Jose Antonio Vargas Flickr Photo by Tiffany L. Clark/Creative Commons
by Rev. Laura Barclay
Last week, I attended a screening of Documented, Jose
Antonio Vargas’ film about his coming out as an undocumented immigrant
after winning the Pulitzer Prize. His journey is honest, poignant, and
humorous. A lesser subject would have cut some of the material showing
the strain of the situation on his familial relations, but the film
never flinches from the raw story.
I sat in on a panel discussion after the screening
filled with members of an organization featured in the film, “DREAMers
Moms.” I had a chance to speak with several of them, and one story stuck
out in particular. One mom left her country for the good of her
children so they would have hope of a positive future in the United
States. She hasn’t seen her mother in 13 years and won’t until
immigration reform is passed into law. If she leaves the U.S., it’s
likely she wouldn’t be allowed to return and care for her children. This
would leave them essentially orphans who would be placed into foster
care. Her mother is now in her 80s, frail and sick. This woman is losing
hope of ever again touching the woman who cared for her, but still
prays daily for a miracle.
Jose mentioned during the panel that a
largely untold side effect of being undocumented is the toll that the
constant fear of deportation and worry about family has on mental
health. As he edited the film, he said, he noticed several points where
he was clearly suffering from depression. I asked panelist Gaby Pacheco,
an immigration activist and Dreamer who also appeared in the
documentary, how she and others she knew developed mental health
strategies for coping with anxiety and depression. She said it is vital
to find others suffering from similar fears and share stories with them.
With a lack of mental health resources for undocumented persons, that
communal sharing is a form of therapy. She also voiced a need for mental
health services to be included in comprehensive immigration reform.
The
documentary will air on CNN, and be screened at film festivals and in
theaters. Don’t miss a chance to see this film and encourage others to
see this story that humanizes immigration reform. Partisan rhetoric has
fueled this issue to a point beyond realism, but this film makes the
political intimate and personal. After you see the film, join the
discussion at organization, www.defineamerican.com. Address the question, “How do you define American?”
I
became passionate about immigration reform a few years ago when working
with pastors Javier Benitez and Hector Villanueva at the Cooperative
Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina. The two work constantly to protect
their parishioners from racial profiling and deportation, especially on
Sunday morning when police camp outside entrances to Hispanic churches
in order to profile and catch potential undocumented persons on the way
to worship. This is intolerable. It is a moral imperative that we find
ways to welcome the stranger as Scripture calls us to do. We must listen
to immigrant stories and respond appropriately out of love. What does a
Christian response to immigration look like in your community?
Members of congress are obsessed with their own opinions and even
more obsessed with getting them on camera. Knowing that, this article shouldn’t have shocked me, but it
did. So, I did what all good nerds do when we’re pissed off, and wrote this challenge, attempting to articulate for members of congress a way for them to
understand where we’re all coming from, way down here in Middle America.
A reasonable challenge to members of the United States Congress
from Middle America:
1)Don’t take your
salaries while you aren’t doing your job. In both reading the constitution and
looking at the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, it’s pretty clear that passing
a budget (or at least a continuing resolution) and funding the basic
constitutionally protected business of government (military, roads, etc. etc.)
is your job (as this now ironically awkward letter from congressional
Republicans even suggested back in 2010.
2)If you take us up on
this offer, because you aren’t taking your salaries, share the experience of
most people without an income and default on your own debt. While you’re at it,
figure out a way to provide health insurance for your family. Really, test it
out by applying for COBRA or searching on the new insurance exchanges for
coverage. Heck, even go down to the doctor’s office and just ask how much it
would cost you for a visit, now that you’re not receiving an income and don’t
have health insurance and all.
3)While you’re at it,
file for unemployment insurance. You’ll enjoy that process a great deal I’m
sure. Plus, it will prepare you for your real unemployment, which I’m guessing
may occur some time in November of 2014 anyway.
4)Since you have no
income and one of your family members is likely to get sick at some point,
you’ll need to figure out, like most Americans, which bills to pay and which
ones to put on credit (if you can still get credit, that is). Go ahead and make
a list. While you’re at it, make a list of all the things that will happen in
your life if you don’t pay your bills. Since you’ve likely never experienced
this before, I’ll give you a few hints:
a.Your credit score will diminish, and it will now cost you more to live
because each time you take out a loan your interest rate will be higher.
b.If you can’t make the payment on your home, try selling it to prevent
foreclosure. Don’t worry too much about the memories your family has had in the
home. After all, you can make new ones in the next place you live. Also, good
luck with the sale since most folks won’t buy in a market full of uncertainty
created by congressional inaction. Regardless, do all you can to make those
house payments because, trust the rest of us when we tell you, negotiating with
the banks won’t work out well for you.
c.You’ll have bill collectors calling the house to threaten you. It’s
annoying, but you’ll figure out some good ways of dealing with it eventually.
That is, until they show up and repo your car. Then, well, you’ll be in need of
a ride. (Note: please use this as an opportunity to learn about our public
transit system, which you, as a once-elected official, were charged to
oversee and fund.)
