Tag Archives: power

Searching for Messiah

05 Monday Jun 2017

Posted by in Politics, Theology

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I don’t think it’s too much of a stretch to make the statement that it appears that our society is in search of a messiah figure.  Too often that ends up being a search in the political realm of life – a search for a political and/or partisan messiah who will save the nation/party/etc.

I also don’t think that this is anything new.  We’ve actually been doing this for some time.  I remember when Obama got elected and all the adulation for him, with some going so far as to call him a messiah.

But this isn’t even an American sin.  Go back through history, the search for messiah and the foisting it on a human is ancient.  Emperors of old were considered gods sent to save their people.  But only their people. Everyone else is an outsider and doesn’t deserve saving supposedly.  And of course, that person died and then the search for a new messiah began.  It’s the story of human history.  And yet we think this time it will be different.

Maybe part of the reason we do this is because we don’t want to recognize that the Messiah looks far different from what we want.

The Messiah who saves us isn’t interested in nationalism or America first.  Just like the Messiah wasn’t interested in Israel first or any other nation first.  The Messiah didn’t come to save just a select few people – the Messiah came to save all of creation.

The Messiah who saves isn’t interested in advancing a political party in the 21st century.  At some point, all of these political parties and entities will die off and be replaced with some other sin-filled party or entity.  The Messiah isn’t interested in seizing and holding onto power, something that political parties and politicians live for.

Instead, Messiah has a different agenda.  It’s an agenda that calls us into a new relationship – a changed relationship.  A new relationship with one another, with God, with creation, with ourselves.

So often we want change, but we want those “other” people to change to be just like us. We love hearing the Gospel, but we think that a call for repentance is a call for other people to radically reorient, not us.  However, Messiah invites us to change as well.  How can anything else change is it doesn’t start by changing us, changing our hearts and minds, and then changing what we do and how we do it.

We don’t start this change, God does.  We do however have the ability to respond.  We have been given that by the Spirit who guides us to a new life and new relationships.  How will we respond – with fear? by setting aside God in favor of a god we choose who will be more concerned with power and separation?  Will we hear God’s call and follow, or will we decide that we think we know a better way – a failed way, a way that has been tried through most of human history?

I pray that this generation responds differently.  I pray that I have the courage to respond when God calls me to ways that the world thinks are insane – to respond with love, mercy, forgiveness, and peace.  That is the way of Messiah.

 

God in the movies

20 Thursday Apr 2017

Posted by in Society, Theology

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So recently I’ve watch a couple of movies that involve angels – you know messengers of God.  The first movie was called “Gabriel.”  Take a wild guess about which angel this is about.  The movie is described as a mix between Western and the Matrix.  Which is pretty accurate.  The other movie was called “Legion.” it’s like the end times meet zombie movie.

I’ll spare you the details of both of these movies and tell you that both movies had really bad theology.  Let’s just put it this way – when you movie makes Michael the archangel into a fallen angel or disobeying God’s command, where you get the theology around Purgatory wrong, and where God is so ticked off at humanity that God decides to use angels to destroy humanity, you’ve got some bad theology going on.

Regardless, the benefit of watching these movies is to see how God is popularly displayed for entertainment purposes.

The message that is put out is that God is angry and ready to kick butt and take names.

The message is that the forces of good will use evil means, as if those means were the only option available.

The message is that might makes right.

These of course are the messages that our culture and world live by and have for most of human history.

Last week was Holy Week, which is a big contrast with these messages.  Holy Week shows us Jesus who carries a different message.  A message of Good News, even if the message is often misunderstood or ignored.  That doesn’t matter, Jesus kept on spreading the message anyway.

It’s a message that Jesus didn’t conquer through force, but rather love – self-emptying love.  To the point of death.

Evil uses force in order to get its way.  It has to.  But here’s the thing, in the end, it is that very same use of force that destroys evil.  It is self-destructive.

Love on the other hand is different.  It’s expansive.  Which is exactly what God is.

But I don’t expect there to be a movie that focuses on God’s love.  It wouldn’t fit into a popular movie theme.  There wouldn’t be a good guy and bad guy.  There wouldn’t be fallen angels.  There wouldn’t be the use of force to win.

