Emerging Christian - My story of evolving faith

Independence Day & My Luck-of-the-Draw...

I have something to confess that may sound caustic: I don't feel "proud" to be an American.

I'm thankful for my freedoms. I'm humbled by the sacrifice of brave men and women who gave their lives for this nation. I'm grateful for so much blessing that so many in this world can't even conceive...

But "proud?" Of what? Luck-of-the-draw? How can I be proud of something I had absolutely no control over. It would be like saying I'm "proud" of speaking fluent English. What's my other option?

Women and men who have sacrificed by fighting for this country have something to be proud of. Even in wars I vehemently disagree with, soldiers show the ultimate form of patriotism and they've earned "pride," in my opinion.

But for many of us today, "America" is little more than an entitlement - an excuse - a free ticket to live more easily and comfortably than most of our global neighbors. I can't be proud for being lucky.

I had originally thought about posting something on the idea of "nationalism" in relation to the Gospel. I think they're incompatible in many ways. How do you fight for your country AND die out of love for your enemies? You can't construct foreign policy or national security using Christ's example. It's too much. Admittedly, Christianity is full of contradictions, and even more so when juxtaposed with principalities and powers of the earth. Christianity becomes so awkward and misshapen when forced into the form of a country or nation state.

Still, the 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays: I love the summer, I love fireworks, I love being outdoors on warm evenings, and I am grateful for the sacrifice in my nation's history.

But there is still a little voice in the back of my head, whispering "manifest destiny" and reminding me that there are dozens of tribes in Oregon alone who see our "independence" as representative of something much darker.

Celebration becomes a tenuous endeavor.

Be Open to God: Be Open to Conversations...

Last weekend I was walking into our local library when I saw a big rainbow arch of balloons over the entrance to the park across the street. There was a banner that read: “Pride Celebration” or something gayish like that. I went into the library and got a few books. On my way out, I saw the balloon arch again, and thought, “I should go walk through there and see what they’re doing…” Then I thought, “Why would you go over there? You probably don’t know anyone there. You don’t have anything to do there, or anything to offer.” So I got all the way to my car and put the books away before I decided to turn around and walk through the park.

Why? Maybe mild Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Or maybe it was the Holy Spirit… but really, I realized that weird things always happen to me – I always find myself in interesting conversations with people I don’t know. So why not tempt fate?! I walked back over to the park, walked casually past all of the informational booths and artists’ displays, smiled a big cheesy grin at everyone I saw (I didn’t recognize anyone) and was tempted to stop and say “hello” at the non-denominational “welcoming communities” booth. I decided not to. And I didn’t find anything particularly interesting or profound as a take-away. But I’m glad I walked over. I’m glad I gave the Holy Spirit or God or the universe an opportunity to make new friends and new connections.

Some of the best moments in life are in conversation. That’s been my experience. And I find that the more open I am to new experiences, the more blessed I am by lovely people and wonderful dialogue.

A few days ago I had coffee with a women I barely knew (trust me, our generational separation kept the scenario entirely free of scandalous implications). She had a “Yale Divinity School” sticker on her bumper, so I was intrigued and asked if we could meet and chat about her experiences.

I’m sad to say that I’ve had very little experience with women in church leadership roles. In my churches of origin, women were usually confined to children’s and women’s ministries, so women who preach and administrate and preside over entire congregations tend to be a sort of captivating anomaly to me.

She had lots of good stories. She went through some very difficult trials, and is no longer in ministry. “No regrets” either, but hard lessons learned. I won’t share for the sake of privacy, but I was blessed to get to know “the story behind the bumper sticker.”

As you read this post, I hope you’ll feel inspired to dig deeper into the stories of people who might otherwise be little more than brief acknowledgements, casual waves “hello,” or strangers passing by in total anonymity. It’s a big world out there, but the world right here is pretty big, too…

Goodbye (?) Sarah Palin...

You might not think it, but I actually have mixed feelings about Sarah Palin stepping down as Governor of Alaska.

A part of me says, "Good riddance." Anne Lamott was right in so many of her critiques (click for prior post). Palin's vice-presidential bid contributed to the dumbing down of American politics, and it really brought out the worst kinds of loyalties among die-hard Evangelical voters. I think the term "yellow dog" fits in somewhere. The reality is, she's probably not gone for good though. Likely, some calculated move to get her closer to a White House bid for '12.

What IS really problematic and conflicting for me is the unconscionably sexist treatment Palin received from the media, from pundits, from other politicians, and from much of the American population. Even many staunch, professed feminists stooped to low-brow sexist mud-slinging. Hillary Clinton has fought such onslaughts of misogyny for decades, and come through it (in my opinion) with grace, dignity, and a powerful presence in US and world politics. But if Hillary was "hot"... well, I guess it's just a whole different kind of misogyny. Either you're a cold, "manly" bitch, or you're a slut. Clinton or Palin, there's not enough R-E-S-P-E-C-T. And that's bullshit.

