Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Update from Yesterday's Post
Republican Presidential Candidate hopeful and current U.S. Senator from Texas has said he will introduce a bill to Congress that will defund federal dollars for refugee resettlement. He goes on to say that Muslim refugees should be refused entry, but Christians seeking refuge are welcome. You can write him here: http://www.cruz.senate.gov/?p=email_senator to request he reconsider. This is entering the same arena that brought the Puritans to the New World in the first place. A lack of freedom of religion. Separation of Church and State did not exist where they were, so they risked it all to go to a place where it could be established. We (however you choose to classify we -- Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Atheist, U.S. Citizen, hopeful immigrant, etc.) don't want the separation of Church and State to ever come into question.
Tuesday, November 17, 2015
I am Disoriented
Each Thursday I get to meet with a few guys for about an hour. One of the first things we do is go around the room with an "I am..." statement. Usually, these are statements of "I am grateful, I am tired, I am excited, I am sad" as a way of letting the others in the room understand how we are entering into our time together. Mine today is, "I am disoriented." I am disoriented at the comments from a prominent Evangelical leader and at the comments from the Governor of Texas. Both of these comments come on the heels of the terrorist attacks in Paris and Beirut. This is disorienting to me because as a family we try to live our lives by what Christ taught in Luke Chapter 6. In fact, we named our son Luke after this chapter, that his life would be a constant reminder to our family of our calling. Early on in the chapter Jesus talks about the "who" that is blessed. It reads as a description of exactly what millions of Syrians are going through right now. They've, "lost it all, are ravenously hungry, their tears are flowing freely" and Jesus calls the Syrians blessed. A few months ago, our pastor, Brady Herbert, led our community through a sermon series titled, #Blessed. If you are interested you can find those here: http://www.harriscreek.org/resources/sermons/itemlist/category/97-blessed#sermons
In those sermons Brady defined to be blessed as to desperately need the presence of God, our Creator. Here is where it gets difficult for those of us who are not Syrian. Brady says, "There is a huge difference in doing something for someone and entering into the pain with someone." The leaders mentioned above are calling us to insulate ourselves from the Syrians. In that description we could send them some money or supplies, but we must not allow them to be among us. Do you hear all of the us/them language there? What would it look like to live in the upside down kingdom that Jesus says is here and now and bulldoze the insulating walls between us and them. We are us. There is no them. Is this risky? Hell yes it is. Is it probable that our communities are not prepared for what could happen? Yes. However, if we are going to enter into the pain and be with the blessed we have to risk. In fact, later in the sermon, Brady reminds us this is what Jesus has done for us, "He entered into this mess of a World with us and that's why we can call him, Emmanuel, God with us. He feels the pain that we feel and He's in it with us no matter what and He ties His welfare with ours. So when we hurt, He hurts. When we celebrate, He celebrates." The Jesus who is Emmanuel, the One that died on the cross, and was resurrected would absolutely say this is risky. 1John 3.16 says, "We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for others."
So, I am disoriented because all of this contradicts so clearly what our leaders are saying. As a call to action that this might not be just another empty diatribe I am including below a couple of emails we can send to these men encouraging them to change their direction. Below these sample emails that I will be sending directly you will also find Luke Chapter 6 if you would like to read it again.
Mr. Graham,
I believe that scripture, particularly Luke Chapter 6 and 1 John Chapter 3, calls us to be among the Syrians as well as those who follow Allah through Islam. Among them so that we will love them and enter into their pain with them. Would you please reconsider your stance of generalizing all Muslims as terrorists and calling us to insulate ourselves from them?
Sincerely,
Brett Spivey
Mr. Abbott,
I believe that the foundational tenets of our nation and state are to be a place of refuge for those who are hurting in the world. I understand that you feel a great responsibility to protect the people who elected you into office. However, we cannot put our own protection above those who are in such great need. Would you please reconsider your statement to President Obama that the State of Texas will not accept refugees from Syria?
Sincerely,
Brett Spivey
In those sermons Brady defined to be blessed as to desperately need the presence of God, our Creator. Here is where it gets difficult for those of us who are not Syrian. Brady says, "There is a huge difference in doing something for someone and entering into the pain with someone." The leaders mentioned above are calling us to insulate ourselves from the Syrians. In that description we could send them some money or supplies, but we must not allow them to be among us. Do you hear all of the us/them language there? What would it look like to live in the upside down kingdom that Jesus says is here and now and bulldoze the insulating walls between us and them. We are us. There is no them. Is this risky? Hell yes it is. Is it probable that our communities are not prepared for what could happen? Yes. However, if we are going to enter into the pain and be with the blessed we have to risk. In fact, later in the sermon, Brady reminds us this is what Jesus has done for us, "He entered into this mess of a World with us and that's why we can call him, Emmanuel, God with us. He feels the pain that we feel and He's in it with us no matter what and He ties His welfare with ours. So when we hurt, He hurts. When we celebrate, He celebrates." The Jesus who is Emmanuel, the One that died on the cross, and was resurrected would absolutely say this is risky. 1John 3.16 says, "We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for others."
