The Seminary

“URGENT NOTICE” Those were the words printed in bright red letters at the top of the sheet of paper that was slipped under my dormitory room door. In the paragraph that followed the words “registered sex offender”, printed in bold red letters, stuck out from the rest of the text. This was an attention grabber to be sure. The brief note that was distributed to every dorm room and every office was to inform us that one of our own (we’ll call him Andre) had been found to be a registered sex offender, and had summarily been fired from his position, escorted from campus, and instructed never to return. At first glance one might commend the school for taking swift action to ensure the welfare and security of the staff and students of the seminary. To be sure the school does bear some responsibility for the well-being for the staff, the students, and their families; some of whom are in residence here at the seminary as well. A more than cursory consideration of the situation however reveals some troubling concerns for the seminary, the students, and the example being set by those who are training up the church’s next generation of leaders.

Prompted by a conversation with another seminarian, and because I had personally had several conversations with Andre that involved more than just “hello” and “goodbye”; I decided to do just a little research. This is what I was able to uncover in about thirty minutes on the computer. Whenever a person is convicted of certain sexually based crimes they are automatically placed on a registry of known sex offenders. Depending on the severity and frequency of the act, the registration requirement can last for anywhere from ten years to a lifetime. In this case the offense occurred over ten years ago, Andre has complied with the registry requirements, there have been no other incidents, this is only a ten year registration requirement which began over nine years ago and should be over in just nine months. Additionally the Metropolitan Police Department Sex Offender Information Bulletin’s entry for Andre states, in bold letters, “he is not wanted by the police at this time.” The ostensible purpose of the registry is to protect the public from sexual predators, particularly violent ones like the one who killed a friend of mine in Florida shortly after serving over twenty years in prison for a brutal attack on a young girl in California. That man (he was executed by the state of Florida) was indeed a sexual predator. Tracking his whereabouts unfortunately was not enough to save my friend’s life. What might have saved her life (and his life as well), is rehabilitation, and reconciliation. The same may have saved Andre his job.

This last thought is the unfortunate paradox of this incident. In the one place, and among the primary people among whom Andre should have been given the opportunity at a second chance to be a productive, respectable member of society he was instead judged, rejected, and stigmatized. If in no other place, the reign of God preached by Jesus should extend its healing, life affirming power on and over the campus of the seminary. This is the place and we are the people who claim to be different from the world. The seminary is the place where we learn to stand in faith and walk on the rough waters of forgiveness and reconciliation. This is the place where future leaders should learn to refute the fear that is so prevalent in this world and by which wars are declared, foreigners declared “illegal”, and prisoners are held in a state of perpetual social and economic captivity. This is the place where future leaders should learn to live lives that seek first the reign of God, and that are truly intentional in living the beloved community. It is unfortunate that in this case we were simply satisfied to conform to the standards of vindictive and unforgiving culture. Nevertheless, I still have hope. For even in this God is still, in all things, working for our good. Like Paul I am not ashamed of the gospel for it does have power to transform those of us who are willing to live by it.

The gospel that Jesus preached, of this blessed reign of God, this year of Jubilee, this “beloved community” has the power to transform us even in the face of this unfortunate event. The good news of the release of the captives can make this a “teachable moment” for those of us who want to let the light of justice, freedom, and righteousness shine brightly as high and lifted on the lamp stand of forgiveness and reconciliation. This can be an opportunity for us to examine how it is that we are truly different from the world. How do we keep ourselves “without spot from the world”? How do we show ourselves to be a people who forgive others even as we ourselves are forgiven? How do we recognize and heal the brokenness of our communities that perpetuates the downward spiraling cycle of violence? How, in this place and time, do we become an example of God’s wide love for all persons? How do we, in this place,

Make A Difference . . . For Life!

