Credo 8/17/2020

 

Credo 8/17/2020

                I want to continue to share some insights from William Coffin. Here is a quote from the chapter on Faith, Hope, Love. “It is bad religion to deify doctrines and creeds While indispensable to religious life, doctrines and creeds are only so as signposts. Love alone is the hitching post. Doctrines, let’s not forget, supported slavery and apartheid; some still support keeping women in their places, and gays and lesbians in limbo. Moreover, doctrines can divide while compassion can only unite. In other words, religious folk, all our lives, have both to recover tradition and to recover from it!” (pg 9).

                When my family moved to Lincoln, I was only 15. My previous religious education was in a variety of Sunday school classes of different denominations. Neither of my parents attended church services unless I was to be involved. That changed. In Lincoln, our family became involved in a church together in a Christian Church, Disciples of Christ. As I was going through membership classes-similar to confirmation in the UMC-, it was taught that there are no doctrines before God and no dogma before Christ. I may have that wrong, but the idea was that doctrines and dogma can be useful but not at the expense of love of God and love of neighbor. One reason that I became an UMC, was Westley assertion that the greatest things we can strive for is love, God and neighbor. I think of the scriptures of Jesus talking about the good Samaritan, the woman at the well, the faithful women disciples, and even those sinners he ate with. I would hope that in all we do as a people and as a church hitches our reins on the post of love.

Daily Credo 8/16/2020

 

Credo 8/16/2020

                I am writing this to post on Facebook, my blog at reveldon.blogspot.com, and twitter. As I read that which is posted, it is easy to become discouraged, disheartened, and depressed often leading to anger at the way we treat one another, the lack of love we have for God and others if not ourselves. I fear that we have lost the heart of the gospel of Jesus. We, and I include myself, have become a nation of selfishness and more concerned about what benefits only myself. I see this in all levels of government that have lost the ideals of Abraham Lincoln of being for the people and of the people. Maybe this pandemic has made these concerns more apparent. The racial divide, the abject poverty, the lack of consideration of the lives of others with this virus, seems to become almost like a cancer if one would depend on social media. I cannot count the number of times I have deleted reposts from people that have never taken the time to find out the truth of the issues. And because for some it is so inconvenient to do the simple things such as wearing masks, hundreds of thousands of people die.

                As I am writing, I recognize that I am as those that I condemn. I, too, can be as judgmental as others. I, who have born as a white male into a life of privilege, can act without awareness towards others in ways that donot exemplify Christ. I just ask for forgiveness for those times. I pray that my eyes be opened to see that BLM because of the suffering and history of the way people were treated. To love those that I find unlovable. To love those who only preach hatred, greed, and who are so dogmatic that they lose sight of the gospel. To love those who are different than I and to respect their differences without demonizing them. To pray for those who put their lives on the line to protect us on the streets, in our homes, and in our hospitals as well as care centers.

                Just when my discouragement reaches the peak, I decided to read or reread some of the books that I kept from seminary or bought during annual conferences. The very first one I decided to read was “Credo” by William Sloan Coffin.  Rev. Coffin was ordained in the Presbyterian Church and later in the United Church of Christ. He was a chaplain at Yale University where the influence of H. Richard Niebur’s social philosophy led him to become a leader in the Civil Rights movement and the peace movements of the 1960’s and 1970’s. He was an ardent supporter of gay rights. He died in 2006. The book contains segments of his sermons, his published and unpublished writings. The chapters are titled Faith. Hope, Love; Social Justice and Civil Liberties; Social Justice and Economic Rights; Patriotism; War and Peace; Nature; Life in General; The Church; and The End of Life. I would encourage those who are interested to purchase the book if available. I would like to share some of the quotes daily. I hope to do so without infringing on copyright but as an alternative to what we hear predominately in social media.

                The first couple come from the chapter of Faith, Hope, Love that is based on Cor. 13:13.

Make love your aim, not biblical inerrancy, nor purity nor obedience to holiness codes.  Make  love your aim, for

‘Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels’—musicians, poets, preachers, you are being addressed;

‘and though I … understand all mysteries, and knowledge’—professors, your turn,

‘and though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor’—radicals take note;

‘and though I give my body to be burned’—the very stuff of heroism;

‘and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing’ (I Cor. 1-3).

