Awful Silence

Thomas Merton, when writing about war, nuclear arms, and violence in the 1960’s, was disturbed by the “awful silence and apathy on the part of Catholics, clergy, hierarchy, and lay people.” (Merton, Man of Dialogue. Hillis. Pg. 166). I am disturbed by the awful silence and apathy on the part of Christians, clergy, hierarchy, and lay people regarding the serious issues affecting our world. I refer to issues such as violence; gun control; environmental destruction; abortion, the disparity between the wealthy and poor, individuals as well as nations; lack of adequate and affordable access to health care; treatment of women; treatment of same sex individuals and couples and the list of issues continues as evidenced by the news headlines. We are in a dysfunctional system. The system is working well for many, but not so well for others. The one’s for whom it is working have the authority, power, and ability to stay separated and unconcerned to keep it working for them. This is Machiavellian politics, which is get power and then, do anything to stay in power. I do not think this is good politics; it is certainly not Christian. Christian means being a follower of Jesus. The question is an old question that we seem to have ceased asking, “What would Jesus do?” Jesus’ Kingdom of God is not a dysfunctional system. It functions for all, especially the least of those among us (Matthew 25). We talk about being Christians and having a Christian nation, but as I tell my therapy clients, “Read the behavior and you will learn the truth.”

Walk Beside as Equals and Not Behind

Recently I observed a couple walking together except the wife (I assumed she was the wife) was walking behind. I thought that is a “picture” of Southern Baptists. Women are to walk behind the men. There is a significant lack of equality, and the Bible is used to teach and support such an idea, thought or theology. Often the scriptures that are used are from Paul’s letters. Paul’s letters were written to specific congregations, most of whom had unique or specific issues with which they were dealing. I am not convinced that we are to make Paul’s letters to be universal applications for all congregations. I would rather take Jesus’ teachings as my universal teachings. Jesus said to treat others as you want to be treated. God gave the message of Jesus’ resurrection to three women and told them to go tell the men. God also gave them instructions to tell the men where they would find Jesus. God’s trusting those women with the significant message of the resurrection settles the issue for me. Women are not to be treated as second class Christians. If God calls a woman to a leadership position, even an Ordained position in the Church, then let us not get in God’s way.

I Am Their Leader, Which Way Did They Go?

Quietism is the name given to a set of beliefs that rose in popularity in France, Italy, and Spain during the late 1670s and 1680s, particularly associated with the writings of the Spanish mystic Miguel de Molinos, Madame Guyon, and which were condemned as heresy in 1687. It is the belief and practice that there is not a lot that I need to do to help bring God’s Kingdom to earth except to pray. Quietism does not ask much of me. I hear Quietism often in the counseling room and in Churches, although I am sure they have never heard of Quietism. The clients and Churches say that they are praying and waiting on God to act. I have nothing against praying and waiting on God because I fear too often, we run ahead of God. I do, however, recall that in many of Jesus’ miracles, he asked the recipients or friends to do something first. He asked the servants to fill the water pots at the wedding in Cana of Galilee. He put mud in the blind man’s eyes and told him to wash. Elisha told Naaman to dunk himself in the Jordan River if he would be clean of his leprosy. I believe God usually asks us to do something in addition to praying and waiting. I think the scriptures teach us that we are in a mutual relationship with God. I agree with those who say that God’s hands and feet are our hands and feet. I do my part and God does God’s part. I believe that the Churches and political leaders must do their parts. The political leaders must be talking and acting toward legislation that deals with the contemporary issue. The Churches must be talking about the issues of today. Surely the Bible has something to say about how we deal with each other and our issues. I fear that many Churches and Pulpits have lost their voices; they are quiet. I suspect they may have lost their voice because they are fearful of upsetting some members. I have a friend who had a baseball cap with two bills facing different directions and the writing on the ballcap said, "I am their leader; which way did they go?" I think many of our Political and Church leaders are wearing that ballcap.

