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Today is disturbing, terrifying really. But this is the revelation we must have the courage to face. THIS is us. This is America. This is also Christianity. No, not every single person. No, it's not us at our best. (1/x)
But this is the inevitable outcome of so much unhealed brokenness. As to our country, we have to boldly say, this is not Democracy, and Democracy won't be fulfilled until *EVERYONE* can safely vote, and our representatives put our needs over enrichment and power. (2/x)
We need to name and face the unhealed wounds of our past, exploiting and breaking faith with Black and Indigenous People of Color since before the founding of this country, (3/x)
We need to agree that we cannot survive as a society, if we are not willing to take care of each other. As to Christianity, we need to say boldly and faithfully, this is not the way of Christ. Our Lord set down his power in order to serve others. (4/x)
Every time in history that the church has allied with power, even in the hope of achieving what were considered Godly aims, the outcomes have been disastrous. (5/x)
Part of the pain of this moment is seeing so plainly what is true. The whirlwind at hand is our own doing. The ancient prophets called people to repentance in times of crisis. (6/x)
This moment is a crisis calling for repentance. I *am not* one of those pastors who thinks that if America would swear off (insert favorite vice here) that God would bless our land. That's not the kind of repentance I mean. (7/x)
Repentance simply means to see what's true and turn away from the inevitable destruction ahead. Metanoia. To change your mind, and thus your direction. (8/x)
If we are to be a Democracy, then we as Americans, need to repent of any behavior or practices that exclude and marginalize people from participating in and benefitting from our public discussions. This IS NOT a country "for white people." Sorry. That ship has sailed. (9/x)
And then for those of us who are followers of Jesus, we need to repent of any behavior or practice that focuses on gathering power for the purpose of protecting our preferences. That is not the way of Jesus, and when we do that we set ourselves against Jesus' work in the world.
Conspiracy fans and religious fundamentalists are shouting that we're approaching the apocalypse. I don't know about that. But I do know that that Greek word literally means "the unveiling," and friends... we are in the middle of an unveiling, to be sure. (11/x)
Look at today's news and see the mirror it holds up. Today's events reveal the truth. The sickness in our national body of White Christian Nationalism. The sickness in our body of dysfunctional militant male authority, and white supremacy, plainly on display. (12/x)
The idols of power and privilege and the inevitable corruption that occurs when a small group of elite people are allowed to profit themselves without accountability. See it. This is us. This is our country. This is our church. (13/x)
Don't mistake me. I love the United States and the ideals of this human experiment. I also love the church and the way Jesus called us to. But those ideals quickly become fetishes, magic symbols, flags, we can wave around UNLESS we are willing to honestly repent and change (14/x)
*sigh* Today has been brutal. The coming days, I suspect will remain so. The future is not guaranteed to us, and the kind of country or church we find ourselves in will always devolve to the worst, unless we actively pursue the best. (15/x)
