So You're Circumcised: Following Obsolete Rules

Stained glass: Alfred Handel, d. 1946[2], photo:Toby Hudson - Own work

Typically I don't post more than once a month to this blog. I think there's quite a lot of thoughtful religious people in this world and frankly, I like to spend my writing time focusing on other issues. However every now and then, there is an article or social media post that requires a response. In this case, I am thinking particularly of the flawed theology of conservative Christianity. Ultimately, it has to do with how Christians read the Bible.

While Scripture is a good indication of the message, the vision,  the yearning of God it is not the end all be all. We have to take scripture with a grain of salt because God cannot be contained in words - words are limited. Words are flawed. Words have many connotations, and translations, and interpretations. Words are not enough to explain the Divine. 

When I read conservative Christian arguments about theology, I feel pity. I feel pity because the world they describe is black and white. The world they describe is one of fear, hate, and horror. The god they talk about is one that is limited (Otherwise, how could an opposing entity like the Devil compete with God?).

So often these conservative Christians pick and choose parts of scripture and ignore the covenant by which they are charged to live. It is like that test where the first instruction is to read all of the instructions before doing anything. To pass the test, the only thing you do is to read the rest and complete a single item. The Gospels are like the main instruction for that test - they say to read but not follow the Old Testament. The Old Testament is the Old Covenant. The New Testament is the New Covenant. 

I have never been a Jew. If I was, I would have followed the Old Covenant, which includes the Torah. We cannot be Christian and follow the Old Covenant rules. They do not apply. Anyone who says they do is following a religion that is not really Christianity, but rather something closer to Judaism.

 In addition to the nature of words being limited, or following a given set of books, another very important thing to consider about Christian scripture, is that the Bible was constructed. The Bible was chosen and assembled by scholars/religious leaders at the request of political interests at the time. Don't you think that would mean the political interests directed the kinds of content included (at least subconsciously if not overtly)? Don't you think certain things would be left out because they were subversive or conflicted with the political/cultural interests of that time?  The translations have been made in similar circumstances. And that is not even including the biases of translators to use words according to their own beliefs. 

To deny this is to blatantly ignore historical fact as well as human nature.
 

In addition to this, we have to consider biblical writing was written centuries and millennia ago. The kind of issues that plagued such people during that time do not necessarily apply to us today. We have different issues. We have more complicated societies. The ethical dilemmas that plague modern humanity are unfathomable to those who lived during the time of Jesus (fertility treatments, nano technology, or even use of plastic for example). 

The reason why scripture remains relevant is because it can be interpreted by focusing on the heart of the message. We cannot apply words wholesale to a time and place so radically different from the context in which they were written. The reason message of Jesus can remain relevant because it is fundamentally a message of compassion. Compassion is love. It is merciful. It is gracious. It is working to make the world a better place where all people experience belonging, and have their fundamental needs met. It means working for Shalom in the truest sense of the word.

Necessarily, compassion leads us to act lovingly. That means feeding the hungry. It means finding justice for those who have been wronged. That means giving voice to the voiceless. That means sheltering those without housing. That means ensuring people are healthy. It means protecting the environment because we care about our children and our children's children. It means letting women choose how to live their own lives, on equal footing with men. It means forgiving our enemies. It means supporting those who live on the edge of society. It means loving transgender, queer, lesbian, gay, and bisexual folk and treating them as any other human being living on this planet. It means speaking truth to power when power does not have the interests of all people at heart. That is what it means to be compassionate, to follow the message of Christ.

If Jesus is compassionate and our religion, Christianity, is based on his example, I have no idea where a God of judgment and punishment comes from. I have no idea where conservative Christians get this stuff. It kind of sounds like they're following the god of the Torah...so maybe they're Jews in disguise. And that's fine, if only they would admit it.

Jesus Was a Feminist

Everyone. Not one group. Not some groups. Not even most people. All people.

I thought this conversation was antiquated. I thought it was a no-brainer. Why would we be having this conversation now? Why is it even an issue? I don't know, but apparently it still is. I am thinking in particular about sexism, though it is also an issue with sexuality, race, and socio-economics (why do we have to talk about this again?).

Let me first present the Christian argument for equality.

Whatever argument one makes about the Old Testament scripture is invalid. Remember that was the Old Covenant and Jesus' message is the New Covenant. Therefore Jesus' message supersedes any law or principles in the Old Testament.