5)Once you do feel
like doing your job again, and getting paid for it (because I’m pretty sure it
wouldn’t take you very long once you experienced what most of us actually
experience), please come back to Capitol Hill and share with your colleagues
what it’s like when you can’t pay your bills (or in your case, simply choose
not to even when you have never not paid them in US history). Then maybe you’ll
realize that yes, there are consequences to not increasing the debt ceiling.
Do all of us middle and working class folks a solid, and just
start acting like responsible leaders and do your constitutional duty. This
might be hard for you to grasp, but we really don’t care which one of you comes
out looking like the winner, as long as we’re not the losers in whatever game
y’all think you are playing on Capitol Hill.
Rev. Ryan Eller is a professional organizer, consultant and ordained Baptist minister, whose work includes managing nonprofits, political campaigns, and serving as the former US Campaigns Director for change.org.
I went on family vacation to Hawaii recently and discovered that it is unequivocally the greatest state. This is saying a lot from a Kentucky girl. I recently found out that Kentucky has the highest percentage of people who are born and who die in the same state. This means that friend of yours from KY will probably be moving back soon.
Only the base of Mauna Kea is visible from below.
But even I have to step aside at the marvel of Hawaii. The localreligion and culture, which is in the middle of a renaissance that began in the 1970's, is so tied to the topography as to make the land a breathing entity all its own. This is not a hard leap in imagination to make, since the Kilauea Crater pumps out steam daily and spews lava into the ocean, vents for hundreds of square acres, and is responsible for Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, two volcanic mountains that lord over the island. Only the base is visible as the rest is cloaked in heavy clouds.
Offering to Pele near steam vent
Legend has it that the Goddess Pele went from island to island creating the chain of islands comprising the state of Hawaii out of volcanoes. This Hawaiian myth lines up with scientific fact, as the trajectory of Pele's travels matches the age progression of the island--Pele's newest creation is also the newest island, The Big Island of Hawaii. Locals leave offerings for Pele near steam vents. For Hawaiians, volcanic activity decides their future and their legends urge them to appease the goddess's anger.
Sea Turtles at Black Sand Beach
Yet it is not just anger that rules the day, as the God Kane is thanked for bringing some of the most vibrant flowers and life to the island I've ever seen, coming in neon orange, purple and blue. One day while snorkeling off the beach, I was surrounded by a pod of sea turtles who had come in to feed on the algae on the rocks. How beautiful to be surrounded in a cove with such gentle, beautiful creatures. This is truly one of the most memorable moments of my life.
Ku, Hawaiian God of War
The god Ku has become synonymous with Hawaiian nationalism. Ku is a political symbol for indigenous people, who were forcefully taken over by Americans that wanted to claim the island for its strategic importance. U.S. Marines placed Queen Liliuokalani under house arrest, giving her no choice but to surrender. Now, given that we are in a new age of questioning the wisdom of colonialism, rural Hawaiians are giving serious thought to whether the U.S. governing system is the best for their land. Hawaiians have one congressperson who represents Oahu (with the populous Honolulu) and one congressperson who represents all the rest of the islands, which are mostly rural. This is an understandable point of contention. Also, rarely do indigenous persons hold office to to their socioeconomic status. Wealthier Japanese immigrants tend to rise to the top in political circles. Regardless of their political arguments, the people were the friendliest of anywhere I've traveled, striking up conversations quickly and genuinely.
Tale of how Henry Obooktah was an "idolater" but became a Christian, Mokuaikaua Church
A point of reflection for me came when I entered the oldest church in Hawaii, Mokuaikaua Church. Itseemed pretty conservative, and had a small museum in the back that recounted tales of converting local "heathens" and "idolaters." This was disheartening. I found that many locals tend to view the coming of white Christians as the first in a wave of foreigners to erase their culture. White Christians not only wanted to eradicate the local religion, but educate the people in the ways of the whites. Western culture equaled Christianity. While this is no longer how many do missions, it is a sobering thought about all that white Christians have done in the name of God, both evil and good.
Christ Church Episcopal, Hawaii
Conversely, I saw a wonderful congregation named Christ Church Episcopal that publicized local cultural events in an effort to embrace syncretism and respect for indigenous practices. It was heartening to see a positive model of Christ-like love and respect for one's neighbor being exhibited! In addition, I kind of wanted to put in my application for pastor and never leave. If I ever move away Kentucky, look for me here.
Sunset in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
I will mull over my visit for some time to come, and look forwardto learning more about the culture, beliefs, and history of Hawaiians. Have you been to Hawaii? What were your takeaways?
Dr. Rodney Sadler This
Monday I went to Raleigh with Rev. Nantambu, Dr. Wherry, and Rev.