The Image of God

Why are we here? What is our purpose, our reason for being? While this can be, and really must be an essential personal question, it is also a question that can, and should be asked of the entirety of humanity. Why are humans even here? In fact, I believe that before we can really answer that question in it's personal, individual form, "Why am I here?" we must first tackle the question from the broader perspective, "Why are we here?" For answers I believe we can turn to the sacred texts of the Jewish, Muslim, and Christian traditions. The Tanakh, Qur'an, and the Bible each understand humanity as the result of deliberate, intentional creation by an intelligent, all powerful God. The names may be different, YHWH, Allah, or just God but the creation story is essentially the same in either account.

In a time when there was no physical realm, as we have come to know it, this relational God decided to create a world and populate it with all types of living creatures, humans among them. The Christian Bible records the event this way,

"God said, "Now we will make humans, and they will be like us. We will let them rule the fish, the birds, and all other living creatures."    ²⁷So God created humans to be like himself; he made men and women. ²⁸God gave them his blessing and said:   Have a lot of children! Fill the earth with people and bring it under your control. Rule over the fish in the ocean, the birds in the sky, and every animal on the earth.    ²⁹I have provided all kinds of fruit and grain for you to eat. ³⁰And I have given the green plants as food for everything else that breathes. These will be food for animals, both wild and tame, and for birds." (Gen. 1:26-29, CEV)

I find it most interesting that the charge and challenge to the newly created being was not, "Praise GOD!". God does not say to the men and women, newly created, "I have created you for My praise". God does not put emphasis on a vertical relationship between humans and God that already existed by virtue of the act of creation itself. As beings created by God, humans are naturally going to seek relationship with God, the creator. What God wanted to emphasize to the newly created men and women is the relationship to the creation.

Many of us already know the pain and heartache that comes from not developing a relationship with the God of creation. We can feel the emptiness of a void that just cannot be filled with anything else no matter how we try. As the One who created us God knows that we will have to come into relationship our creator if we are to live truly fulfilling lives. It is our relationship with one another that God wants us to be intentional about. Notice that the command that God give the newly created men and women is to, "have a lot of children! Fill the earth with people and bring it [the earth] under control. Rule over the fish in the ocean, the birds in the sky, and every animal on the earth."

It has been well noted that the text here says, "So God created humans to be like himself". Books have been written about the fact that we are created in the "Imago Dei", the image, or likeness of God. In what sense are we the image of God? In what way can it be said that we are the image of God? We need look no further than the creation account here cited for answers to this question. Traditional western theological thought puts emphasis on rule and dominion here. I want to suggest that God gives the example of what He has already done to demonstrate what he expects from His creation. God says, "I have provided all kinds of fruit and grain for you to eat. ³⁰And I have given the green plants as food for everything else that breathes." This God who is powerful enough to speak a world into existence, who by the power of His might and will caused all things to be, does not give a demonstration of His dominion and power. Rather God demonstrates who He is by highlighting His care!

Care for creation is the image of God, not rule and domination which has lead to injustice, war, hatred, and the most hideous acts of man's inhumanity to man. (Isa. 5:7) God in essence says to us that it is in how we care for one another, for our earth, and the other creatures that inhabit it that we demonstrate the "imago dei" Understanding this brings clearer meaning to the parable of The Good Samaritan. It is how we care for one another, both individually and collectively as a society, that will ultimately determine the extent to which we display the "image and likeness of God". When we call other human beings "illegal", or "illegitimate" we do not display the image of God. When a few get rich at the expense of the many, we do not display the image of God. When we say that some people are not worth a living wage, we do not display the image of God. When quality healthcare is reserved for the well, the well off, and the wealthy we do not display the image of God.

From the very beginning of creation God has made it clear that our responsibility to display the "imago dei" means not only looking inward and upward, but it means looking outward, to the left and to the right, in front and behind. Our challenge and responsibility is not just to love God, but to do so by following the teaching of Jesus to, "Love your neighbor as yourself". We live in the image of God when we reach out to others and . . .

Make A Difference . . . For Life ! !