So, I am disoriented because all of this contradicts so clearly what our leaders are saying. As a call to action that this might not be just another empty diatribe I am including below a couple of emails we can send to these men encouraging them to change their direction. Below these sample emails that I will be sending directly you will also find Luke Chapter 6 if you would like to read it again.
Mr. Graham,
I believe that scripture, particularly Luke Chapter 6 and 1 John Chapter 3, calls us to be among the Syrians as well as those who follow Allah through Islam. Among them so that we will love them and enter into their pain with them. Would you please reconsider your stance of generalizing all Muslims as terrorists and calling us to insulate ourselves from them?
Sincerely,
Brett Spivey
Mr. Abbott,
I believe that the foundational tenets of our nation and state are to be a place of refuge for those who are hurting in the world. I understand that you feel a great responsibility to protect the people who elected you into office. However, we cannot put our own protection above those who are in such great need. Would you please reconsider your statement to President Obama that the State of Texas will not accept refugees from Syria?
Sincerely,
Brett Spivey
You’re Blessed
17-21 Coming down off the mountain with them, he stood on a plain surrounded by disciples, and was soon joined by a huge congregation from all over Judea and Jerusalem, even from the seaside towns of Tyre and Sidon. They had come both to hear him and to be cured of their ailments. Those disturbed by evil spirits were healed. Everyone was trying to touch him—so much energy surging from him, so many people healed! Then he spoke:
You’re blessed when you’ve lost it all.
God’s kingdom is there for the finding.
You’re blessed when you’re ravenously hungry.
Then you’re ready for the Messianic meal.
You’re blessed when the tears flow freely.
Joy comes with the morning.
God’s kingdom is there for the finding.
You’re blessed when you’re ravenously hungry.
Then you’re ready for the Messianic meal.
You’re blessed when the tears flow freely.
Joy comes with the morning.
22-23 “Count yourself blessed every time someone cuts you down or throws you out, every time someone smears or blackens your name to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and that that person is uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—skip like a lamb, if you like!—for even though they don’t like it, I do . . . and all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company; my preachers and witnesses have always been treated like this.
Give Away Your Life
24 But it’s trouble ahead if you think you have it made.
What you have is all you’ll ever get.
What you have is all you’ll ever get.
25 And it’s trouble ahead if you’re satisfied with yourself.
Your self will not satisfy you for long.
And it’s trouble ahead if you think life’s all fun and games.
There’s suffering to be met, and you’re going to meet it.
Your self will not satisfy you for long.
And it’s trouble ahead if you think life’s all fun and games.
There’s suffering to be met, and you’re going to meet it.
26 “There’s trouble ahead when you live only for the approval of others, saying what flatters them, doing what indulges them. Popularity contests are not truth contests—look how many scoundrel preachers were approved by your ancestors! Your task is to be true, not popular.
27-30 “To you who are ready for the truth, I say this: Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer for that person. If someone slaps you in the face, stand there and take it. If someone grabs your shirt, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously.
31-34 “Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them! If you only love the lovable, do you expect a pat on the back? Run-of-the-mill sinners do that. If you only help those who help you, do you expect a medal? Garden-variety sinners do that. If you only give for what you hope to get out of it, do you think that’s charity? The stingiest of pawnbrokers does that.
35-36 “I tell you, love your enemies. Help and give without expecting a return. You’ll never—I promise—regret it. Live out this God-created identity the way our Father lives toward us, generously and graciously, even when we’re at our worst. Our Father is kind; you be kind.
37-38 “Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don’t condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you’ll find life a lot easier. Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.”
39-40 He quoted a proverb: “‘Can a blind man guide a blind man?’ Wouldn’t they both end up in the ditch? An apprentice doesn’t lecture the master. The point is to be careful who you follow as your teacher.
41-42 “It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt? It’s this I-know-better-than-you mentality again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your own part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor.
Work the Words into Your Life
43-45 “You don’t get wormy apples off a healthy tree, nor good apples off a diseased tree. The health of the apple tells the health of the tree. You must begin with your own life-giving lives. It’s who you are, not what you say and do, that counts. Your true being brims over into true words and deeds.
46-47 “Why are you so polite with me, always saying ‘Yes, sir,’ and ‘That’s right, sir,’ but never doing a thing I tell you? These words I speak to you are not mere additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundation words, words to build a life on.
48-49 “If you work the words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who dug deep and laid the foundation of his house on bedrock. When the river burst its banks and crashed against the house, nothing could shake it; it was built to last. But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don’t work them into your life, you are like a dumb carpenter who built a house but skipped the foundation. When the swollen river came crashing in, it collapsed like a house of cards. It was a total loss.”
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