Hint, hint

Every year as we slide into the holidays I recall an observation made by the late Rev. William Sloane Coffin.  He said, "I'm always amazed by how the message of Advent hits the world with all the force of a hint."  While typical of Coffin's ability to craft a memorable sentiment, I think his perception can be thought of in a couple of different ways.  I'm not sure which he might have meant.  Perhaps he meant both.

Advent, of course, is a period of anticipation and preparation leading to the celebration of Christmas. It makes no sense to pretend, though, that we're awaiting the birth of Jesus.  That already occurred.  And frankly, I'm not interested in swelling with wonder at the idea of a Virgin Birth.  That, to me, is more pretense.  I'm not aware of major worldwide holiday celebrations of the many others who were "conceived immaculately" in Egypt, Greece, India, Taiwan, etc.

Whoever came up with the idea, though, that we rejoice at Jesus' birth in deep, dark December was a genius.  The daylight hours are shortest around the winter solstice, people tend more to depression, despondency, fear, and other negative emotions and expressions when light is lacking, and hope is signified by light overcoming darkness.  We have no idea of Jesus' actual date of birth, so let's mark it during the darkest part of the year.  Brilliant! (Pun intended!)

Jesus "shall be called Emmanuel, which means God is with us."  So, Advent carries the message that we small, insignificant (in terms of our relation to the vastness of the universe and whatever else is out there) human beings are not bereft of something or Someone to stand with us as we struggle with and against all the forces, temptations, and challenges surrounding us.  That "Someone," Advent reminds us, is the Creator of all things.  How can we not find strength, comfort, and hope in that?

Here's how --

One way to understand Coffin's hint notion is that rather than making a show of power worthy of The Supreme Being,  the truth of "God with us" was accomplished in humility, simplicity, and even weakness:  a baby born out back in the barn with the stinking animals while the commander of a violent army "searched diligently for the child."  Worldly power was threatened by the most non-threatening way God could think of to assert God's presence in the world.

The message of Advent hit the world with the force of a hint.  As Coffin phrased it, "We want God to be strong so we can be weak, but God chose to be weak so we might be strong."

A related aspect of Advent's hinting impact is that even people of faith often elect to play both sides of the equation.  We like to sing season-appropriate hymns (holding lit candles during "Silent Night"), we include Nativity scenes, live or otherwise, in our worship and decorating, and we feel a twinge of emotion or nostalgia when Bible verses are read describing Jesus' birth.  We look forward to it every year.

It's difficult, though, to see what difference it makes in our lives once we take down the tree and soon forget our New Year's Resolutions.  The message seems like a mere hint. How does the Light of Christ shine through the followers of Jesus the rest of the year?  It's kind of like donating money or even volunteering at the soup kitchen around Thanksgiving but not giving much, if any, thought to those who are hungry the rest of the year.

If we do carry with us a concern for the suffering among us, if we do recognize the injustices of our society, or if we do understand that true peace is not merely the absence of war or other open conflict, what do we do about it?  Simply pray? Look for someone else to sort it all out?  Wonder why God doesn't "fix" everything?

Why not embrace the hope of "God with us" as we make decisions and set priorities in our lives?  As we decide how to spend our time and our money?  As we relate to those who are different from us?  As we vote?

If we truly believe "Jesus is the reason for the season," it seems to me we would take the light that shines even in the darkness of the days of December and carry it beyond the holidays to the regular days, the every days, the difficult days, the conflicted days, the challenging days, so that hope is seen in our words and in what we do.

Forget superficial religiosity.  Nobody cares about that or is influenced by it.  Forget mouthing platitudes or even quoting Bible verses.  Forget pointing out the failures of others.

Remember hope.  Remember the promises of God.  Remember the love of Christ.  Remember the presence of the Holy Spirit.  Remember your highest allegiance is to the One who has called you by name.

Hint, hint.

New World In The Morning

It was in the neighborhood of thirty years ago and maybe a bit of a harbinger of the future.  In my role as the head of a seminar center on Capitol Hill in Washington I took a group of students from the University of Denver to meet with the person who represented the district in which the school was located.  You may remember Pat Schroeder, the first woman to sit on the House Armed Services Committee.  If you don't remember Pat, look her up!

