of which everyone being occupied was painfully aware, and addressed the temptation of those who were victimized by their love for wealth, power and status to adopt these empire values as their own for the sake of what they might gain for themselves.


Empire values are not gracious and loving in any way.  They prevent the living of Agape Love.  These values are the antithesis of living Agape Love.  The striving for more, always more wealth, power and status are not about committed action to the other or others who are stranger, enemy and most vulnerable, but rather about getting more by any means for self or those associated or just like self.  It is inwardly focused and not self-sacrificial in any way.  Empire values do not elevate all equally, but always some above the rest.  Empire values, in fact, necessitate the victimization of some for the sake of others, and the building of a great disparity in well-being due to the great disparity of wealth, power and status among peoples.  In empire, many are exploited, manipulated and even destroyed for the enhanced pleasure of the few.  There is no Agape Love in it.  Those who aspire to live Kingdom Values dare not adopt these values, or they have wandered from the Lord and the Kingdom, having no Agape Love or Grace within them.


Kingdom Values define greatness differently.  Valuing the well-being of all, equally means that enough for all is lifted up as a primary concern in the Kingdom.  Jesus taught this, commanded it and modeled it, as we have witness by the Gospel writers.  If someone does not have what they need, those who live Kingdom Values will sacrifice of their abundance in order for their need to be met.  It is the Law of Agape Love and Grace, not founded on "deserving", entitlement or privilege but built on the Kingdom Value that all are of worth, equally.  Jesus defines greatness by whoever serves as a
doulos, a slave.  If one wishes to be great in the Kingdom, one must greatly serve others.  A public servant serves the public.  A follower of Jesus serves God by serving humanity.  It is not about what we get in empire value terms, but rather what we are able to give that defines us as people who live the Kingdom Values taught, commanded and modeled by Jesus.  Jesus is our example - the greatest among us, Son of God, who refers to Himself as Son of Man - and who gave up any Glory or Greatness in empire value terms to rise to Greatness in serving others according to Kingdom Values.


So, do you want to be "greater than" others according to empire values, or greater than you were before according to Kingdom of God Values?      Mark 10:35-45


I'll strive to walk with Jesus in Grace and Agape Love.


Pastor Jamie

When your Greed owns you...

Mark 10:17-27


The rich man desperately wanted to be right with God.  He had completed the check list of commandments.  What he had not done was live Agape Love with others around him. 
His wealth, like those within empire in that time and in this one, was gained off the exploitation of others in a system that gave more to the ruthless at the expense of everyone else.  One cannot follow Jesus or be right with God if one hurts others for personal gain, whether directly or indirectly.  Jesus offered him penance - make it right.  Give it back.  Change your life.  Repent (metanoia - turn around, change your thinking and direction in life and how you live it).
The man went away shocked that he would not inherit eternal life and grieving because he could not live Kingdom values over empire values, because empire values had helped him gain so much for himself, and he was not willing to give that all up, even for eternal life with God.  He had many possessions (and wanted more).  His Greed Owned him. 


What do we give up when we value our own wealth over the well-being of others who struggle just to survive?  We give up the freedom of knowing that we can trust that God will provide us with enough and that enough IS enough for us, and that we will live a satisifed, thankful life with enough.  We give up the sense of community in knowing that we are contributing to the well-being of those around us in it.  We give up a liberation from being owned by greed and the systems that promote it and that drive our lives into the ground as we try to gain more wealth - always more, regardless of what we already have.  We give up OUR true well-being.  We give up our souls.


Jesus warned His followers about wealth - that being wealthy most probably precludes one from entering the Kingdom.  Why?  Because one does not value the Kingdom, but only empire when one chooses wealth for self over the well-being of all.  His followers' reactions were typical for anyone who has bought the line that God blesses those who are wealthy and powerful and that is why they have their wealth and power.  Wealth and power are not signs of God's favor of some over others, but rather signs of the ruthlessness of people who claim God but actively hurt God's children by benefitting from the systems that provide an abundance for some over others.  Greed is insidious, in that it makes one believe that he/she can be right with self, God and others by living one's life only valuing obtaining more, always more for self at the expense of others.  But God values everyone having enough, and no one being owned by their greed.


Those who are not satisfied with enough, who do not trust that God will provide enough for all including themselves and that it WILL BE enough, cannot be truly thankful for what they have because they are always seeking more as their value.  They cannot be truly connected with sisters and brothers because they are pursuing their own gain even at their expense.  They cannot be right with themselves because they are living in captivity to the acquisition of wealth that will drive them at the expense of their joy, shalom (well-being, completeness and wholeness that produces peace within and around a person) and relationships with others and God.  They cannot be right with God because they have dedicated all love to wealth instead of loving God and neighbor as self (with a healthy love for self).  They cannot be right.


You will know WHEN YOUR GREED OWNS YOU, because you will at some point recognize that you will sacrifice anything or anyone else to gain more wealth or power or status for yourself.  You know that Greed owns you when you are faced with Jesus and His Kingdom values of Agape Love for God and Neighbor and you find excuses and justifications and rationalizations for choosing your desperate, sick need for more wealth, power or status over God and Neighbor.


When your Greed owns you, eventually you will be shocked (like those finding out they are goats and not sheep at the judgment - Matthew 25:31-46) and go away grieving because you cannot break free from what has driven you and now owns you, even to "inherit eternal life." - even to save your soul.


"Take care!  Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions."  Jesus (Luke 12:13-21 - the parable of the Rich Fool)


Pastor Jamie

Jesus and Power

Power, with Wealth and Status are what I call "the unholy trinity" of American Civil Religion.  It is not Christian.  In the time of Jesus, it was Roman.  The Roman Empire was built on these values above all others.  Jesus countered them with His teachings, as we have them in the Gospel witnesses.  Jesus taught Humility, a value for enough for all and shared power.  Jesus rejected empire values.  Those who follow Jesus should perhaps consider rejecting them also, since they are clearly not Kingdom values, at least according to, you know, the Christ that Christians claim to follow.


