Commentary by Pastor Bruce Ray

It’s the 4th of July!  It seems to be a good time to answer a question that I’ve often been asked: What role should the church have in politics?  Here are some excerpts taken from my sermon from July 1, 2012.

1.  While we live in the US and enjoy the freedoms that come with our residency, we remember that we are Christians first.  We pledge allegiance to the “Lamb”.  We understand that faith in Christ extends beyond the boundaries of the US, so we cannot become nationalistic without marginalizing our brothers and sisters in Christ who live in other nations—some of which may be identified as enemies of the State.

2.  However, as people of faith who happen to live in the United States, we DO have a responsibility be involved in the life of the nation. For too long, the church’s involvement has been to support of the status quo and the nationalism that has devolved into protectionism, militarism, other “isms” that deny the personhood of women, minorities, gays and lesbians, immigrants and the poor.  The church has frequently become the national cheerleader when it is called to be the national conscience.

3.  As the nation’s conscience and moral compass, the church must always be bold to speak the truth to those in power.  The model for our role is the prophets of the OT.  There are two types of prophets—the first (known as ‘false prophets’)—tell the nation and their leaders what they want to hear (Jeremiah 23:16-18).   The second type of prophet speaks the truth of God–even when the truth doesn’t win the popularity polls.

Ezekiel 34:2-4  “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock?  You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock.  You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally.”

The true prophet reminds people of God’s heart and will and calls the nation to repentance and a return to God’s ways—especially the Law which calls the nation to care for the poor and do justice for the oppressed.  (Isaiah 58:9-12)  The true prophets speak the vision of God for the world—a vision of shalom when wars cease, when everyone lives in health and safety, when everyone has a secure home, and when oppression and unfairness has ceased.  (Isaiah 2:3-4 and Isaiah 32:16-18)   The vision is always shared against the existing backdrop of brokenness, aggression, injustice and sin so that the vision becomes a clear alternative to the way things are.

4.  In our national context, the prophetic church is called to speak the truth of our past and call the nation to repentance.  And we have plenty to repent of.  Slavery and the pervasive racism that continues to haunt us.  Our genocide of indigenous populations.  Our marginalization of women.  Our unjust wars.  Our mistreatment of immigrants.  Our desecration of the environment for profit.  And that’s the tip of the iceberg.

We must also call our “shepherds” to follow God’s way of shalom and justice.  So we contact our leaders to tell them to stop cutting programs for the poor.  On July 1, over 150,000 seniors and people with disabilities in Illinois lost their circuit breaker benefits which provided prescription drug assistance and free transportation.  Our children lost $200 million in education funding.  Medicaid cuts went into affect, removing health support for the poorest of the poor—people who are already at risk for chronic illnesses.  The Church MUST speak the truth when the shepherds take care of themselves at the expense of the flock.

And we must always point to Jesus Christ, the True Shepherd, who will one day bring the day of shalom and justice into fullness.

 

Commentary by Bruce Ray, Pastor

While searching online for some photos of fathers and sons, I came across some very disturbing pictures that I believe reveal our distorted ideals of manhood.  First was a picture of Adam Sandler’s new movie, “That’s My Boy” which tries to out-raunch the “Hangover” series.  Like Father, like son, and ain’t we proud.  The next was a photo of a little boy in diapers (fatigue print no less) wearing combat boots and holding an automatic weapon.  Which led me to a You Tube treasure trove of fathers and young sons having wonderful bonding moments shooting off AK-47s and high powered rifles.

This is what Father’s Day has come to: celebrating sex and violence and getting drunk and peeing in public.  And we wonder why boys are messed up.

I’m grateful that my father demonstrated something entirely different.  And I’m grateful that he taught me to follow in the footsteps of Jesus–a man who was so comfortable with who he was that he didn’t have to live by the skewed images of maleness and yet was strong and courageous in the face of opposition.  I hope that more fathers will devote themselves to teaching their children to  do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God.

Any guy can have sex, shoot guns and fall down drunk.  It takes a special man to do better.

Commentary by Bruce Ray, Pastor

On May 25, a Chicago Tribune article revealed that retired Illinois Senate President Emil Jones, Jr., received a $126,004 pension last year–much more than he ever made as Senate President.  Thanks to legislation he helped craft and pass in 1989, he saw his pension increase over $41,000 after his first year of retirement.  And it’s all legal.

This news came on the heals of news of inflated pension payments for former Mayor Richard J. Daley, who according to CBS News and the Chicago SunTimes started receiving $184,000 a year following his retirement in 2011.  AND, he will receive an automatic 3% cost-of-living adjustment annually.  And it’s all legal.

But “legal” doesn’t make it right.

