Many years ago I heard the great Maya Angelou speak at The Bushnell. She told a story about being approached by a woman who was arguing for or against something or other, and the woman's arguments were prefaced with the comment, "Well, I am a Christian, so ...." Ms. Angelou's response: "Really? I have been trying to be one of those my whole life." So have I.
Some (most?) people want to be led. They want someone in authority to tell them they are right/righteous, that they are saved. They believe justice is rewarding the "good" and punishing the "bad." I believe that divine justice is not reward and punishment, it is healing who and what is broken, and it is (more often than not) our perspectives that are flawed. Jesus taught that those considered sinful by society would be ahead of the self-righteous in whatever-comes-next. There is no humility in the evangelical movement as portrayed by the self-important; their whole shtick is to marginalize others. To borrow more wisdom from Ms. Angelou. They have shown us who they are.
I like your definition of divine justice. That releases us from our deep need to identify those who are in and those who are out. And any day that starts with Maya Angelou is a good day for me.
Even this Jewish girl is familiar with Matthew 7:1-3. Aside from the more formal language, I've always appreciated this interpretation: "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?", a passage Jenna might take to heart.
In my heritage, we don't have the heaven and hell beliefs structure: there's here and now. It's not about a final exam-style reward or punishment. What we do now defines us. We're exhorted regularly to look in the mirror and change what we find wanting, along with apologizing and not just acknowledging, but also fixing, what we broke.
The problem is not that Jenna cannot change. She can. She chooses not to look past the lumberyard in her eye...and the iceberg in her heart.
In my experience, this is a uniquely American Protestant problem. The American [non]denominations have rejected all pretense of keeping the cycle of the Christian liturgical year and the attendant rituals, except of course Christmas and Easter. Great Lent is no longer a time of introspection similar to the period between Rosh Hashana & Yom Kippur. In the Orthodox church, Lent begins with a service of forgiveness, in which we ask forgiveness from God and from each other for all the ways we have fallen short of the mark. It's only one service, but it's still more than anything the nondenominational churches acknowledge, as far as I know. From all public appearances, an American Christian can say or do anything they want, as long as at the end of the day they "confess" Jesus as their personal Savior. This is most assuredly not what our Tradition tells us; as Susan has pointed out more than once, faith without works is dead. But for the neo-Christians like Ellis, "tradition" is not in their vocabulary. Christianity is what THEY say it is
The Republican New Testament must be very thin indeed. They have ripped out all the parts that have the least whiff of "socialism" or "community." It's all about "me, me, me" and my "personal relationship" with Jesus. "My brother" is limited to those who believe just like me, and my obligation to even them is tenuous at best. It is a philosophy doomed to extinction, but not before it destroys everything and everyone in its path.
These people are spouting their own warped form of "being a Christian". Jenna has her blinders on. They say, "I good, you bad." Mix in some right wing buffoonery and it's the perfect Repugnican hate-filled tripe.
Not if that's your approach, no. And I'm not even convinced I AM fine/saved/sanctified, which is that much more incentive to not climb into the judgment seat. I love you, man.
What a horribly unkind thing she said. If she thinks for one second making public statements like that about people who were horribly murdered is an indication of her faith, she clearly doesn't understand love! (or God, IMO)
When I hear or read of such ignorance and hate I go back to the Beatitudes. Those words express what the world so badly need: more love and acceptance! A long time ago when I was fed up with "Christians" preaching hate I started referring to them as EVILgelicals and I will stick to that term to describe the Falwells, Grahams, et al. Here in my city a church calling itself Liberty Baptist is hellbent on fighting to keep the rainbow flag from flying. How is that for abiding by the teachings of Jesus? Oh and let's all remember Pompeo's vile attack upon our teachers for exposing our kids to "filth!"
This reminds me of the song I love with the chorus “They’ll know we are Christians by our love”. God and Jesus were accepting and uplifting of the downtrodden and meek. That is Christianity.
Many years ago I heard the great Maya Angelou speak at The Bushnell. She told a story about being approached by a woman who was arguing for or against something or other, and the woman's arguments were prefaced with the comment, "Well, I am a Christian, so ...." Ms. Angelou's response: "Really? I have been trying to be one of those my whole life." So have I.
We are supposed to be identified by our love. Not this.