It was about the same time that Rep. Schroeder was considering a run for the presidency, and that was common knowledge among those who pay attention to such things.  Anyway, the students, their professor, and I barely were settled into our seats in Rep. Schroeder's office when she referenced a fellow member of Congress who was recently caught having sex with an underaged girl.  Amid great hilarity on her part, Rep. Schroeder said, "There's a new saying going around on the House floor:  'If they're not old enough to vote, (expletive deleted) 'em!'"  Then she laughed uproariously, as we sat stunned.  When we were back on the street following the rest of the conversation, which actually was pretty substantive, the group's professor said to me, "Well!  That wasn't very presidential!"

Maybe not then, but now...?

There is no need to recount the boorish behavior and language of The Current Occupant.  If you want that, just watch the news every evening.  Every time a new low is reached I think, "Unbelievable, but it can't get any worse."  Then, of course, it does.

The truly unfortunate thing is that now permission has been given, and accepted by many others, to wallow in the same mudhole.   It is not only the schoolyard bully language and behavior, but also lies and the demonization of those who espouse a different point of view that detract from our well-being as a nation.

Following the "calling" by news reporters of the re-election of the person who represents my district in the U.S. House of Representatives a clip was shown of him speaking at his victory celebration.  His name is Patrick McHenry, and rather than spouting some inspirational gibberish about what glory lay ahead for North Carolina, the United States, and the World, he was complaining about the "Paid Democratic left-wing activists" who opposed him and others of his ilk.

Well, I voted against him -- again -- and no one slid me any change.

Despite all of this, I actually see a glimmer of hope in what is happening in our politics these days.

Given the rhetoric of fear and spectacles such as the Kavanaugh hearings, along with the stated  disapproval rating of The Current Occupant's persona and performance, I think we finally may be on the edge of the exposure of the lie of White Male Superiority.

It's a shame that it is a remarkable development that two -- just two -- Native American women were elected to Congress.  Likewise, that two -- again, just two -- Muslim women were elected, as well.  It has been a very long time since the first woman of any ethnicity was elected to Congress.  Her name was Jeanette Rankin (look her up if you don't know about her), and she was elected twice, actually -- both elections came just in time for her to vote against the United States' entry into a world war.  Upon voting "no" on entering World War II, Rep. Rankin reportedly said, "The boys are at it again!"

Not many women -- especially those not from the dominant culture -- ever were elected to national office, but the numbers are growing, and as noted above, there is the beginning of more diversity, as well.  In fact, the youngest person ever elected to Congress just won in New York -- a woman.

Frankly, I don't really understand why so many White Males are scared.  Office holders, of course, want to hold onto power and to the access to wealth that gives them before, during, and after their terms. But those guys are even convincing others who will never hold office (and who, if truth be told, matter very little to those seeking their votes) that they need to be scared, too.  Some take this fear to the extreme and send bombs through the mail or shoot up synagogues, newsrooms or individuals identified by "leaders" as enemies.

In Georgia, the gubernatorial race is "too close to call" as this is being written, and Ms. Abrams, an African-American woman is hanging in there against a person whose campaign and actions as Georgia's Secretary of State, responsible for the fairness of elections, have not been without questionable twists and turns, with race as a factor.  To me, the closeness of the Georgia governor's election is a hopeful sign that more and more people are rejecting the status quo and are feeling empowered to greater participation in our society.

The United States is made up of a diverse population that grows ever more diverse with the passage of time.  The time for privilege for the few at the expense of the many is long past its expiration date.  Yes, for a few days following this particular mid-term election, the word "bi-partisanship" will bounce around like a beach ball in the crowd at a sporting event.  Soon enough, though, heels will be dug in, jaws will be set, and backroom strategies will be hatched.  Words will become weapons again.