I’m no tea-partier, but this makes me outraged–both as a citizen and as a follower of Jesus.  The people in power make rules that benefit themselves while at the same time cutting funds for services to those who are most vulnerable.  We will continue to pay out inflated pensions, but we cannot find a few thousand dollars a year to help a household of 4 making less than $30,000 a year with their childcare expenses.  For the sake of fiscal solvency, we must cut millions for housing services to help the homeless (24% of them children and 17% of them working in low-wage jobs); we have no choice but to cut Medicaid payments for old people in nursing homes (they’re going to die sooner or later anyway), but God forbid that we ask Emil Jones or Mayor Daley to contribute even a small percentage toward their currently FREE health insurance. The powerful get wealthier on the backs of the poor, the children, the sick and the homeless. The “least of these”–these brothers and sisters of Jesus–suffer. I can just hear the prophets of the Old Testament now.  “Hear this, you who trample the needy and do away with the poor of the land: ….The Lord has sworn, ‘I will never forget anything they have done.'” Amos 8:4, 7

God will not bless any nation (or any state) that disregards the needs of the poor for the advantage of the powerful.   Shame on the Illinois General Assembly.  Shame on Paul Ryan and his immoral national budget that called for billions of dollars in cuts to poverty programs while increasing the military budget by 20% and his own salary.  (Thank God the Senate defeated that one by a narrow margin).  Shame on the Democrats.  Shame on the Republicans.  Shame on us.  We keep handing these people the keys to the car even though we know they’ll drive intoxicated with their own power.

We need some righteous indignation.  We need to raise some holy heaven.  We need to find our prophetic voice.  We need to think and pray before we punch a ballot.  We need to put some boundaries around power.  We need to pray, “Arise, O Judge of the earth!”  We need to stand up in the name of Jesus and defend the needy from the schemes of the unjust.  Our faith does not command us to blindly obey those in authority.  There are times when tables need to be over-turned.

We’re turning our empty lot into community garden space and we’re looking for neighbors and friends who are interested in raised bed gardening.  If that describes you, join us at the corner of Kimball and Medill for an informational meeting on Saturday, May 19, starting at 11:00 am.

Our Ascension Sunday worship service with St. Luke’s Lutheran and First Lutheran has been relocated to our empty lot at the corner of Kimball and Medill Aves.  The service will begin promptly at 10:30 am.  (It was to be held originally at Palmer Square, but we could not get the required permits approved.)  Join with our neighborhood brothers and sisters to honor the One who is exalted above all.

Today is Mother’s Day.  Grace and peace to all the moms.  Today is also the 6th Sunday of Easter.  I was reflecting on the relationship of women to Easter.  It was the women who first went to the tomb–not the men.  It was the women who first met Jesus–not the men.  It was the women who were first instructed to take the news of the resurrection to the disciples–not the men.  Without the women, there would be no announcement of resurrection hope.  So, why has the church historically silenced the women?  Forgive us.  Today, we’re honoring not only the women who bear children, but all women who bear good news of hope and faith.  Thank you for your faithful proclamation by word and action.

Commentary by Pastor Bruce Ray

Many of us are not looking forward to the arrival of NATO in mid-May.  It will interrupt transportation.  It will create gridlock on highways.  The police will be on high alert, creating tension and increasing the likelihood of conflict with expected protesters.  Downtown will be being turned into a military zone complete with combat personnel with automatic weapons.  And this is supposed to be a good thing for the city.  I’m not so sure.

However, there are two special days on the May church calendar: Ascension Sunday when we recognize only one sovereign Lord: Jesus Christ, and Pentecost when we celebrate the formation of the global church by the coming of the Spirit.  I find the juxtaposition of current events with these church days challenging.

The Ascension is a reminder of Who sits upon the throne and Who is above the nations.  While the heads of state gather to strategize and conspire to shape the future of the globe, I am reminded that “The the One who rules in heaven laughs.”  (Psalm 2:4)  I am challenged to consider my allegiance and my priorities.  I am a follower of Christ.  I heed the call of Christ.  I proclaim that Jesus–not NATO or any other nation or gathering of nations–is LORD.   I am also reminded that changing the world does not come through “swords loud clashing” in the words of the great hymn, “Lead On, O King Eternal”, but through deeds of love and mercy. The methods and strategies of NATO know little of the justice of God’s rule.  But there is more.

That first Pentecost was also a gathering of the nations.  And what the nations heard was not a strategy for peace through control and coercion, but a proclamation of Christ, crucified, resurrected and exalted.  And they were cut to the heart, led in repentance and given a new orientation.  Out of the many nations, a unifying movement toward God’s new creation was birthed.

The nations are gatherings in Chicago.  Protesters will be present.  Police will be present.  Politicians will be present.  And everyone will have something to say.  The Church of Jesus must also be present, finding it’s spirit-empowered voice to proclaim Christ boldly and to be a witness of God’s global plan for change, justice and righteousness.  Just maybe the nations will adopt a new battle plan.  Shalom.