Herring to bear witness at the N.C. General Assembly that the policies
that are being discussed in our state legislature are harmful to the poor,
minorities, immigrants, the elderly, our children, and even our
environment. The single party control of
our state legislature and governor’s house mean that policies that would
normally be thwarted by the presence of other voices in debate are able sail
through with minimal opposition.It is
for this reason that I went to lend voice to the concerns of those who are
often voiceless, those who stand the risk of losing not only their access to
unemployment benefits, to Medicaid, and to welfare if they need it, but who
also may well be impeded from voting by voter ID laws and other requirements
that would hamper voter participation.In essence, those most vulnerable in our state might both lose access to
the support system that could sustain them and the opportunity to vote to
regain those rights. I
was compelled to go by more than just the notion of justice, however.I was also compelled to go because the
policies of our legislature, some of which are well on their way to enactment,
are an offense to God.They are an
offense because they violate the principles of ancient Hebrew Scriptures that
posited the king (read government) was responsible to ensure that the rights of
the poor, husbandless women, fatherless children, landless immigrants, the
infirmed, and other socially vulnerable groups would be protected from the
abuses of the powerful.When the king (read
government) failed to address these concerns, worse, when the king (read
government) actively abused these groups, God called forth the prophets to bear
witness to the will of the Lord and to remind the king of his (its)
responsibility.It was for this reason
that I felt led to go; to go and lend my voice to the voice of Amos and Micah
and Isaiah and Jeremiah…and Jesus. We
are at a point in time where our leaders have forgotten that their duty to lead
is circumscribed by more than the dictates of party allegiance and party
politics.Good will and an eye toward
protecting the interests of the socially vulnerable has been thrust aside by a
seemingly predatory attitude that has placed the needs of many North
Carolinians at risk.This is
particularly troubling when the vast majority of our legislators claim to be
people of faith, beholden to the same obligations to those on the margins as
were the kings of old.They are reading
the same sacred Scriptures that we read, yet they seem to have forgotten the
call of the Lord on their lives.It is
to these sisters and brothers that I went to bear witness to the word of God,
hoping to remind them that as people of faith, it is wrong to enact policies
that hurt the “least of these” who are also children of God created in God’s
image.I went in Love to remind them of
God’s concern for all people, hoping that maybe, just maybe they would alter
their policies and remember their responsibility to civility.My hope
that this change in their hearts can happen remains! It
is in this regard that I write to you today, calling on you to go to Raleigh
and bear witness at the State House next Monday,
May 13th.Your witness can come in
the form of bearing a sign, speaking to an elected official, praying with a
group of similarly concerned citizens, taking a parcel of letters to your
representatives, singing a song; mine on Monday came in the form of getting
arrested for civil disobedience. This
was a difficult choice for me to make for many reasons.In part, it was difficult because I had never
been arrested before.I am a nearly 46
year old African American man who had never been handcuffed, fingerprinted,
frisked, booked, mug-shotted, or locked behind bars (except by choice as a
visitor to a prison).I have worn this
as a badge of honor and intended to maintain this streak for the rest of my
life.This avoidance of the criminal
justice system really meant a great deal to me given the statistics related to
black men and incarceration.Further, I
have an extreme aversion to being penned in in any way, so the thought of being
forcibly locked behind bars was particularly repellant to me.But Monday, I chose to allow myself to be
arrested, anyhow. I
chose to be arrested because the issues at stake are too great to ignore.I chose to be arrested because the impact of
this legislation if allowed to pass could mean that our state would return to a
state of affairs in our racial politics akin to the status quo of the
1950’s.I chose to be arrested because
those people most affected by these policies need willing advocates to speak up
for them, with them.I chose to be
arrested because the world that the legislature is threatening to create is not
the one I want to leave to my daughter…
So
I am calling on you to go to Raleigh next Monday, May 13th and to find a way to
bear witness. Your witness may take the
form of any of those forms of protest I suggested or may take another
form. Your witness may even be to join
with me and the 50 or so others who have thus far been arrested. If you choose this form of witness, I would
encourage you to do so fully cognizant of what it could mean. I would not want you to be unaware that it might
require you to return to Raleigh, to perform community service, to stay away
from the GA for a period, to sit in a holding area for a time, to endure the
suffocating feeling of incarceration for a moment, to surrender your control of
your own life for a few hours in the interest of serving God and others. But if you choose this form of witness, I
think it can be a worthwhile means of adding your voice to the growing chorus
of those who are also bearing witness for God.
I
was arrested with a group of wonderful and committed individuals from a range
of different backgrounds.Three were
nationally renowned historians from Duke and UNC concerned about how pending
legislation might impact the future of our state, one was a prominent UNC
medical doctor concerned with the impact of legislation on healthcare for the
poor, another was a lawyer concerned with the implications to taking away
citizens’ rights, three were grannies concerned with the direction of our state
on future generations, two were local presidents of NAACP chapters concerned
with the impact of these proposed policies on minority communities, one was a
veteran interested in protecting our state from enemies foreign and domestic, several were clergy who
proclaimed that the proposed legislation violates the will of the Lord, some
were just concern citizens with no titles or roles who needed to say a word,
and one was even a student a week away from graduating from college concerned
about his own future.We were white and
black and Asian and well-to-do and not-so-well-off and married and single and
parents and grandparents and children.While in the holding area we talked about history and theology and
strategy and unity and even spent time networking and forging alliances across
issues.The experience was not a lonely
one; instead it was from the moment of arrest to the moment of release a time
spent in the fellowship of friends.