Some (most?) people want to be led. They want someone in authority to tell them they are right/righteous, that they are saved. They believe justice is rewarding the "good" and punishing the "bad." I believe that divine justice is not reward and punishment, it is healing who and what is broken, and it is (more often than not) our perspectives that are flawed. Jesus taught that those considered sinful by society would be ahead of the self-righteous in whatever-comes-next. There is no humility in the evangelical movement as portrayed by the self-important; their whole shtick is to marginalize others. To borrow more wisdom from Ms. Angelou. They have shown us who they are.
I like your definition of divine justice. That releases us from our deep need to identify those who are in and those who are out. And any day that starts with Maya Angelou is a good day for me.
The irony is she’s the one risking eternal damnation (if there is such a thing) by not having any empathy for people slain so brutally.
I'm pretty sure you're right. By calling down judgment on others, you call down judgment on yourself.
The hypocrisy burns.
Big time.
Even this Jewish girl is familiar with Matthew 7:1-3. Aside from the more formal language, I've always appreciated this interpretation: "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?", a passage Jenna might take to heart.
In my heritage, we don't have the heaven and hell beliefs structure: there's here and now. It's not about a final exam-style reward or punishment. What we do now defines us. We're exhorted regularly to look in the mirror and change what we find wanting, along with apologizing and not just acknowledging, but also fixing, what we broke.
The problem is not that Jenna cannot change. She can. She chooses not to look past the lumberyard in her eye...and the iceberg in her heart.
Amen. What Ava said.
In my experience, this is a uniquely American Protestant problem. The American [non]denominations have rejected all pretense of keeping the cycle of the Christian liturgical year and the attendant rituals, except of course Christmas and Easter. Great Lent is no longer a time of introspection similar to the period between Rosh Hashana & Yom Kippur. In the Orthodox church, Lent begins with a service of forgiveness, in which we ask forgiveness from God and from each other for all the ways we have fallen short of the mark. It's only one service, but it's still more than anything the nondenominational churches acknowledge, as far as I know. From all public appearances, an American Christian can say or do anything they want, as long as at the end of the day they "confess" Jesus as their personal Savior. This is most assuredly not what our Tradition tells us; as Susan has pointed out more than once, faith without works is dead. But for the neo-Christians like Ellis, "tradition" is not in their vocabulary. Christianity is what THEY say it is
So the very thing they accuse liberal Christians of, they're doing. Lord.
The Republican New Testament must be very thin indeed. They have ripped out all the parts that have the least whiff of "socialism" or "community." It's all about "me, me, me" and my "personal relationship" with Jesus. "My brother" is limited to those who believe just like me, and my obligation to even them is tenuous at best. It is a philosophy doomed to extinction, but not before it destroys everything and everyone in its path.
Sharon for Pastor.
These people are spouting their own warped form of "being a Christian". Jenna has her blinders on. They say, "I good, you bad." Mix in some right wing buffoonery and it's the perfect Repugnican hate-filled tripe.
Jesus had some pretty harsh words for this brand of crap.
"I'm fine, but you're gonna burn."
You are not, in fact, fine.
Not if that's your approach, no. And I'm not even convinced I AM fine/saved/sanctified, which is that much more incentive to not climb into the judgment seat. I love you, man.
AMEN!
What a horribly unkind thing she said. If she thinks for one second making public statements like that about people who were horribly murdered is an indication of her faith, she clearly doesn't understand love! (or God, IMO)
When I hear or read of such ignorance and hate I go back to the Beatitudes. Those words express what the world so badly need: more love and acceptance! A long time ago when I was fed up with "Christians" preaching hate I started referring to them as EVILgelicals and I will stick to that term to describe the Falwells, Grahams, et al. Here in my city a church calling itself Liberty Baptist is hellbent on fighting to keep the rainbow flag from flying. How is that for abiding by the teachings of Jesus? Oh and let's all remember Pompeo's vile attack upon our teachers for exposing our kids to "filth!"
Not scriptural. Not even close. There’s no love in these actions, so how can they be identified with love?
Just saw this:
"People should never be the collateral damage of your theology." - Sarah Bessey
That's awesome.
Now I want to see that Fundamentalist card you carry, though. I picture copperplate, or maybe a gothic typeface. With flourishes.
It's in secret script. I'm not allowed to show it.
Rats.
Sorry-not-sorry.
I love that you annotated this with Bible citations. Something I am incapable of doing, but admire in you.
Thank you. This girl didn't sit through years of Sunday school for nothing, I tell ya.
This reminds me of the song I love with the chorus “They’ll know we are Christians by our love”. God and Jesus were accepting and uplifting of the downtrodden and meek. That is Christianity.
Oh, I remember that song! It was beautiful and haunting.
I fully agree. ❤️✝️