America is not a Christian nation.  The founders, mostly deists, intentionally structured things so that no one religion would dominate our society.  We have been a welcoming beacon for people of all faiths until this moment.  In addition, we can hardly claim to exhibit Christian principles to the world, at least if you define those principles by what was taught by The Christ.  We are empire today.


Like Rome, the American Empire has colonized the world, now through McDonalds and Coca-Cola, our domination of the World Trade Organization, IMF, UN and other international organizations, and our military occupations and ever-shifting political alliances.   Now many want us to go nationalistic, which happens when a single nation, full of hubris, decides that it is dominant enough to benefit only itself and isolate from its accountability to others, but still dominate.  Jesus countered Rome and counters this empire in the commands, teachings and examples attributed to Jesus in the Gospels.


What is valued on an empirical scale is also valued within the society and by the individuals who give their devotion to empire values.  The abuses of power in politics, economics,within communities and families bears that out.


Those who value power above community, have set up systems to get and keep power in order to dominate others around them.  Their value is the power itself (along with the wealth and status that come with it).  It is what they treasure, so it is the object of their love, rather than community.  As Jesus taught, "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."  Since it is about having power and using it in devotion to the god of empire - self - abuses of power are part of the expectation.


Those who value above all else this power (and the wealth and status that come with it), believe that
having power means that one is entitled and privileged above others who do not have it.  They believe that having power over others means that one is entitled above others and above scrutiny and reproach because they have it.  Therefore any challenges to the abuses of power are challenges to the value for power (and the wealth and status that come with it), and the beliefs of those who would challenge it, along with their character must be held suspect by those who value power and give their devotion to it above all else.


When abuses of power occur, those who do not value it above all else will rise to challenge those abusing it.  They will stand in the face of those who have abused it.  They will stand up to the powerful and how they have abused their power.  The response is predictable.  Those who have the power will claim to be the victims of those who "unjustly" question their integrity or character, as will those who value power above all else and aspire to have it someday.  How dare they question the values established by so many in empire?  How dare they "victimize" the abusers of power for just exercising the power that they most value?  It rallies those with power and those who aspire to have it, against those who challenge its legitimacy and abuses.  Others remain silent in the face of such abuses because they comply with the unjust systems that promote them, thus helping to promolgate them rather than confront them.


This happens throughout empire when people challenge the systems set up to promote some above others in an attempt to help them get and keep power over others.  It happens in regions within empire as those who believe they are to be "entitled" to have power over others exercise their beliefs by whatever means necessary to gain and keep power over "those people."  It happens within communities as keeping "those people" out, dominating them or getting rid of them is a common exercise of the abuses of power.  It happens within society as some who believe they are inherently privileged to have power abuse what power they do have over others.  It happens in churches.  It happens in neighborhood organizations.  It happens in families as one tries to dominate powerfully over the other or others within the home.


The love of power (and the wealth and status that come with it) is not of Christ.  Those who would follow Jesus as Lord do not love power above the other (neighbor - including stranger and enemy, and the most vulnerable) or God, and do not participate in empire values, but in humility strive to lift up all people and community itself -as did Jesus, the one we claim to follow.  We use our power in Agape love, toward the well-being of all around us and not ourselves above others.  For followers of Jesus, that happens in families, communities, organizations, regions and nations.  It happens in economics and politics.  It happens wherever we reside.


Jesus stood up to power.  Mark 6:30-44 offers an account of how Jesus, in the face of Rome's empire and abuses of power, gathered an army of 5,000 men (plus women and children) in a day (a Roman cohort was 5500 men) and armed them with food instead of swords.  Jesus broke them into groups of 100 and 50, a common Roman tactic for battle.  Jesus armed them with His Good News of Agape Love and with food - fed their souls and their bodies to prepare them for the battle of their lives in the living of that Agape Love.


Jesus stood up to power and mocked it.  Luke 19:28-48 offers an account of how Jesus, mocking the power of Rome and confronting the abuses of power among Temple Cult Leaders caricatured Roman power by ridiculously mocking the military parades of Roman legions entering the city, complete with genuine cries of love and devotion from the crowds.  Jesus confronted the abuses of power and the seeking of wealth and status by the corrupt Temple Cult leaders of the time, dramatically demonstrating God's disdain for their love of power, wealth and status. 


Jesus taught His followers a different way in perceiving and living power in the world.  Luke 22:24-27 offers an account of Jesus rebuking power and status over others, using empire as a negative example, and commanding His followers to be servants and turn their definitions of power and status upside down.  Jesus calls us not to "lord" power over one another, but rather to use whatever power we have to serve one another - to serve the whole community toward Shalom- the well-being, completeness and wholeness of ALL.


Finally, Jesus demonstrated Power according to Kingdom values.  Jesus called His followers friends and family, fed, healed, forgave, refused to judge and then died for all, even or especially the least worthy (betrayer, denier, those who crucified Him, Rome, Temple Cult leaders, etc., etc....) YOU and ME.


Jesus taught, commanded and modeled what God wants of us in how we live in this part of God's Kingdom, here and now.
These are Kingdom values.


So, confront those who abuse power, even if it is the systemic norm - ESPECIALLY when it is the systemic, empirical norm.  When those in power claim entitlement to be above scrutiny or reproach because they are the elites in power, confront the system itself.  Refuse to participate in empire values and live by a different set of rules - by Kingdom values as we have learned them from Jesus in the Gospels.  Speak truth to power - the truth of the Gospel of Jesus.  Refute those who aspire to have that power someday, who are in support of those who have and abuse it.  Rally the army of followers and arm them with the Good News and sustenance.  Mock the absurdity of empire values.  Demand justice - equal justice for ALL - live Agape love - active commitment on behalf of the other, even stranger and enemy and especially the most vulnerable - as Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us in the Gospels.  Do it in politics by how you speak, write, call and vote.  Do it in your economics by what you buy and from whom, and how you stand with those most exploited and abused. 


Follow Jesus regarding Power (wealth and status).


