Here are 5 thoughts I have regarding the NFL protest and President Trump's remarks calling for the firing of all NFL employees who do not stand for the National Anthem. Not everyone will like all of these thoughts (likely no one will like them all).
1) Since many of us are outraged that NFL players would kneel during the national anthem, and absolutely silent about football games happening on Sunday, the "Lord's Day", can we finally confess that we are not a Christian nation?
2) Patriotism is not defined by how observant you are during the singing of a national anthem, whether you attend a veteran's parade, or whether you vote. Patriotism is your belief that your country is a place where your children and grandchildren can be proud of. A place, you are willing to fight to make better AND to defend. Patriotism is actively making your country a better place for all people. Patriotism is not just standing and singing a song.
3) The bible calls us to pray for our leaders. Even when the exiles where in Babylonian captivity, Jeremiah calls them to seek the welfare of the city in which they reside, because their welfare depends on it (Jeremiah 29:7). This does not mean we submit without question to any "leader". We question, we think, we resist when necessary, but not at the expense of the union. We should and do have a responsibility to hold our leaders accountable, in peaceful protest if possible, and in action if required. Let's call hate speech and white-supremacy evil, for that is what is, but let's not pretend that a peaceful protest is evil!
4) We cannot have mandated patriotism and freedom of speech at the same time. I know the kneeling is truly offensive to many, I understand that and am sorry it offends you. However, if you are ok offending some by saying "Merry Christmas" then you must be prepared to receive offense as well. And if your defense is, "we are a christian nation" then read point #1 again. Freedom means that we have the ability to speak our minds, even if it means not joining in the national anthem or pledge of the allegiance. That is the beauty and wonder of freedom, we have freedom to live our lives as we see fit, within certain parameters. It is a gift, the same gift God gives us in Gen 1 and 2.
5) White, protestant, straight, people are not being persecuted! We, in America, do not know what that means. Persecution was practiced in the early church and some parts of the world today. It was not and is not being practiced here. What you might call persecution is a feeling of losing a foothold in leadership. At one point, the church controlled much of what took place in America. In truth, when the church controlled the government, it never ends well. Pick up a history book, any of them. When the church runs the state, everyone looses. We are called to make disciples of Jesus Christ, not patriots of the United States. The church is losing ground fast and has been for 60 years or more. The country does not care what the church thinks anymore. See point #1 again. This is not persecution, it is a loss of influence and the church is at its best, when we really can't control the culture around us.
Monday, September 25, 2017
Wednesday, June 14, 2017
Father's Day 2017
Father's day is this coming Sunday. As you probably know, my wife and I just welcomed our 2nd child into the world on June 5th. He is named Tyler Joseph and has done his part on keeping us up every night and on our toes. Father's day, then, is even more significant to me because of this life changing event.
For the last few days I have been thinking about this holiday and what kind of meaning there might be held with in it. First, fatherhood is more than passing on your DNA to children, you can do this without actually being involved in their lives. Nor is it about being an adult figure for children in your sphere of influence--it is possible to do this without practicing the art of fatherhood.
Instead, I think fatherhood is more nuanced and challenging than that. Fatherhood is, I believe, about empowering the next generation to become all that God has made them to be. It is about empowering those who come after you to be all they can become in Christ. It is not about duplicating yourself in the world, that is too arrogant.
We empower the next generation by doing two things:
For the last few days I have been thinking about this holiday and what kind of meaning there might be held with in it. First, fatherhood is more than passing on your DNA to children, you can do this without actually being involved in their lives. Nor is it about being an adult figure for children in your sphere of influence--it is possible to do this without practicing the art of fatherhood.
Instead, I think fatherhood is more nuanced and challenging than that. Fatherhood is, I believe, about empowering the next generation to become all that God has made them to be. It is about empowering those who come after you to be all they can become in Christ. It is not about duplicating yourself in the world, that is too arrogant.
We empower the next generation by doing two things:
1) Pass on wisdom you have learned
In Acts 7, Stephen is walking through the heroes of the Hebrew Scriptures. He would have grown up with these stories and reflected upon them. Each ancestor he names listened to God when it seemed their path was unlikely. In doing so they discovered something new or were transformed by God. It was this precise bit of wisdom that Stephen was living into during this speech. That is why he called his audience "Stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ear". In other words, Stephen was aware of the wisdom he wished to pass on--namely that being nudged by the Spirit into things that make no sense and then trusting in God's faithfulness by moving into the unknown path can be the greatest act of faith.
