Our Faith, like our Democracy is in peril

I am appalled at the support that a narcissistic, autocratic gets in this nation that was formed on and claims to love Democracy.  Vilifying political opponents and others in the world, demonizing the press, de-humanizing resident aliens, de-valuing segments of our society and our foundational social institutions are all well-worn tactics used by fascists throughout history.  Republicans in Congress and Party leaders are silent, even compliant because of their lust for power and greed.  A base of angry people who have struggled economically and have been duped by false news and politicians to blame immigrants, liberals and others for their plight, some of whom are blatantly bigoted and others who suffer from internalized bigotries, are vocally supportive.  They believe that they should be entitled to more, mostly because they falsely believe in their superiority to others and in their inherent right therefore to have recognition and deference in all aspects of life in America.  I am appalled that people who claim to love Democracy support these very UN-DEMOCRATIC ideologies, mostly because their love of self over the rest in our country and their love of laissez-faire capitalism over democracy, fairness, equality and the rights of ALL people here to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  I am afraid it is naturally a trait of conservatism, but it is being verbalized and executed to appalling extremes right now and it threatens our Democracy.

I am ASTOUNDED that part of the support for this comes from people who claim the name of Jesus and who profess to be "Christian".  I have written at length about the difference between wanting Jesus as personal Savior and committed active faith to Jesus as Lord of our lives.  I have talked incessantly regarding the need for people who claim Jesus to live what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us as we have that in the Gospels, centered on the living of Agape Love as His primary command.  What astounds me is the ignorance of those teachings while claiming the name, and the blatant hypocrisies that arise time and time again, perpetrated by religious "leaders" who claim to love and know Jesus.  They are prideful in their arrogant twisting of the Word while claiming Jesus' name.  They are unashamed in their manipulating of God's people toward living in hatred, greed, lust for power and status - all things that the Good News of Jesus consistently opposes as empire values, while ignoring the commands of Jesus to love even stranger and enemy, care for the stranger in the land, help the poor and vulnerable, care for the sick and imprisoned and live humbly - which are Kingdom values.  Paul had it right about them so long ago, still in the face of evil empire - "For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears.  Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things.  But our citizenship is in heaven..."  (Philippians 3:18-20)

Jesus warned us about these false teachers.  "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have the best seats in the gatherings and places of honor at banquets!  They devour widows' houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers.  They will receive the greater condemnation."  (Mark 12:38-40)  And... "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  For you tithe mint, dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith.  It is these you ought to have practiced without neglecting the others.  You blind guides!  You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel!"  Matthew 23:23-24)  And... "Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, that is, their hypocrisy.  Nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known.  Therefore whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed from the housetops."  (Luke 12:1-3)  Those warnings, like the teachings of Jesus, have been ignored.  So, many in our nation have received a steady diet of falsehoods, dressed up to look like God's Will.  Paul again had it right - "We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people's trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming.  But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body's growth in building itself up in AGAPE LOVE." (Ephesians 4:14-16) 

People have been taught to ignore what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled as we have that in the Gospels.  They have been taught that being a "Christian" means it's alright to judge others, though Jesus said that when we do we invite judgment on ourselves.  They have been taught that it is alright to exclude others, though Jesus taught that we are to include.  They have been taught that greed is good and godly, though Jesus taught that everyone should have enough in the Kingdom of God, and not some seek or hoard more while others go without.  They have been taught that it is alright to fear and hate, discriminate against resident aliens, LGBTQ folk, people of other faiths and the poor, though Jesus did not teach that in ANY way, shape or form.  They have been taught that this faith is about being pure and holy, though Jesus warned about self (false) righteousness.  They have been taught that they should worship, tithe and pray, pursuing their personal salvation, while Jesus taught that salvation is based on how we treat "the least" among us in Agape Love.  They have been taught that it is all about serving the religious institution and leaders, while Jesus taught that it is about serving "the least" among us and thereby serving the Lord.  People have had the faith twisted by religious leaders just as people have had the Constitution twisted by Political leaders.  And they have not reasoned it out for themselves, but have fallen into the trap of which Paul again warned - "For the time is coming when people  will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths.  As for you, always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist (proclaim the Gospel of Jesus), carry out your ministry fully."  (II Timothy 4:3,4)  That time has been here since 1981.

Our Faith, like our Democracy, is in peril.
Fascist ideologies threaten to replace democratic ones as people, having had their irrational fears stoked for the political and economic gain of their leaders, have been led astray to believe that they can have anti-democratic values and ideologies and still be a Democracy.  Claiming the truth to be "fake news", people do not care about the truth any longer in this "post truth"/"alternative facts" era.
Un-Christian doctrines threaten to replace Jesus' teachings, commands and examples on how to follow Him in this part of God's Kingdom, here and now.  Focusing on self and getting more blessed and highly favored for self, people have walked away from Agape Love as Jesus' command - committed action on behalf of the other's well-being - even stranger and enemy, and especially the most vulnerable among us.
This is a critical time for self-examination and an honest look at where we are headed as followers of Jesus in this nation and as citizens of this nation.

I love this country.  I love Democratic ideals because I believe they are the closest expression of the Kingdom values that Jesus taught.  I do not love laissez-faire economics, because it is based on greed and inequities, and it flies in the face of Kingdom values as we have those taught, commanded and modeled by Jesus our Lord.  I love the ideals for which America has claimed to stand and detest the blatant hypocrisies of those who, from our founding have claimed them while living from and imposing upon us opposite values. 

If you love the truth.  If you love Democracy.  If you love Jesus.
I implore you.  I beg you to read the Gospels and focus on what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us as we have that in the Gospels.  I ask you to remember that we are citizens first of the Kingdom of God.  I ask you then to express and live the ideals of Democracy and not out of fear, internalized or blatant bigotry or self-centeredness abandon the Gospel or our Democratic principles.

I am appalled at what I see in my country, and astounded that people who claim Jesus participate in it so readily.  I am afraid that the quote erroneously attributed to Sinclair Lewis is, none-the-less correct - "WHEN FASCISM COMES TO AMERICA IT WILL BE WRAPPED IN THE FLAG AND CARRYING A CROSS." 
(Sinclair Lewis did write "IT CAN'T HAPPEN HERE" in 1935, regarding the rise of fascism in the world and its effect on America.)

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Pastor Jamie