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