How to Debate the Gun Issue

There is a belief among Christians that we are in this world but are not of this world. It is firmly grounded in our Scriptures.

 Check out John 17:14-15 and Romans 12:1-2.

Growing up in the Evangelical tradition I was taught that not being of this world meant not consuming alcohol, not using tobacco products, not dancing, not playing Bingo (gambling) at the local carnival, and not dining in restaurants that served alcohol. The list was longer but you get the point.

The lines between being in the world and not of the world seemed pretty clear to me—or so I thought.

But then life happens in broader and more complex ways. Black and white approaches to complex issues begin turning grey and the lines that once clearly separated my being in the world from my being of the world began to blur.

This past week our country experienced another tragic domestic terrorist attack (do we call it that?) in which some 58 (maybe more) innocent people died and countless others were wounded by a gunman using automatic weapons to create his field of fire. 

Let there be no doubt abut it: This senseless act was Evil personified.

As usual the Social Media was aglow with the same old tired debates and inflammatory rhetoric between gun/Second Amendment advocates and those pushing for gun laws reform.

Folks will continue debating as they have in the past and chances are nothing will be accomplished other than the usual societal reset as it anticipates the next senseless massacre— and make no mistake about it, it will happen. It’s not a matter of if but when and how many innocent people will be injured or killed.

“Should we Christians engage our world in this debate?” which is the way of asking: “Should we take sides?” 

Perhaps we should ask: “How are we to engage our world in this debate?”

“How shall we frame the issue in compliance with the Gospel?” would be an even better question.

In his letter to the Roman Christians Paul offers a clue to how we might engage our world:

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect” (italics mine).

Should Christians engage the world by participating in the so-called gun debate? 

Absolutely,  but with transformed thinking rather than conformed thinking. Conformed thinking is the way the world thinks. Transformed thinking is the by-product of the Gospel.

The values that frame this debate must find their origin in the Gospel rather than in the world. Participating in endless debates based on the world’s logic (or political affiliation) gets us nowhere and creates a pervasive sense of hopelessness. (not to mention it angers a lot of people). 

For the Christian, using arguments that are based on the world’s systemic logic is fruitless and leads one down dead end street. This is why I have never successfully won a debate over the gun issue by using confirmed thinking as my platform for debate.

But when I rely on transformed thinking to frame my argument I may not convince the one with whom I’m debating but I am witnessing to the non-violent peace loving Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

When the Apostle Peter cut off the Roman guard’s ear with his sword Jesus quickly reprimanded him for using violence even if it was meant to be in defense of his Lord (Peter was operating according to conformed thinking: the good-guy-with-a-gun logic). 

Jesus on the other hand provided the transformed approach to such violence: 

“Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.”

The operative Gospel principle behind Jesus’ words to Peter is non-violent resistance (a principle found in several places throughout the New Testament). This does not make sense to the world but it should make sense to the Christian mind. 

So what I hear Paul saying is this: 

We can allow the world to frame our debates and opinions based on conformed thinking or we can allow the Gospel to frame our engagement with the world. 

This is why I consider debating the gun issue with conformed thinking as an exercise in futility—a waste of time. Conformed thinking is certainly of this world. Transformed thinking comes from an entirely different Source: Jesus Christ. Christians ought too understand this distinction. 

America loves its guns and in the words of pastor Brian Zahnd will “deserve the hell it gets” for such idolatry.

Let’s hope Brian is wrong but if this issue is not framed with transformed thinking then I suspect he may be right.

Time will tell.

Limping Into Forgiveness

Forgiveness is messy business.

Don’t let anyone tell you that extending or receiving forgiveness is easy. How can it be? Forgiveness takes place within the context of broken and messy human lives. 

But equally as difficult is to seek forgiveness from one you have wronged or caused harm. The following story illustrates this truth for us.

There were two brothers (twins) whose lives separated because of a combination of bad parenting, poor life decisions, deception and lying, and the usual sibling rivalry that so many experience. 

Esau was the first born and therefore inherited certain rights and privileges according to ancient Near Eastern traditions. Jacob, being the second born, was excluded from the expected paternal blessing reserved for his older brother. This was a big deal in that ancient culture (check out the parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15).

Both brothers were very different: Esau was the rugged outdoorsman and hunter (probably athletic as well) while Jacob was more creative and loved to stay close to home. One was a father’s boy and the other a mama’s boy. 

This is never a healthy family dynamic but in this case it eventually led to a painful schism between the two brothers. My sense is that the entire family was at least borderline dysfunctional when it came to rearing their children. 