And
when we went in, we were not alone; not only did we enter jail knowing that God
went with us, we were also surrounded by a cloud of witnesses including
lawyers, legal observers, news teams, film and audio documentarians, and a host
of affiliated supporters who ensured that the legal proceedings took place
without a hitch, that bail was available if necessary, that support was felt
throughout our brief incarceration, and that a meal and car ride was ready for
us when we were released.All and all
it was a well organized occasion that was choreographed to bring maximum
attention to our efforts to bear witness while ensuring that we were safe and
assured that we were not alone.
We
were not alone. I know this most of all
because throughout that evening I could feel God’s hand upon me, calming me,
encouraging me, comforting me, and empowering me to act with Love. During that time I also heard God speaking to
me as the words of Matthew 25:34-40 resounded in my ears:
34 Then the king will say to those at his
right hand, 'Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom
prepared for you from the foundation of the world;
35 for
I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to
drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,
36 I
was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was
in prison and you visited me.'
37 Then
the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and
gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink?
38 And
when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you
clothing?
39 And
when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?'
40
And the king will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of
the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.' (Mat
25:34-40 NRS)
These
words reminded me that the way we treat “the least of these,” those who are
hungry and thirsty (impoverished and unemployed), stranger (immigrant
regardless of status), naked (most socially vulnerable), sick (in need of
healthcare), and imprisoned (under the supervision of the criminal justice
system) is the way that we would treat God if God were standing before us. They also reminded me that our care for those
members of our community in need is wholly consequential. In the passage, the offer of eternal life was
determined based upon whether one cared for the God in need incarnate in those
people in need before us. Whether or not
we believe that such a weighty decision can rest on our actions, it is
impossible not to look at such a passage and realize that what we do for or to
the most socially vulnerable matters not only to them, not only to us; it matters to God! So I leave you with
these words as I offer you the challenge to join us in Raleigh next Monday,
May 13th to bear witness however you feel is right; “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least
of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.”
Rodney Sadler is the Associate Professor of Bible at Union Presbyterian Seminary and a consultant to the Racial Reconciliation Ministry Team of CBFNC.
In the past few articles and sermons, I have pointed out
that the biblical teaching is that we are to respect our government and be good
citizens of our country, while putting service, devotion and worship of God in
first place. We are to be careful not to confuse patriotism with Christianity.
This relationship has often been described as the separation of church and
state. The government is not to have authority over the church and the church
(or any religious organization, institution or group) is not to have authority
over the government.
We need to be clear, however, that this does not mean that
one’s individual faith is not to influence one’s personal political opinions,
votes, and participation. It also does not keep the church from addressing
moral and ethical issues that affect our nation, state, or community. Neither
the church (nor any preacher) should tell individuals how to vote or which
party to support. But the church, and any pastor, is free to address the issues
of the day.
Having said the above, I want to address a matter that
should be of grave concern to every American, whatever your political
persuasion. Associated Press reported that in the month of June the Obama and
Romney campaigns combined raised $177 million in political contributions. Add
to that fact that the total amount invested in these campaigns is unbelievably,
astronomically higher than the one month total of $177 million. We are talking
about billions! The changes in the law that removes the limits on contributions
and makes disclosure optional has opened the door for individuals and groups,
possibly even foreign entities, to anonymously have enormous power and control.
It is obscene. It is frightening. The “buying” of political office is becoming
more and more a reality. In the long run, the only “winners” in this maddening
trend are the media businesses who are doing right well airing the campaign
ads. I understand that each party says they have to do it because the other
party is doing it. Yet, there must be some way to bring about reform.
I know that individual citizens and even groups of citizens
feel so powerless to have any influence on this run away political nightmare. I
feel the frustration. I also know that in this election year the greatest
concern of each party is “we’ve got to win.” And yet, if we believe in
democracy at all, we know that when enough of the citizens let their voices be
heard, changes slowly but surely take place. I am sure that many of you are a
lot wiser in these matters than I am, but it seems to me that one move surely
is for us as individuals to let our elected officials know that we the citizens
are serious about positive changes. It is not a matter of the Republican or the
Democratic parties. Nor is it just a matter of this election. It is a matter of
the future of America. The land of the free and the home of the brave is in
danger of becoming something very different.
This morning I went over to the YMCA to get some exercise before I came into the office. I chose to start my routine on the elliptical machine. I love this machine because of the intense workout I get; however, it’s placement meant I was stuck looking at a wall of television sets. Most mornings I don’t mind – I catch up on my Sportscenter while I work out. However, this morning, the TVs were all tuned to the various morning news shows. On one TV, a Republican presidential candidate was telling the interviewer that, if President Obama was reelected, disaster and mayhem was soon to follow. At the same time, on another TV, a Democratic Senator was saying that if the Republicans won the White House, disaster and mayhem would follow.
Gotta love an election year. As for me, I closed my eyes, turned on my iPod, and listened to Steven Curtis Chapman.
The next few months, the voting public will be inundated with doom and gloom messages of what will happen if “the other side” wins. I sometimes feel like we are told less about what and who we are voting for and more about what our vote could prevent from happening. In a day and age when so many are living with daily uncertainty about their jobs, their children’s education, and unrest all over the world, the politics of fear seems to be the tool of choice for motivating voters to get to the polls.