Pastor Jamie

What is a Christian?

I learned early on that a "Christian" is someone who follows the Christ - someone Christ-like - a "little Christ", if you will. 
Jesus' followers were disciples - student followers who were devoted to Jesus as teacher and to His teachings, and then to Jesus as Lord and Savior.


I have a troubling conundrum, however.
I witness people claiming to be Christian and professing devotion to Jesus, the Christ, who do not devote themselves to what Jesus taught or submit to Jesus as Lord of their lives by following what Jesus taught and modeled.


Now, I know that the umbrella of Christianity is very large.  I accept that.  But shouldn't a devotion to following what Jesus taught and modeled for us be the defining factor for those called by the name of the Christ?
Jesus, who said that in order to be His disciples, we must abide in HIS Word, obey HIS commands and live the Agape Love that HE commanded, taught and lived - does this Jesus not expect those who would be called by His name to at least strive to live by what He taught?


I see people who profess to be Christians judging others, though Jesus commanded us not to judge.  Not only do many folks judge, but they justify it with other parts of the Word that Jesus fulfilled.


I see people who profess to be Christians refusing to forgive others, though Jesus commanded it.
Again, they use parts of the Word to justify what Jesus clearly commanded His followers not to do.


I see people concerned about earning their salvation through praise, worship and tithes - Jesus talked about salvation in the context of how we treat the most vulnerable among us, even stranger and enemy.


I see people concerned about getting more for themselves, when Jesus very clearly made material wealth not only unimportant regarding Kingdom values, but warned against greed as the enemy of faith in Him.


I see people wanting to control the lives of others and how they live, when Jesus clearly spoke about the hypocrisy of trying to control others out of hubris, rather than humbly examining the self.


I see people claiming Jesus' name and using their political position and power to hurt the most vulnerable.


I see people claiming Jesus' name and running their businesses off the backs of people they routinely
exploit, mistreat, underpay and then throw away when they are done with them, though Jesus' teachings and parables give a different view of Kingdom values.


I see people claiming Jesus' name and wanting to have status in society above others, though Jesus raised the humble and humbled the elevated in society.


I see people claiming Jesus' name and intentionally voting for candidates who represent gains for them, knowing that it means losses for others around them.


I see people claiming Jesus' name and hating others who are different from them and actively trying to hold them down, back or out - even trying to destroy their lives, though Jesus taught Agape Love - committed action on behalf of the other, even stranger and enemy, and especially the most vulnerable.


I see faith leaders who claim Jesus teaching prosperity for some instead of manna living for all, personal power over others instead of the humble lifting up of all and status over others instead of loving community and fellowship for all.


I see polititians claiming Jesus and ignoring His teachings in how they govern.


I see business people claiming Jesus and ignoring His teachings in how they do business.


I see citizens claiming Jesus and hating others not like them and voting for those who will hurt their sisters and brothers, even sisters and brothers who share their faith.


I also see that some have claimed Jesus and have created their own definition of "American Christian" that has included their idolatry of ideology, nation, race, ethnicity, sexuality, economic class and gender.  Some of them claim this to be a "Christian nation" while doing and saying the most un-Christ-like things.


Does this make folk "bad Christians"?  They are not following the Christ, not "little Christs" in this part of God's Kingdom, here and now.
Can they claim to even be "Christians"?  Why would they claim to be and not follow the Christ?


I believe that Gandhi perceived the problem long ago, though certainly there were others long before him who did the same - "I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians.  Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."


I ask again - What is a Christian?
Much more these days, in this climate, I confess that I prefer to call myself -
A PERSON OF THE WAY OF JESUS, as I strive to live the Agape Love that Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for any who would follow Him.


Pastor Jamie

Labor

We live in confusing times for those who labor.
They hear politicians say that they are the only ones who will create jobs for them, the same politicians who wage war on organized labor and even claim that wages are too high, while those who are working two jobs are still behind and struggle to make it financially.
They see executives and owners make record profits, along with stockholders while their wages remain stagnant and provide them with less every year.
They receive tax cuts that may help them with gas money for a few months of the year, while the same executives and owners get huge percentages of tax cut for themselves.
Robots are taking jobs that people once performed.
Even self-checkout machines replace cashiers at the local stores, creating long lines for those who want to deal with a person, rather than a machine because fewer cashiers are hired.
Self-pump gas stations, even self serve McDonalds screens replace workers.
Machines are made that can work longer, produce more and cost less to operate than employees.
Some companies just cut the workforce and double the work load of existing employees, rather than hire enough workers to do the job well.
But it is the low paid, hard worked immigrants who get blamed for jobs being lost.
Workers are encouraged to look for blame laterally and "below", rather than see that this is a system designed to make more for those at the top at the expense of those at the bottom, especially at election time.
We are fed at an early age that Capitalism is synonymous with Democracy and that Capitalism is the best system in the world for elevating people in their standard of living, yet intentional effort is made to make it an unjust system that has no limits at the top, while limiting the possibilities of those at the bottom, and making it impossible for them to rise even to a secure and sustainable standard of living.
Healthcare, living wage, Medicare/Medicaid, Social Security, workers' rights, the retirement age, taxation, job safety and safe land, water and air are "weaponized" at election time to keep those in power in control of the wealth.
Since 1981 a massive re-distribution of wealth has been perpetrated on the middle class and the poor for the benefit of the wealthy.  It continues, unchecked today.  Anyone who suggests that it is wrong or proposes measures to reverse this trend is labeled "communist" or "un-American."  The Greedy, Power Mongers and Entitled are seen as the "real Americans."  And many of the easily gullible have been duped into believing that they can and will be in this club someday.  With the cries of "at least I'm (straight, or white or protestant or male or English speaking, or all of the above)", they believed they are in some way entitled above someone else, anyone else - desperately holding onto that belief that they hold some similarities with those who abuse them and hold them down, back and out.
Those who are not white, straight, male, protestant and/or English speaking are increasingly blamed, marginalized, victimized and demonized by those gullible, easily duped who believe what their masters tell them and blame those who they are told to blame.

