Politics shape societies, and faith impacts politics. You cannot separate the two. The Roman government saw Jesus’ movement as a threat to the "Pax Romana" or the political order of the day. Jesus' message of peace through an alternative means to military might and his focus on the rights of the poor threatened a system that controlled the empire by military force and had a clearly defined social pecking order that oppressed the poor, accepted slavery as the norm and persecuted the alien. The title of "Lord" that he encouraged among his disciples was a title of authority reserved for a political appointee like a judge or ultimately reserved for the office of Caesar, who represented the supreme-highest authority. His affirmation that he was in fact the King of the Jews to the Roman official Pilate placed him in the perceived position of a rebel leader (like the Maccabees of an earlier time who led a revolt and gained Jewish freedom from Rome for a brief period). Jesus' statement that "his kingdom was not of this world" did not mean that it didn't have political consequence but that it was based in radically different values.

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The Church, from its inception, has been committed to political activism. The Apostle Paul made the radical declaration that in Christ there is neither male nor female, Greek nor Jew, slave nor freeperson. You can imagine how divisive this revolutionary thinking would have been to both the political and religious communities. The church was not a safe place to be because of the upside-down political and religious positions that it was aggressively putting forth. Jim Wallis points out in his book, The Great Awakening, "Revivals often occur when politics is broken, when it fails to address the most significant moral issues of the day. Social movements then rise up to change politics, and the best movements usually have spiritual foundations." The second great awakening occurred in the early 1800's. Charles Finney was one of the primary leaders of the day who was one of the first to use altar calls in his revivals. Coming to the altar meant that one was making a commitment to Jesus as well as joining the cause for the abolition of slavery—a clear emphasis that you cannot separate spiritual conversion from social reform. Finney went on to become President of Oberlin College in Ohio, one of the first colleges to grant Bachelor degrees to women and African Americans. William Wilberforce, Dorothy Day of the Catholic Worker Movement, Mother Teresa’s politicking for the right of the unborn, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Martin Luther King, the list of political activists runs like a river through the course of Christian history.

Was it political...yes...divisive...always...but right...eternally! We can't follow Jesus and stay in safe comfortable places. I will continue to be a political activist, a voice of influence for those whose voice goes unheard!

God bless...

 

There have been many nasty emails and letters circulating this week blatantly condemning Jeremiah Wright. Biblical prophets were condemned for their harsh words. The prophet Jeremiah of Old Testament fame spoke these words against Israel: "In this place I will ruin the plans of Judah and Jerusalem. I will make them fall by the sword before their enemies, at the hands of those who seek their lives, and I will give their carcasses as food to the birds and the wild animals" (Jeremiah 19:7). Those are pretty harsh words; you can understand why he was imprisoned as a traitor. I have been a supporter of Dr. Wright's but do not feel that he helped himself Monday at the National Press Club. A prophet must not only speak God's words of judgment on a nation but also speak the words of God's redemptive healing hope. While some of the clips from his sermons were taken completely out of context (see clip of Bill Moyers' interview  with Dr. Wright), his statements on Monday seemed tinged with arrogance, lacked compassion and offered no redemptive solutions. I agree with Dr. Wright that racism is still very much alive and well in America, but it is time to move beyond name-calling and finger pointing and work together finding redemptive, bridge-building solutions.

Mike and Jeannette Bowie met with me in my office yesterday afternoon. We shared tears and prayer. Mike had just come from his weekly session of therapy and was informed that his recovery process would take much longer than we all initially anticipated. Mike is taking a leave of absence from pastoral ministry in the United Methodist Church. The Bowies will return to Houston in early June, where Michael will continue his therapy, and Jeanette will pursue a career in education. Mike and I have become quite close and share a great passion for the LOVING DAYTON project and our new work at the Fort McKinley campus. Needless to say, Pastor Bowie is immensely disappointed but trusts the redemptive purpose and wisdom of God throughout this journey. Mike continues to be part of the Ginghamsburg staff until Annual Conference, which begins on June 9. He hopes to speak to the Ginghamsburg family the first weekend in June. We will keep you updated on a recognition celebration.

Praying together with you...

Pope Benedict XVI just concluded his trip to the U.S. with a Mass for 57,000 faithful in Yankee Stadium on Sunday. On multiple occasions he addressed the failure of the church to deal properly with priests who committed sexual abuse crimes against children. He even met with and apologized to victims. The Pope visited a Jewish Synagogue on Friday evening and spoke often about God’s priorities relating to the poor and the active pursuit of peace over armed force. I am one who has respect for the Roman Catholic Church. You cannot deny the fruits of the Holy Spirit being demonstrated in many of the Catholic faithful. From Mother Teresa to Bono, the work of Jesus is being demonstrated through sacrificial compassionate service. Anne Rice lost her faith in a secular college and became famous as the author of Interview with the Vampire. She has since found a relationship with Jesus, influenced by the Catholic Church. Her latest book is Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt. Quite a change from the days of the vampire! The Catholic Church has fought against the abuse of human rights in South and Central Americas and was the primary force that worked to defeat atheistic communism in the former Soviet block as an influence from within (the resistance movement that came through the church in Poland). The Catholic Church stands strongly for the sanctity of all human life. It is the loudest voice for the rights of the unborn.

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Some of you might have seen Faith In Public Life's The Compassion Forum broadcast from Messiah College by CNN this past Sunday evening. Senators Obama and Clinton shared their views on their personal faith. John McCain was invited but declined. Both were articulate and affirmed their commitments as "dedicated Christians."  They gave examples of how faith has impacted their lives and leads them through hard life situations. I have confidence in their faith journeys and agree with many of their positions.

However, there remains one major sticking issue for many of us who struggle with abortion as a contradiction to biblical faith. I know that some of you faithful followers of Jesus do not agree with me, and your anger level is rising as you read this. I listen respectfully and will continue to do so as you share your perspective. Please also listen to those of us who believe all human life is sacred at any stage. For this reason, I am against capital punishment and feel that military power cannot win the war on terror. (Now I am beginning to raise the ire of another group of Jesus followers). Abortion becomes even more of a terrifying topic when some begin to talk about late term and partial birth abortion, when sustaining life is possible.

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