Let's Have Strict Gun Controls

When I was in grade school, my dad purchased a BB rifle for me. He had me shoot at bottles in the back yard when he was beside me. As I grew older, he purchased a single shot 22 rifle for me, and we would go rabbit and squirrel hunting. Since the rabbits and squirrels, were safe from me and my single shot 22 rifle, I asked Dad for either a 410 shotgun or a rifle that would shoot more than one bullet at a time. Dad said, “No” that any sportsman had to give the animals a fair chance. I understand the desire for a sportsman type of rifle, although I have long ago given away my guns. I do not understand the desire or need for a military type of weapon. Those type of guns are designed for the purpose of killing people. I am an advocate for strict gun control. Those military type weapons do not belong in the hands and/or homes of citizens. They need to be restricted to the military and law enforcement personnel. It is guns that kill people. Gun advocates say it is the mentally ill who kill people. However, if a mentally ill person cannot get a gun, he/she is not going to kill people, such as entering a grade school and killing children and teachers. It is past time for our leaders to stand up and enact strict gun controls.

The Southern Baptists are in Trouble

The Southern Baptist Convention is in trouble. They have denied, avoided and hidden sexual abuse by some Baptist clergy and Conventional leaders. It is now becoming known. I urge you to read Russell Moore’s article in Christianity Today. It is insightful. As a former, and recovering, Southern Baptist this grieves me. It grieves me for all the innocent and committed Southern Baptists who will now suffer the consequences of their leaders. It also grieves and angers me because of all who will now choose to stay away from Churches; not just Southern Baptist but all Churches. It angers me because Baptists, like the Catholic Church, in that the leadership chose to cover up their sex abuse scandals. The Apostle John opens his Gospel by stating of Jesus, “In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not (and will not, {Rick’s italics}) overcome it.” (JOHN 1:4-5, RSV). I identify myself as a Jesus-follower, rather than as a member of a specific denomination. Sometimes I even feel uncomfortable with the label of Christian because many who call themselves Christians are not Jesus followers.

Values

My primary values are derived from being a Jesus follower. If there is an issue I ask, “What did Jesus say about the issue?” If Jesus said nothing, then I believe the answer is to follow Jesus’ principal and I believe Jesus’ foundational principal is to love your neighbor as yourself. As a Jesus follower, I do not put the Old Testament writings nor Paul, Peter, John and/or James’s writings on the same level of significance as Jesus. So, “What did Jesus say?” is my standard. He said a great deal about poverty and sharing wealth; caring for the sick and imprisoned; caring for widows and children, especially those without adequate homes and food. I wish our leaders (both government and Church leaders) as well as citizenship would spend more of their energy and decisions about how to create affordable and universal health care; how to release from jails and prisons those who have minor infractions. I also wish our leaders were arguing about the need to build affordable housing and eliminate food deserts in our cities. Jesus was also concerned about the “stranger,” the refugee and immigrants because as a child he was a refugee. Jesus did not say anything about many of the contemporary issues that seem to take so much time and energy from our government and Church leaders. I often wonder if the present debates might not be a diversion so that we would not have to deal with the issues that Jesus said was important?

My "Politics"

It is time for a primary election in Lexington, Kentucky. I am not fond of political ads because I do not believe most of their marketing. If a candidate’s advertising turns negative about their opponent, then I vote for the opponent. If more of us would do that, negative adds would cease. My politics are simple. My generations have all been Democrats. In this day and time, I would be labeled as a liberal democrat. My generations would not have liked that “liberal” label but, they would be pleased that I am registered as a Democrat. I am also a fiscal conservative. They would have liked that. Nevertheless, I hope I am generous. I also inherited the philosophy that there are to be no “professional politicians.” So, if someone has been elected and served their elected time, then I do not vote for them; no “if’s” or “but’s.” Once a candidate has served his or her time in office, they need to go back home and make a living like the rest of us (my grandfather would say “an honest living.”) My politics are simple.