BUT THE KINGDOM OF GOD holds different VALUES.  And we live in the KINGDOM OF GOD, in this part of it, here and now.  We are called to live by a different set of values and rules for living.

In the PARABLE OF THE LABORERS in Luke 20, we learn that God values laborers being paid what they need to sustain them, rather than what they are told they deserve for their labors.  Because of that, we take a value for the work - productive, edifying work that builds up the Kingdom, knowing that we will have enough on which to live and thrive - without the worry that we won't.  These were the day laborers, the least paid in society, but God values giving them enough on which to live and sustain their families.  You would think that Christian employers would do the same.
Jesus also said, "the laborer deserves to be paid."  (Luke 10:7)
It was a fulfillment of the Law of Moses - "You shall not withhold the wages of poor and needy laborers, whether other countrypersons or aliens who reside in your land.  You shall pay them their wages daily before sunset, because they are poor and their livelihood  depends on them; otherwise they might cry to the Lord against you, and you would incur guilt."  (Deuteronomy 24:14-16)

Jesus also said, "For you always have the poor with you, and you can show kindness to them whenever you wish..." (Mark 14:7)
It is a direct reference  to and fulfillment of the Law of Moses in Deuteronomy 15:7-11 - " If there is among you anyone in need, a member of your community in any of your towns within the land, do not be hard-hearted or tight-fisted toward your needy neighbor.  You should rather open your hand, willingly lending enough to meet the need, whatever it may be... Be careful that you do not entertain a mean thought... view your needy neighbor with hostility and give  nothing; your  neighbor might cry to the Lord against you, and you would incur guilt.  Give liberally and be ungrudging when you do so, for on this account the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake.  Since there will never cease to be some in need on earth, I therefore COMMAND you, 'Open your hand to the poor and needy in your land.'"

Perhaps the Prophet Ezekiel has a message to our nation in this regard, refuting the teachings about the sin of Sodom that some unscrupulous false teachers have claimed and shedding light on what the sin of Sodom truly was - a sin with which we must grapple in this part of God's Kingdom, here and now -
"This was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy.   They were haughty, and did abominable things before me; therefore I removed them when I saw it."  Ezekiel 16:49, 50

Indeed, from the mouth of Jesus, the Judge of all the living and the dead, we have witness in Matthew's Gospel of a vision of the return of the Christ for ALL NATIONS -
Divided into sheep or goats, saved or condemned, not based on professing faith, worshiping, praising, saying a particular prayer or tithing, but rather -
HOW WE TREAT THE MOST VULNERABLE AMONG US -
How we treat JESUS, by how we treat Jesus' sisters and brothers, especially
THE HUNGRY, NAKED, THE STRANGER IN THE LAND, THE SICK AND IMPRISONED.

God's Kingdom Values are that we give them a chance and enhance their lives as much as we are able to do so, especially from our abundance as a nation and people within it.

So, labor my friends.
Do labor that is honorable and that lifts others up, provides others with what they need and makes the creation a better place for all who live within it.
Employees - Work hard.  Lift up other laborers.  Demand justice for them and not just yourselves, regardless of your differences with them.
Employers - Pay them a living wage.  Give them benefits that they need.  Provide security and for their future.  Take enough for yourselves and value giving more to those who most need it, rather than taking more for yourselves.
Stockholders - Support the businesses in which you invest by taking enough but not demanding always a higher percentage of gain or participating in measures that mean gain for yourselves at the expense of those who labor to help you make more.  Take less if it means more for them.
Politicians - It is the people who you serve with your public service and not industries, corporations or the most wealthy and powerful.  That is simple to understand.  It seems a hard truth for you to honor.  Our nation is only as strong as the most vulnerable among us.  The creation within which we live is the only one we have or will get.  Destroy nothing and no one for your own, personal gain.

These are Kingdom Values.  If you claim the name of Jesus, these are what you must live.  If not, then you will go away sad, like the rich young man who wanted salvation but could not follow Jesus.  (Luke 18); or like the rich fool who built bigger barns for himself rather than share of his abundance and who lost it all at an unexpected death (Luke 12); or the nameless rich man who ignored the needs of the sick and poor Lazarus at his gate, only to find himself in Hell, regardless of how entitled he believed himself to be (Luke 16); or one of the goats who think they are sheep until the coming judgment of Jesus, the Christ - (Matthew 25:31-46).  These Kingdom Values are part of the Law and Prophets fulfilled in Jesus.  Live them.  Not out of fear, but because it is the right thing to do according to the God you claim to follow - because those who God loves need you to do the right thing in this part of God's Kingdom, HERE AND NOW.

Pastor Jamie

God, give me Power and Kindness... Confessions of a Pugilistic Poet

I believe whole-heartedly that this life of following Jesus is ALL about the living of Agape Love - not a feeling, but the active commitment on the behalf of the other, even stranger and enemy and especially the most vulnerable among us.

God has granted me this vision for life and ministry.  I believe that I have been prepared my whole life to be an advocate for those rejected, disenfranchised, downtrodden - the held down, back and out - and that it is consistent with what God has shown in the teachings of Jesus in the Gospels, centered in Agape Love.

In our worship this morning at Glenside UCC, we were given an opportunity to take time to consider in thought and prayer the struggles we go through and how God lifts us in the midst of them.  This is my prayer...


God of Grace and Mercy,
Grant me BALANCE in these troubling days of blatant lies and intentional effort to further hurt the most vulnerable, to
   STAND WITH the downtrodden,
   STAND UP to injustice and hatred, and
   STAND AGAINST greed, lust for power and desire for status that create unhealthy and unloving, unsustainable environments in which your children languish.
Help me, Lord, to be their advocate without losing MY humanity,
   and without becoming unkind and ungracious myself.
Balance my strong desire to advocate and directly oppose the hateful and hurtful
   with Kindness and Grace, so that my pugilistic spirit is not ALL that others perceive.
There are enough angry voices now, Lord, so let me speak truth unambiguously with
   Directness, but in Kindness and act out of Graciousness.