I doubt if in any other scriptures of the world thee is a more radical statement of ethics. If we fail in love, we fail in all things else.”

As I close this, one may call a rant, I want to add this from Coffin. “Of God’s love we can say two things: it poured out universally for everyone from the Poe to the loneliest wino on the planet; and secondly, God’s love doesn’t seed value, it creates value. It is not because we have value that we are loved, but because we are loved that we have value. Our value is a gift, not an achievement.” I hope that this may help in this time.

Shalom                                

 

 

Author

I found the author of the book "I saw Satan Fall Like Lightening". Rene Girald

Monday Musings April 6, 2020

                This is the beginning of Holy Week. According the gospels of Mark and Luke, this is the day that Jesus enters the temple and disrupts the business of the temple. In Matthew, Jesus does this on what we call Palm Sunday. This act gives impetus for the Temple elite to begin to plan to kill Jesus. I have always found it interesting how the so-called leaders of the faith plot for his demise. Could it be because he was so popular maybe more popular than they were, could it be as likely that they were afraid that he and his followers would lead a revolt that would cause Rome to further enslave them, or were they jealous of his abilities to attract followers, to heal others, and to proclaim in a very concrete way the realm of God?

                Our life group has been studying The Last Week by Marcus Borg and John Crossan. They talk about Jesus confrontation of the “domination system” that influences social, political, economic, and religious aspects of Jerusalem. According to them, this was one of the main areas of conflict that led to Jesus’ arrest. That Jesus’ resurrection was one of God’s emphatic No for this system. I remember reading in seminary a book, “I saw Satan fall from the Sky like Lightening.” (Through the many moves, I have lost the name of the author.) One of thesis statements of the book was the idea of scapegoating. In the earliest Jewish tradition at Yom Kippur, the priest would take a goat and would place the sins of the nation on the goat and sent it out into the wilderness. The author of the book stated that in some of the same ways Jesus took on that role of scapegoat. He postulates that when there are two opposing groups, one way of them coming together is to see a third party as a common enemy. Much like family systems that speak of triangulation. So, there was a collusion between the Roman leaders and the Jewish leaders against Jesus. This becomes one of the understandings of the atonement. Jesus is vindicated by God against this collusion. 

                What is interesting in looking at this, is the fact that such a collusion continues today. We see some of the religious elite continue to collude with the ruling political factions. I often wonder what Jesus would say about this collusion. Would he challenge such a collusion? I would believe he would. Our constitution separates and gives freedom to religious bodies. Yet, I have seen religious leaders care more about their influence with political parties that denies that separation. Lest anyone think I am only talking about one party; it occurs with both parties. (Though one is more enmeshed.) These leaders attempt to forgo Jesus’ teachings to focus primarily on their own prestige and power. Thus, you can see these leaders defy caring for others and just focus on their own agendas without thinking about how this conveys to Loving God and loving neighbor.

                The challenge, I would give for this Holy Week, is to remember Jesus, remember Matthew 25:31-46, to remember Ezekiel 34 about the shepherds on the way they treat those that they oversee. Each of us have a lot to atone for this Easter. If there is one thing about this virus, we can take the time to reflect and confess our part in maintaining any collusion. Also, to pray for all of us and especially those who are front-line medical and those who stock the shelves of our grocery stores.

                Have a blessed Easter.

Eldon

               

Monday musings March 30, 2020

I cannot believe that this is the third week of sheltering. I’m not sure how different that is since I retired. I do miss attending physically church. Watching on-line is ok but it is different than being there with 500-600 other people. Nancy and I only go out to the grocery store and to support through take out our favorite restaurants. I continue to keep loved ones in prayer, those who care for people with COVID19, and for all the front line responders police, firepersons, and ambulance personnel.  Also prayers for those who have lost their jobs or had their hours cut because of sheltering. Pray for those teachers and administrators who are now working to develop curriculum for teaching at home. For parents who are with their children who may be uncertain as to what is happening in the world and for patience. For children to ease their anxiety and fear and offer them hope. For our governmental leaders to let go of their personal agendas and to do what is best to ensure the safety of their constituents. For all of us to not let our anxiety and personal insecurities to dominate our thoughts and behavior. For churches to realize now is the time to leave the building to offer what we can to those who are suffering. Remember Matthew 25:35-41 when you do for the least of them you are doing it for Jesus.