All of that is starting to wear thin, though, and I have to believe that some of the new faces and voices and skin-tones will begin to say, "Hold on, there!  The world is bigger than you want to make it.  You are not the only ones that matter.  Together we can move toward something better for everyone."

But, it ain't gonna be easy. Yet.

I remember a fellow from my long-ago past named Bill Harris.  He worked in the library at the seminary I attended.  One day I lamented some thing or another and concluded by saying, "It's a crazy world."

With missing a beat, Bill replied, "I'm looking for a better one,"

Mirror, Mirror On The Wall...

A dozen or so years ago I attended a "stewardship conference" in Daytona Beach at the behest, and on the dime, of a denominational office. Several of my colleagues from the eastern U.S. were there, as well. One evening at dinner a fellow clergy-type bragged about how in a recent sermon he "railed against Bush (President George W.) and his policies." I thought to myself, "That poor congregation."

As a veteran by then of a couple of decades of preaching I once made that same mistake, although I was much younger when I did so. It was during the Reagan Nightmare (see, I did it again!), and the Lectionary served up a belt-high fastball with some Old Testament text about "old men" doing things with idols that were detrimental to the life of the community of God's people.

Well (as Reagan himself was wont to say), I swung at that fastball and couldn't resist declaring something to the effect of, "Until we say 'No!' to nuclear weapons we are as guilty of idolatry as President Reagan and all the other old men who think weapons and the threat of war provide our salvation!" There was an audible gasp from someone in the congregation and Mary told me later that another person said, "I guess we know who he's voting for." Yep, it was Walter Mondale that time.

When it comes to preaching it seems to me there is a fine line between "prophetic" and pathetic. I was on the wrong side of that line, as was the guy who did his railing when Dubya held the keys to the White House.

For a semester or two at my seminary there was a theology professor visiting from Great Britain. I no longer remember his name, but from what I recall of the class I took with him we wrestled with this notion of prophecy. We were assigned to write a paper dealing with then-current issues, giving theological reflection and a prophetic word. The professor clearly didn't like what we wrote. Citing example after example from our efforts he kept making comments such as, "Where is the prophetic message? Everybody is against racism and sexism and all the other 'isms' you decried!"

Maybe not everybody...  But, he made his point, and all these years later I still think about that.

As I understand prophecy it's not so much simply predicting the future, but rather has more to do with seeing the world and its realities through the eyes of God, or through a heart that is in tune with God.  That is, "How does what is happening in the world line up with God's intentions for life, and what are the likely outcomes or consequences when there is a disconnect between the two?"  Identifying all of that, as I see it, gets into the realm of prophecy.

Ah, but there's the rub:  How do we know what God intends?  It's there in the Bible, you say?
I challenge you to listen to sermons or Bible exposition by a dozen or so preachers coming at the text from various theological slants and tell me about God's intentions.

It seems to me that one can judge authentic prophecy by how much it challenges the status quo.  If it's always "those people over there" who are offending God and likely to spend eternity screaming in burning agony while breathing in Sulphur fumes, then that's not prophecy.  If our outlook and actions are challenged, and we're called to higher regard for others, and to be more mindful of how what we say and do have detrimental effects on the lives of people near and far, then prophecy is coming our way.

After all, in biblical days (and even in our lifetime) prophets weren't given medals and parades.  They were put to death.

Prophecy, however, is not simply about negativity and rear end-kicking (although that may be an effective way to get our attention).

Prophecy, as stated earlier, points to God's intentions, and THAT is abundant life for all of God's Creation.  To me, that is a clear message of scripture.  God creates in love and desires for that love to fill every corner of life.  It's not for White middle-class and higher Americans only.  It's for everyone everywhere, only we have a tendency to mess that up as if there isn't enough of anything to go around.

So, problems abound.  Conflict and tension ignite non-stop bitterness and violence.  We have to get ours (and more, actually) at the expense of others.  Then we bemoan our troubles, we demonize "them," and happiness eludes us.

I used to know a guy who sensed he was on the wrong path with all of his acquisitions and claimed privileges.  He made a major life adjustment, taking on the challenges of living in service to others.  When I brought him in to talk to student groups during my days running a seminar program his ideas always generated the most thinking and discussion among the students.

