September 11-Then to Now

It is time to connect more dots. These past weeks have been filled with conversations about a planned Muslim cultural center a few blocks from Ground Zero and the planned burning of copies of the Koran by a fundamentalist pastor in Florida. In between, two wars are raging, our economy is struggling with millions unemployed or underemployed, numerous CEOs receiving millions in bonuses, a Congress that does not have the grace to think of the country first, the fall elections trending strongly Republican, and the president struggling to find his way. So many dots.

Last evening, Linda and I watched a CNN special on the Enron debacle. This morning we watched a historical piece on 9/11. My blood pressure soared to heights I never see, a literal truth, and this was nine years hence. Are there common threads?

May I suggest FEAR, and its partner, DEFENSIVENESS. Fearful people are defensive. Fearful people build walls. Fearful people find enemies, like immigrants. Fearful people turn violent and christen war as the ultimate answer to our paranoia. Fearful people use God to justify hatred against other religions. Fearful people forget about the higher values of our Constitution and make exceptions, to their advantage. Fearful people forget about the common good and focus on personal survival. Fearful people lack generosity. Fearful people react rather than respond.

Fearful people turn to leadership models like Sarah Palin, Glenn Beck, Rand Paul, the Arizona governor and prejudiced networks. Fearful people are blindly ideological, refusing to act as adults, but only as whining children who will only say "No!" if they do not get their way.

May I also suggest GREED. There is a reason why this is one of the "Seven Deadly Sins". Greed is about ME. Concern for the common good happens only when it means ME doing well for MYSELF. Remember the fallacy of the "trickle down theory"? The evidence is in and the results are as follows: more millionaires and billionaires, and many more less well off, with a shrinking middle class and growing lower class. Oh, and we might as well toss in a multitude of politicians on all sides who have sold their souls to corporate lobbyists. After all, it is all about getting re-elected and "showing me the money".

And "we the people" may as well stand in the docket of the guilty. We sometimes spend too much (when we have it to spend). We support leaders who have the power to "go big" in reaction to events. We often do not take the time to think of the big picture or of those beyond our own struggles. We are another of the many dots.

What is the way through? For me, the Church, the Body of Christ, give some hints. Yes, certainly the followers of Jesus have done their share to create havoc, and many of those who are the main "havoc makers" worship regularly and feel close to Jesus. We can all be deceived and deceive ourselves. Guilty as charged.

I belong to the ELCA, the church that voted to allow gay pastors living together in a committed monogamous relationship to pastor a congregation. It took faith, courage, a strong sense of justice and compassion, Biblical thoughtfulness, to pass this resolution. I support it. The ELCA has a strong statement on economic justice lifting up the common good as the central feature. Its position on peace is inclusive and not reckless, supporting the principles of just war and pacifism and nonviolence. We are a big tent. And I could go on. Not perfect, but faithful, thoughtful, justice focused, peace centered, inclusive and respectful.

I read the gospels and see a Christ who heals, teaches, and preaches, and does not advocate violence. Christ is an active pacifist, advocating justice and peace, welcoming all to the Table of the Lord. Jesus is one who speaks truth to power and sacrifices himself instead of others. Jesus is one who is humble to the God of Abraham and lives today through the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self control. Jesus is the one who casts out fear and greed and replaces them with love and generosity.

Social change begins in the heart. I can think of no better place to have "heart surgery" than with Christ, and being part of a church, a congregation, that practices the Spirit of Christ. Frankly, some churches do it better than others. Just look around. When you worship and hear the call to hate, to advocate intolerance, to blindly support capitalism without constraints, to speak of justice only in limited, ideological terms, then move on, as evil is at work.

In this time of fear, defensiveness, and greed, I know of no better place to begin restoration, to nurture hope, to plant the seeds of justice and to fly the dove of peace, to connect the dots, than with the Christ, and in a church where the Spirit of Christ blooms amidst the community of the faithful.

Peace!

Ron