LETTER TO THE EDITOR
The words “faith and belief” express so many shades of meaning, so many subtleties experienced in life itself. When we speak of faith or belief, those of us who have roots in theism, turn to a God whom we have experienced through the centuries through personal encounters, many of them written about in the Bible. As people “of faith” we have born witness to God’s embrace of the human race from the time of our creation until now as God has strived to help us become God’s children, whose character can best be described as loving, kind, just and yet merciful, truthful but not brutal in our truth, and able to empathize with others, even if those “others” find their origins or roots in different religions or philosophies from our own. Or, these others may originate in a different branch of our family, such as in the case of the three major monotheistic faiths, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
Some, refusing to accept or embrace that there is anything or anyone to embrace them in return, refuse to believe. This orphan-like posture is born of loneliness, which is a good metaphor for what the human race seems to be going through right now.
Every week we see photographs of children who have lost parents and family in wars. Some of these same children may be missing limbs and their lives have literally been torn apart by those making war in order to secure natural resources. We live on a planet with diminishing resources. And, because the human race has a tendency to fight for resources, rather than to share, the result is bombed cities and diseases caused by “depleted uranium” shell casings, and families torn asunder by the inhumanity of war. The proliferation of the arms trade has led to thuggery in many nations, with the Kalashnikov battle rifle raised in the air as a prime symbol of domination of the weak, and also as a symbol of the weak, who take up arms to protect themselves from world powers. Even now, as 2008 draws to an end, the infrastructure of Iraq and its cities has been battered since the beginning of the United States war against Saddam Hussein with the campaign of “shock and awe” which destroyed much of an ancient civilization’s treasures, and led to looting of its museums, while children lost families and the security that they knew, though it was severely limited under Saddam’s regime.
The letter of James expresses life conditions well, even now, at the beginning of the twenty-first century:
1Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from? Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you? 2You want something and do not have it; so you commit murder. And you covet something and cannot obtain it; so you engage in disputes and conflicts. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, in order to spend what you get on your pleasures. 4Adulterers! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5Or do you suppose that it is for nothing that the scripture says, “God yearns jealously for the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 6But he gives all the more grace; therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:1-6 NRSV
What can we as people of “faith” do in times such as these? We can choose to “faith” or we can choose to “fear.” These two basic choices are not born of powerlessness, but are born of the possibility of empowerment—empowerment by our God.
People become desperate when they believe that “there is no choice” or, “there are no choices.” Democracy, born in the lineage of the Western European traditions, which honors not just “those in power” in government, but those who are the very foundation of civilization and nationhood, recognizes that we have the right to choose which “faith” we shall honor and base our lives upon.
There is a profound sense of “disempowerment” which has come about in the past eight years of President Bush’s administration. But, this sense of “disempowerment” has not affected those who are corporate C.E.O.s or those who are in the United States Senate or House of Representatives. There is a fear that the United States is becoming a nation of “haves” and “have not’s,” such as might be found in other nations around the world. This fear indicates a perception that those who “had” what they needed and wanted, might lose the ability to continue in their previous lifestyle(s).
Investments have shrunken due to bad choices made in the housing market, i.e., Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, caused by greediness and unrealistic attempts to bolster the lifestyles of corporate leaders and managers. We are discovering that “faith and belief” require more than just simply inviting Jesus into our hearts to “save us,” with our own personal salvation being the “end all” of evangelical Christianity. John Wesley knew no such limited version of Christianity. Wesley’s understanding of grace, prevenient, justifying, and sanctifying, extends from an individual’s invitation for Christ to enter his/her heart, but goes beyond this very first step in the faith journey.
Many, who call themselves “evangelical” focus on this first step, but may not go beyond it. A good case can be made that many who call themselves “evangelical” go beyond the first step. A good example of this can be found at Saddleback Community Church, under Rick Warren’s leadership, as that congregation has extended its ministry beyond individual salvation to reach out to the poor, respond to those harmed in California’s wildfires, and a good many other forms of “sharing” the gospel in deed and not just word.
This is true of other evangelical congregations, and is born out in my own faith tradition, that of United Methodism.
In this Christmas Season when we remember that God “gave” Jesus and that Magi “gave” gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, perhaps it is time for we as Americans to re-examine why we spend so much money on massive televisions, expensive vacations and other things that we “want,” when there are so many who do not have what they “need.” While there are some who say, “I do not want to change my lifestyle,” when their churches carry out annual stewardship campaigns asking to support the ministry of Jesus Christ, I would ask a question: “If the Christ had chosen not to change his lifestyle and had remained in heaven, rather than assuming the form of a servant (see Philippians 2:5-11), what would have become of us?”
Christmas leads to the Cross. And conversion leads to a Cross for each of us who bears the name “Christian.” An old German Christian saying comes to mind as we prepare for Christmas, finish 2008 and begin another year: “No Cross, No Crown.” This goes against the flow of much contemporary “feel good” preaching found on television these days. While God does indeed bless us and save us through Christ, Christianity without the Cross is not Christianity. And, to quote James, “Faith without works is dead.” (James 2:26). Let’s remember at this Christmas time, that Jesus came to save “us,” that we are in this together, and that we are part of that tribe drawn from every nation, time and place, the Church of Jesus Christ, the “ecclesia,” the called out people of God, who exist in word and deed to proclaim that “God is love.” And, we must remember, that “love” (faith put into action) knows no stranger, covers a multitude of sins, and soothes the loneliness which we all share. So, we, with the Church of All Ages, sing this ancient song, which the apostle Paul shared so long ago:
“5Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. 9Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:5-11 RSV.
Love came down at Christmas time,
Rev. Chris Madison
Otterbein, Indiana
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