Most of my prayers, focus on others having common sense. I keep reading about people gathering in parties or going to spring break without regard to their health or how they may affect the health of others. Even pastors who insist to have large church gatherings risking exposing a large number of people and they going forth and exposing countless others. I marvel of their lack of sensitivity. Pastors who would do this, I feel are criminally responsible if any of their congregates become sick or worse. To not abide by what we hear from those who are front-line experts about social distancing is foolish and lack common sense.

I am jumping all over the place and I will try to bring it back. As a member and clergy (though retired) of the United Methodist Church, I try to not only live as best as I can with scripture but also the three General Rules of John Wesley. The first is to do no harm. Continuing to violate common sense and decency, not caring how our behavior can affect others, does harm. The number of cases here in the surrounding Omaha area continue to escalate. More of these are community spread. I realize that there are people who such mild symptoms that they may not know that they are infected. We can still mitigate the escalating numbers if we would stay home and only leave for necessary things. We can also not act out of fear by hoarding items.

The second is to do all the good you, as often as you can, in all ways you can. Today there are opportunities to share what we have with those who are less fortunate or in greater need. The church that I belong to has raised over $10,000 to provide gift cards not just to congregation members but to any who are need. Just imagine what other churches could do by remembering to do all the good one can.

The third is to attend to the ordinances of the church. For me in this on-line environment this can become more difficult. I and others need to avail themselves as best they can with the means of grace that God provides for us. Even in times such we are living; God has not abandoned us. God’s love for us continues to provide us hope, light in the darkness, and in a future we have yet to see. This is the promise we have in Jesus. No matter where we are, we can pray, be present with one another through Zoom, Skype, Duo or many other means, we can read scripture (Our live group meets weekly over Zoom studying scripture and sharing with one another), and worship together maybe in a different style and way. We can continue to not only focus on personal piety but also social piety.

What may seem forever will eventually pass. We find our hope in Christ not only with science and isolation. My prayer for us today harkens back to the prayer Jesus taught us. Jim Wallis did an article from Sojourners with this and I would encourage everyone to read it.

Til my next musing or rant blessings

Eldon

Protocol

January 15, 2020

                My clergy brothers and sisters are in Lincoln at the Orders and Fellowship. Being under the weather, I elected to stay home. I had planned to attend as it was in Lincoln and I could have commuted. Also, the topic of ABCD community development would have been interesting. I had been exposed to it in the 90’s but more from a community health and social perspective. It would have been interesting to see how this would apply to developing systems that could revitalize not just communities but also churches.

                This was not what I wanted to write about. I read the “Protocol” that is being purposed for the general conference in May. I would suggest that all leaders of the church take time to read and study the document. This includes both clergy and laity. What it reminded me was a paper that I had written 20 years ago for seminary. I was writing on rural churches in a declining population. When I had finished the paper and was proof reading, I had found that instead of United Methodist Church, I had written the Untied Methodist Church. Luckily, I was able to correct my typo as spell check was of no help. As I think back on that Freudian slip, it may have been prophetic. Even 20 years ago, there were signs of an impending schism regarding sexual orientation and discussion of inclusion or exclusion.

                Sexual Orientation has too often been the central discussion of the denomination for the past 50 years or maybe even longer. This has led to contentious arguments focusing on scripture as literally interpreted and those who feel that the focus should be on loving. In seminary, I was constantly reminded to not proof text scripture which is to just quote verses without looking at the context both historical and literary. Those who opposed full inclusion would often quote Leviticus and Paul to support their contentions for exclusion. Some would also look at Matthew 19 though Jesus was talking about divorce and not same sex relationships. By the way as a side note, I do not see the same arguments being used regarding divorce which Jesus did condemn. In fact, as I read the gospels, I find that Jesus never really said anything pro or con regarding same sex relationships.