As I listened to Steven Curtis Chapman on my iPod singing about God’s love and grace, it got me to thinking: does God have anything to say to a world that is constantly told, “Be afraid, be very afraid”?
The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? – Psalm 27:1
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see – I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.” – Luke 2:10-11
Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated, but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you … - 1 Peter 3:14-15
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. We love because he first loved us. – 1 John 4:18-19
Obviously we will all be making choices when we reach the poll booth this year. However, there are even more important choices that we must make each and every day. Will we choose fear, or will choose salvation, joy, hope, and love? God has given us another option to fear, and Christ is the fulfillment of that option.
We have an opportunity as the body of Christ to change the conversation, to change the attitude of society. We can let Christ be our light and salvation, we can bring good news of great joy to all people, we can give an account of our hope in Christ, we can love as Christ loved us. These are the most important choices we will make this year and any year.
Mark Mofield is the pastor of First Baptist Church of Elon, NC. This article originally appeared on his blog, “In A Moment."
Pilgrim Practices: Discipleship for a Missional Church by Kristopher Norris is book that posits “discipleship is primarily an identity and is formed and practices in and through the church community” (xvi). The way that one forms that identity is through pilgrimage and practice, ancient ways that can and should be renewed in the current social context. After identifying American hyper-individualism as a paradox to the church as the body of Christ and a communal path of missional discipleship as expressed in the book of James, Norris outlines eight pilgrim practices for discipleship: believing, listening, welcoming, committing, speaking wisely, witnessing, caring, and praying.
I resonated the most with Norris’ chapter on welcoming. Norris identifies hospitality as one of the issues with which the church has struggled the most and longest. Since Christianity became a dominant religion, it has struggled with how to treat the poor, as well as its role in fostering racism, sexism, heterosexism , and other –isms from which the greater culture suffers. I was particularly taken with his interpretation of James 2:1-8, where James states that a congregation should not favor a person “wearing …fine clothes” over dirty ones. Norris exegetes that the rich person is a wealthy politician that can do favorable things for the congregation and the poor person is pushed to the side because he can only bring himself and that is seen as a burden. Norris challenges us to look beyond alliances between church and state and the identities that society places on us and embrace the radical hospitality of Jesus, who insists that the poor are blessed and that the rich are on notice.
Also intriguing was his chapter called "Witnessing: I Pledge Allegiance," where he encourages us to be Christians first and then Americans, Southerners, sports fans, etc. He encourages Christians to step outside politics and be more proactive and hands-on to solve problems as churches. I agree with much of this, as the Church engaged in real world problems coheres to the vision of the kingdom of God. I would caution that churches still need to be vigilant and active in the political realm in a non-partisan way on issues like religious liberty and speak truth to power on issues of justice that can only be overcome by overturning unjust policies. I would venture to say that Norris would agree at least on the church taking prophetic stances, based on his statements in the subsequent "Caring" chapter quoting Martin Luther King, Jr. and urging churches to speak against war.
Kristopher Norris writes with great thoughtfulness and wit (I laughed out loud when he referenced Ben Stiller’s attempt at prayer in Meet the Parents) about reclaiming practices that are absolutely necessary for the church to embrace transformational discipleship. I recommend this to churches that are looking to do a study on discipleship. The questions at the back of the book can help facilitate group discussion. Norris’ writing, while solidly researched, is appealing to both ministers and laity, and his humor, compassion, and pacing makes this a quick and enjoyable read.
As a citizen, I am pleased that in our nation we can debate the issues and qualities of those who we consider electing into offices to serve every person. We are in the midst of watching our democratic system at work in choosing leadership.
As a Christian, I am appalled at the abuse of the Scriptures to serve a political purpose. Candidates promote the worst kind of religion that is judgmental, harsh, legalistic, hate-filled. In seeking to win votes, prayer is turned into a weapon and Jesus is given a party label. They trash the Messiah’s directives to love all and serve all with their stump speeches.
Religion is a powerful weapon and has always been used by faith groups to dehumanize others and justify attacks on the lives of those whom they wish to conquer. Christians often use texts picked out of context to denounce their political opponents and turn people’s trust in God into shouts of rage just as Satan used the Scripture to tempt Jesus in the wilderness to serve the purposes of Satan.
Jesus came, not with the political power of an earthly kingdom, but with God’s power that stands up to the darkness of this world raining justice on people and not an angry religion. The power of Jesus sought to call people’s lives to change toward the good; crossing any cultural boundary to lift up the fallen, hurting, the lonely, the forgotten. The power of Jesus loves enemies and sees all humanity as worthy of coming to God’s table.
Jesus came to be a light to all nations. Let us tell the true story.
Michael Johnson is the pastor of First Baptist Church of Rowland, NC. This article originally appeared in their church newsletter, First Baptist News.
“Aren’t you concerned that critics might accuse CBFNC of being too political?” my friend asked, as we stood in the sanctuary of FBC Sylva following a Monday evening worship service last October. The service was part of a collaborative effort of CBFNC and the Western North Carolina Baptist Fellowship (WNCBF) to conduct a joint Fellowship on the Move and WNCBF fall gathering.