My Name Is Nehemiah

My name is Nehemiah and I have heard the plight of my people I am a Metro-Nashville government custodial worker:

During the month of Chislev ^[a] in the twentieth year that Artaxerxes ^[b] ruled Persia, I was in his fortress city of Susa, ^[c] 2when my brother Hanani came with some men from Judah. So I asked them about the Jews who had escaped ^[d] from being captives in Babylonia. I also asked them about the city of Jerusalem. (Neh. 1:1-3, CEV)

During the month of March in the third year that Karl Dean ruled Nashville, I was in City Hall and some of my colleagues came from the schools in the district. So I asked them about those who had escaped from being laid off, the ones who have worked without a pay increase for the last four years, who have had to deal with increases in electricity, gas, food, and housing prices without a single increase or adjustment in pay.

 ³They told me, " Those captives who have come back are having all kinds of troubles. They are terribly disgraced, Jerusalem's walls are broken down, and its gates have been burned."(Neh. 1:3, CEV)

They told me, "The custodial workers who have stayed are having all kinds of troubles. The Director of Schools has written them out of the budget, and the school board has approved that budget to go before the Mayor and the council. The custodians have no protection from losing their benefits, getting lower pay, or even losing their jobs altogether."

⁴When I heard this, I sat down and cried. . . . and I prayed:

⁵LORD God of heaven . . . please have mercy on me and answer the prayer that I make day and night for these people of Israel . . . ¹⁰Our LORD, I am praying for your servants--those you rescued by your great strength and mighty power. ¹¹Please answer my prayer and the prayer of your other servants who gladly honor your name. When I serve the king his wine today, make him pleased with me and have him do what I ask. (Neh. 1:4-5)

When I heard this, I sat down and cried and I prayed: "Lord God of heaven, please hear my prayer for these custodial workers, who are considered the least. As I go about my duties for the Metro-Government let the Mayor appreciate, and value the work of custodians, and have him do what we ask.

⁷Then I asked, " Your Majesty, would you be willing to give me letters to the governors of the provinces west of the Euphrates River, so that I can travel safely to Judah?  "⁸I will need timber to rebuild the gates of the fortress near the temple and more timber to construct the city wall and to build a place for me to live. And so, I would appreciate a letter to Asaph, who is in charge of the royal forest." God was good to me, and the king did everything I asked. (Neh 2:8, CEV)

So we ask, "Mr. Mayor, would you be willing to give direction to the School Board so that the jobs and welfare of the custodial workers will make it safely through this budget process? The schools will need enough appropriation to make this a reality, so we would appreciate that you would make this plain in the budget that you send to the council for their approval.

Nehemiah was willing to get out of his comfort zone, stand up, and make a determination that, regardless of personal consequences, he was not just going to let things go on without speaking up, and speaking out.

The question for those of us who preach "good news to the poor" is, "Are you willing to get out of your comfort zone? Can you speak up, and speak out without regard to personal consequences?

Will you be a Nehemiah?"

Make A Difference . . . For Life ! ! !

True(ly Just) Preaching

I attended the Garnett-Nabritt Lecture Series at American Baptist College last week. The theme of the series this year was, "Between Faith and Freedom, a College in the Middle of a Movement". This year's series commemorated the 50^th anniversary of the Nashville Sit-ins of 1960 that desegregated the lunch counters of downtown Nashville, and began the process of non-violent peaceful protest that ostensibly ended "Jim Crow" in all of Nashville. I say ostensibly because, though there is the appearance of integration, it is only a fascade, and even worse equality has still not been achieved. Inequality exists on several levels not only in Nashville, but through out the entire nation as well.