Jacob, with his mother’s help, deceived Isaac (the father) and stole Esau’s elder son birthright, which was bad juju back in that time and place. Esau was furious. 

So Jacob fled to another country to avoid his brother’s vengeful wrath.

With the passing of time however the human heart should soften a bit and the intensity of old family feuds should dim.

This is true of Jacob as he apparently sensed the need to reconcile with his  brother Esau.

So Jacob headed for home in hopes of receiving forgiveness from his brother Esau.

Along the way Jacob wrestled with God (Genesis 32:22-32). It was a life-changing experience. All night long Jacob wrestled with the Holy One. In the morning two things happened as the result of this all night WrestleMania: 

Jacob incurred a broken hip resulting in a lifelong limp. He also received a new name, Israel which appropriately means, “to wrestle with God”.

Biblical scholars are not real clear as to the meaning of this all night wrestling match between Jacob and God but there is a significant lesson to be learned from the incident:

Jacob had to limp his way into forgiveness.

To seek forgiveness one must take ownership and responsibility for his or her part in the broken and injured relationship.

Jacob’s lifelong limp was the tell tale evidence of a life dominated by lies and deception.

Such behavior as lying and deception always costs something. There is always a price to pay for the way we unjustly treat or talk about others, especially those close to us. 

It is costly to do unjust harm to another human being. 

Yet we all do it to one degree or another. We are human of course and our relationships are spiced with messiness.

So when we feel the need to seek forgiveness from an injured friend, or a co-worker, or a neighbor, or a spouse, or even a family member we will then have to limp into that forgiveness with a broken heart. 

There is of course a good chance that forgiveness will not be given. But we must take that risk and limp nonetheless.

No one comes to forgiveness with a clean slate, I don’t care who you are. Jacob knew what he had done. He wrestled with God because he had yet to find peace with himself or with his brother. He knew deep down that he had stolen something quite valuable from his brother. He knew that his lying and deception had finally caught up with him—it always does. 

Fortunately Esau forgave Jacob. He embraced him and kissed him as was custom for males to do in the ancient Middle East. 

Yes, forgiveness is messy but is so necessary to heal our broken relationships.

Living in Two Americas

It was never easy being a Hebrew prophet. Once we let go of the notion that the main task of the Biblical prophets was to predict the future (i.e., the End Times) or the coming of Jesus (the first time), we will then begin to appreciate them for their main mission: 

To remind Israel of her covenant relationship with Yahweh with a keen focus on justice and peace.

This was no easy task and certainly required an enormously high degree of courage to withstand the criticism of the citizenry and the vitriol of the political elites. Men like Amos, Jeremiah, Isaiah, and Hosea were not feeble and meek preachers, but rather men animated by the Spirit of Yahweh to speak truth to power. 

Today we need such prophets in America, more now than ever. We need brave souls, men and women alike, to remind us that we aren't quite the “City on a Hill” we think we are.

Author Suzy Hansen does just that by reminding us of a hard truth in a recent article published in the Washington Post:

The Pakistani novelist Kamila Shamsie once observed that there are “two Americas” — one at home and one abroad. The first is the America of Hollywood, work-in-progress democracy, civil rights movements and Ellis Island. The second is the America of coups and occupations, military dictators and CIA plots, economic meddling and contempt for foreign cultures. The rest of the world knows both Americas. But as Shamsie has written, Americans don’t seem aware of the second one at all (italics added).

It’s this first America that I love and is mostly admired by all those living outside our borders. Yet it is the second America that many Americans can’t see and non-Americans living abroad do see and dislike, and perhaps for good reason.

In fact, Suzy Hansen lives and works in Istanbul and certainly has a clearer perspective of what this second America really looks like to those living outside the borders of the “City on a Hill.”

The Hebrew prophets spoke truth to power and many were persecuted for being so honestly forthcoming. They interpreted the signs of the times rather than merely predicting the future. They were deemed unpatriotic and haters of their country. Some suffered extreme hardship for speaking truth to power (e.g., Jeremiah). 

Such modern day prophets as the Russian Alexander Solzhenitsyn, the American Martin Luther King, Jr., the South African Nelson Mandela, and many others understood the dangers of speaking truth to power and each paid a horrible price. 

Both Jesus and John the Baptist spoke truth to power and it did not end well for them. It rarely does for prophets, both ancient and modern.

I love America and because I love her I do not hesitate to critique her whenever I believe it is appropriate to do so. I believe anyone who truly loves America would do the same thing. I’m not talking about mindless complaining or partisan bickering, but rather a hope filled critique whose primary goal is to speak truth to power.