Whatever the reasons (I'm sure we'll get an earfull over the next few weeks and months) I am not sorry to see Palin go because I don't think she represents what's best in America. Even as a Democrat, I think Palin's departure is a good thing for Republicans, and will give them more room to head in a direction that is productive not only to Republicans, but to all Americans (something still needs to be done with their pundits...). If she comes back in full force on the national scene in the next few weeks, then all that is shot to hell, which I guess is good for Democrats, but not necessarily great for America.

I'm also not sorry to see her go after becoming yet-another "golden calf," another misguided messiah for conservative Christians who need to think beyond cultural domination and religious protectionism. It will be interesting to see what follows. I want to see Christianity evolve beyond partisan politics in my lifetime. I don't know how Christians can see the Gospel through such a nationalistic lens. More on that tomorrow...

Cruelty To Animals: It's ACTUALLY a Crime!

I get a lot of information from Peta these days. It's funny, even some of my super-liberal friends cringe when I mention Peta, because they've come to represent all of the "crazies" who apparently give well-intentioned, compassionate-but-"balanced" folks a bad name.

And yes, I think it's obnoxious when Peta protests President Obama for "mercilessly" swatting a fly. I think they undermine their own credibility when they go on the offensive for something like that. On the other hand, it's sort of like "pro-life" individuals who also protest condoms and "early withdrawal." In a bizarre way, they're sort of consistent, which might be admirable... Besides, maybe there are some Buddhists on Peta's board. If so, more power to you. Bugs aren't my thing.

Anyway, be glad I don't post about this stuff more often. Only from time-to-time do I read something that I really want to share. Here's an important story on animal abuse:

Two former Aviagen Turkeys, Inc. employees have been convicted of cruelty to animals following a PETA undercover investigation. This is the first time in U.S. history that factory-farm employees have been convicted of abusing factory-farmed turkeys. The convictions came following our undercover investigation at Aviagen's factory farms in West Virginia, where workers were documented breaking turkeys' necks, stomping on their heads, and shoving feces and feed into turkeys' mouths.

One of the convicted former workers, Edward Eric Gwinn, admitted guilt to stomping on a turkey's head and lifting a turkey above his head before throwing the bird to the ground. This morning, he was sentenced to serve 6 months' home confinement on each count, concurrently, and is not allowed to own, live with, or work with any animals for five years.

Another man, Scott Alvin White, admitted to shoving feed down a turkey's throat and breaking a turkey's neck. White was sentenced to serve the maximum 6 months' jail time on each of two counts, consecutive, for a total of up to 1 year. Read more about the convictions on our blog, The PETA Files.

This is an historic victory for farmed animals, but please know that there is still more that you can do to help. Write to Aviagen Turkeys, Inc. and demand that it implement PETA's seven-point animal welfare plan. Also, please remember that the best way for any individual to help turkeys who are abused on factory farms is not to eat them. Order a copy of our free "Vegetarian Starter Kit" now, and we'll send you everything you need to get started, including recipes, meal ideas, and more!

So I know "going vegetarian" is probably terrifying to a lot of you. And I'll tell you, I really like meat. But I've been a 99% vegetarian (occasional exceptions for local, humanely treated meat)
for almost 8 months now, and it's really not nearly as hard as I thought it would be. And I actually feel good about not contributing to the death-machine that is factory farming. AND, I haven't eaten fast food in months! So eating healthier is a motivator right there.

Thanks for tolerating the occasional "vego" rant.

"Was Michael Jackson A Christian?" (why do you want to know?)

Amazing. I read some articles on Friday about how Michael Jackson's untimely death nearly "broke the internet." Sites all over the web were freezing and shutting down due to the enormous increase in web traffic. It never occurred to me that I might be the recipient of some of that excess traffic. Apparently, after writing a brief reflection on Jackson's death, and the impact of his music, I was able to ride the wave. My daily blog traffic literally went up 500% on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

And what do you think brought them here? Apparently, a lot of folks are very concerned about the destination of Michael Jackson's soul...

Top Searches that Brought Readers to Your Blog (max 25 shown)

Do you spend a lot of time wondering about the "eternal destination" of friends, family, and celebrities? I must admit, I used to. But I spent some time in high school worrying if I'd ever get the chance to encounter Tupac's eternal soul, face-to-face...

I don't worry so much any more. I think (although I haven't developed, chosen, or been totally convinced of a definitive soteriology) that a "good God," a "loving God," and - yes - even a "JUST God" would desire to save whatever is worth saving. Whatever is good, whatever is true, noble, pure, holy, gentle, just, beautiful, faithful, innocent, and so on... and that belief doesn't even begin to venture into the territory of hell. I'm not interested in that right now.