The idea that we truly have an integrated society is a fallacy. A truly integrated society would be one in which differences would be accepted, not just tolerated, but truly accepted as equal parts of the society and the conversation. What we have today is a society which accepts people to the extent that they are willing to become a part of the dominant culture. Differences in religion, lifestyle, styles of dress, even language, are tolerated, but they are not generally accepted as equal partners in the society. When the Muslim U.S. Representative from the state of Minnesota wanted to be sworn into office using the text which he holds sacred, the Quran, there was a huge public outcry. In those very same halls of congress are several "closet" homosexuals who fear exposure. Most of these people are stalwart, productive, valuable members and leaders in their communities. If it became public knowledge that they where homosexual however, it would be as if they no longer had any value, or voice in the community. Of course some might point to Harvey Milk and Barney Frank, but they are exceptions rather than the rule. Consider the baggy pants wearing rappers, like Tupak, and Biggie, or even Eminem, whose voices and message are pushed to the margins and considered good only for "entertainment". The proliferation of "English Only" and "English First" initiatives seeks to further marginalize those who for one reason or another, in one way or another, do not assimilate into the dominant culture.

In 1954 the majority opinion of the Supreme Court of the United States in "Brown v. The Board of Education" stated that separate is inherently unequal. While this may be true, our experience over the last 56 years has been that the opposite is not necessarily true. Integrated is not inherently equal. Ten years into a new century and there are still major disparities in the education of minority children and white children. Dropout rates among children of color, especially males, continues to outpace their ratio of the population. There are still disparities in the quality of teachers, and resources between schools in the same school district but in different sections of town. Minority children are still treated differently than white children, in the same school, as regards suspension, and other forms of discipline.

It is against this backdrop that American Baptist College used the 53^rd Annual GNL Series to commemorate the 50^th anniversary of the Nashville sit-ins. Many of the leaders of that movement, and the Civil Rights Movement of which the sit-ins where but a part, where students at American Baptist College . John Lewis, the late Dr. James Bevel, Dr. Bernard Lafayette, and Dr. C.T. Vivian were all students. These young men had responded to the call of God on their lives to the ministry of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As they learned more about that Gospel, and that call they became aware that there was an inescapable connection between service to God, and service to humanity. They came to understand afresh the real meaning of Jesus' words in response to the question of which was the greatest commandment:

Jesus answered:

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. ³⁸This is the first and most important commandment. ³⁹The second most important commandment is like this one. And it is, "Love others as much as you love yourself." ⁴⁰All the Law of Moses and the Books of the Prophets ^[a] are based on these two commandments. (Matt. 22.37-40, CEV)

For them there is a reality to the words we learned to pray as children; "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven". These young preachers learned that how we live in relationship to one another right here, and now cannot be separated from how much we say we love and honor God. They learned this, not apart from the gospel of Jesus, but in the context of that Gospel. In the light of the words of Jesus himself as quoted above, and also Jesus' own theme scripture for his ministry and work among us as recorded in Luke chapter 4:

¹⁸"The Lord's Spirit has come to me, because he has chosen me to tell the good news to the poor. The Lord has sent me to announce freedom for prisoners, to give sight to the blind, to free everyone who suffers, ¹⁹and to say, `This is the year the Lord has chosen.' " (Luke 4:18-19, CEV)

These young preachers realized that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is necessarily a social gospel, it cannot be anything other. They further realized that ministers of this Gospel cannot be content to simply go along with a status quo that is in direct opposition to the principles of this gospel that is social in nature. This is the reason they marched, sat-in, rode busses, went to jail, and yes, preached. They preached, and still preach, the same Gospel that Jesus preached. They preach a gospel that challenges the status quo. They preach a gospel that said then that things, as they are, have to change. Inequality, and injustice are not of God and we cannot stand idly by , saying and doing nothing.

The circumstances of their time and ours are not dissimilar. Today we face inequality, and injustice in our communities, on our jobs, and in our schools. We are given the choice to assimilate or be pushed to the margins and silenced. This is not loving "your neighbor as much as you love yourself". Just as the social climate of inequality and injustice has not changed over the last fifty plus years, neither has the nature of this Gospel to which a new generation of young men and women have been called. Now, as then, the challenge for ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, this clearly "social" gospel, is to stand up, speak out, and say that things, as they are, have to change. We may have to march, we may have to demonstrate, we may have to go to jail, and we will definitely have to preach, not only in our words, but in our living and action as well. "The Lord's Spirit has come to me . . ."