Sure, I have learned a fair number of "dad jokes" that I will try to instill into my kids. Sure, my love of soccer and games must surely be passed down, but above all else I wish to pass on the art of listening to God and reflecting on scripture. This skill, I think, will serve them far better than anything else I can teach them. This could change over time of course, but at least for now, I have a better sense of what I really do wish to pass on to them,
2) Live a life worthy of imitation
In 1 Corinthians 11:1, Paul writes, "be imitators of me as I am of Christ." This is not the same thing as duplicating yourself in the world. Instead, Paul is urging them to follow in his steps and in doing so become like Christ. He is not asking them to be little Paul's, but rather believes that he is carving a path that is worth marking.
Like most dads, I can fall short here. By paying too much attention to my phone or not taking the time to sit and play with my kids, I tell them that adult life is too busy for them. If I am honest, that is the path I sometimes create for them. Living a life worthy of imitation is the harder of these two steps, but the far more important one. We are all being mimicked one way or another. The question to ponder is, what kind of path are you making for those who follow you?
Thursday, June 23, 2016
Why "Reflections?"
I have been asked why I call these e-mails "Reflections" and why my blog shares the same title. So, I thought I would share my answer. As you might predict, it begins with a bit of history.
The ancient city of Corinth was positioned off the Mediterranean sea. It was the gateway into Greece and the West. Trade routes from Africa and Asia would traverse the sea and dock into Corinth where merchants would then acquire goods from all over the world in order to sell them in markets throughout the known world.
Aside from tangible goods like salt and clothing there was also art, music, cultural rituals, politics, military tactics, etc. were also traded. Corinth, thus became one of the central hubs for the global exchange. Mirrors were also one of those items traded throughout the empire. As any culture discovers, when you have the free time to explore philosophy and art, you have time for vanity. So mirrors became particularly popular among the elite who had the financial resources to pay for elaborate clothing and make-up. If you spend a fortune on items that will make you look good, mirrors were one way of knowing for sure.
Made from melted silver and dried on the flattened edges of crudely cut rocks, these ancient mirrors were certainly not as polished as they are today. The reflected image was cracked an impartial. It would only stay clear for a limited time until the silver got scrapped up. The crude mirrors would travel the world and appear in nearly every culture and land in the known world.
Paul picks this image up to his congregation in Corinth. In 1 Corinthians 13:12 he writes. "For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known," In other words, even with deep conviction and trust in God, Paul recognizes that on this side of life, our vision and understanding is limited.
Therefore, when it comes to interpreting scripture or wrestling with theology, I must recognize that I too am seeing the world and God through a murky mirror--limited, and less than perfect because I am limited and certainly imperfect. Reflection, therefore, is different from absolute conviction. There is room to confess that I could be wrong. Reflection is thoughtful consideration based upon as much information as one can acquire.
In a divided world, and politically severed nation, it might be helpful to think of those ancient mirrors. We all see dimly into our future. No one can see perfectly, and if they do perhaps they aren't really looking at all. When our certainties drive us to hate rather to love, then we are more confident in our own insights than into the Holy Spirit. For Paul continues the very next verse by saying, "And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love." Despite our finite and limited vantage point, we are called to have faith, confirm our hope, and perfect one another in love.
Wednesday, June 15, 2016
For Orlando....and Columbine, San Bernardino, Sandy Hook, Jonesboro, Oklahoma City, Boston, and so many more...
When will enough be enough? I recently read Sue Kiebold's book "A Mother's Reckoning"a few months ago. Kiebold is the mom of one of the Columbine shooters. The fact that I only need to use the word "Columbine" to explain the significance of Kiebold's book tells you something about our culture. In fact, I can say Sandy Hook, Fort Hood, Jonesboro, or Planned Parenthood and horrific images will likely pop into your head. Moving beyond guns, what if I said Oklahoma City or Boston Marathon?
Kiebold's range of emotions on April 20th, 1999 and the years that followed are powerful. From sadness to rage to grief to embarrassment, etc. I can only imagine what she felt on Sunday June 12th, 2016, when she more than anyone else recognizes that the gunman was somebody's son, somebody's friend. As the parents of Sandy Hook's children can attest, the victims were also someone's children, partner, husband, friend, wife, co-worker, etc. These are lives, all of them, cut short for no good reason.