Here's my deal: I don't think God lovingly created something with the full understanding that in doing so, it would precipitate the moral failure and ultimate damnation of 99% (or whatever) of it. That doesn't mean I don't think God would create something capable of evil, sorrow and failure. I think that happened. But I don't think God set us up to burn, so to speak.

So I think, perhaps (I'm venturing into C.S. Lewis Great Divorce territory here) that whatever was good and true and beautiful in Michael Jackson has been saved. I think the same thing about my grandfather. And Tupac. And King David and Paul the Loudmouth. The nasty parts don't find there way into redemption, but the goodness does. I realize that's convenient for my own personal understanding of justice. But aren't we created in the image of God? And don't most people (without systematic theology to cloud their instincts) have an inherent understanding of goodness, grace, and parental love?

Yes, yes, some sort of theological underpinnings will have to follow... meanwhile, if you came here searching for Michael Jackson... um... I write about him all the time!! And I have secret information about him! And you should keep coming back to learn more about the truth of Michael Jackson, hidden (in code) in the text of this blog!!

Scared of Losing... or: Privileged & Don't Know It!

Over the weekend I attended a town hall meeting with Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley.
In the audience, the first attendee to raise his hand was an older middle-aged man:

"I want you to know I'm praying for you, Senator. I congratulate you on winning the senatorial race, and I am praying for you. I didn't vote for you, but I am a Judeo-Christian, and I am praying for you. This country was founded by Christian men who understood how important it was for us to be a Christian nation. And I am scared when I read the newspaper, because this country isn't a Christian nation anymore. President Obama said we are not a Christian nation. He are a Muslim nation. And so I pray for you, that you will help us lead this country back to God. Back to Judeo-Christian principles. Because no nation, no empire in the history of the world has ever survived once God has been rejected by its people."

He was angry. He sounded angry. And he sounded scared. Angry that the world he knew - the only world he's ever understood - is changed. And will keep changing. And that's scary. The unknown is always scary.

I have a hard time with that sort of public outrage. I don't think Christians have much right to be outraged these days. I think those in power should defer such a luxury. "Should." I'm not so naive.

It's occurring to me more and more lately that many of those "in power" so-to-speak (those individuals who are part of dominant, privileged groups in the world, whether or not their individual circumstances align) don't often realize they are in power. And it's understandable - as I've said before, exceptions to the rule don't consider the rule to be valid.

So a middle class white man is scared of the power he perceives around him, because he views it as a dominating force of ominous and malevolent change. He is the victim.

And if perception is reality, maybe he is a victim because he lives like one. But the rest of the country? Minorities in America? They're baffled that folks who have always held the cards are so terrified when a hand from the deck gets into the hands of the "other."

I want to be more gracious to folks who are so scared - and so angry - at the changes we're seeing in the world. I want to find the right words to reassure them that everything is going to be okay - that giving up power and comfort and identifying with Jesus himself as "the least of these" are not anything to be afraid of.

Maybe Jesus could help:

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

- John 14:27

Pseudo-Seuss: Telling the story in new ways...

I've been feeling discouraged with several of the writing projects I've been working on over the last couple of years. They don't feel fresh or inspired anymore. So lately I've been "playing," trying to find new inspiration for something... well... new.

The idea of a Dr. Seuss sort of retelling of the Gospel has stuck in my mind. Wonder if it's been done and I'm just not aware. Wonder if it's worth going beyond these random for-fun sketches. Let me know what you think...

Thanks,

Peter

There’s a story we know, and some of us believe
And it changes with time, like a quilt that we weave
And I might call it truth but you might call it spin
And it might be the cause of the trouble we’re in.

There’s a man in the story, he’s young and he’s Jewish
You’ll know the name Jesus (the story’s not new-ish)
But the story we tell (well, the way that we tell it)
Has some folks believing, while others won’t smell it.

“How can one smell a story? A story is heard!”
Well that’s true, and it’s not – it depends on the Word.
A word that is good can be heard and be tasted,
Sniffed and then touched, not a thing ever wasted.

But a word badly spoken can stink like it’s sour,
Never word ever heard when it’s rotten and dour.
No good to hear when it’s written in grime,
Whatever was justice comes reeking with crime.

Then that’s how we begin with telling this story,
Since familiarity pales its own glory,
Assuming you’ve heard it can turn it to fluff
Which is why all my friends are so sick of this stuff!

“We’ve read all that before!”
They say, tired of the preaching,
“Your God is a bore
With his mean-hearted screeching!”

But what if the rhymes hadn’t come out just right?
Instead, what if Jesus got lost in the fight?
Maybe the message wasn’t boasting “I’m right!”
And what if today was the dawn after night?

I mean, what if living a whole different way
Meant something quite other from “not being gay,”
Or “not saying damnit” or “voting my way,”
What if “Kingdom” meant giving your whole life away?
...

Peter Walker, 2009

That's all I've got for right now.