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.

Giving In: The Lenten Journey

Wednesday marked the beginning of Lent. Lent - the season of atonement, of contemplation, of introspection. Lent - the season of Fish Fridays, boring crackers, and Stations of the Cross.

Lent - the lead up to the holiest of days in the Christian calendar, Easter.

I don't usually follow the tradition of giving up something for the season. I always felt it to be strange to give up chocolate for six weeks, for example, only to binge on Easter Sunday. I always felt if I were to give up something, I would give it up permanently, to go all in, as it were.

This year, however, I do want to make a promise to myself, or to God. I have a few ideas, and even though Lent has begun, I still haven't committed to one. Perhaps this is because I feel like I am doing all I can as a person - in my relationships, and vocation. I feel like I can't do much more than I am already doing. If I did choose to do one more thing, I feel like something else would suffer. I have a limited amount of attention I can give to any one thing. I have a limited amount of patience, which has worn thin with lack of sleep, reading an abundance of depressing news articles, and suffering through other people's problems. I have a limited amount of discipline, which thus far is spent on maintaining my commitment to my writing (and blogging), as well as step counts, and maintaining a certain level of calorie consumption.

Perhaps instead of giving something up, like chocolate or alcohol, it would make more sense to give in... Give in to the fact that I am only human, and accept myself for my limitations, weaknesses, strengths and everything in between. Give in to the fact that Creation works in concert perfectly and always seeks balance. Give in to Divine inspiration and allow myself to be a vessel for words and deeds of compassion and peace, justice and wisdom.

Give in to the greater picture, where I do not exist, except as a cell with a specific purpose in the larger body.

If I can do that, maybe I will find some grounding that can anchor me in mindfulness and inner peace, despite everything else. Perhaps that is my Lenten journey.

Probably would have been easier to give up chocolate.

The Hebdo Attack is Not What You Think

With the Paris attacks fresh on everyone's mind, the question of pluralism, freedom, capitalism, and Islam must be discussed.

Some of you may wonder how all these things are connected, but I assure you, they are.

First, know that capitalism, democracy, and secularism are intrinsically linked together through Western philosophy and cultural development. Capitalism thrives in the democratic model. Secularism, particularly in the market, is necessary for capitalism to thrive. Religious tolerance, and pluralism, is expected for capitalism to work. Goods and services must be traded across cultural and religious lines. By putting beliefs and life expectations on the back burner, capitalism thrives.

It is quite difficult to make a profit if you are fighting with the only person who will buy your goods.

Christianity is ideally suited for cosmopolitan structure because it does not require ritual in daily life in the same way as say Judaism or Islam does. Christians do not have to stop to pray five times a day, or worry about which fork to use when eating animal products. Christianity, by its dogma and praxis, is fairly accepting of diversity (even if all of its adherents are not). Part of this is because of the religion itself, and part of this is because it developed in the same cultural contexts as democracy and capitalism did - primarily in Europe and the US.

Islam developed within a different cultural context from Christianity, though they are connected by scripture and history. The revelation of the Quran does not allow for diversity of opinion in the same way as the Bible. Outside of Jews, Christians, and Muslims are infidels (though if we look at ISIS, one wonders who might be considered a protected class of Jew or Christian at all).

Capitalist ideals are not allowed in Islam - cosmopolitanism is not possible for the strict Muslim. How could a good Muslim interact with someone who is destined to Hell? When the religious revelation is so clear, how can a good Muslim earn interest at another's expense? When the religious revelation is so clear, how can a good Muslim allow his daughter to be exposed to dangerous ideas purported by continental philosophy or scientific inquiry? How can satire or difference of opinion be allowed when the religious revelation is so clear?

It does not surprise me that Muslims committed violent acts in defense of their faith. Within a Muslim cultural context, such satire as Hebdo created would have required such defense. God's justice is swift - black and white, according to such thinking.

I understand the appeal of such thinking. Islam, and religion generally, is the last counter to capitalism. It does not surprise me that people are attracted by the value difference in Islam. Capitalism is deeply flawed and yields to horrible situations for many people (think: Industrial Revolution). The Marxist model in practice, communism, was highly problematic, and so it died despite its important critique of capitalism. Without another ideological counter, there is only one place for people to turn. There is only one rebellion remaining.