A truth that is hard to argue is that we live in a violent culture. Citizens of the United States own 42% of all civilian owned guns in the world! Yet, we are only representative of 4.4% of the world's population. Yes it is true that we are a great nation, blessed with an amazing democracy and constitution that has allowed us to flourish for over 200 years. Warding off tyranny and oppression, we have been a free people who are allowed to flourish and thrive within the world we create (At least most of us, there a millions for whom this is not true--but that is another story) The famous first two amendments (Free speech, right to "bear arms") have been hallmarks to that freedom (Interesting that they were amendments and not part of the first draft huh?!) Despite the arguments about whether that 2nd amendment was written for musket carrying days or for the modern assault rifles, the spirit remains the same, we as the American people are granted the privilege of some level of freedom when it comes to defending ourselves, even from ourselves.
The only way these freedoms are secured is by having parameters, certain laws that protect ourselves from ourselves. If we remove all stoplights, it won't be long before we no longer have the freedom to drive safely. Parameters restrict movement so that life can move forward. Try having a rose bush that you never trim; eventually the bottom will die out because of a lack of sunlight. Trimming has a necessary purpose, a parameter that shapes it into growth.
So, when will we decide to make a move forward on gun control? When will we decide that a person with known allegiance to terrorist organizations should not be allowed to buy a gun? I grew up in Southeast Missouri, a place where meth is the drug of choice for many. An ingredient of meth (so I hear) can be found in Sudafed. You are now limited in how much Sudafed you can buy. Therefore, as an 18 year old in 2003, a month before my High School graduation, I was not allowed to buy Sudafed for my cold, but I could buy a handgun and bring it to my graduation.
I am not against weapons necessarily (I am against war and unneeded violence though). Even Jesus tells his disciples to buy a sword in Luke 22:35-38:
P.S. I did not bring in the LGBTQ issues that were clearly a part of Orlando's shooting. While discrimination toward LGBTQ persons is clearly a problem, the issue of violence is much larger than these issues. In no way, do I intend to minimize the severity of the pain this community must feel as they were specifically targeted. As a Christian pastor, I welcome all people into the grace of God (as if I have the power to not welcome someone in to God's presence, but you know what I mean), and stand in solidarity with all people during this time of suffering and pain.
Kiebold's range of emotions on April 20th, 1999 and the years that followed are powerful. From sadness to rage to grief to embarrassment, etc. I can only imagine what she felt on Sunday June 12th, 2016, when she more than anyone else recognizes that the gunman was somebody's son, somebody's friend. As the parents of Sandy Hook's children can attest, the victims were also someone's children, partner, husband, friend, wife, co-worker, etc. These are lives, all of them, cut short for no good reason.
A truth that is hard to argue is that we live in a violent culture. Citizens of the United States own 42% of all civilian owned guns in the world! Yet, we are only representative of 4.4% of the world's population. Yes it is true that we are a great nation, blessed with an amazing democracy and constitution that has allowed us to flourish for over 200 years. Warding off tyranny and oppression, we have been a free people who are allowed to flourish and thrive within the world we create (At least most of us, there a millions for whom this is not true--but that is another story) The famous first two amendments (Free speech, right to "bear arms") have been hallmarks to that freedom (Interesting that they were amendments and not part of the first draft huh?!) Despite the arguments about whether that 2nd amendment was written for musket carrying days or for the modern assault rifles, the spirit remains the same, we as the American people are granted the privilege of some level of freedom when it comes to defending ourselves, even from ourselves.
The only way these freedoms are secured is by having parameters, certain laws that protect ourselves from ourselves. If we remove all stoplights, it won't be long before we no longer have the freedom to drive safely. Parameters restrict movement so that life can move forward. Try having a rose bush that you never trim; eventually the bottom will die out because of a lack of sunlight. Trimming has a necessary purpose, a parameter that shapes it into growth.
So, when will we decide to make a move forward on gun control? When will we decide that a person with known allegiance to terrorist organizations should not be allowed to buy a gun? I grew up in Southeast Missouri, a place where meth is the drug of choice for many. An ingredient of meth (so I hear) can be found in Sudafed. You are now limited in how much Sudafed you can buy. Therefore, as an 18 year old in 2003, a month before my High School graduation, I was not allowed to buy Sudafed for my cold, but I could buy a handgun and bring it to my graduation.
I am not against weapons necessarily (I am against war and unneeded violence though). Even Jesus tells his disciples to buy a sword in Luke 22:35-38:
In the Gospel of John, Jesus is seen making a whip in order to clear out the temple. Weapons have their place, only in our broken and sad world mind you, and their time. I dream and anticipate for the day in which as Isiah 2 says, "we beat our swords into plowshares." In other words, when weapons are no longer needed as peace reigns supreme, we use our weapons for altogether new purposes.