Make A Difference . . . . . For Life ! ! !

Non-Violent Resistance: Standing Fast and Going the Extra Mile

: You have knowledge that it was said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say to you, Do not make use of force against an evil man; but to him who gives you a blow on the right side of your face let the left be turned. And if any man goes to law with you and takes away your coat, do not keep back your robe from him. And whoever makes you go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who comes with a request, and keep not your property from him who would for a time make use of it. (Matt. 5:38-42; Bible in Basic English)

I have had the privilege over the past few weeks, along with a group of others, to spend time with Dr. James Lawson, one of the great minds and heroes of the world. Recently Dr. Lawson challenged each of us to come up with a definition of Non-Violence for ourselves. He used as a text the words of Jesus found written in Matthew noted above. Here is my feeble attempt.

First of all when I look at this text I see, what seems to me, a great amount of strength is required to be non-violent. I say this because the goal of non-violence, as Dr. Lawson has explained it, is not simply the absence of violence but the transformation of the one committing the violence. The goal is a transformation in outlook, and attitude. The practitioner of non-violence must see him/herself as being the catalyst for the antagonist's conversion. The Apostle Paul articulated it this way:

"Don't mistreat someone who has mistreated you. But try to earn the respect of others, ¹⁸and do your best to live at peace with everyone. ¹⁹Dear friends, don't try to get even. Let God take revenge. In the Scriptures the Lord says, 'I am the one to take revenge and pay them back.' The Scriptures also say, 'If your enemies are hungry, give them something to eat. And if they are thirsty,  give them something to drink. This will be the same as piling burning coals on their heads.' Don't let evil defeat you, but defeat evil with good." (Rom. 12:20-21, CEV)

Having the ability to not retaliate in kind, to not try to get even, takes a great amount of strength in and of itself. It requires a degree of restraint that we do not often see or possess. What Jesus, Paul, and Dr. Lawson are talking about here is more than restraint, more than just passivism, or even pacifism. These men are challenging us to see our oppressor, that person or group that mistreats us, as needing redemption just as we do, and to see ourselves as the vehicle through which the epiphany takes place.

Non-violence has, at it's core, a genuine concern for the well-being of all persons. It sees all people as created by God, all possessing the "imago dei", and failing to perfectly reflect the image of God in which they are created. Non-violence stubbornly refuses to relinquish compassion, refuses to allow itself to become inhuman by acting in inhumane ways on inhumane thoughts.

This is how the practitioner of non-violence becomes the catalyst for change. When an individual or system imposes it's will in an attempt to force you to be complicit in acts of inhumanity non-violence takes the advantage, refusing to be moved, not striking back when struck, going the extra mile, caring for the needs of it's enemies, eventually, over time, "defeating the evil with the good".

Make A Difference . . . . . . . . For Life ! !

 

I’m Excited!

 
 

"asking all those who believe that pray can change things to pray for the exceeding unemployment rate. people are losing their jobs on a consistent bases but God is still Jehovah-jireh and he still has the ability to provide so for those who are unemployed don't give up God is still in control there is nothing to hard for God. "all things work together for the good of those who love God and are called to his purpose'" – Facebook status for Brian Cash

 

Brian posted this on facebook several weeks ago and I told him that I would be blogging about it. Brian is a colleague of mine at American Baptist College in Nashville Tennessee. An interesting phenomenon has been taking place on the campus this semester. More and more of the new "pastors" at the school are waking up to the reality that what is required in ministry is both prayer and action. By action I mean social action.

It is exciting to see this young pastor already grasping the connection between the God of heaven and the pain and suffering of God's creation here on earth. It is encouraging to see that he, along with others of my colleagues at ABC are understanding that, while God is concerned with your eternal security, He is not happy with the injustice, greed, cruelty, selfishness, inhumanity, and violence we inflict on each other on a daily basis. Not only is He not pleased He is taking action. The exciting change that is taking place is that we are recognizing that God acts with and through us!

