I Had a Blog Post Today…
June 7th, 2006 | by Scott |…but I deleted it.
Therefore, I will not blog today.
I was going to blog about the anger I feel about the injustice, hatred and mean-spiritedness I witness all too often in the world today.
But, I removed it, because it seemed too angry and mean-spirited on my part.
So, I’ll just keep quiet and lay low. I’ll remain quiet out of the fear of offending. I’ll still my voice in order to avoid stirring the waters of public debate and frustration.
Nope, no blogging today.
I’m probably wrong anyway.
- I’m probably wrong to care less about the USA than I do the Kingdom of God.
- I’m probably wrong to believe that war is wrong and violence is never the answer.
- I’m probably wrong to view children of Iraqi’s to be as precious as my own.
- I’m probably wrong to want my children to go to public school (even though I support Private education and have benefited from it) so they can learn at an early age to be salt and light.
- I’m probably wrong to believe that laws are often misguided and the health of a nation depends upon dissent against civil rights abuses. Maybe Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, Jr shouldn’t be heroes of mine.
- I’m probably wrong to believe that it means something that the one time Jesus talked about judgment He did so in regards to how we treat the poor and the forgotten.
- I’m probably wrong to interpret grace into Old Testament laws of dealing with sojourners and aliens.
- I’m probably wrong to worry about genocide and AIDS in other lands when there is so much here to be concerned about like Brangelina’s baby.
- I’m probably wrong to want to love more than I judge.
- I’m probably wrong to believe that hatred runs deep into the fabric of American society–against gays, illegal immigrants, the French, Democrats, Republicans, minorities, or whatever group catches our ire at this particular point in time.
- I’m probably wrong about worrying about having too much “stuff.” I should just suck it up and buy a new car since the one I’m driving doesn’t have air conditioning in this Texas heat.
- I’m probably wrong to believe that the words of Jesus should propel us to make peace, love enemies, and deny self.
- I’m probably wrong to believe that political parties cannot be champions of the Kingdom due to differing agendas.
- I’m probably wrong to feel so discontent with the state of the church’s compassion, love and humanity for the lost, disaffected, poor and foreigner.
- I’m probably wrong to feel so much regret for all the times I’ve harbored hatred, hurled ethnic slurs, branded sinful people with vitriolic names, and supported agendas that suited me at the expense of others.
- I’m probably wrong to believe that being stewards of God’s creation means care for the creation and not just domination of it.
- I’m probably wrong to believe the greatest terrorist threat is not one of flesh and blood.
- I’m probably wrong to believe that it is a travesty that so many cannot afford insurance.
- I’m probably wrong to believe that liberals can be Christians despite what some might say.
So, instead of blogging today, I’ll just keep my mouth shut. I’ll not unburden my heart.
Cause, I’m probably wrong.
Although I sure don’t feel like I am.
In fact, I feel like I’m getting closer to the heart of Jesus.
And I really pray I’m not wrong about that.
21 Responses to “I Had a Blog Post Today…”
By Jason Bybee on Jun 7, 2006 | Reply
A great post, Scott. You hit on some issues that have become very important to me in the past year, although you’re a little further along in your development of thought than I am. I think your post illumines the heart of the Kingdom. I feel as if over the past year, I’ve begun to see some things for the first time in my life: some long held attitudes & perspectives that desperately need to be reconciled with my faith. I need more time to develop my thoughts, but your post hits home with me. I hope you continue to use your voice to champion the cause of Christ.
By Scott on Jun 7, 2006 | Reply
Thanks, Jason. I was beginning to hear crickets on this post. Tracy told me it was a weird one so I didn’t know if it would have a response at all.
You are right: we have to reconcile our worldview to our faith. What I found is that for too long I allowed my politics to dictate my faith rather than vice versa. It created a pretty self-centered approach to kingdom living.
By Jason Bybee on Jun 7, 2006 | Reply
I know exactly what you mean. My primary identity is a citizen of the Kingdom, not a citizen of the United States. I’m currently digesting Camp’s chapter on “Pledging Allegiance to the Kingdom of God.” He speaks about the dangers of devotion to the empire trumping devotion to the Kingdom. Even scarier, he says, is when we baptize the agenda of the empire by feigning alignment with Kingdom purposes. I’m still processing all of this (I wish I could just sink my teeth in to this stuff all summer long. Dang youth ministry!), but I’m wondering: How do your parishioners take to all this stuff? I mean, this has to be challenging to them, right? Do you “get crickets” when you get into this with them? Or are they willing to engage in some discussion?
If we need to talk about this off-line, I understand. You and I are cut from the same cloth…I’m wondering how “Joe Member” feels / thinks about all this.
By Scott on Jun 7, 2006 | Reply
The best thing in helping me begin to broach this stuff with my congregation was our study of the prophets. Each week we were able to trace the parallels between Israel and the church and then emphasize that Israel’s modern day parallel is not the USA. If anything the parallel to draw would be between the US and Edom and the other nations that rose up against Israel.
Understanding the biblical precedent was huge.
I don’t know what to make of all this either. And I’m not sure where this will all end up.
By dave turner on Jun 7, 2006 | Reply
great post. thanks.
By SG on Jun 7, 2006 | Reply
I would say great post, but since you aren’t blogging today, I won’t comment!
By John on Jun 8, 2006 | Reply
Very powerful and very challenging.
By Mike the Eyeguy on Jun 8, 2006 | Reply
ML,
That’s 19 down, only 76 more theses to go! I hear they have a special on hammers and nails down at Home Depot. I’m pretty sure they sell IPods there too.
(I would use an emoticon here, but I know how you hate them).
By lela elliott on Jun 8, 2006 | Reply
Wow. That was great. Thanks!
By Scott on Jun 8, 2006 | Reply
Thanks for the kind comments. Mike, that cracks me up. Where can I nail them when I’m done.
By Mike the Eyeguy on Jun 8, 2006 | Reply
I would suggest the front door of Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas.
By Scott on Jun 8, 2006 | Reply
If only it would do any good, I would drive there now.
By dave turner on Jun 8, 2006 | Reply
I am at 4 different churches, around the country, every single week.
I could give you a good list of places to hang your 95. I could even do some nailing for you.
Come up with the other 76, and send me some nails. (nails…? there’s something bittersweet about using nails to correct the church… or maybe just bitter)
By ORAL on Jun 11, 2006 | Reply
Do you think all students will be writing to Apple before coming to explain now?
By JackieW on Jun 11, 2006 | Reply
Scott,
I don’t think you’ve shaken anyone’s faith with your sermons or your “radial” thoughts.
An idea I have long held that is not a popular one is the notion that “turning the other cheek” extends even to defending oneself in times of danger. I don’t know that we, as christians, as allowed to defend ourselves from physical harm when we are in danger from our fellow man. But our tendency is to defend ourselves and fight back. Believing as I do, I am positive that it would then be a sin for me to violate the dictates of my own conscience. I’m not sure what would be the state of someone who believed it would be okay to defend themselves. Any thoughts?
Jackie
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