But that’s ok because God’s love isn’t made for a movie.  It’s made for life.  For us to experience it and for us to live it out and share it with others.

Why do we fight?

24 Tuesday Jan 2017

Posted by in Church, Humanity, Society, Theology

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I’m not asking what we fight about, but rather why humanity fights.

Fighting comes in all sorts of forms and it seems to be a constant throughout human history.  We fight over politics and have since, well, forever.  Maybe it’s because politics deals with power – who’s got it, who wants it, and what those in power do with it.  In the grand scheme of things, I wonder why we fight though?  Why this way to resolve things?

By fighting, I don’t mean physical fighting.  There’s been plenty of that over the years too.  No, I’m talking about verbal fights – fights done through rhetorical means that range from debate to dehumanizing.

Here in the US we have two dominant political ideologies (with many sub-ideologies) that are in a constant state of fighting over any given issue.  You can almost guarantee that regardless of the issue, the two sides will take opposing stances and have the rhetoric to back up the argument.  Yet, generally, both sides will make the claim of being Christian.  All too often though, it seems as though being Christian is just another label and tool to be used.

Given the label of Christian, one would rightly expect there be a certain way of communicating with others.  Yet, often, these same “Christians” are locked in continual fighting, name calling, and disrespect of either the person or ideas they hold.  And this seems true no matter the side that uses the “Christian” label.

It makes me think so often that the only way this makes sense is by focusing on the issue at hand, rather than the individuals involved.  When we focus on stuff, or ideas, or materials, or issues, they are abstract and impersonal.  So often we fight in ways that we would never do if we attached people’s names and faces to the argument.  Somehow it becomes acceptable when we are talking about issues and abstract ideas or policies.

So why do we fight?  In politics there is a rule that you can count on – might makes right.  Too often in politics, we fight because we believe a few things.  We believe that the issue matters.  We fight for our ideas because we believe we are right.  We fight because we believe that others need to be corrected.  We fight because losing will mean significant changes.  These all seem to be valid reasons in many instances.

Yet I can’t help but wonder about the way we fight for what we believe in.  Are there other ways to fight for what we believe in, but do it in a “Christian” way?  Does being a Christian and actually following what Christianity teaches about conflict mean that we fight differently?  Would it mean we stop fighting?  I don’t think so, but I do think it changes the way to fight.

I wonder if there are misperceptions about what Christianity teaches about fighting.  I wonder if we say we are following Christianity it is seen by the world as being weak.  Would those who don’t care about Christian beliefs crush those who do follow Christian teachings?

Are Christians willing to take the risk?  Maybe there are misperceptions among Christians too.  Do Christians think that their faith teaches them to let down their guard and be a punching bag?

Or does fighting in a Christian way mean something different?  Does it mean that there is a focus on the relationship rather than the ideas presented?  There is an idea that we talk about here at the seminary that sin is not about the actions so much as it is about the broken relationship we have with God, with others, with ourselves, and with rest of creation.

Important Christian ideas that pop up from this are forgiveness, mercy, grace, and peace.  These all relate to a reconciled relationship with God, others, ourselves, and the rest of creation.

So what does this look like, especially when it comes to the things we fight for and about?  Will we be the first to take the step towards the one we are fighting with instead of waiting for them to do it?  Will we offer forgiveness and ask for forgiveness?  Will we be a peacemaker?  Will we stop determining what we are to say next and start to listen – really listen to what the other person is saying and what their real need is.

In all of this, the point is not about coming to an agreement on any issue.  It’s not about focusing on who is right and who is wrong.  It’s about forging a path forward for both people – and that might be divergent paths too, but paths developed in respect, even if there is disagreement.

Too often we think there is too much at stake to be the first to step toward someone, to listen, to understand, to forgive and ask for forgiveness.  Yet, if we claim the banner of Christianity without following Christ’s call to take up our cross and follow him, to love our neighbor, to be reconciled – are we really Christians at all?  Or are we just too comfortable with the label to realize that it’s more than just a label?

Why do we fight? Why do we fight the way we fight?

