How Long? (Pastor's message for July 2016 newsletter)

Dear Emanuel Members and Friends –

O Lord, how long shall I cry for help,   and you will not listen?
Or cry to you ‘Violence!’ and you will not save?
Why do you make me see wrongdoing and look at trouble?
Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise.
So the law becomes slack and justice never prevails.
The wicked surround the righteous— therefore judgment comes forth perverted. (Habakkuk 1:2-4)

Habakkuk’s complaint to God about the breakdown of his society may sound strangely familiar.  Destruction, violence, strife and contention are our daily news headlines.  It seems that scarcely a week goes by without yet another mass shooting here at home or terrorist incident overseas.  It seems increasingly we are governed by coin-operated legislators and asked to choose between coin-operated political candidates – and as a cynical parody of the “golden rule” states, “those who have the gold make the rules”.  As Habakkuk wrote, “the law becomes slack and justice never prevails” and “judgment comes forth perverted”. 

As Christians, how do we respond?  We need to begin by recognizing that as Christians, our primary allegiance is to God as revealed in Christ Jesus – not to a candidate, not to a political party, not to the NRA or the ACLU or to any other interest group within society.  Indeed, our allegiance to God even transcends national boundaries.  As the old song goes, “He’s got the whole world in his hands.”

Thus says the Lord:
For three transgressions of Israel,  and for four, I will not revoke the punishment;
because they sell the righteous for silver,  and the needy for a pair of sandals—
they who trample the head of the poor into the dust of the earth, and push the afflicted out of the way;
father and son go in to the same girl, so that my holy name is profaned;
they lay themselves down beside every altar on garments taken in pledge;
and in the house of their God they drink wine bought with fines they imposed. (Amos 2:6-8)

They hate the one who reproves in the gate, and they abhor the one who speaks the truth.
Therefore, because you trample on the poor and take from them levies of grain,
you have built houses of hewn stone,  but you shall not live in them;
you have planted pleasant vineyards,  but you shall not drink their wine.
For I know how many are your transgressions, and how great are your sins—
you who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe, and push aside the needy in the gate.  (Amos 5:10-12)

The prophets are commonly thought to have predicted events hundreds or thousands of years in the future – but this is a misunderstanding of their mission.  Biblical prophets such as Habakkuk and Amos were not fortune-tellers, but instead were like physicians, accurately diagnosing the evils of their society and making a prognosis of the harm that would come to society in the future if society didn’t change – just as a doctor might tell a patient that if he or she continues to smoke three packs a day, sooner or later he or she is likely to get lung cancer.   Unmasking the evils in society that those in power tried to hide, naming the elephants in the room that those in power preferred to leave unmentioned – this was the mission of the prophets.  For example, the writings of Amos, Isaiah, and other Old Testament prophets, along with the teachings of Jesus, make it clear that God is greatly displeased by vast gulf between the fantastically wealthy and the indigent poor.  Following the example of the prophets, we as Christians should not ignore the evils of our day, but be willing to speak up for what is right, even if it costs us to do so. 

“We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming.  But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love….So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another. (Ephesians 4:14-16, 25)

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God – what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2)

But before we speak, we need to know what we’re talking about.  Political leaders often gain votes by telling half-truths, if not outright lies.  Radio, TV, and cable commentators gain listeners by stirring up emotions, seeking to inflame rather than inform.   Speeches at political conventions often give off more heat than light.  Anyone with a grudge or an agenda and some minimal talent in the use of Photoshop can create a misleading photo or Facebook meme – and social media makes it possible for such misinformation to circulate instantaneously, so that, as the saying goes, “a lie can make its way halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to put its shoes on.”  Even if (especially if) the claims of candidates, commentators, and social media postings mesh with our preconceived notions and prejudices (we all have them), it’s important to verify their truth or falsehood before passing them on.  Websites such as Snopes.com and Factcheck.org, while not infallible, can be helpful in sifting falsehood from truth.  God is not honored by the circulation of half-truths and lies, even if done with the best of intentions.  Before we forward that political email from a friend of a friend or share that meme from Facebook, let’s do our homework.

“The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell. For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, but no one can tame the tongue—a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so.” (James 3:6-10)

It’s not only important what we say and write, but how we say and write it.  Satan is not running for office in this election on any political party’s ticket.  We can hold strong political views, and we can strongly criticize and even condemn policy positions without dehumanizing or demonizing the candidates and voters who support them.

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

 ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

 ‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

 ‘Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

 ‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

 ‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

 ‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

 ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

 ‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

 ‘Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:1-11)

The Beatitudes, along with the other teachings of Jesus as recorded in the Gospels, give us a vision of the lives Jesus would have us live and the society – the reign of God – that Jesus came to establish.  Unfortunately, Jesus is not running for President on any political party’s ticket.   But the teachings of Jesus do give us a guide for evaluating candidates and policy positions.  When listening to any policy proposal, we would do well to ask, “Would Jesus support this?  What would Jesus do?”

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. (Psalm 20:7)

God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of self-control.  (2 Timothy 1:7)

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.  (I John 4:18)

Citizens who are afraid are citizens who can be manipulated.  Politicians and commentators have often used fear to stampede people into supporting policies that benefit those in power, but leave the population weak and divided. To quote a line from the movie “Dune”, “Fear is the mind-killer.”  While living with our eyes open and being fully aware of the many challenges that face us, we need to move past our fears, and let the love of God be our guide.  To quote an old hymn:

My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus' name.
On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand; all other ground is sinking sand.

See you in church – Pastor Dave