WNCBF leaders had requested that I enlist Rev. Hector Villeneuva to serve as the preacher for the service. The inquirer was a pastor, who had been out of circulation for much of the year and therefore was not aware of the events surrounding Hector’s arrest, attempted deportation, and eventual (Praise God!) release back to his family and congregation.
“Don’t get me wrong,” my colleague continued. “I’m in favor of CBFNC’s involvement in the immigration issue. Hector’s story is amazing. But it does concern me that some folks might see it in a more negative light, and might accuse us of violating the separation of church and state.”
“I hear what you’re saying,” I explained to my friend. “CBFNC still adheres firmly to church-state separation. It’s one of our bedrock principles. We’re not engaging in partisan politics. We didn’t even set out to get involved in the immigration discussion. But we did feel called by God to pursue missions with the growing Hispanic population in our state. And we discovered that when you reach out to people with the love of Jesus, when you truly try to be the presence of Christ with them, their issues become your issues.”
CBFNC is, above all, a missions organization. Our missiology is based on our reading of the Bible. By taking Scripture seriously, we are led to be a missionary people. By taking God’s call to mission seriously, we are led down paths that, on our own, we might not choose to go. But as the old hymn has us sing, “Wherever He leads, I’ll go.” And our Bible-based, Spirit-led, mission-focused life together is taking us down some new paths.
Because Jesus, echoing a repeated Old Testament refrain states, “I was a stranger and you welcomed me” (Matthew 25:35), as missionary Baptists we are led to welcome the Hispanic immigrants who have come into our state.
Because Paul explains, “For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility” (Ephesians 2:14), and “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:28), as missionary Baptists we are led to seek reconciliation with brothers and sisters of other races.
Because repeatedly in the Old Testament God’s people are urged, “The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern” (Proverbs 29:7), and Jesus himself described as his personal mission “to proclaim good news to the poor” (Luke 4:18), as missionary Baptists we are led to engage in ministries that address issues of wealth and poverty in our state and world.
These are some of the new ministry paths the Spirit is leading us to take. I can’t say for sure where we’ll be called to go next. But I know one thing for sure. We have no interest in pursuing anybody’s political agenda. Our only agenda is to study God’s Word, listen to the Spirit’s call, and faithfully pursue that call consistent with our heritage as missionary Baptists.
Larry Hovis is the Executive Coordinator of CBF of North Carolina.
Our interim pastor, Dr. Gerald Keown, preached this past morning from Isaiah 58. Verses 6-7 speak of the type of fast that God desires:
Is this not the fast which I choose:
To loosen the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into the house…
It occurs to me that this is exactly the spirit we have seen in Cairo as of late where Christians have protected Muslims at prayer and vice versa. People are fighting against wickedness and oppression and are caring for one another in remarkable ways. I have even seen a picture today of rocks that had been used to defend Tahrir Square turned into a cross and crescent.
As my late mentor and friend Dr. Goodman used to say, when you see God at work among another group, recognize it for what it is and celebrate and honor it. Many people in Egypt are showing us what it is like to live a life in line with the spirit of God, yes secular Egyptians, Christians, and even Muslims. I, for one, recognize it and celebrate it.
Thomas Whitley is an adjunct professor of religion who lives in Columbia, SC, with his wife, Trinity, who is a Student Minister. This article originally appeared on his blog, http://thomaswhitley.com/.
As national political fires heat up, the subject of separation of church and state once again becomes a topic of intense debate. We Baptists may belong to different political parties or prefer to vote as independents, but we ought to be clear when it comes to the separation of church and state that there is historically one consistent position for Baptists. Our faith is founded upon the notion that there should be religious freedom for all people and that the separation of church and state is a biblical principle supported by Jesus. When he taught his followers to “render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and unto God the things that are God’s,” he established a wall that we should understand and respect.
Our Baptist forbearers understood this. As Baptists they were frequently the recipients of unfair treatment of a church-dominated state, both in the old world an in the fledgling American colonies. That is why Baptists like John Leland are so important. He demanded an absolute separation of religion and government. Leland argued to men like James Madison who framed the U.S. Constitution:
Government should protect every man in thinking and speaking freely, and see that one does not abuse another. The liberty I contend for is more than toleration. The very idea of toleration is despicable; it supposes that some have a pre-eminence above the rest to grant indulgence, whereas all should be equally free, Jews, Turks (Muslims), Pagans and Christians.
I mention John Leland intentionally because he would be mortified to learn that the award that bears his name has just been awarded by the Southern Baptist’s Ethics and Religious Commission to Alan Sears. Alan Sears who heads up the Alliance Defense Fund has actually advocated the removal of a wall of separation between church and government. He has said, “One by one more and more bricks that make up the artificial 'wall of separation' between church and state are being removed, and Christians are once again being allowed to exercise their constitutional right to equal access to public facilities and funding.” Surely John Leland would be turning in his grave, where inscribed upon the tombstone it says:
Here lies the body of John Leland, 1754-1841, who labored sixty-seven years to promote piety and vindicate the civil and religious rights of men.