There are other ways than fighting the way the world thinks is acceptable.  It’s risky to actually live out Christianity.  Yet, even here, maybe especially when it comes to fighting, Christ’s way offers us something different than the world.  Where the world offers us the spoils of victory if we are the strongest or win the fight, Christianity offers us reconciliation, a future, hope, forgiveness – in a word, life.

 

Polititudes

10 Tuesday Jan 2017

Posted by in Church, Politics

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Politi…what?

At this point, you are either saying “oh yeah, of course.  Polititudes.  Anybody with half a brain would know what they are.”  Or your are saying “he’s off his rocker.”

Polititudes – it’s a term I coined recently for a sermon I did.  You can read the sermon here.  The Gospel reading for that Sunday was the Beatitudes.  These are sayings attributed to Jesus that have the effect of turning the world-right-side-up – the way things are supposed to be.  You know them…”Blessed are the…” They are short, sweet, and to the point.  And also extremely difficult for this world to follow.

So I crafted the polititudes in contrast.  These are short, anything but sweet, sayings that Jesus would have never said…ever.  Yet, they are things that the world of partisanship hold to tightly.  So think of them this way – what if Jesus were a die-hard, drink the cool-aid, US Democrat or Republican?  These would be the things he would be saying, and the blind loyalists would be quoting him.  They deal with politics – more specifically, partisan politics and the lust for power over others, propping up party over anything else, and most importantly – beating the other side.  Because you know Jesus was all about “us” vs. “them” don’t you?

Here’s a sample of a few of the more popular polititudes:

Of course, it’s not just politics where the lust for power rears its head.  It can happen in church too.  Which makes some sense – church is an organization, with structure, and eventually some churches turn inward and are more concerned with survival of the status quo than they are with carrying out the mission of the church.  But I went down this road because I thought it would be more fun – bringing light to the ridiculous thoughts of party over God.

At any rate, I’m posting a polititude a day on a twitter account I started recently.  You can find my polititudes here:  https://twitter.com/ThePolititudes.  Or follow my twitter handle – @ThePolititudes.

But be warned.  If you’re loyalty to political party is a part of your identity, then you aren’t going to like these.  In fact, you might hate them.  You might have some choice words for me too.  Good.  My point in doing this is to show that as Christians, our first and primary loyalty is to God, not political party.  The polititudes are things that Jesus would have never said…ever.  Too often it seems as though some people, even some within the church, have their loyalties confused or mixed.  Politics and partisanship become the center of their universe.  That’s called an idol.

Enjoy them, Retweet them, hate them, ignore them.  You pick.  You’re smart people.  But let me offer this – if you don’t like this, or really hate this – before you respond, ask yourself this question:  why?  Why does a twitter account with made up sayings of Jesus about politics and partisanship bother you so much that you feel the need to respond (in anger or otherwise)?  Do you feel threatened?  Attacked?  What?  Then, when you’ve done some self-examination, feel free to respond if you like.  If you throw anger at me, don’t be surprised if I offer a prayer for you in response instead of engage with your raw emotion.  Blessings!

What I preached the Sunday before the election

06 Sunday Nov 2016

Posted by in Politics, Sermon Prep, Theology

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How are you feeling just days before the election?  When I asked people this question, I received a variety of answers – uncertain, disgusted, uneasy.  When I asked if anyone felt fear, most hands raised up.  Some discussion ensued.  The truth is this election is based on fear, and we are called to name that.

I have a long, long, long history in politics. You name it, I’ve done it.  I say that not to impress you – it’s merely a statement of fact.  Good or bad, I don’t know, but I do know that it has given me some insight into what politics is about.  What I’ve learned is that politics is about power – the obtaining of power, the keeping of power, and the using of power.  And politics uses fear as a way of doing this.

This year we are presented with two very different messages.  No I’m not talking about the messages of the Republican and Democrat parties, their candidates, or their platforms.  No, instead, I’m talking about a different set of visions and platforms.  There is the message of the candidates, the parties, their rhetoric and platforms, and in opposition to this is Jesus with his platform representing the Kingdom of Heaven.

You see, humanity has been at this for a long time – dividing people, using fear, thirsting and lusting after power.  This isn’t the first election which uses fear and is about power.  Politics and politicians have been using power and fear for a long time.  Their message is that you should put all of your salvation, and hope, and trust in the person in power. They are the one who will save you. They are the one who will provide you peace.