Back to the point, as Christians, I believe, our job is speak prophetically into a violent culture, to say with a loud voice that my right to carry a gun is not as important as keeping people safe. Sure some will say that citizens carrying a gun can provide safety for other citizens, but I must confess that I fear a populous with numerous hidden weapons more than a crazed maniac with a gun. Here is why:
Almost all terrorists in our country have been domestic--born and raised in the US. Sandy Hook, Columbine, Timothy MvCey--all home grown. Sure terrorists can enter the country and plot violence. Sure people suffering from mental illness can do unthinkable acts for a variety of reasons. Sure people bent on violence will find a way despite whatever laws come into play.
But this is undeniable, we live in one of the most violent countries in the world, when it comes to gun violence. To not act is in fact to allow the violence continue unchecked. To not act is to actually act, by allowing evil and suffering to grow without question. So it isn't about acting or not acting, but about what kind of action will we take. To seek to be responsible, to give up a portion of our rights so that flourishing can continue, or to do nothing and see where this all goes?
For me, from my own small corner of the world, I can do three things:
1) Do a random act of Kindness. Be kind and don't let fear win.
2) Write to my Senators advocating for those in authority over our country to take responsible action. To enact new legislation that in some way will help to avoid such violence in the future. (The best part is that we will hopefully never know if it works) You can find contact info for your senators here.
3) Voice your own thoughts. Social media has given voice to millions of people. I wonder how different the civil rights movement would have been had Facebook been around then? To be quiet is to give voice for the status quo.
Together, I believe, we can and will make a difference.
P.S. I did not bring in the LGBTQ issues that were clearly a part of Orlando's shooting. While discrimination toward LGBTQ persons is clearly a problem, the issue of violence is much larger than these issues. In no way, do I intend to minimize the severity of the pain this community must feel as they were specifically targeted. As a Christian pastor, I welcome all people into the grace of God (as if I have the power to not welcome someone in to God's presence, but you know what I mean), and stand in solidarity with all people during this time of suffering and pain.
Thursday, June 9, 2016
Ever have those moments when God speaks to you at the right time? Those moments when you are reminded of what is most important? If you are like me, those moments are fairly uncommon. Sure I can think my way into understanding God's desire through interpreting scripture, using reason, tradition, and my own experience (Wesleyan Quadrilateral for us Methodists), but those moments that seem to just speak directly into our souls seem to come out of no where. Like Moses' burning bush, (exodus 3) sometimes God seems to appear from nowhere and change the course of our lives.
Like Moses, however, she positioned herself to hear from God. In her case, it was in front of the empathetic priest Eli who would later comfort her by saying, "Go in peace, may the God of Israel grant your request." (1 Samuel 1:17). Sure enough, upon returning home, she would become pregnant with Samuel. She would later, after he was weaned, return him to Eli and allow him to be raised there as a lifelong servant of God. Samuel would anoint Saul as the first king of Israel and later the great king David.
Here is my point, what would it look like for you to position yourself to receive a word of God for you? How might you change your attitude from pessimism to optimism, anticipating God to move and to act in your life? How will you know if you see your burning bush, or a place to be still and to pray as Hannah did?
I will end with this story. Growing up there was a woman who we would call "Granny" even though she was not our grandma. When my parents went to work she would watch over me and my siblings, take care of us, and feed us. We loved her and she loved us. I remember quite vividly that in her garden in front of her home were these seemingly huge "elephant ear" plants. I didn't have any of those near my house and her garden was the only place I ever saw such awesome plants. Every time I would enter her house, those plants were there to greet me, to welcome me. They remind me of the warmth of her house (and the smell of her cinnamon rolls-another story for another day).
Earlier this year, a woman in my congregation (Maryann Williams) gifted me a bulb of this plant. So, I carefully planted it, put it in a place where it would receive a lot of light, watered it, and hoped. To be honest, it did nothing for a while. It just sat there staring at me, mocking me. Then I went to Annual Conference (an annual gathering of clergy and lay United Methodists) from the state of Missouri. When I came back, it greeted me with this:
That hearty green leaf brought a great deal of joy to me. It just popped up, unexpectedly. It may sound really corny and cheesy to you, but for me it was God's own way of saying to me, "All will be well". It was a reminder that you can fall in love with God, not to change the world. Reshaping the world is the by-product of falling in love with God, not the primary aim.