I wrote it.  I prayed it.  I mean it.
I will strive to live the pointing out of truth in the midst of lies, the standing with and standing for justice in the face of injustice, the demanding of equal and equitable treatment for all God's children and the empowerment of the powerless, being a voice for the voiceless.  I will strive to do it with directness and unwavering determination, but also in Kindness and Graciousness.

The Agape Love that Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for me, as we have that in the Gospels, compels me to do no less.  I am a follower of Jesus - a Person of the Way of Jesus. 
So, help me, God.

Pastor Jamie


  

Humility... Jesus' Way...

It is no secret as to what I believe are the unfaithful empire values of Jesus' teachings as we have them in the Gospels.

Greed - love for wealth that is meant for God and Neighbor
   A sickness of being insatiable when it comes to our acquisitiveness - "affluenza"
   Being conservative with one's abundance, rather than generous
  
   Jesus taught generosity with liberality regarding our abundance (anything beyond
       having just enough), toward the well-being of all.

Lust for Power - driving desperation to have power over other people
   To have control over others so that they may be exploited for one's own gain
   To have the ability to manipulate systems and other people for one's own pleasure

   Jesus taught self-control and the sharing of power with others toward healthy,
       loving community well-being.

Desire for Status - a desire to be recognized above others, honored more than others
   To have influence by virtue of position and standing in/above society

   Jesus taught humility instead of hubris, servitude rather than entitlement and
      an unassuming character rather than arrogance.

In my earliest (bad) writing, I called this America's UNHOLY TRINITY:
   Mammon
   Mars
   Bacchus

Even in the church, we find false and unfaithful theologies and teachings to feed these forms of
idolatry, which is, of course what this is - the raising of self in importance above others... even, to the level of where God should be in our lives.

Churches have given in to America's Idolatry with:
   Prosperity Theology - the false belief that Jesus wants us to be rich, or that a person
         who worships, praises and tithes will be blessed monetarily by God, when Jesus
         taught that all should have enough, rather than some having in abundance while
         others go without, and that we should find satisfaction in enough and give thanks
         and praise for that.  Community well-being is found in all having enough.  Some
         being "more" blessed and highly favored than others does not edify all of God's
         children, and the truth is that the only ones getting rich off Prosperity Theology
         were the preachers who conned people into believing them.
  Self-Righteousness - the false belief that one can be righteous through one's own
         purity or holiness and is justified in judging others for being less pure or holy,
         and justified in trying to coerce, force or legislate them into compliance with
         one's own standards and/or recognize one as being spiritually superior.  This
         renders us with no need for Jesus' redemption or Grace, and to believe that we can
         save ourselves.  The focus on personal salvation as one's only concern also leads
         us to abandon the living of Agape Love with Neighbor and God.  It divides
         community instead of lifting it up in love.  This false sense of one's superiority leads folk to
         believe that they can and should have power and control over others, rather than being a part of
         community in love.
  Church Growth - the false belief that some churches and pastors grow because God
         has blessed them above others with "the truth", when the truth is that it is usually
         built on a cult of personality around the leader (rather than faithfulness to the
         Christ) or an exclusive club masquerading as a church body.  Distinctions are
         drawn and falsely identified as entitlement, superiority or elite, which tears down
         community rather than building up and divides the body of Christ rather than
         drawing it together. 

These are just a few expressions of the ways that empire values have crept into the church over the past 37 years.  These values are now seen as normative in church culture, which fly in the face of what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us in how we should live, being His followers in this part of God's Kingdom, here and now - they fly in the face of Kingdom values, according to Jesus.

Our nation has been living these values of Greed, Lust for Power and Desire for Status and perfecting its empire values for almost four decades as well, so that we find ourselves in a country that once was known for its exceptional willingness to work with, defend and cooperate with other nations, even protecting those who could not protect themselves, but in the past 37 years has become a nation that
claims Jesus by name but consistently ignores what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for living,
because it would not get us what we want.

We are a nation that values a very inequitable distribution of wealth, just like Rome.
     A nation that willingly makes its own (and the world's) environment uninhabitable
     for future generations, just for the sake of more profit for a few now.
We are a nation that uses its power to exploit its own people and other nations.
     A nation that walks away from allies and embraces autocrats, because we want to
     be just like them, even to the abandonment of our own democratic ideals.
We are a nation that desperately clings to notions of superiority, "exceptionalism" and entitlement.
     A nation that lifts up false claims of superiority with regard to race, ethnicity, sexuality,
     faith practice, economic class and intelligence, artistry and character.

We are a nation of rich fools, rich men who ignore those in need who are in front of them,
     religious and political leaders who ignore those beaten down, debtors who despise other
     debtors, arrogant party guests who take the seat of honor, people who ridiculously display
     their position and wear fine clothing, people who sell out anyone for their own profit,
     people who lord any authority they can muster over others -  a nation of wolves in sheep's clothing
     who ourselves believe the deception, a nation of blind guides who think we know God, of
     hypocrites who pray publicly and crow our own (false) superiority over others - a nation of goats
     who think we are sheep in the eyes of God.

We are seeing our true nature more clearly now in our racism, xenophobia, ethnocentrism, homophobia, classism, religious intolerance - in our Greed, Lust for Power and Desire for Status.

Of what are we afraid to behave this way?
When will we truly have faith in Jesus and Jesus' Way of Agape Love and Grace that draws together and builds up in humility, rather than dividing and tearing down?
Indeed, will we?
Or will we, like empires before, implode and fall because of our hubris and hatefulness?

Pastor Jamie

... facing the darkness...

Ephesians 5:6-14 speaks to me in times like these.
The context is sexual darkness - using other human beings for our own pleasure with no value for them other than that pleasure we gain (however that happens).
The context is GREED as darkness, likened to impurity and idolatry.

We are warned not to be deceived with empty words by those who would reckon these as normal and acceptable things.

