With all the mess going on in Washington…and the awful things they are saying to each other, the news media behaving like vultures and people jockeying for position to be called a hero, we now see this embarrassing fighting standing in the way of making sure the folks of our country are protected, secure and safe…
This particular passage I was reading getting ready for this weeks worship service struck a deep nerve.
“If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.” (Philippians 2:1-13 (The Message))
Now regardless if one is a Christian or not…it seems to me here is a formula for working through this mess…a way of peace, a way of strength, a way of walking the talk. A way in which everyone could walk away saying they had a hand in working through the challenge.
I am sitting at my desk wondering if this country and it’s leadership have become so jaded and drunk with power, they have forgotten the basic tennet of our country which says, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all… are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among the people, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it…”
Maybe it is indeed time for a change. I think this crisis proves what we have known for a long time…the politicians do not really care if you or I can pay the mortgage or rent. They do not really care if you or I have gas. HIV and it’s spread only matters if a large block of voters suddenly die or there is oil in the country. No,the only thing at stake is their position of power, money and comfort,and they would sell their own mother if they thought it would keep them in power.
The behavior in Washington and big business this week proves that all those “so-called Christians” have forgotten a key to their faith…”Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.”
Yes, maybe now is the time to call for a change…and in the meantime all I can say to our goverment:
Shame on you Mr. President. Shame on you Mr. or Mrs. Congressperson. Shame on you Mr. or Mrs. Senator.
Finally but not least by any stretch of the imagination, shame on all those big CEO’s and big business people who forgot why they were in business to begin with,”…that all… are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
We are faced with the conservative political right and the religious right constantly beating us over the head with their brand of morals and practice of faith, telling everone how to think and what the bible says.
We are face with the political left not listening to the real concerns of folks and the progressive people of faith forgetting it is not a contest of “their way or my way”.
Dammit folks, read this passage one more time:
“If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.” (Philippians 2:1-13 (The Message))
Do you get it now? Do you see what it is going to take?
Just a passing pastoral thought on this bizarre Friday afternoon.