This isn’t new.  When Jesus walked the earth, it was the same message.  The Roman empire was based on fear and power.  Caesar was the messiah, the one who would save the empire.  He did this through fear and power.  The Romans worshiped Mars and Nike.  Mars was the god of war.  Nike was the god of victory.  Peace was a destination that came because Caesar defeated the empire’s enemies and destroyed them.  All hail Caesar!  No wonder they treated him like a god.

Today we hear a similar message.  I took the liberty of rewriting the Beatitudes from today’s Gospel (Matthew 5:1-12).  I rewrote them as a way that politicians proclaim an alternative gospel.  I’m calling them the Politudes.  I made that term up.  Here’s what the Politudes proclaim:

When the Politician saw the crowds, the politician went up to the podium; and the followers of the politician came to listen.  Then the politician began to lay out their political platform and policy ideas, saying:

Blessed are the proud in spirit, for theirs is an elected office.

Blessed are those who make others mourns, for they will make other nations fear us.

Blessed are the greedy, for they will take from others and call it an inheritance.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for power, for they will take it any way they can.

Blessed are the merciless, for they will receive power.

Blessed are the cold of heart, for they will think they are God.

Blessed are the warmongers, for they will be called children of Mars.

Blessed are those who persecute for ideological purity’s sake, for theirs is the campaign of being right.

Blessed are you when you revile and divide people and utter all kinds of evil against your opponents.  Rejoice and be glad, for your political appointment will be great, for in the same way your political predecessors divided many of their countrymen before you.

But Jesus presents a different message, a different vision, a different hope.  He doesn’t look at the political systems we live with and argue over which party should be in power over the other because of this policy or that policy.  He looks at it and points out the truth of how screwed up we are with our systems of government and rules and uses of power – those systems and individuals that hold different values from the Kingdom of God.

Jesus isn’t interested in the fate of the Republic or the empire for that matter.  He’s interested in implementing a completely different way of governing and living.  It’s the Kingdom of God that Jesus preaches.  And he has a different platform.  It could be summarized in the Beatitudes:

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

3 ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 ‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

5 ‘Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

6 ‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

7 ‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

8 ‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

9 ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

10 ‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 ‘Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

These are a different set of values.  These are a different set of ideals.  These are a different way of looking and living life.  Jesus turns the whole system of governing right side up.

When you look at the Beatitudes they are about relationships – a right relationship with God and with others.  They are salvation through the reconciling work of God – reconciling broken relationship.  It’s not about grabbing power and creating us vs. them scenarios.  It’s not a message based on fear.  It’s not a message that says look to the capitol and elected leaders for your salvation.  It is far different.  Our salvation doesn’t reside in some politician.  Our salvation is in Jesus and what God is actively doing for us today.  His is the message of true hope.  His is a true vision where peace and mercy aren’t just some unreachable destination that is promised, but where peace and mercy are the way of living.  He is the true Messiah who saves his people by conquering through love, mercy, grace, and peace.

I don’t know what will happen on Tuesday.  I do know this much.  Regardless of the result, Jesus is our salvation.  Jesus is our hope.  Jesus lays out a vision for God’s people.  God has voted and has selected each one of us.  And Jesus calls on us to not just swear allegiance to the Kingdom of God, but to live out what the kingdom is all about.  And for that we can be thankful.  Amen.

We’re still waving palms at the gate

09 Thursday Jun 2016

Posted by in Humanity, Politics, Society, Theology

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Can we stop putting our hope of salvation in a human politician, authoritarian figure or a general now?  I look through history and pretty much what I see is a record of near constant death, war, destruction and failure.  But hey, maybe we’ve just tried the wrong person, right?

Are we really any different than the people waving palms at Jesus at the gate of Jerusalem?  They wanted a savior on their terms.  And what were their terms?  A military hero who would ride in on a white horse to kill the occupiers and those who would rule them, those who were a threat to their way of living, those who believed differently.  All so that this type of savior could set up a kingdom that would enslave and kill the oppressors – ie become that which the people hated, only they’d be the one in power and in control.