This was my burning bush. It re-ignited my passion for ministry, for the Kingdom of God. You cannot manipulate God, but you can be ready to receive God. So how are you positioning yourself? How are you seeking that burning bush or utilizing the space in your life for prayer and devotion? In what aspects of your life might you anticipate God to work?
If we continue the story, however, Moses does something that I am not sure I would do, he simply walks up to this burning bush. He doesn't run in the other direction, he simply gets in front of it, takes off his sandals, and listens. He places himself in the best possible position to hear from God. I don't think you can manipulate God or force movements of the Holy Spirit, but I do believe, like Moses, that we each have the capacity, to place ourselves in position to be open to receive a word from God.
I think of Hannah in 1 Samuel 1. She is the mother of Samuel, but before Samuel ever entered the scene, she was the barren wife of a man named Elkanah. She was so desperate to have a son, an heir to her beloved husband, and it pained her that she couldn't. Every year on the pilgrimage to Shiloh to worship the Lord, she would stop and spend some time in prayer. Year after year, while other wives would be thankful for their kids, Hannah would lament her barrenness. She would plead with God to provide a son. In the glimpse we have in 1 Samuel 1, she stops to pray with a bit more gusto, to the point where the priest Eli thought she was drunk (1 Samuel 1:14).
Here is my point, what would it look like for you to position yourself to receive a word of God for you? How might you change your attitude from pessimism to optimism, anticipating God to move and to act in your life? How will you know if you see your burning bush, or a place to be still and to pray as Hannah did?
I will end with this story. Growing up there was a woman who we would call "Granny" even though she was not our grandma. When my parents went to work she would watch over me and my siblings, take care of us, and feed us. We loved her and she loved us. I remember quite vividly that in her garden in front of her home were these seemingly huge "elephant ear" plants. I didn't have any of those near my house and her garden was the only place I ever saw such awesome plants. Every time I would enter her house, those plants were there to greet me, to welcome me. They remind me of the warmth of her house (and the smell of her cinnamon rolls-another story for another day).
Earlier this year, a woman in my congregation (Maryann Williams) gifted me a bulb of this plant. So, I carefully planted it, put it in a place where it would receive a lot of light, watered it, and hoped. To be honest, it did nothing for a while. It just sat there staring at me, mocking me. Then I went to Annual Conference (an annual gathering of clergy and lay United Methodists) from the state of Missouri. When I came back, it greeted me with this:
That hearty green leaf brought a great deal of joy to me. It just popped up, unexpectedly. It may sound really corny and cheesy to you, but for me it was God's own way of saying to me, "All will be well". It was a reminder that you can fall in love with God, not to change the world. Reshaping the world is the by-product of falling in love with God, not the primary aim.
This was my burning bush. It re-ignited my passion for ministry, for the Kingdom of God. You cannot manipulate God, but you can be ready to receive God. So how are you positioning yourself? How are you seeking that burning bush or utilizing the space in your life for prayer and devotion? In what aspects of your life might you anticipate God to work?
Thursday, June 4, 2015
Messy Church
As I am wrapping up a few things to take with me to Annual Conference, I am reminded how messy the church really is. I am reminded that tidiness and order, cause and effect, sharp guiding lines, are simply never really found in a true community. A desire for predictable movements and unified responses will always fall short when it comes to communities made up of human beings, particularly church people.
I heard a story recently of a man (Let's call him Bob) who was losing his partner due to aids. Many Sundays, there was one church person who would stay behind just to minister to Bob. Not in an invasive way, but in a kind appropriate way. Bob would tell me that was the reason he sticks around in the church because "I know how good it can be, even when it isn't".
No words are much truer. As caring and loving as the church can be, it can also be as equally destructive, divisive, self-interested, and apathetic. To be honest, the church has always been this way. In 1 Corinthians 11:17, Paul writes this critiquing them about how they facilitate their meals when they gather together, "Now I don't praise you as I give the following instructions because when you meet together, it does more harm than good." (This would be a painful thing for any church to hear). Here is the saddest part, as long as the church is made up of humans, who are just as self-centered as you and I are, this will be a reality.