Now, let's also consider the fact that the Bible is a collection of texts deemed important by a group of men during a time when equality was an incredibly radical concept. Let's also remember these texts a're translations and some words have been extrapolated or reinterpreted and many translations borrow cultural concepts from previous ones.

So...with all those caveats...

Jesus, during a time when men were considered more important than women, spent time with women. The woman at the well is often cited as the first missionary. Women stayed at the cross when the male disciples fled. Women went to the tomb and saw Jesus first. Jesus held up the marginalized as important - as worthy of attention and value. He spent as much time with children, lepers, and women as he did anyone else. His actions say it all - we are all equal in the eyes of God. We all are valuable and deserving.

Some will say, but Jesus was a man. Yes. Jesus did have a penis. But let's remember the time - would a Jesusita been received as well? Had as great an impact? No. A woman wouldn't have been listened to in the same way as a man during that period. The argument that because Jesus is a man that leadership should be male is based on false logic.

And this is a different day in a different age.

So I say again, why are we even having this conversation?

"Religion is for the Strong" or "Jesus the Bad-ass"

You're probably wondering how I could possibly have this title when I'm a Christian.

I'm not saying that only "strong" people can be people of faith - those perfect people who seem to have everything together and do everything right (i.e. 2.5 kids, dog, white picket fence, personal trainer and a 3 course meal every night). I'm not refuting Jesus' message of "blessed are the meek" or "blessed are the poor." I'm saying you really can't be religious without accepting the fact that religion will challenge you. Challenge is hard. Challenge requires determination and persistence.

This challenge comes in the form of asking tough questions (such as really engaging Jesus' messages and questioning how they can be applied in our lives) and requiring counter-culture actions (such as protesting unjust legislation or helping to build sustainable communities for the poor).

You can't be weak-minded and be a person of faith - not if you're truly a person of faith.

I don't mean that a person who has struggled in life and has been beaten down wouldn't be able to be a person of faith. In fact, that person, tempered and honed by experience is probably more likely to be strong in faith than not. Having your faith regularly tested is kind of like leveling up in a video game - every fight becomes an easy win after a while.

Strength comes in many different forms, but the kind that is required for faith and commitment to a community like a church requires some serious thought and engagement with scripture.

I've been saying these kinds of things for years, but it's nice to read some others' words echoing my own feelings on the subject. It seems a lot of people who are currently atheist became atheist because the Church made a mistake. They dumbed-down the message of the gospel. They pandered. They sold-out. However you want to put it, they stopped pushing the strong counter-culture message of Jesus and started putting up some kind of "Buddy Christ" idea for mass consumption, thinking this would be more attractive.

But Buddy Christ is a joke. No one respects this guy.

My Jesus is the Jesus who called authorities on the carpet with quick thinking. My Jesus is the Jesus who made a whip and chased the money lenders out of the temple and flipped their tables. My Jesus is the one who spent time with the people who were the least valued by society and showed them compassion and love. My Jesus is the Jesus who said rich people can't go to heaven because they're too attached to their things.

My Jesus is a bad-ass. He might piss you off. He might humiliate you in front of your peers. He might cry openly in front of hundreds of people. But whatever he does, he does it completely.

That's a guy I can get behind - a guy people respect.

This is the message, the focus the Church needs to return to. And it pisses people off. It makes people uncomfortable. But here's the thing - it's the only way for the Church to be. This is how you build a community - not by making things easy, but by expecting more from people.

Think about your favorite teacher in school. It wasn't the guy who put movies on all the time and then gave you worksheets to fill out. It was the person who demanded more from you - who asked you tough questions and forced you to do things you never would have otherwise. It was the teacher who called you to his or her desk after class and talked to you - asking you point blank why you weren't doing your best. And honestly this was the class you wanted to come to every day - not the worksheet/movie class.

The Church needs to be like our favorite teachers. We need to embrace Jesus the Bad-ass and share him with everyone around us. We need to ask tough questions and call people on the carpet when they're not doing their best. We need to try things we've never tried before...and then, only then, will we truly reflect the Kingdom of God.

Scripture Still Speaks

Sometimes the only thing to be done is to go back to the source.

Lately many people have been telling me to trust and to let things go. Considering how high strung I've been in the past, I think I've been doing a pretty good job of this. But sometimes, you feel so down in the dumps for such a while that nothing seems to help. The cycle of depression and despair seems so great and so overwhelming nothing makes you feel better.

That's when I get a book.