We haven’t changed in 2000 years.  If we are honest with ourselves, we still want this.  We want out leader to be the strongest, the one who will make the military strong and make the nation great.  We want a leader who will put our enemies in their place or better yet, kill them, so that we can revel in the glory of battle – we want blood.  We want a leader who can evoke God’s name on behalf our nation, a self-proclaimed chosen people of God, where we can wrap God in the flag of patriotism and use God to smite our enemies.  Kind of like all the other great nations that have gone before us – Rome, Greece, Babylon, Assyria, Egypt, Britain, Russia, etc.

We still want the military hero or a strong leader that the people at the gate of Jerusalem yearned for 2000 years ago.  And Jesus is still disappointing us by not being that type of leader.  Instead, he’s offering an alternative – not the alternative of trading places with Rome either.  No the alternative is a completely different kingdom, with a different set of rules about citizenship, peace, grace, love and forgiveness.  A kingdom that actually transforms the world and all the people.  A kingdom that heals and restores and rehabilitates.

Instead, we trade this in, not believing it really.  It sounds too good to be true, so it must be false.  We pay lip service to our beliefs about the Kingdom of God and trade in our beliefs so can follow what we really believe – faith in a flawed system because at least we know what we are getting.  We can have a sense of control.  We can control what we are angry and fearful about.  What a way to live!

Does this mean we should abandon government and politics?  By no means.  But these things should not take precedence in our lives and thoughts and hearts.  Those things belong to God.  Let me ask you a question – how much time do you spend concerned over what the President or your Senator or Representative or Governor said today?  How much time did you spend concerned about what God has to say?  Are you waiting with baited breath to hear the latest pronouncement out of Washington or some campaign every day, but kind of cranky when the pastor preaches past 12 minutes, once a week, if you show up that often?  How much of your week is inundated with the speeches, rhetoric, mantras and slogans of campaigns and political parties?  How much of you week do you willingly listen and talk with God?

What if we actually started living out what we say Christianity teaches?  What if we showed grace and respect to those we disagree with?  Yeah, you reading this, who just posted a meme on facebook bashing those supporting the opposing candidate.  Oh wait, you thought others were supposed to show grace and respect to you first.

What if we forgave our enemies?  Or did you think forgiveness started with someone else who was clearly wrong and wronged you?

What if we asked for forgiveness for ourselves from others?  What if we loved those who seem unlovable because they are so different from ourselves?  Or is everyone just supposed to change and be like us because we’re considered normal?

What if we actually let go of this human desire to control our surroundings and those around us?  What if?

What if we really followed Christ?  It would be scary.  It would feel like we were free falling without a parachute.  It would change our lives, and not in ways we might want.  It might even mean death.  Those are costly things.  You’re probably thinking – Way to sell it Matthew.

Yet, that’s what Christianity is really about.  I think that for too long we’ve pushed aside the radicalness and transformativeness of Jesus because it’s beyond uncomfortable – the message is one that we really can’t control.  But unleash it and get out the way and look out – things change, people change.  That might be too much for some.  Then again, it might just change lives for the better and change the world in ways we could only imagine and ways that we can’t control.  It might be described as the onset of the Kingdom of God.

Or we could just keep doing what we’ve been doing throughout human history.  It’s worked so well up to this point, hasn’t it?

 

Gullfoss waterfall

03 Friday Jun 2016

Posted by in Travel

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Gullfoss is an incredible waterfall in Iceland.  And the really cool thing is that you get to be really close to it.

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It’s windy, big, it’s loud, the area is colder and you stand in awe of the power of nature.  Did I mention that it’s windy!  Really windy.

When we were in Iceland, Icelanders were talking about the heat wave they were experiencing.  It reached 60 F during the day.  This was the beginning of July. That’s 10 degrees warmer than normal.  When we went to Gullfoss, it was about 20 degrees colder.  Partly because of the wind that is pretty intense there.

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But the experience of being there is incredible.  We loved the waterfall.

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Taking a clear picture is next to impossible, there is mist everywhere.  As soon as you wipe the camera lens, it starts to water up.