We are told not to associate with those who would embrace them as normative, acceptable values.

We are told to "take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them."

I believe that the same advice applies to bigoted hatred.  It is certainly darkness and not light.

In verses 15-21...

We are advised to "be careful how (we) live, not as unwise people, but as wise", to "not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is."

Finally, the punch line -
 "BE SUBJECT TO ONE ANOTHER OUT OF REVERENCE FOR CHRIST."

It is centered, yes, on Agape Love.  It is all about the living of Agape Love.

If we are actively committed to the well-being of the other, even stranger and enemy and especially the most vulnerable, we will not use people for sexual pleasure, we will not value profit above people and we will not live out of hatred for others.

1. To expose the darkness, we must acknowledge what is darkness.

    We cannot stand by the burning cross that represents a fearful hatred, shrouded in a false
    white "supremacy" and talk about the light of Christ.  In that we have lost the Christ. 
    We must see the bigotry that many embrace as normative behavior and system of belief
    for what it is - an irrational, unreasoned, unloving reaction out of fear to the unknown.
    We must see that the fear is used to manipulate people to hate each other for the sake of
    some who want to have or keep power and wealth for themselves.  We must see that
    xenophobia, homophobia, racism, classism and religious intolerance are darkness and not
    light, along with nationalism and ethnocentrism, no matter how "positively" they may be
    packaged.

2.  To expose the darkness, we must stand in the light and not in the darkness.

    We cannot associate with those who stand in the darkness as normative behavior and values,
    for that gives them more credibility than they should have and our compliance is seen as
    agreement and we then become a part of spreading the darkness.
    We must be different, think differently, act differently, speak differently, walk differently.
    We must not acquiesce for the sake of personal relationships or because it is convenient in the
    moment or to preserve our own comfort in the moment, or for personal gain.  Standing
    in the darkness does not eliminate the darkness.  It gives credence to the darkness.

3.  To expose the darkness, we must address it.

    To call evil goodness is one thing.  To see evil and not call it out is another.  And it is the
    same.  Silence is compliance, and lends itself to the promulgation of evil.  If I see evil,
    acknowledge it as evil, stand against the evil but do not speak or write or stand against it
    publicly, I am compliant with evil and have contributed therefore to the darkness.  To
    eliminate the darkness, we shed light on the darkness, expose it for what it is and replace
    it with light.

Charlottesville.
NFL Protests.
Deportations.
Taking away rights of women.
Taking away workers' rights and benefits.
Helping the wealthy while hurting the poor and taking from the elderly.
Taking away healthcare from people who need it.
Eliminating Civil Rights.
Calling the truth lies and lies the truth.
Normalizing Hatred, Intolerance, Greed, lust for Power and Status as good values.

Those things presented in this climate as light are most often darkness.

Do you acknowledge the darkness for what it is?
Do you stand in the light, against the darkness?
Do you address it with your words and actions?

We are subject to one another out of reverence for Christ, who commands us to live Agape Love.

Are you a part of the darkness or a part of the light?

Pastor Jamie

Climate Change

Matthew 14:22-33
   I have been in a boat when the climate changed.  Storms blow up on small bodies of water rather quickly, and it can have devastating results.  It is frightening.  I often think about the dynamic among the disciples in this story of Peter walking (briefly) on the water.  They may have reacted to Peter by this time in Matthew's Gospel, knowing who Peter is - the impulsive, bold and often failing to deliver Peter.  But they did not get out of the boat.  I picture them cowering in the boat, criticizing Peter and wondering why Jesus is not saving them from the waves that were battering the boat.  It had happened before, as told in chapter 8 of this Gospel, and Jesus was asleep.  Peter learned something (though not enough) in that encounter and it made him bolder this time, in faith (though not enough).  Peter was fine when he directly addressed the chaos of the storm in getting out of the boat.  Peter failed by losing sight of the source of his faith as he faced it.  Then it seemed too powerful to overcome and he started to succumb to the wind and waves of chaos.
   The climate on our planet is changing.  We are quickly approaching the time when even the hardest profiteers and their ignorant minions will no longer be able to deny that the devastating results have caught up to us.  Regardless of how we react to it, we are in the same boat.  Fires burn out of control (due to extreme heat and drought), earthquakes (mostly in fracking zones) and flooding are abundant, and tornadoes and hurricanes are more frequent and much more devastating.  Folk await Jesus to awaken, and the bold ones await seeing Jesus walking to them, waiting to be delivered from a storm that we created ourselves.  Some lose sight of the source of their faith and others never see the need to counter the chaos with action.
   The climate in the nation has changed.  The molten hatred, once dormant under the surface until the election of a black man as President, has now actively bubbled to the surface and threatens to burn it all down.  The greed, lust for power and desire for status that have always been there among the elites who control the power and wealth have caused greater rifts in the social fabric and offer threatening and dark times ahead for the many as they fight the winds of doctrine and the waves of false teaching that the church contributes to the storm for its own gain.  We are in the same boat, and all afraid, and some are criticizing anyone who would be bold enough to suggest a way out in faith, while others cower in fear or remain calm in delusion and look for supernatural intervention amid the turmoil we all created.

The Gospel stories end well.  In both cases, the followers of Jesus were rebuked, like the wind and waves of the chaos themselves, but for having too little faith. 

In what is our faith?  Is it in the ideology that we can do whatever we want and never face consequences because we have a cosmic enabler who will constantly rescue us from the consequences of our addiction to wealth, power and status?  Is it in the hubris of belief that we can actively destroy the creation upon which we rely for our own greed and convenience, and that Jesus, our supernatural Rescuer and First Responder will come and snap a finger to make it all go back to calm? 
In what is our faith?  Is it in the truth that God gave us minds and hearts, souls and strength enough not to get into these messes and to work them out when we have gotten into them?  Is it in the truth that we have been given a better way - Jesus' Way of Agape Love and Grace - to guide us away from the storms and sustain the life we have here, as a part of the Creation and the humanity that God created and loves?
In what is your faith?  How much do you have?  What will you do with it?  Will you be of little faith and create the storms that others must suffer?  Will you be of little faith and cower in the boat in which we are all tossed about, or step out in faith?  Will you be of little faith and believe that God is not with us in it or does not care about us being in it?  Will you recognize Jesus when Jesus comes, or have the empire values that helped create the chaos rendering Jesus just a rumored wisp of myth in your eyes?  Do you see Jesus as Lord of all life or just an Enabler and Rescuer when you want Him to supernaturally intervene?