The good news is that even while we are a disordered bunch, God can bring about holiness. This is done at times with our participation, often without it, and occasionally in spite of us. So as we move closer to Annual conference, knowing the resolutions about our camp sites before us and the passion in which the conversation will enlist, it is all too important for us to keep in mind what it means to be the church, even as messy, broken, and imperfect people as we are. We remain to be the church when we are focused on awakening souls to the life changing possibilities of a life oriented toward Jesus Christ. Anything less than this, we stop being the church. Anything outside of this primary objective, and we become less than what we were created to be.
Not long ago, I was invited to play a softball game with the Dunklin County Drug and Treatment Court. This was a community, who were in the process of becoming drug free. That was their purpose, their objective, and their aim. Everything they did was oriented toward this objective. They were a wonderful group of people who allowed me to play softball with them (My skills were subpar to say the least) even though I was not very good. They laughed , argued, got angry, and heartily disagreed, but at the end of the day they were unified around their one common objective. It was a day in which Jesus was clearly present, even though few were inviting him to be there.
As we gather for holy conferencing, I pray that we may be more like a drug court softball game than a corporate stockholders meeting. I pray that we may be grace-filled in the midst of our messy disagreements. I pray that we are intentionally inviting Jesus to be present and to guide rather than an after thought to repair collateral damage. I pray that we will be laser focused on our mission of "making new disciples for the transformation of the world." Sentimentality, fiscal responsibility, and historical moments will try to dethrone that mission and place themselves in the highest spot of importance, bu may it never be so. May we disagree in a spirit of love and generosity, knowing that on the other side, God will be in the works of making all things new. We are in a new day and a new place, I pray that it will be a Kingdom focused one.
Rev. 22:1-15, "Then the angel showed me the river of life-giving water, shining like crystal, flowing from the throne of God and the Lamb through the middle of the city’s main street. On each side of the river is the tree of life, which produces twelve crops of fruit, bearing its fruit each month. The tree’s leaves are for the healing of the nations. There will no longer be any curse. The throne of God and the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. Night will be no more. They won’t need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will shine on them, and they will rule forever and always.
I heard a story recently of a man (Let's call him Bob) who was losing his partner due to aids. Many Sundays, there was one church person who would stay behind just to minister to Bob. Not in an invasive way, but in a kind appropriate way. Bob would tell me that was the reason he sticks around in the church because "I know how good it can be, even when it isn't".
No words are much truer. As caring and loving as the church can be, it can also be as equally destructive, divisive, self-interested, and apathetic. To be honest, the church has always been this way. In 1 Corinthians 11:17, Paul writes this critiquing them about how they facilitate their meals when they gather together, "Now I don't praise you as I give the following instructions because when you meet together, it does more harm than good." (This would be a painful thing for any church to hear). Here is the saddest part, as long as the church is made up of humans, who are just as self-centered as you and I are, this will be a reality.
The good news is that even while we are a disordered bunch, God can bring about holiness. This is done at times with our participation, often without it, and occasionally in spite of us. So as we move closer to Annual conference, knowing the resolutions about our camp sites before us and the passion in which the conversation will enlist, it is all too important for us to keep in mind what it means to be the church, even as messy, broken, and imperfect people as we are. We remain to be the church when we are focused on awakening souls to the life changing possibilities of a life oriented toward Jesus Christ. Anything less than this, we stop being the church. Anything outside of this primary objective, and we become less than what we were created to be.
Not long ago, I was invited to play a softball game with the Dunklin County Drug and Treatment Court. This was a community, who were in the process of becoming drug free. That was their purpose, their objective, and their aim. Everything they did was oriented toward this objective. They were a wonderful group of people who allowed me to play softball with them (My skills were subpar to say the least) even though I was not very good. They laughed , argued, got angry, and heartily disagreed, but at the end of the day they were unified around their one common objective. It was a day in which Jesus was clearly present, even though few were inviting him to be there.
As we gather for holy conferencing, I pray that we may be more like a drug court softball game than a corporate stockholders meeting. I pray that we may be grace-filled in the midst of our messy disagreements. I pray that we are intentionally inviting Jesus to be present and to guide rather than an after thought to repair collateral damage. I pray that we will be laser focused on our mission of "making new disciples for the transformation of the world." Sentimentality, fiscal responsibility, and historical moments will try to dethrone that mission and place themselves in the highest spot of importance, bu may it never be so. May we disagree in a spirit of love and generosity, knowing that on the other side, God will be in the works of making all things new. We are in a new day and a new place, I pray that it will be a Kingdom focused one.