Jesus did warn us however: 

“A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.”

Like all other nations America is deeply flawed. She falls way short of perfection.  She has skeletons hidden deep in her closet; skeletons that need to be exposed to the light of day. 

These are not easy words to hear. History may offend but it doesn’t lie. I well remember the first time I became aware of my country’s dark underbelly and once the proverbial toothpaste is out of the tube it is impossible to put it back. Once you see it you can’t unsee it.

Kamila Shamsie reminds us of what we Americans fail to see and are simply unable to critique in healthy ways.

Yes I love the first America as anyone should. I love the first America of generosity and open hospitality. I love the first America of freedom of expression. I love the America that the Statue of Liberty invites all to experience. I love the first America of apple pie, baseball, 4th of July celebrations, and the rich tapestry of so much cultural diversity.

I love the first America of medical and scientific innovation. I love the first America in which the ideal is liberty and justice for all, even though we are still working on that wonderful vision.

Yet I am not fond of the second America; the one that is often hidden and not allowed to be seen in public; the one that Americans have such a difficult time seeing, let alone acknowledging. 

I wonder, if the Hebrew prophet Amos were alive today would he speak truth to power? Would he call out the second America and force her to expose herself to an unaware citizenry? Would he challenge the first America to empty ther dirty laundry of the second America in order to promote justice and peace for all?

I happen to think that he would do just that and he probably would be labeled unAmerican and unpatriotic.

The Gospel and Race!

I would like to offer a brief word on the subject of racism in America. Now I have attempted to do this before and failed miserably. I failed because I attempted to discuss racism within the already divisive political environment of today.

In the words of author Michael Eric Dyson, “I was trying to make the message fit the form, when it was the form itself that was the problem.” If I was going to be at least marginally successful in this discussion on American racism I needed to shift my argument from Political/Philosophical platform to Faith/Theological platform. 

So let’s ask ourselves some tough questions:

What would racism look like if it were to bump up against the message of the Gospel?

What could we presume Jesus would say about White Supremacy, Neo-Nazis and other hate groups if he were living today?

What should be my position on the issue of racism as a Christian rather than just an American?

These are not easy questions but deserve an honest answer. In summary the answer to all three questions is:

Racism is antithetical to the Christian faith . . . period! 

By antithetical I mean by its very nature racism is incompatible with the core values of the Gospel. Racism is more of a human issue than a tribal one; more of a theological/moral issue than a political/philosophical one, although there are political implications involved when it is measured against the Christian Gospel. 

Again, in the words of Dyson, my goal in this short essay is to “bear witness to the truth I see and the reality I know” as the result Christ’s claim on my life.

The core teachings of Jesus, as well as other sources within the Christian tradition, have informed me and helped shape my views on such things as racial equality, economic and justice issues, honoring history without idolizing it, and respecting the point of view of those who are not like me (e.g., African Americans or Hispanics or Asians, or even Muslims).

These values provide me a solid framework from which to personally critique and evaluate my own views on racism. 

When I debate the issues of racism from a political, philosophical or even historical perspective I feel like a mouse on a spinning wheel running hopelessly nowhere. When I mix in the ignorance of others, along with my own acknowledged ignorance of the history of racism in this country, I realize just how limiting my views on race can be.

So here are some foundational Christian values that have shaped my views on racism:

God created every human being in his wonderful image. I cannot dismiss another human being solely based on social status, skin color, economic status or religious affiliation, or nationality. I cannot diminish the value of another human being simply because that person is from another tribe or religion or whose skin color isn’t white. I must remind myself that we share something incredibly valuable with one another: We all are wonderfully made in God’s image (Psalm 139:14).

God loves the whole world, not just my particular tribe or nation. I haven’t the authority to suspend God’s love for everyone simply because they look different from me or because they may be an enemy of my nation. I cannot not love those I am told aren't worthy of my love. 

Jesus valued those whom the mainstreamers in his society devalued: women, prostitutes, tax collectors, lepers, the poor, Samaritans, those of other tribes, etc. There were sharp boundaries erected by the Jewish authorities (religious leaders) between themselves and others not like them. The Parable of the Good Samaritan is not as much about being nice to your neighbor (as it is often understood) but rather about how to be a good neighbor to those on the other side of those humanly constructed boundaries, to those unlike ourselves, to our natural enemies.