How will you face the storm in which we all lie about now?  Will you face it?  Will you act?
Make no mistake.  We are all in it, together.

Pastor Jamie

more about truth... here and now

The TRUTH is that Jesus commanded us to live Agape Love (active commitment on behalf of the other, even stranger and enemy and especially those who are most vulnerable (see Luke 10, Matthew 22, 25, etc.).

The TRUTH is that Jesus calls us not to purity and holiness, but to faithfulness to the living of that Agape Love in this part of God's Kingdom, here and now.

The TRUTH is that Jesus redeemed us and calls us not to focus on our personal salvation, but rather to offer our lives in the living of Agape Love to others, children of God, here and now.

The TRUTH is that tithing and praise do not save us.  Our purity and holiness do not save us.  Our adherence to the Law does not save us.  God's Grace in Jesus saves us. 

The TRUTH is that we are called to live Agape Love not in order to be saved, but BECAUSE we are saved and love God in Christ Jesus and want to live identified with Jesus and His teachings.

The TRUTH is that living in any other way is not sustainable in our lives together.  When the values we exhibit are Greed, lust for Power and desire for Status (empire values), it causes divisions, inequities, strife, despair, poverty, war and a lack of Shalom (well-being, completeness, wholeness).  When we live according to Jesus' teachings, commands and examples of Agape Love, Shalom is the result for all.

The TRUTH is that we are either people of Agape Love and Grace or we are not.  "By their fruits you will know them."

The TRUTH is that Jesus did not promise wealth, but ENOUGH for all in the living of Agape Love.  Jesus did not promise that our lives would be pain or struggle free, but that our struggles would be struggle toward the well-being of all.  Jesus did not promise us position and power, status and control over others but control over ourselves and in humility the well-being that all around us need.

The TRUTH is that Jesus called us to deny our selves, pick up the Cross and follow Him - go where He went, live like He lived, give like He gave, affect lives in positive ways like He did - as we have witness in the Gospels.

The TRUTH is that there are folk who will strive to follow Jesus in how they live, there are folk who will overtly reject all things of what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled and there are people who will claim the name of Jesus but live empire values in order to promote themselves above others.'

The TRUTH is that we did not decide to believe.  God gave us faith as a gift.  The Holy Spirit of God leads, guides and drives me to Christ Jesus, relentlessly pointing to Christ Jesus in my life.  The truth is that we either live in that faith or we actively reject it.  The truth is that we either decide to follow Jesus or to walk away sad like the rich young man who wanted to be with God but could not give up the benefits of living empire values in the world.

The TRUTH is that God loves all and offers Agape Love and Grace to all.  But the TRUTH is that there are sheep and goats.  God takes sides.  God sides with the most vulnerable, the stranger, the poor, the sick, the (mostly wrongly) imprisoned and those most humble.  The teachings in parables, the commands of Jesus, the examples of loving that Jesus gave us lift these up in the Kingdom as examples of God's loved ones. 

The TRUTH is that there is only one Judge - Jesus, the Christ.  His judgment, according to the Judge, will be based on the criteria centered on Agape Love that Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us as we have that in the Gospels (Matthew 25:31-46).

So, given the TRUTH - what side are YOU on?  What actions do YOU take in the world around you to commit to the well-being of the most vulnerable who God loves, or to exploit, hurt or destroy their lives?  How do you use your words?  How do you use your money?  How do you use your time?  How do you use your abilities?  Is it to benefit those around you in Agape Love or to only benefit yourself in greed, lust for power and desire for status?

Given the TRUTH, are you a follower of Jesus or are you not?
Given the TRUTH of your answer.  What will you now do in your life?
Will you follow Jesus in the living of Agape Love in this part of God's Kingdom, here and now, toward the Shalom of all people -
or will you live the empire values of Greed, lust for Power and desire for Status that hurts others for your own gain?

Jesus said that His Word would divide people, even within families.
We have seen the divisions widen greatly in the past two years.
The question is - What side are you on?

Pastor Jamie

"... and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."

John's Gospel here has some astounding statements by Jesus. (8:31-38)

To be Jesus' followers, we must continue in HIS Word - The Good News of Agape Love and Grace.
If we do not live in that, we are not Jesus' followers.
If we do not actively commit to the well-being of the other, even stranger and enemy and especially the most vulnerable, then we are not continuing in His Word and we are thus not His followers.

If we do continue in His Word, the Good News of Agape Love and Grace, we will know the truth, and the truth will make us free.
We are having trouble with the truth these days.  We live in the post-truth, alternative facts era in which networks can claim that they have no responsibility to report facts because they are "opinion" networks, but they put words like "your news source" on banners seen during their shows. 
We live in an era in which "Christians" who claim Jesus can justify their hatred of others because their preachers say they can and because their denominational leaders remain largely silent in the face of the hatred.
We live in an era in which the supporters of a current President, who screamed about perceived lies regarding the last President, say that this President's lies, hateful rhetoric and hateful actions don't matter because he supports them in one cause or another.
We live in an era in which repeating the outrageous lie enough times means that the gullible, easily duped folk who support you will believe it - hook, line and sinker.  The last time that was spoken of and often used was in 1933 in Germany.
We live in a truth challenged time in which blatant lies are believed and what is factual is relativized and politicized into being false in the minds of many.

The truth of which Jesus is given witness as having spoken is the truth of living Agape Love in a world in which the lies of the Roman Empire were largely accepted as truth - lies about how God wants us to live with one another - lies about what true values are - lies about the inevitability and/or acceptability of Greed, lust for Power and desire for Status as normative values and the heart of normative practices in a society.  We are in that truth-challenged time again in empire here.