Here’s a short video clip that helps you feel like you are there.  I’m actually talking in the clip, but you have to really strain your ears to hear what I’m saying because of the intensity of the wind.  Did I mention that it’s windy.  Enjoy.

What gospel is John Hagee and others preaching?

27 Friday May 2016

Posted by in Politics, Theology

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Yeah, I’m going there.  Here’s your fair warning.  I’m not feeling great, so some of the filter between my brain and my fingers might not be working properly.

“God help us!”

That’s the only thing I could think to say when I was shown a video of John Hagee doing his endorsement of Trump without naming Trump because he doesn’t want to violate the letter of the law regarding church tax exemption.  Pharisees are good at obeying the letter of the law.  And with plenty of wealth earned off of his flock by scaring them to death with  preaching of Rapture theology, he can afford good lawyers who can defend him.   Never mind all the books and programs he’s sold predicting the end of the world.  BTW, they’ve all been wrong.  Yet, people continue to listen to this fraud.  If you think this harsh, here’s the definition of fraud – wrongful or criminal deception intended to result in financial or personal gain.

If you want to watch his non-endorsement endorsement, you can see it here.

He starts with a quote by Martin Niemöller about seeing evil and naming it…And proceeds to endorse Trump.  It would be laughable if it weren’t actually happening.  That’s the same Niemöller who was an anti-Nazi, was imprisoned for his beliefs, and nearly died at Dachau concentration camp for this beliefs.  He named the evil of Nazism and almost died because of it.  Frankly, I’m deeply pissed off that Hagee has the nerve to equate himself to Niemöller in quoting him and using him in his non-endorsement endorsement of Trump.

Hagee says that the candidate he is supporting (let’s just name him here since Hagee didn’t have the courage to do it) will “Solve the immigration problem.” I wonder what Hagee would have thought about another person’s “solution” to another problem facing a country in crisis in the not so distant past.  We should be really concerned if this solution is renamed the “final solution.”  “Immigration problem” sounds so, I don’t know, so much like a math problem, doesn’t it?  Never mind the fact that people, real people, are actually involved here.  Immigration isn’t a math problem to be solved Hagee – It’s a situation where people’s lives are involved.  It’s complicated and takes times.

Hagee is a preacher, that can’t be avoided.  It’s unfortunate too.  People will see what he preaches – division, fear, destruction, wrath, etc. and equate that with Christianity.  It couldn’t be further from Christianity if you tried.

Hagee preaches a gospel message alright. It’s a message of the religion of America first.  it’s a religion of empire.  It’s the same religion that has been followed by so many in the past.  It was the religion of the British empire at its height.  It was the religion of Greece and Rome, of Babylon and Egypt.  It has been the religion of every empire that ever exist – or would be empire.  It’s a religion where the nation is no longer just a nation, but something more.  A religion which preaches that the nation and its leader(s) are the savior of the world.  A religion that separates those who are chosen (within the empire and supporting the empire) from the damned (everyone else).  It’s a religion of us vs. them.  It’s a religion that uses God’s name for the benefit of the chosen – wrapping the national flag around God like a cloak.  All enemies of this religion must be destroyed because the god of this religion is a wrathful, fearful deity that only understands the language of power.

It’s summed up in one of Hagee’s final statements where he says – “May god give us a leader who has the courage to put America first and stand up for we the people.”

I’m tired of this – already.  I’m tired of very public supposedly “Christian” leaders rationalizing away what is obvious right before their eyes.  I’m tired of the Pat Robertson’s and John Hagee’s and Gary Dull’s of this country preaching gospels of hate, division, judgement, wrath, anger, fear, and destruction.

I have a series of pointed questions for these men and their followers.

How long until we have a Trump religion where Trump is the savior.  I’ve already read several statements on social media by some saying that Trump is the only one who can save the country from it’s brokenness.  How long until we just formalize that and call it what it really is – a religion?

How long until we have our own National Trump Church which will be unified in espousing a single doctrine compatible with Trumps beliefs?  I wonder if these men are vying to be the head bishop.

How is what Hagee and others preach not making the state and his preferred leader the new religion under the guise of Christianity?  How is it any different than Rome and the emperor?

How is what Hagee and others who preach a similar message considered Christian in any sense of the word?  How is their warped idea of Christianity anything that anyone would want to live their lives by?