Jesus didn’t blame the poor for being lazy but rather he reached out to them with compassion and understanding and in so doing extended to them the respect and dignity the Gospel affords them. He certainly did not judge them nor their poverty according to flawed human justice. He actually delivered “Good News” to them (Luke 4: 18).

So that there would be no misunderstanding or equivocation, he told us that the poor would always be with us. So it’s an issue of how to treat them rather than dismiss them as being of no real value.

There is indeed much more to my Christian faith than these few points. But they are enough to provide me a solid foundation or a framework to engage anyone on the topic of racism in America. 

The Gospel is my starting point. 

This is my platform. 

Others may use guns and hurtful slogans to push their views onto others; others may misuse the cross as a symbol for white supremacy or even Nazi ideology, but I prefer to use the symbol of the cross for what it was intended to be: 

The revelation of God’s self-giving love for the whole world—which includes everyone!

So You think the Bible is Boring and Irrelevant?

So you don't like reading the Bible?

You say it is boring and irrelevant.

You say it is filled with a lot of ancient hocus pocus superstitions that are out of step with the modern scientific world in which we all live. 

You are turned off by all the blood shed and violence in the Bible. 

You say its contents are out of date not to mention that the names in the Bible are way too hard to pronounce; and those god-awful begets!

You say all those wild predictions about the future are just way too much to comprehend.

You say that once you attempted to read Leviticus and actually fell asleep. I concede your point but there is more to the Bible than Leviticus.

These are the things I hear you saying about the world’s number one best seller yet the most unread book ever. Well you're not alone. Some of your criticisms have merit.

But . . . what if I could convince you (as a start) to begin reading the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) with a good modern updated translation (say, The Message). 

As you read them ask yourself: 

What are these stories trying to teach me about my own life? 

What are these ancient stories saying about God and how he sees us?

What are these stories telling me about my relationship with God (assuming you have a relationship with God but even if you didn't they still could teach you something).

How does my inherited view of the world stack up against these Gospel stories and teachings?

Now as a Christian reading the Bible is crucial. The stories and teachings in the Gospels alone can serve as a corrective to what we learn from our culture, even from our parents in some cases.

We all grow up in some specific context. In that context there are powerful influences that have shaped the way we see and understand our world; influences that shape the way we think. Most people never give this one thought. They grow into adulthood never questioning their inherited views of the world.

I grew up in a social context in which racial attitudes were deeply engrained in my way of thinking. By the time I was a young adult my own views on race had crystallized and I never once questioned the validity of those views (or where they came from for that matter).

Now this doesn’t mean that the people who helped shape my views on race were bad people. Most of them were not. But like me they were people of their own times and were the products of their own social and family contexts.

It’s not that we hated people of color, we just viewed them in ways that were not consistent with the values of the Gospel. But I had to read those Gospels to discover this truth.

As I read the Gospels a noticeable shift in my thinking began to take place. The more I read the Gospels the bigger the shift became and what I began to realize is that the Bible offers a serious critique of all societies and all worldviews (including Empires and nations). 

It offers a counter narrative that disputes all the narratives we learn from the world. 

I began to see a different world unfold right before my eyes. Now this didn’t happen overnight; it took many years to unravel all the hurtful and negative things I had been taught about people of color, since my childhood. 

For what it's worth, I still struggle with race issues today. But the Gospel helps keep me centered.

Perhaps the single most influential verse of Scripture that has contributed to the reshaping of my views comes from Paul: 

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2).

Perhaps the Bible really is important for all of us to read today. There are so many destructive and divisive narratives that influence us today. As Christians maybe we should seek a life-giving narrative that is centered on the grandest narrative of all: Jesus Christ. 

Pick up your Bible my friend and begin reading the four Gospels. Read a little each day. Absorb the stories until they become your story. Allow those stories to get deep into your bones and critique your inherited worldview. 

It will be life shaping and life changing for you. 

It was for me.

What Would the Jew Jesus Say?

Well White American Evangelical Christian, we need to talk.

This might be a tough conversation for us to have but we must have it and right now!

Let me begin by proclaiming what every White American Evangelical Christian should know as historical fact:

Jesus was a Jew!

Did you hear me, he was born a Jew, lived as a Jew, and was tragically executed as a Jew. He was Jewish through and through. 

He bled Jewishness. 

His skin was probably darker than yours. All those paintings you’ve seen of Jesus with blonde hair and blue eyes are misrepresentations of Jesus’ ethnic identity by white European artists. They do not line up with the facts on the ground.

So why is this important White American Evangelical Christian?

Why must I point this out to you at this time?

Well for no other reason than to say the time is ripe. 