In my case, it's a red hardback with white and gold lettering - the New Oxford Annotated Bible. I'm of the mind that the spirit - or what you need - will guide you to find exactly what you need when you need it. This might seem a little strange to some people, but it tends to work for me. I do this when I visit libraries or book stores as well, letting the words of the space speak on their own. Eventually they lead you to what you need.

In the case of the book, I hold it upright and then let it fall open to whatever page it deems necessary (This only works if the spine isn't battered to hell by the way, otherwise it would turn to the same pages over and over again.). Since today was just one of those days when I needed guidance, or a good word, I did exactly this. And the book spoke.

It opened to Joel - the very first page of the book.

I doubt I've ever read Joel with any kind of closeness (though some of the passages were certainly familiar to me). As I read the story, I felt my own  despair and difficulties echoed in the words. I read the beginning of chapter 1 and then I thought I turned the page, but really turned several. It led me to the end of chapter 2, which if you know Joel, you know talks about how God will not let the people continue to suffer. In fact, it talks about how amazing things will happen and the harvest will be plentiful in every way. It talks about the spirit being poured out onto the flesh which will cause visions and dreams.

And this is reassuring.

For a person with the gift of "intuition" or "discernment" or whatever you want to call it, this is a bit more than an average level of reassuring. And for someone who has been dealing with a very difficult time in her life, a metaphorical plague of locusts, the idea that God will not let this continue is also reassuring.

On the phone yesterday my mother said, "Miracles come in many forms. For now, we'll be a vessel for your miracle." And to some extent, I feel like that may be true. Perhaps my parents' support will act like a dam until a larger miracle comes forward, allowing this flood to be forded. This is my sincerest hope and wish. I hope the words of Joel, echoing across thousands of years are not hollow, but hold a hint of what it to come. I have to believe this is true. The alternative is too stark, too hard for someone weakened as I have been. For that reason, I pray a thankful prayer, grateful for the miracle that is promised.

Not In Our Backyard! or "I'm a Christian BUT..."

I am shocked and disgusted. I wasn't sure I was going to write this post, but I think I have to. There's a money lender table that needs flipping.

I have to point out the few things that strike me about the battle being waged against my father (and my Father, if you know what I mean).

My dad's church in Goleta has applied and received a permit to participate in a safe parking program. The program allows vetted individuals the opportunity to park in a safe location within the community. These are people who cannot afford a home. They have no home, which isn't too surprising considering they're living in a place which has one of the more expensive housing costs in the country (Thanks prop 13! Thanks no living wage!). The rules of the program in question are incredibly strict, and when violated a single time result in expulsion from the program.

We're not talking about drugged out vagrants here. We're talking about upstanding people who happen to be too poor to live in an apartment. There's a difference.

Poverty is not a crime. However many people from the community have effectively said this very thing. The idea of having poor people in their community is repellent. It is frightening - disgusting.

My father has often called me despairing the negative reaction of community members to the efforts his church is putting towards serving those in need in Goleta and Santa Barbara. He is just doing his job as a pastor, helping his church to realize the will of God in their community as they feel called. What could be more in line with Christian teaching than serving the homeless? I can't imagine anything more Christian.

But maybe my definition of Christian is off base.

One of the things he related to me which was particularly concerning was the repeated statement at the series of hearings held regarding this issue "I'm a Christian, BUT..." Inevitably this phrase is followed by another much more shocking phrase to the tune of "...not in my backyard!"

Ahem.

This type of sentence is akin to saying, "I'm a vegetarian but I eat chicken." Excuse me deary, but if you eat chicken, you're NOT a vegetarian. You're a fraud.

So, "I'm a Christian but I don't want homeless people staying across the street from me!" is confessing that actually, sorry, no - you're NOT a Christian. I don't think the Jews or Muslims would accept you. No, you're pretty much not adhering to the will of God. You're actually going AGAINST God. Read a few scriptures. You'll see it pretty clearly.

I will grant the fact that being a good person of faith is difficult to do. It's something that takes practice and discipline. But some choices presented to us are easy and logical and require little effort. This safe parking program is one of those easy choices. It's not even on the same level as giving your leftovers to the guy begging on the park bench. It's easier than that, and giving your leftovers away is PRETTY easy (speaking as someone who does that regularly when I actually have leftovers). Pushing against such a choice that would have a positive impact on a person's life is a horrible, wretched thing to do. It is not loving. It is not a reflection of God's will.

So, I pray most sincerely that the people of Goleta will be struck like Saul. I pray their hearts will be opened, they will hear the will of God and the call to be a good neighbor to all their neighbors, regardless of their income level or housing status. Amen.

The Context of Scripture