Messy as it is, I like democracy. I like freedom of ideas and thinking. My soul is after all, a teacher and counselor. That said, we in the West must recognize the problem. We must admit this battle is not just about resources or race. This battle is over something much more dangerous. If we want democracy to remain in the world, we must consider ways in which to counter the problematic context of its development - capitalism. If we can do that, it becomes much more difficult for the extreme ends of the spectrum to gain momentum and adherents. It becomes much more difficult to say democracy is a cancer if the associated hurtful capitalist actions no longer exist.

Don't you just miss the Cold War?

Torture: To Sin Against God

Follow some simple logic with me now:

The ultimate message of Jesus is love. Jesus wanted his followers to be loving.
Hurting people is not loving.
Therefore, Jesus did not want his followers hurting people.

Torture hurts people. If we follow Jesus, we cannot torture. If we torture, we are not following Jesus.

See how this works?

It is very simple. It does not matter what evil a person has done. It does not matter if they are a sociopath. Torture is inexcusable. Torture is anti-Christian. Every time. All the time.

If we are to love our neighbors, and our neighbors are even those culture tells us to hate, we cannot torture. The moment you torture - The moment you commit violence or cruelty against a fellow human - you have turned against God. You have turned against Jesus. You have begun your own descent into wretchedness.

Instead, forgive your neighbor. Treat them as you would a friend or a sibling or your own beloved child. Show them the path of love and compassion. This is the will of God. Do this, and God's light is realized in you. There is nothing more beautiful. There is nothing more Christian.

Let It Shine

I have to help us all with something...to remind myself and everyone:

The world is dark. There are many evils here, but there are twice as many beauties, wonders, and joys.

The smallest things give us delight: a flower, a good meal, a soft clean shirt, a laugh, a smile, a hug from a friend. We create beautiful things. We imagine true marvels. We give deeply of our spirits, changing everything we touch.

True the night is long in winter, but dawn comes. A new birth is around the corner. This is not the end of things. Do not be blinded by darkness. Do not miss the beauty and joy around you. Do not forget you are loved. Keep these things in your heart. Carry them in your thoughts.

Each one of us holds God's spark. Do not smother it. Hold it against the darkness, in concert with so many sparks. Let it be a great flame - a burning sun - casting rays across the world. Let your love, beauty, and joy fill that light. Let it shine.

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?

The Blessing of Pride: Churches Coming Out

Last night I attended a little panel discussion at my church given by Pacific Pride. There were a few things that stood out about the panel to me.

First, the panelists all had some connection to faith. Generally this was something in the past (and had left scars) and more rarely, it was something in the present.

Second, there were only two panelists who were around my age (actually younger), and the rest were significantly older. The point was made throughout the evening that experiences of LGBTQ people are divided generationally. The experiences of the older panelists were radically different from the younger ones, and certainly different compared to the experiences of my LGBTQ friends.

Third, there was a theme of self exploration and the encouragement of self exploration, not only in relation to personal gender identity, but across the board (As an INFJ personality, I can't agree more!).

And finally, there was a theme of coming out and welcoming.

This last one is what I really want to talk about because it points to several issues in the church. While the panelists asserted that no church should have to "come out" in support of any group of people (see: the message of Jesus), without this act, the very people a church seeks to help will be unwelcome.

In other words, a church must take an open stand, or come out, in order to be recognized as a welcoming place.

There are so many churches in this world that do not take stands on issues. If a person were to call and ask a "closeted" church if they were welcoming of a given group of people, it is hard to know how they would respond. The reality is, most people wouldn't ask, and it isn't their responsibility to ask.

The Church is meant to be a witness to the world. The Church is meant to declare its stances to the world and defend them, regardless of what other people and institutions think. Inevitably this gets individual churches and the Church as a whole into trouble, but that is what Jesus requires us to do. Sometimes, you just need to flip a table. Sometimes you need to call a person out.

My church in Goleta (or rather my dad's church as I'm slightly transient) has yet to take a stand on this. Part of me understands why the community has been dragging its feet (think: denominational BS). Part. Most of me has no idea why they haven't just come out yet. I mean, how can you have 3 openly gay staff members over the years and NOT openly stand up for them?! That's crazy! 

My only guess is it is fear - fear about the unknown - about what will happen if they make a stand. But here's the thing: fear isn't a good enough reason to stop from doing something. Jesus tells us not to be afraid. God tells us not to be afraid, but to step out in faith, and act according to God's will. All God's children deserve love, community, welcoming, and nurturing.

I don't think there's any question here - it's time to come out.