Rev. 22:1-15, "Then the angel showed me the river of life-giving water, shining like crystal, flowing from the throne of God and the Lamb through the middle of the city’s main street. On each side of the river is the tree of life, which produces twelve crops of fruit, bearing its fruit each month. The tree’s leaves are for the healing of the nations. There will no longer be any curse. The throne of God and the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. Night will be no more. They won’t need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will shine on them, and they will rule forever and always.
Friday, November 28, 2014
3 things to consider before reflecting upon Ferguson
Before I begin let me preface by saying that I am a 29 year old white male. White privilege is a real thing and I have won the lottery of genetics. That is not to say that I am particularly good looking, athletic, or smart. In truth I am average on all of those things (except athleticism where I may fall just below average). What I mean by white privilege, then, is that I am not subject to racial profiling when traveling in an airport, I rarely feel as though I am beings judged before someone meets me or that I must prove myself in any aspect of life.
#1 Beware of your hidden paradigms
I first became aware of this white privilege about 5 years ago in a class at Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City. There a fellow student named Tina who was a middle aged black female, formerly a KC police officer, once told me that growing up in her predominately black neighborhood that she thought anytime a while person, particularly male, walked into a gas station or store in her neighborhood, they had the mindset that they could own the store and determine what happened while they were there. In short, she assumed that all white people had the notion that they were in control, even if they were the minority within their immediate environment.
She was shocked, when I informed her that, I think, most white people do not have this assumption. She was in her mid-thirties when she learned this. So white privilege is not only about the easier path a white person might have towards a successful life, but about a subconscious understanding about particularly people based upon their race. A recent NPR article by Frederica Boswell describes this unconscious understanding here. I won't regurgitate everything she writes here, but suffice it to say it is easier to assign anamilistic imagery to blacks than it is to whites. If you don't think you do this, then you probably do. That is why so many tweets and statuses about the Ferguson Riots immediately became about "those people" or "them" acting like "apes" or "animals" or "thugs" (not technically an animal, but certainly sub-human).
So be aware of your own hidden paradigms. For it is these hidden paradigms that operate in the background of our thinking that is actually the most dangerous. At Timothy Keller rightly points out, we are all a little racist to some degree. We are naturally fearful of things and people with which we are not familiar. Therefore, those from different races, naturally bring a little bit of fear, and thus a slight slant of racism--we must own it and not hide it--for hidden paradigms operate all the time.
#2 Look below the surface
When the Grand Jury Decision was made, the facts as presented to the grand jury were laid out. A deciding factor was certainly the inconsistencies in certain testimonies that would have led to an indictment against Officer Wilson. To date, the Grand Jury had the fullness of the evidence. I wasn't there, you probably weren't either. So it is beyond my scope to place any sort of judgment if the Grand Jury was right or wrong--I trust they made the best decision they could with what they had.
However, the anger, the riots, the protests, the media storm, and all else was not really about this one incident was it? It is a lot easier to del with if it were. Instead, this is the catalyst that has awaken a plethora of emotions and social issues that have been brewing in our country for a long time. The fact that more black persons get stopped by police officers than white person may not be an alarming fact if you are white. It won't keep you up at night unless it is your black son or daughter who is getting ready to drive on the road by themselves for the first time.
You may be saying, "Well more black teenagers get into more trouble than white teenagers." If this is true, I have no stats or evidence for this, but if it is true, then why is that? Is it possible that after the Emmancipation Proclomation in 1863 that we as a society did very little to enable a largely uneducated people (Thanks to the American exploitation of people in the form of slavery) to operate in our capitalistic culture successfully. Over time this shifted into Jim Crow Laws which really became "Slavery by Another Name" Over generations we still have an injustice in which blacks are subject to less paying jobs, become part of lesser schools, and still held up as the less valuable members of society in the general mind of the American people!
#3 Don't Group all People Together
This is perhaps the most important. Immediately following the first wave of riots after the Grand Jury announcement, I read many posts about how the rioters confirmed the stereotypes of black people in Ferguson. Because a couple hundred people broke into stores, looted, and set things on fire than all people in Ferguson who protest the decision are violent people? No this can't be true.
In 2011, Boston beat Vancouver in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Riots took place following the game where 140 people were injured including nine police officers. The crowd--almost entirely white people. Does this mean that every hockey loving fan is one goal away from losing it and committing arson? No surely not.
The world famous Westboro Baptist Church protesters do not represent the whole of Christians anymore than the Ferguson rioters represent every person who reocgnizes the racial injustices that plague our country. Do not assign the actions of the one to all.