His message was straight-forward and, I would say, prophetic:  "If you want to change the world, the first thing you need to do is change yourself."

I Think I'll Quit Watching The News...

Every day brings more head-shaking developments for those of us who believe that turning back the clock to "Make America Great Again" is not only counter-productive but disgraceful.  This isn't just about promoting one political party over the other.  This is about the future of freedom, democracy, and a strong, unified nation.  We are, after all, supposed to be the United States of America.

During the years I worked on Capitol Hill introducing groups of inquiring people to policy-makers, researchers, think-tankers, journalists, lobbyists and other advocates, and activists in my role directing the work of a seminar program I met scores of people representing various viewpoints. Some from opposing sides were compelling, some were clearly partisan, some were inspiring, and some were downright offensive, but that's who we are as a people.  And together we can "move the ball forward," as the phrase goes, each contributing his or her insights, wisdom, and experiences.  Together, we craft our shared life into something reflective of the vision of our Revolutionary Founders.

At least, that's how it's supposed to work, and how I believe the RF intended for it to work. Lately, though, it's not working, and it's getting worse all the time.

Here's a question to ponder:  What is the "greatness" of America that needs restoring?  Perhaps the underlying question relates to what "un-did" this "greatness."

To me, it's all about power and wealth.  Those who have them always fear losing them.  Those who don't have them, seek them.  This presents a clash that lately has taken on, let's say, "biblical" proportions.

As women, ethnic minorities and others who are not White, male, and heterosexual find their voices and make strides in the power/wealth struggle those at the top of the heap (mainly White male heterosexuals) do whatever they can to counteract, even tamp down those who begin to slip the shackles that hold them back from the abundant life intended by God for all of Creation. (Ah, now we're starting to get to the biblical proportions of our little exercise)

We live in times that include the fomenting of suspicion and fear of Muslims.  We live in times that include reactionary attempts to prevent certain immigrants from becoming part of our immigrant-based populace.  We live in times that include a "shoot first and take names later" mentality when it comes to African-Americans (or to call the police when African-Americans engage in common, ordinary activities. just because they're black).  We live in times that include efforts to take away women's ability to control their own bodies and health.  We live in times that include "Christians" discriminating against LGBTQ folks because their "lifestyle" violates the religious liberties of said "Christians." We live in times when guns, and campaign contributions from the NRA, are more precious than the lives of our fellow citizens and their children.  We live in times that include admiration for dictators and despots while giving the finger to our democracy-practicing allies.  You can fill in the rest.  It can get depressing to enumerate what we wake up to every day.

Today's example is Attorney General Jeff Sessions announcing the establishment of a "Religious Liberty Task Force."

Sessions, who already is in trouble with his own church, the United Methodists, stated that “we have gotten to the point where courts have held that morality cannot be a basis for law; where ministers are fearful to affirm, as they understand it, holy writ from the pulpit; and where one group can actively target religious groups by labeling them a ‘hate group’ on the basis of their sincerely held religious beliefs”

Sessions claimed all religions would be protected against discrimination.  He also quoted The Boss, who said, "We'll be saying 'Merry Christmas' again."  Personally, I have no confidence that this Task Force will be a positive, life-affirming endeavor.

I take issue with Sessions' claim that "ministers are fearful to affirm, as they understand it, holy writ from the pulpit."  First of all, if the "ministers" to whom he refers preach a message of oppressing those who are different, they DO NOT understand "holy writ."  And certainly, there are far too many ignoramus preachers seeking a wider following by showing how much judgment and wrath they can heap on people seen as "less than" in various ways.

"Hate group" is a valid description of such groups headed by those with these "sincerely held religious beliefs."  I have no doubt as to the sincerity of these beliefs.  Unfortunately, the only underpinnings they have are those related to self-service and power-seeking.  The Bible constantly is twisted to justify one's prejudices.