It is us who must stand up for what is just and fair. It is us who must decide to call Presidents, senators, and congressional representatives, to account. It is us who must be the conscience of our society, and speak truth to power. It is us who must challenge the Sunday school classes, Bible study classes, and congregations we pastor to be vocal and active partners with God. Brian has been out there, battling for healthcare reform. He understands that a person's health is not a commodity to be bought and sold; valued by a number on the bottom line. He is not alone. There are others. A transformation is taking shape.

And I, for one, am excited!

 

Read the Dang Book!

A few weeks ago, I found myself standing on the steps of the Municipal Courthouse here in Nashville Tennessee. Inside the Nashville Davidson metro council meeting was about to begin. As it happened I was standing next to one of the council members, (who shall remain nameless) and he was approached by a gentleman who introduced himself as the pastor of a church belonging to a Christian denomination in Davidson County.

One of the issues on the agenda was a vote on a bill that would prevent the metro government from firing anyone based on their sexual orientation. First, let us be clear about the bill. The bill is a protection of the right to work for all, including those who are in same sex relationships or who prefer, for whatever reason, same sex relationships. The pastor wanted the council member to join in opposition to, and vote against passage of that bill. To his credit, the council member calmly and firmly let the pastor know that he would indeed vote in favor of the bill. Seeing that the council member was not going to waiver in his support of the bill, the pastor finally asked the council member if he would agree that God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah for homosexuality. I do not know if the council member is a theologian, a serious Bible student, or just someone with a keen sense of justice but he did not fall for the old Sunday school cliché. Out of respect for the fact that I was not an invited part of the conversation, I held my peace.

Nothing is more egregious to me than when someone uses the Bible as the basis for a position that is exactly the opposite of what the book is about! It pains me when people try to use God's Word, as I believe the Bible is, to justify oppression, bigotry, intolerance, and discrimination. Today, in pulpits throughout Metro-Davidson County, this kind of message is being preached and taught. It was not long ago that some of these same pulpits preached that Blacks "bore the mark of Cain", and not long before that, "slaves obey your masters". The problem is that all too many just do not read the dang Book!

So what does the book say? The Book says, "The LORD said, "Abraham, I have heard that the people of Sodom and Gomorrah are doing all kinds of evil things." (Gen. 18:20) Note the book says ALL kinds of evil things, not specific evil things but ALL kinds. What this means is that the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah was not because of any one specific thing, but all kinds of evil things. Now I know that Jude writes, "We should also be warned by what happened to the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and the nearby towns. Their people became immoral and did all sorts of sexual sins." However, Jude's words do not single out homosexuality. Rape is a sexual sin. The only indication of homosexuality in the story of Sodom and Gomorrah is in the account of the men who visited Lot. If we say that this account is what proved they were homosexuals and thus were destroyed by God, then what if they had accepted Lot's offer of his daughters? If they had gone ahead and raped Lot's daughters, would that have been ok? Would God have not destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah still?

When you read the Book you understand that what really pissed God off was a cowardly pack of people trying to use intimidation and fear to take advantage of someone they perceived to be powerless. That is why later on in the Book God says to his own people in Jeremiah, "And you prophets in Jerusalem are even worse. You're unfaithful in marriage and never tell the truth. You even lead others to sin instead of helping them turn back to me. You and the people of Jerusalem are evil like Sodom and Gomorrah."(Jer. 23:14) Again in Ezekiel " As surely as I am the living LORD God, the people of Sodom and its nearby villages were never as sinful as you. They were arrogant and spoiled; they had everything they needed and still refused to help the poor and needy." (Ezek. 16:48, 49)

What I really wish, however, is that my so-called Christian brothers and sisters, especially those who lead congregations, would just take a moment or two just to think through what they are saying. Take the time to read the Book with a heart of compassion, and not eyes of condemnation. Stand for the truth of the Book. Stand for integrity, honor. Build people up not tear them down. Have the courage to stand for right, and righteousness alone if necessary. Don't settle for being a part of the Sodomite mob.

Make A Difference . . . . . For Life.