Finally, as a white person, I can never know the full extent racial discrimination, because I have experienced white privilege. Therefore, I know rioting is wrong, I know looting stores is wrong, and I know pretending to know how another person feels is also wrong. This only leads to more pain and more hurt.
As we move on from the Ferguson riots, I pray that they never happen again, and I pray that more Americans became aware of such racial divide that is toxic to both our society as a whole, and to the kingdom of God in particular.
#1 Beware of your hidden paradigms
I first became aware of this white privilege about 5 years ago in a class at Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City. There a fellow student named Tina who was a middle aged black female, formerly a KC police officer, once told me that growing up in her predominately black neighborhood that she thought anytime a while person, particularly male, walked into a gas station or store in her neighborhood, they had the mindset that they could own the store and determine what happened while they were there. In short, she assumed that all white people had the notion that they were in control, even if they were the minority within their immediate environment.
She was shocked, when I informed her that, I think, most white people do not have this assumption. She was in her mid-thirties when she learned this. So white privilege is not only about the easier path a white person might have towards a successful life, but about a subconscious understanding about particularly people based upon their race. A recent NPR article by Frederica Boswell describes this unconscious understanding here. I won't regurgitate everything she writes here, but suffice it to say it is easier to assign anamilistic imagery to blacks than it is to whites. If you don't think you do this, then you probably do. That is why so many tweets and statuses about the Ferguson Riots immediately became about "those people" or "them" acting like "apes" or "animals" or "thugs" (not technically an animal, but certainly sub-human).
So be aware of your own hidden paradigms. For it is these hidden paradigms that operate in the background of our thinking that is actually the most dangerous. At Timothy Keller rightly points out, we are all a little racist to some degree. We are naturally fearful of things and people with which we are not familiar. Therefore, those from different races, naturally bring a little bit of fear, and thus a slight slant of racism--we must own it and not hide it--for hidden paradigms operate all the time.
#2 Look below the surface
When the Grand Jury Decision was made, the facts as presented to the grand jury were laid out. A deciding factor was certainly the inconsistencies in certain testimonies that would have led to an indictment against Officer Wilson. To date, the Grand Jury had the fullness of the evidence. I wasn't there, you probably weren't either. So it is beyond my scope to place any sort of judgment if the Grand Jury was right or wrong--I trust they made the best decision they could with what they had.
However, the anger, the riots, the protests, the media storm, and all else was not really about this one incident was it? It is a lot easier to del with if it were. Instead, this is the catalyst that has awaken a plethora of emotions and social issues that have been brewing in our country for a long time. The fact that more black persons get stopped by police officers than white person may not be an alarming fact if you are white. It won't keep you up at night unless it is your black son or daughter who is getting ready to drive on the road by themselves for the first time.
You may be saying, "Well more black teenagers get into more trouble than white teenagers." If this is true, I have no stats or evidence for this, but if it is true, then why is that? Is it possible that after the Emmancipation Proclomation in 1863 that we as a society did very little to enable a largely uneducated people (Thanks to the American exploitation of people in the form of slavery) to operate in our capitalistic culture successfully. Over time this shifted into Jim Crow Laws which really became "Slavery by Another Name" Over generations we still have an injustice in which blacks are subject to less paying jobs, become part of lesser schools, and still held up as the less valuable members of society in the general mind of the American people!
#3 Don't Group all People Together
This is perhaps the most important. Immediately following the first wave of riots after the Grand Jury announcement, I read many posts about how the rioters confirmed the stereotypes of black people in Ferguson. Because a couple hundred people broke into stores, looted, and set things on fire than all people in Ferguson who protest the decision are violent people? No this can't be true.
In 2011, Boston beat Vancouver in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Riots took place following the game where 140 people were injured including nine police officers. The crowd--almost entirely white people. Does this mean that every hockey loving fan is one goal away from losing it and committing arson? No surely not.
The world famous Westboro Baptist Church protesters do not represent the whole of Christians anymore than the Ferguson rioters represent every person who reocgnizes the racial injustices that plague our country. Do not assign the actions of the one to all.
Finally, as a white person, I can never know the full extent racial discrimination, because I have experienced white privilege. Therefore, I know rioting is wrong, I know looting stores is wrong, and I know pretending to know how another person feels is also wrong. This only leads to more pain and more hurt.
As we move on from the Ferguson riots, I pray that they never happen again, and I pray that more Americans became aware of such racial divide that is toxic to both our society as a whole, and to the kingdom of God in particular.
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