How is what Hagee and other who preach a similar message considered Christian – preaching a message about saving the nation through a man with a strong military to support him?

How is what Hagee and others who preach a similar message any different than what religious leaders in the past preaches about putting our hope and faith in Rome (or any other empire) and it’s leader?

How is what Hagee and others who preach a similar message considered Christian at all when Christ is so different from all of this?  Christ is the slain lamb who is victorious, not through military conquest and killing his enemies, but by loving them.  He enters Jerusalem on a donkey, not a white horse with a sword.  The incarnate God who loves the world so much, not so that he can destroy it in some fabricated Rapture in which humans desire revenge unleashed on God’s enemies, but a God who loves the entire world and all of creation and calls it good.  A God of peace who looks forward to the day when swords can be beaten into ploughs, not the other way around.

I have heard Hagee’s gospel message before and I’m tired of it.  We all have heard it preached so many times before throughout history – every tyrant and demagogue that was able to suck in religious leaders to their false gospel has preached the same disgusting gospel message.  And here we are again.  The tyrant and demagogue doesn’t have to force these people into preaching these messages – they willingly do it, and do in God’s name.  That’s the sad thing about it.  They believe they are serving God, when in fact they serve an idol – power.

God help us.  Give us strength for the days to come – not to fight, but rather to be a light you have called us to be.  Not to kill, but rather to die to self and pick up and carry our cross for the Gospel of Jesus.  Not to force, but to live out love and peace.  Give us discernment that we may have ears that hear and eyes that see.  Give us patience and calmness – lots of it God – we need these things to go forward.  Help us to be an instrument of your peace – strike that – make each one of us an instrument of your peace Lord.  Give us courage to preach your saving Gospel – both in word and deed.  God help us.  You are the only one who saves.

Golden Circle Tour Start

27 Friday May 2016

Posted by in Travel

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One of the first things we did during our time in Iceland was go on the Golden Circle tour.  Yes, it’s a big touristy thing to do, but it’s also well worth it.  You get to be out of the capitol and into some of the island that is so amazing.

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Iceland is truly an amazing island – still shifting and moving and forming.  It’s a point in the crust of the earth that is close to the magma.  It’s got steam coming up out of the earth.  Iceland makes use of this too – so much of the island is heated geothermally – tapping into the steam the earth produces.

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Power plants, like the one in the picture, capture the heat and use it to power the island.  It’s extremely environmentally friendly and makes so much sense.  It also makes energy really cheap for the island.  Talk about a win-win.

Maybe one of the reasons Iceland can get away with doing something that is full of so much common sense is that there are so few people on the island – about 350,000.  When there are that few people, there are few competing interests and people have a better chance of actually knowing each other.

Voting on my Mind

26 Tuesday Apr 2016

Posted by in Politics

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When we place more and more importance on the role of government in our daily lives, we are entrusting government with more power over our lives.  When we wait anxiously to hear what each government official has to say about any given subject, we are giving up our ability to think through the problems and challenges we face.  We are also handing over our responsibilities to government officials to solve problems and help our fellow citizens.  The problem with this is that while government may be able to provide the material needs of people, it will never provide the spiritual needs that most problems ultimately come from.

When we give government more power and control over our lives, whether that be in regards to economics or social issues, we are actually encouraging people who desire and yearn for power to run for office.  Those that that have ambition for power are usually the ones who shouldn’t be in power.  The desire and yearning for power is a strong desire that acts like a drug.  And like a drug, those that are addicted to it will say “I can stop anytime I want to” but the reality is, they often slip further into it’s grasp, coming to their own destruction, while destroying the lives of so many others that they touch along the way.

I believe this is true for both those that hold left and right ideologies.  Both of these ideologies thrive off the idea of controlling people – one in the realm of economics and the other in the realm of social issues.  It stems from the notion that people need to fall in line with a certain way of thinking, for their own good.  Government and law happen to be the means of forcing people to change their actions in order to change their beliefs.

Why should it surprise anyone that those who thirst for power the most are the the very ones we are left choosing for elected office?

If we want different candidates, then maybe we ought to rethink the role of government in our daily lives.