                Over the last 50 years, efforts have seemed to involve trying to appease everyone to keep the United rather than the Untied Methodist church. This has never seemed to work to the satisfaction of either side of this debate. I heard at my annual conference, people threatening to leave the church if there were any changes made in the Book of Discipline that would allow more freedom. As a pastor, I had been verbally attacked by those who were not members of the church for things that had not been changed but they thought we should not even be discussing this issue. As a District Superintendent, I had churches threaten to leave the denomination if any changes would be done to be more inclusive. This despite that nothing has changed. My conversations have been mostly with the “traditionalists” more so then the reconciling. Those conversations have involved some heated discussions and often misquoting of scripture. I retired before the special called General Conference but did support the One Church approach though could see some of the flaws that were present.

                It is with that background that the “Protocol” came about. And thus, my comments on the Untied Methodist Church. I have stated to others including my pastor that we are focusing on the wrong things. Jesus certainly got into trouble by his doing things what were not scriptural and in fact were condemned by scripture. Things such as healing on the Sabbath, touching lepers, reaching out to Samaritans, having women disciples, and showing love even on the cross. If I err, let it be for love not law. I am a follower of Jesus not Paul. This does not mean that I don’t believe that scripture is important in my life. It does provide me ways of understanding how to love God and to love neighbor. This is both found in the Hebrew and Christian scriptures. It does mean that I don’t worship scripture. I worship God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I continue to see the Triune God at work today. So, I am not worried about 2020 General Conference. Maybe it is time to untie that past and focus instead on the present and the future. To include all of God’s children into the fold of the Methodist Church in whatever form that may take.

Eldon

               

UPdate 9/19/19

Update 9/19/19 a palindrome date

                I want to apologize for my lack of keeping up. It seems that I have great intentions but even in retirement I am easily sidetracked. I was doing a study in Genesis and had reached the point of the reasons for the flood. God was so discouraged by the violence of humans that God wanted to start over, a mulligan of creation. As I was ready to write about that, El Paso and Dayton happened. I was shocked. I waited in vain for our Nebraska representatives to do more than just talk. I should have known that they would not say or do anything except to blame the shooters who possessed automatic weapons claiming mental illness. I wondered if the shooters had not been anglo would that have made a difference. These acts were domestic terrorism and to discount that will continue to give credence to others who indeed are mentally ill but also influenced by extremists in our country, particularly neo-Nazis.  I know that God promised never to destroy creation by floods, but we have free will to destroy the nation and world on our own.

                For the Jewish, Muslim, and Christians, reading the scriptures, even what I know of the Koran, must realize what God wants for all of us. I am a follower of Jesus. I find at times that I struggle with the senseless slaughter of innocents, the destruction of our planet, and the general blindness of God’s desires. Jesus said that there are two things that supersede all laws. That is to love God with everything we have, which is found in Deuteronomy, and to love our neighbors found in Leviticus. What a world we could have if we could just do these commands regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or political persuasion.   I’m not sure what it would take. Maybe just starting with small acts of love and compassion. It’s hard to do in the environment of especially our country today. John Wesley stated in the essentials unity and everything else diversity. Jesus’ commands are the essentials. Almost everything else is just man-made. All doctrines need to default back to these commands.

                What this means for me, is that I need to reflect on how my behavior towards others and myself speak to these commands. As I look at the world around me, how do I respond to others with the love Jesus has shown me? Do I spend more time reacting to others? Do I get angry about how leaders ignore issues? I struggle. I do get angry and sometimes I can get caught up in demonizing them. I can use my anger is ways to institute change for our future generations. To help create a world where the first thing for children returning to school is not what to do with an active shooter exercise. I do find for me hope in Christ. But it does take myself and others to take seriously Jesus’ commands.

                I have continued to read Genesis and will hopefully get back to commenting on what I see. But I would challenge readers to look at the Sermon on the Mount in the Gospel of Matthew chapter 5-7. Reflect on what is there and what that may mean for our lives together.

Shalom

Eldon