There is nothing wrong with wishing someone "Happy Holidays," especially if you do or do not know whether that person celebrates differently from you.  And, no one is stopping anyone from saying, "Merry Christmas."  The only inhibitor to that is respect for the dignity of another person's traditions.  If the Task Force seeks to codify "Merry Christmas," it defeats its own stated goals.

Why do we put up with all of this?

I wrote to my senators and representative expressing my disgust with the direction of our nation, but, of the two who responded, one simply disagreed and the other sent a letter about something else entirely.  No surprise here, given who these guys are, but I didn't want to not be on record about what I see as a destructive manipulation of our common future.

Maybe some want to go back to "the good old days."  Life was simpler.  There weren't so many complications.  It was Great!

Unless you weren't White, male, "Christian," heterosexual, observed diverse traditions, or otherwise were excluded from the dominant culture.

Two Baptists, Two Revelations

Once in an Elders meeting at a church of which I was the pastor we went through the usual sleep-inducing agenda, avoiding real spiritual matters, as usual, when at the end of the meeting one of the married couples in the group pulled out a flyer.  It promoted an event of some sort that was geared toward homophobes.

The saintly wife of the couple declared, "I don't know what to say to gay people."

The unspoken response in my head was, "How about extending a friendly hand and saying, 'Hello, my name is (Mrs. Ethno Centric).  Welcome to our church!'"  But, since I didn't think she could handle that, I did not say it aloud.

She and her husband went on to display the flyer and suggested we promote the event among our church membership.

No longer was silence an option for me.  I pointed out the rogues gallery of white males pictured on the flyer:  Newt Gingrich, Donald Wildmon, James Dobson, and others, and said something to the effect, "These guys are all homophobic, so what are they going to do?  Tell us how evil gay people are?"

"Well, I, uh..."

I continued.  "You know, these guys and much of the Religious Right basically are aligned with the Republican Party.  They spout views and opinions that are reflective of the party, which is predominantly anti-gay.  And there is nothing inherently Christian about them."

"I didn't know that," Mrs. Centric replied.

The other elders elected, as usual, not to share any thoughts, and the meeting soon came to a conclusion.  It wasn't too long afterwards that the Centrics withdrew from the church.  My being OK with that wasn't quite in line with The Purpose Of The Church (that is, "Get all the members you can so we can pay the bills and keep the doors open."), but then, there were numerous aspects of the church that I found it difficult to abide.

The Ethno Centrics, I later was told, began attending First Baptist Church.  I'm sure they were much more at ease there.

Anyway, this all came to mind when I read there was a recent Non-Meeting of the Minds between two prominent Baptists:  Jimmy Carter and Franklin Graham.

In an interview, Jimmy Carter concluded a few remarks by suggesting that Jesus would approve of gay marriage.  Franklin Graham, it turned out, begged to differ.  In fact, he went so far as to say that not only would there be no Holy Approval of such an abomination, but God wants to kill Gays.

Now, whatever one thinks of gay marriage (and I personally favor it), it seems to me that Graham went too far in his assertion.  To be clear, whether he intended it or not (you decide!), Graham was granting permission, even giving incentive, for violence against gay people.

Jesus, whom both of these Baptists likely would agree is the Son of God, spent an awful lot of time tending to those considered "unclean" according to the dictates of his own faith tradition:  the sick, women having their periods, women in general, adulterers, even dead people.  He is nowhere quoted in the Bible, nor do any of his reported actions suggest, that he was anti-gay.  In fact, it is entirely a non-issue.

Graham quoted some texts used to promote homophobia among "true believers," but his interpretation not only is questionable, but seems to me to contradict the nature of God that comes across as a general trend throughout the whole of scripture.  Plus, he appears to be silent on a lot of other "sins" that might cause some of his Republican buddies to sweat.

I can see how Graham's stated views would make him popular among a particular political base, and I can understand that his proclamations (not only anti-gay, but anti-liberal and anti-Democrat) would lead to a bump in donations to his "ministry."  But perhaps an intervention or even institutionalization would be more appropriate for someone so dedicated to hate and violence while claiming the name of Christ.

