The dominant expression of Christianity in America today has ventured off road and lost its way in making the birth of Jesus primarily about who gets to go to heaven after dying. It has gone astray emphasizing one’s decision to accept Jesus as defined by various dogmas, creeds and religious observances. When the story of the nativity and the kingdom message of Jesus were taken out of their real world context and made to mostly apply to asking him for salvation in the hereafter, we took a wrong turn.
“Good news of great joy for all the people,” was the angelic explanation of Christ’s birth to shepherds in Bethlehem. God is with the militarily oppressed, economically disadvantaged and spiritually downtrodden was the central message of Christ’s birth. The good news Jesus told his followers to take everywhere after he went to the cross is that God will not be dealing with us as our sins deserve. His favor rests upon everyone. He has reconciled us to himself, not counting our sins against us; as Paul explained to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 5). Now, with God’s help, as we believe this good news, we are able to step into the easy yoke of loving our neighbor as ourselves, doing justice, loving mercy and walking humbly with God; thereby establishing his kingdom. “As I have loved you,” said Jesus, “so love one another.” It’s not all that complicated.
Jesus’ manifesto of the kingdom of God known to us as the Sermon on the Mount focused in its entirety on how we are to treat one another in this life. The prayer he taught his followers to pray featured the request for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. Living the Jesus way will not be found in wealth and power seeking nor in judgmental, man made religion; but in humbly serving others, forgiving our enemies, caring for the poor and, very importantly, in being a peace maker. When Jesus spoke of some who would miss out on the kingdom, he wasn’t referring to those who would get sent to hell when they die, but rather, to those whose pride and greed keeps them on the outside of kingdom living—muddling through an existence that diminishes and destroys one in intolerance, anger, hatred, striking back, bitterness, strife, lust, excess, and always fearing a stinging, meaningless death.
By allowing the Romans to crucify him when he could have employed divine power to protect himself, Jesus modeled how to deal with enemies. If we live by the sword, the sword will be used against us continuously. But, if we live with love and forgiveness in our hearts and choose not to take vengeance, they may still use a sword against us, but good always rises again to ultimately overcome evil. The Roman Empire is no longer; but there are 2.5 billion followers of Jesus on the planet today.
My prayer is that, in a world suffering under crushing burdens of war and injustice, all citizens of God’s kingdom will rediscover the ways of peace and get on with making it. And may we not allow our religion to get in the way in the process.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
SLICK MITT
As speeches go, it was a good one. Mitt Romney covered all the bases, the Founding Fathers, John F. Kennedy, patriotism, religious freedom, mom and apple pie. We are all now assured that there won’t be a hotline between the White House and Salt Lake City if he is elected as our next president. Specifically, he attempted to convince us that, as president, he will be guided by what is best for the American people as a whole and not the particulars of his personal faith.
Holy council of apostles, Batman! Did he really say that? Does he really want us to believe that as a 3rd generation Mormon, raised in one of the most prominent Mormon families, and a long time Mormon leader himself, he doesn’t subscribe to his convictions sufficiently to make them the guiding principle in the critically important decisions of the presidency? What kind of a faith is that?
My issue with Romney isn’t his Mormonism. As a Mormon he isn’t likely to make any worse decisions than, say, a Methodist. His Mormonism hasn’t seemed to hurt him as a businessman or Massachusetts governor. He’s been generally successful in those arenas. And, we sure can’t fault a guy aspiring to be a god someday for wanting to stop by the presidency along the way.
I just don’t believe him when he says he won’t be governed by his personal faith when it comes to the presidency. Hopefully, we all are guided by the convictions of our personal belief system. If elected, I wouldn’t fault him for bringing his Mormon worldview to the table. He should be free to quote the Book of Mormon just like Lincoln or Clinton quoted the Bible. He should be respected for soliciting advice from trusted advisors in his faith community, as have most presidents. These are things we would expect of anyone with a heartfelt faith. But Romney is trying to convince us that he will erect a wall of separation between himself and his Mormonism when he is the president. That strikes me as a very disingenuous, politically motivated thing to say.
Of all the candidates seeking their party’s nomination for the presidency today, Mitt Romney seems to be the most flagrant in telling the voters what they want to hear. In this case, he’s trying to calm the fears of evangelicals and Religious Right types who are skittish about Mormonism, just like he has tried to do with his abortion rights flip-flop. He’s an ear-tickler if there ever was one. Remember, slick Willy? Well, from where I sit, this guy is slick Mitt. I’m not buying it.
Holy council of apostles, Batman! Did he really say that? Does he really want us to believe that as a 3rd generation Mormon, raised in one of the most prominent Mormon families, and a long time Mormon leader himself, he doesn’t subscribe to his convictions sufficiently to make them the guiding principle in the critically important decisions of the presidency? What kind of a faith is that?
My issue with Romney isn’t his Mormonism. As a Mormon he isn’t likely to make any worse decisions than, say, a Methodist. His Mormonism hasn’t seemed to hurt him as a businessman or Massachusetts governor. He’s been generally successful in those arenas. And, we sure can’t fault a guy aspiring to be a god someday for wanting to stop by the presidency along the way.
I just don’t believe him when he says he won’t be governed by his personal faith when it comes to the presidency. Hopefully, we all are guided by the convictions of our personal belief system. If elected, I wouldn’t fault him for bringing his Mormon worldview to the table. He should be free to quote the Book of Mormon just like Lincoln or Clinton quoted the Bible. He should be respected for soliciting advice from trusted advisors in his faith community, as have most presidents. These are things we would expect of anyone with a heartfelt faith. But Romney is trying to convince us that he will erect a wall of separation between himself and his Mormonism when he is the president. That strikes me as a very disingenuous, politically motivated thing to say.
Of all the candidates seeking their party’s nomination for the presidency today, Mitt Romney seems to be the most flagrant in telling the voters what they want to hear. In this case, he’s trying to calm the fears of evangelicals and Religious Right types who are skittish about Mormonism, just like he has tried to do with his abortion rights flip-flop. He’s an ear-tickler if there ever was one. Remember, slick Willy? Well, from where I sit, this guy is slick Mitt. I’m not buying it.
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