Perhaps such Baptist capitulation to the demagoguery much in vogue these days inspired the political candidate who recently proclaimed that the idea of church and state separation did not come from Thomas Jefferson in his letter to the Danbury Baptists, but from Adolph Hitler. Glen Urquhart (candidate for House of Representatives from Delaware) addressed a crowd of supporters when he made this startling announcement:
Do you know, where does this phrase “separation of church and state” come from? It was not in Jefferson's letter to the Danbury Baptists. …The exact phrase “separation of Church and State” came out of Adolf Hitler's mouth, that's where it comes from. So the next time your liberal friends talk about the separation of Church and State, ask them why they're Nazis.
Actually he is quite wrong. As James Evans points out:
Hitler was, in fact, a great promoter of the union of church and state. One of the main features of his consolidation of power in Germany in the early 1930s was the effort to nationalize the Christian church. And for the most part he was successful. Whether out of loyalty or fear, many if not most of the churches in Germany signed on to Hitler's vision as expressed through the Nazi Party.
The fact remains, however, that such irresponsible statements are made with increasing regularity and actually supported in essence by the very ones who should speak most clearly on religious liberty. As Free and Faithful Baptists, we will not succumb to the temptation to retreat from our founding values. Let us advocate for religious freedom for all. That means that no religion is favored by the state. God’s church does not need the state to interfere or to assist in her mission. All real Baptists know this.
Whatever your political party, chances are high that you have Republicans, Democrats, and possibly Independents in your family, whether you are aware of their affiliation or not. This is certainly the case among my relatives. When I was home over Easter, my husband and I had dinner with my mother and father, as well as his father and step-mother. For the first time, our two families endeavored into a deep discussion on religion and politics. Let me stress that our religious and political views are many and varied. I shifted nervously in my seat, hoping we wouldn’t hit a verbal wall as topics related to immigration, health care, and racism were broached.
I kept waiting for the other shoe to fall, but I’m glad I didn’t hold my breath.
In the middle of all of the discussions and negotiations, we kept finding ways to affirm our respect for one another. Perhaps it was the shared underlying belief in our discussions that we were all made in the image of God. “I don’t understand where you’re coming from” became “How much can we agree on?” Eventually we experimented with how our Congress works with statements like, “If we were to introduce a bill on immigration, on what topics could we agree to start forming statements?” The conversation ended with laughter and a solid agreement on the need for term limits and honesty about mistakes, corruption and greed on both sides of the aisle.
Over the course of the last year, we have watched heated ideological differences lead to yelling, spitting, throwing bricks into government offices, growing militia movement numbers, and open-carry rallies that aren’t even about gun rights. We’ve watched some Republicans criticize a Democratic President for negotiating a new START nuclear treaty with Russia, though President Obama used the same terms for negotiating as Republican President Reagan in the 1980s. Conversely, President Bush was never heartily celebrated by many Democrats for his commitment to global AIDS relief or declaring certain environmentally endangered areas to be protected near the end of his presidency.
If we stop seeing the underlying image of God in our neighbor, regardless of political party or religious belief, then we fall into the trap of belittling them or inciting violence against them. Perhaps if both parties could find a way to humanize the other side and figure out what we can agree on, rather than boiling the sum of a person down to a list of issues, we could all sit around a table and laugh heartily like family.
Former President Jimmy Carter stated in a recent video appearance at the Parliament of World Religions meeting in Australia, “Every generic religious text encourages believers to respect essential human dignity, yet some selected scriptures are interpreted to justify the derogation or inferiority of women and girls, our fellow human beings.”
Carter has become a champion of women in religion over the past decade since his departure from the Southern Baptist Convention, and his humanitarian record is impeccable. His comments made me reflect about the global state of women in religion. Carter said, “It is ironic that women are now welcomed into all major professions and other positions of authority, but are branded as inferior and deprived of the equal right to serve God in positions of religious leadership. The plight of abused women is made more acceptable by the mandated subservience of women by religious leaders." This is an incredibly astute observation. While American women are slowly closing the pay gap in the secular world (MSNBC reported recently that women in DC make 92 cents for every dollar a man makes, though they lag far behind in the South), women are far from having equal representation in the pulpit.
Perhaps a perusal of Southern Baptist literature may tell us why. As America’s largest Protestant denomination (though their numbers are declining), their view on women says a great deal about conservative religion and women’s representation therein. The December 2009/January 2010 issue of SBC Life, Journal of the Southern Baptist Convention states:
“The Bible clearly teaches that men and women are equal in value and dignity and have distinct and complementary roles in the home and the church…If families do not structure their homes properly, in obedience to the teachings of Ephesians 5, 1 Peter 3, and Colossians 3, then they will not have the proper foundation from which to withstand the temptations of the devil and the various onslaughts of the world. This in turn impedes the husband and wife from modeling redemption in their home God has called them to (Ephesians 5:22-33).”
The SBC believes that women are separate, but equal to, men (they call it complementary equality). Women’s domestic duties are just as important as those of the men who run the church, and those who violate this teaching invite the devil into their homes. They clearly ignore Galatians 3:28; Jesus’ attitude toward women; Jesus’ appearance to Mary Magdalene before any other after resurrection, making her the Apostle to the Apostles; and all of the women who are cited as church leaders in Paul’s letters, including Phoebe (a deacon), Priscilla (church leader), Junia (a prominent apostle), and others (10 female leaders in Romans 16). SBC leaders are threatening that the devil may take hold of your household if you violate their view of female subservience. They also ignore the landmark case of Brown v. Board of Education, which showed separate can never be equal. But, I don’t wish to get in an argument over prooftexting. That rarely serves any purpose but to find and distort passages to fit one’s own ideology, as demonstrated by the above excerpt from SBC Life with Ephesians 5:22-33.