And really, one of the first things that popped into my head when I initially read about all of this was that the only people Jesus seemed to have serious disagreements with were officious, hypocritical, self-serving religious "leaders."

Although, he is not quoted as suggesting they should be put to death.

Knees and Fists: Hope Dies Last

The following was inspired by an interview with Malcolm Jenkins that appeared in the May issue of The Atlantic.  Jenkins plays football for the Philadelphia Eagles, and while he hasn't taken a knee during the National Anthem prior to his games, he and other Eagles players have raised their fists.

Players who kneel or raise fists have been characterized as "unpatriotic" and worse by many football fans and observers who do not understand the nature of their protest, or who are threatened by minority voices questioning and challenging the injustices of our society.

Malcolm Jenkins and many other NFL players do not simply protest injustice.  They are raising money and working to address the divisions and inequalities in American society.  Jenkins has started a foundation for such matters and has recruited numerous other players, black and white, and solicited funds, even from the NFL itself.

If you have not seen the May issue of The Atlantic, it is a simple matter to look up Malcolm Jenkins and his foundation online to learn what really is behind the NFL anthem protests and what those protesting are doing in response.

Thoughtlessly criticizing, caricaturing, name-calling, belittling, and condemning people who actively seek a better, more just society is a long-standing American practice.  Thank goodness for Malcolm Jenkins, his cohorts, those who have risked much in the past, and those who will risk in the future that all people may be treated as though they really were "created equal."

Here is what I wrote:

KNEES AND FISTS:  HOPE DIES LAST                                 

All of our nation’s excesses on display

For three hours on Sunday afternoon:

Militaristic glory;

Suffocating Consumerism;

The hunger for Violence;

We’re Good, You’re Evil;

The Vicarious Thrill of Beating, Humiliating, and Ridiculing The Other.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, please rise, remove your hats and direct your attention to the 50-yard line and join the great

Country and Western vocal star

As we Honor America by singing our National Anthem!”

But taking a knee as our Civil Religion is practiced

Before millions In the National Television audience?

Raising a fist as we roll out our Icons

For misty-eyed and lumpy-throated worship?

That’s Blasphemy!  That’s Unpatriotic!  That’s Ungrateful! That’s Un-American!

Knees were taken in Southern cities five decades ago as dogs, fire hoses

And hatred bore down.

Fists were raised as Olympic gold was awarded in Mexico City in 1968

As disproportionate ranks of Blacks and other expendables

Fought and died in Vietnam. 

Knees are taken and fists are raised today as Injustice still plagues these United States, As our prisons overflow (don’t worry, we can always build more!),

As those who are sworn to enforce emphasize the Force (deadly, though it is).

Knees are taken and fists are raised

In the Hope that the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave

One day

Will live up to its self-assured and self-proclaimed Identity and Promise.

Hope drives, motivates, comforts, inspires, emboldens. 

Hope, as it is said, “Dies Last.”

But like the glaciers and rivers

That carved Majesty into our landscape, Hope plods and drags,

Tapping the fearful and the paranoid on their shoulders

Rather than slapping their faces.

Those who embrace it wait,

Often suffer,

Find themselves vilified,

And disappear before its fulfillment.

But it moves. 

Hope moves. 

Hope carves. 

Hope transforms.

Although not usually on Sunday afternoon

During those three hours

When our Nation’s Excesses

All are on display.

Enough is enough!

Here is the message I sent to my U.S. Senators and Member of the House of Representatives.  What message did you send?

In the first six weeks of 2018 there have been 18 school shootings.  That’s three per week.  There is no reason anyone needs an assault rifle or smoke grenades or any of the other weapons used in these attacks.

Trading innocent lives for campaign contributions from the NRA is unconscionable.  It is decades past time to stand up to the NRA and the paranoia it foments.

Hunters do not need assault rifles.  The government is not coming to take away peoples’ guns.  The NRA and its interests threaten and destroy the lives of the citizens you supposedly represent.

Enough is enough.  You sought the power to influence the direction of our country.  Use it now to do something good and relegate the NRA to the scrap heap of history.