The truth attributed to Jesus is the truth that these values are not sustainable or just, healthy or loving.  The truth is that turning truth into lies and lies into truth does not mean that God is fooled or that God accepts our post-truth attitudes and thinking.  The truth exposes how these values hurt people who God loves - the poor, the stranger, the sick, the imprisoned.  The truth is that God is not pleased at our hateful words and actions against people God loves.  The truth is that Jesus' Way is a better way, and it is the commanded way for any who would claim the name of Jesus.

We are in danger of raising a generation of children to believe whatever they like, rather than the facts at hand.  We are in danger of destroying the planet because many believe the lies of the few who profit from its demise.  We are in danger of killing Democracy and Christianity in America, because we have been blown by every wind of doctrine, have listened to the false teachers and have made our belly (what we want, think and value) to be our god. 

I pray that we will know the truth, for if not we are bound to a captivity to the lies again, still.

Pastor Jamie

Signs of a Dying Soul...

Given that Jesus is the fulfiller of the Law and Prophets and that Jesus' teachings, commands and examples as we have them in the Gospels are our best witness to Kingdom of God values on how we live in this part of God's Kingdom here and now, and given that at the center of Jesus' teachings, commands and examples is the living of AGAPE LOVE (committed action on behalf of the other, even stranger or enemy and especially the most vulnerable among us)...

Signs that your soul may be dying...

LACK OF EMPATHY -
   An inability or unwillingness to emotionally put yourself in the place of someone else who is different from you, which leads a person to falsely believe they are justified in judging others. It precludes the living of Agape Love.

FALSE BELIEF IN ONE'S INHERENT SUPERIORITY -
   For whatever reason, believing that one is better than anyone else or others for any "reason" leads to Ethnocentrism, Nationalism, Racism, Classism and Homophobia.  It also leads to the false belief that one can be justified in judging others as "inferior" or suspect in having value.  It precludes the living of Agape Love.

BELIEF IN ONE'S ENTITLEMENT over others for any reason.  The love of Status above others for any reason does not come for humility, and it precludes the living of Agape Love.

FALSE BELIEF THAT THOSE IN NEED ARE INFERIOR OR "LEGITIMATE" OBJECTS OF JUDGMENT OR SCORN.  An inability to recognize that unjust systems have created those in need leads some to falsely believe in their own "exceptionalism", the inferiority of those who are victims of unjust systems or their questionable character.  This precludes the living of Agape Love.
    
SELF-CENTEREDNESS -
   The belief that everything and everyone should please an individual or is designed and present primarily to make their life more convenient or pleasant and serve their self-interests above all else, precludes Agape Love and the Humility that it requires.

IRRATIONAL FEAR OF OTHERS -
   Irrational Fear leads to resentment and hatred.  Those who are afraid of others who have never directly hurt them in any way but are just different from themselves is Xenophobia.  This mental disorder comes out of ignorance and it precludes the living of Agape Love.

BELIEF THAT YOU ARE JUSTIFIED IN CONTROLLING THE LIVES OF OTHERS -
  The lust for Power that brings people to decide that what is good for them is necessarily how everyone else should live leads to all manner of mental illness, including the intolerance of people of other faiths, colonialism, proselytism, invasion, exploitation and authoritarianism.  It precludes the living of Agape Love.

BELIEF THAT IT IS NOT WRONG TO PERSONALLY BENEFIT OFF THE LOSS OR LACK OF OTHERS AROUND YOU -
  Just because you can does not mean you should.  The end does not justify the means.  Exploiting others and holding them down, back or out for one's one personal gain has many examples in the teachings, commands and examples of Jesus, and none of them end well.  Selfish Greed, lust for Power and desire for Status hurt the well-being of others, and they preclude the living of Agape Love.

REFUSAL TO FORGIVE -
   Forgiveness may be a process.  It is not easy to do.  But refusal to forgive comes from a need to hold onto one's own victimization as a tool, a ploy.  It hurts the one holding onto it as much or more than the one who needs the forgiveness.  One needs to be forgiven for spiritual well-being.  Withholding forgiveness is a sin against the person who needs it, but also to the one who, him/herself needs to be forgiving in order to have spiritual well-being - a sin against the self.  This precludes the living of Agape Love. 

IGNORING THE NEEDS OF OTHERS AROUND YOU -
  Jesus gave many examples (nameless rich man who went to hell for ignoring Lazarus, rich young man who went away sad because he could not give up some wealth for the poor, rich fool who hoarded all he had, the goats at the judgment) of those whose souls were dead because they ignored the plight of others who were hungry, naked, strangers in the land, sick or imprisoned - the most vulnerable in society like widows and orphans, etc..  These things preclude the living of Agape Love.  Jesus also shared examples of those who had the means and helped others (Good Samaritan, Owner of the Vineyard who paid laborers what they needed to live on, feeding of the 5,000, woman at the well, touching untouchables, feeding on the Sabbath, healing on the Sabbath, casting out demons even with a loss of profit, dying on the Cross, the sheep at the judgment, etc..).   These are examples of the living of Agape Love.

REFUSAL TO ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF THE POWERLESS AND VOICELESS -
  Self-centeredness leads us to ignore the powerless and voiceless among us.  Jesus empowered people by standing up with and for them, and addressing the evil powers of empire that held them down, back and out.  The Good Samaritan, the King with the two debtors, the penitent thief on the Cross, Jesus with the woman caught in Adultery, Jesus with critics of Mary, the friends of the paralyzed man on the pallet, Jesus on the Cross, etc..  We are not to be so self-absorbed that we preserve our own wealth, power or status by refusing to stand up for those being victimized by the evil values of empire among us and the hatreds that they spawn.  Refusal to advocate is antithetical to the living of Agape Love. 

So, how is your soul doing?
How is the soul of the church doing?
How is our soul as a nation doing?

Striving is mine.

Pastor Jamie