Rather, I agree with Carter’s view that the entirety of scripture is liberating. While you can prooftext and distort passages out of their historical context, the Bible as a whole has a bend toward freedom, love, and hope. In the Old Testament, Moses frees his people with God’s help, God watches over his people in exile, and God sends prophets and leaders to proclaim social justice (Micah 6:8, Jeremiah 22:3, Amos 5:24, Isaiah 1:17, Nehemiah 5, etc.) as an exhibition of the love of God toward all God’s children. In the New Testament, Jesus comes to declare that the poor are blessed, spends time with the social outcasts (tax collectors, lepers, and women), and has a large following of female patrons and supporters who funded Jesus’ ministry (Luke 8:1-3). Jesus was politically dangerous to the Romans because he served a higher power that demanded love, social justice and obedience to God’s way, not Caesar’s. I take comfort in the liberating and logical words and deeds of Jesus over the fear and ludicrous suggestions espoused by the SBC that my husband and I might embrace the devil because we are both ordained and share housework. I love my God, and 400 years of Baptist history has taught me that personal experience and the priesthood of all believers make my love and testimony valid before my brothers and sisters in the body of Christ.
Carter promotes women in ministry in his words, as well as religion being used faithfully to follow God’s liberating call in the world rather than to restrict and build hierarchies. I think Carter is trying to say that if the glass ceiling is broken at the top, and women can be seen as pastoral models and leaders, then our view of God and society will be transformed. If a woman’s perspective in religion is valued, than perhaps Ephesians 5:22-33 will be seen less as a justification for the devaluation of women and more of a treatise on loving understanding between the sexes.
I’d like to close with Carter’s most powerful words: “At their most repugnant, the belief that women are inferior human beings in the eyes of God gives excuses to the brutal husband who beats his wife, the soldier who rapes a woman, the employer who has a lower pay scale for women employees, or parents who decide to abort a female embryo. It also costs many millions of girls and women control over their own bodies and lives, and continues to deny them fair and equal access to education, health care, employment, and influence within their own communities.”
by Dr. Ken Massey, pastor of First Baptist Church of Greensboro, NC
As a Baptist desirous of defending church state separation and religious liberty, I am troubled by a growing practice among Catholic leaders.
I’m referring to the practice of withholding communion from elected representatives who vote in ways that are not consistent with Catholic teaching. Catholic clergy across the country have either refused to give or have asked officials like Rep. Patrick Kennedy to abstain from communion because their votes are contrary to Catholic dogma. Should any religion use ultimate spiritual leverage to get a vote from our representatives who happen to be adherents of that religion? When does political pressure from religion turn into extortion?
Regardless of the issue or the religion involved, what we are seeing from the Catholic Church is a dangerous precedent that crosses the line into church-state entanglement. We have entered a minefield when ecclesiastical leaders use spiritual coercion on politicians so they vote according to sectarian doctrine.
I am not protesting Catholic discipline in general, only that which is directed at our representatives for the explicit purpose of making their votes line up with Church teaching. And I’m not suggesting that religious groups should not lobby for their causes. Rather, I’m arguing that severing a Catholic politician from their primary means of grace (Communion), leaps far beyond the typical political pressures of money and support. A Catholic should, if they believe the Church’s teaching, consider their immortal souls in danger if they cannot receive communion. A Baptist would just join another church, but for a Catholic politician it might feel like a spiritual gun is being held to their head.
When religious rulers step in between public servants and their sworn ultimate duty to uphold the Constitution, it seems to me that they have crossed a line. Threatening House and Senate members so that they vote with the Church is an unconstitutional goal that effectively creates congressional seats for the Holy See.
The U.S. has avoided the religious wars that entangled the Imperial Roman Church over the centuries. We did this not because we refused to elect religious people, but because we refused to elect men and women as representatives of their religion. Our congressional leaders represent ALL persons of ALL beliefs in their congressional districts. Our founders knew the tragic history of religious politics and rejected it.
This spiritual strong arm on elected officials is bad for the Church because it will create backlash. Many will refuse to elect otherwise capable Catholics if they think these politicians will be obligated or pressured to vote as directed by The Church. The same would be true if Muslim members of Congress were obligated to “vote the Koran” or if Methodist Senators had to check in with their bishop before they voted.
This practice is also a step down the wrong road for a country that values religious liberty. If you think political warfare between secular political factions is hurting our country, just wait for an injection of sectarian religion. There’s nothing quite like a mandate from God to kill compromise and justify any and all means necessary to achieve a goal. We don’t need religious exclusionists taking the mainstream hostage as we see in other countries.
Our country does not need Baptist or Catholic representatives. We need U.S. representatives that vote for the good of the country—a country that has refused to give preference to any religion but instead liberty to all.