It seems that you have overlooked the Jewishness of the one you claim to have invited into your heart as Lord and Savior.

Okay, let me back up a bit and restart.

The day the White Supremacists, Neo Nazis, and modern version of the KKK descended upon Charlottesville their rally cry was blood curdling:

“Jews will not replace us! Jews will not replace us! Jews will not replace us!”

Most Americans could not believe what they were hearing, they could not believe what they were witnessing right here in the good ole’ U.S. of A. 

It could have been happening in Berlin, or any other German town of the 1930-40s. But it wasn’t. It was taking place right before a national audience in living color in 2017.

It could not be covered up. It could not be airbrushed away. It has been video recorded to live in American history forever and ever amen.

It was breathtakingly tragic. It was as if someone had uncorked years of pent up white racial anger and rage and spewed it on the streets of one of the nation’s most charming university towns.

“Jews will not replace us! Jews will not replace us!” Jews will not replace us!”

No! These are not good people. Period!

Okay before you start your usual tactic of deflecting by offering some moral equivalency response that there were bad people demonstrating against these Jew haters let me remind you that they were not the ones chanting racial antiJewish chants. 

You can’t pass this open display of racial prejudice to them, many of whom were themselves clergy protesting such an open and public display of racial hatred.

It’s been a week or more since Charlottesville and I have yet to hear one of you White American Evangelical Christians respond publicly to this visible display of racial hatred. If I missed your unequivocal public protest then I apologize.

But maybe I do need to name some names after all. Has Franklin Graham denounced this open display of Jew hating? Has Paula White cried out in utter disgust over this open display of Antisemitism? Not a word that I have heard from Pat Robertson, or Jim Bakker, or Jerry Falwell, Jr., or Robert Jeffress.

Now I’m not talking about some benign watered down generic statement that such behavior is unacceptable. I’m talking about a clear and unequivocal calling out of these hate mongers from their pulpits and decrying any American official who does not clearly denounce them openly and without equivocation.

I’m talking about clearly denouncing such behavior as not coming anywhere close to the teaching of the Jewish Jesus.

I have not heard this kind of open response from any of you to date. 

It is needed. American Christians need to hear their spiritual leaders say unequivocally that this kind of hate mongering stands in opposition to the Jewish Jesus you all claim to follow.

If he’s in your heart, as you claim he is, then by God let him out so he can protest on your behalf.  

Quit hiding him in the dark recesses of your heart.

Of course you’re not the first to fall into the trap of wanting to blend in without notice. Consider the Apostle Peter who refused to acknowledge Jesus at his trial. He tried his best to melt cowardly into the shadows of social compliance. 

This was not Peter’s finest moment and this is not your finest moment White American Evangelical Christian. You know who you are. Even your deafening silence on Facebook speaks volumes. Where are you hiding? 

I am hoping and praying that many of you, like Peter, will regain your moral and theological compass before it’s too late. You must if your brand of white Evangelical Christianity is going to have any takers in the years to come. 

Believe me, there is a high price to pay for anyone who denies Jesus in the public square.

Just ask Peter.

Something Really Stinks!

Let’s have a talk my televangelist/megachurch pastor friend. 

So you believe God placed the current president of the United States into office?

You believe that God raised up this particular man, in spite of his flaws, for this particular time in American history? 

You're sure?

You sincerely believe that if anyone doesn't support this president then he or she fighting against the hand of God?

You actually believe that if someone didn't vote for the current president he or she would go to hell? 

Did I hear you right?

You really believe this?

Well I’m somewhat confused so please help clear up some things for me.

On whose authority do you claim that God raises up any American president? 

Why would God do that? What would be his purpose? Please tell me why this president and why now? Explain why it was so important for God to act now and not in previous presidential elections? Do you really know in what presidential election God was acting and what one he wasn’t? Please tell me, I want to know. How do you know?

Tell me, did God raise up Barack Obama? Well according to your logic I don't see how you could deny he didn't; how could you? If God raised up Donald Trump then why not Barack Obama, or George W. Bush, or Bill Clinton?

Just exactly what kind of insider information do you have that others of us don’t have? What is your calculus for making such self-confident claims on God's behalf?

Explain to me how you can be so cocksure of yourself Ms. Televangelist or Mr. Megachurch pastor? How can you proclaim to so many people, with such certainty, that God has acted in this presidential election while being conspicuously absent in the last? Where did you get that information? is it reliable? 

Did God raise up Adolph Hitler, who was responsible for exterminating well over 6 million Jews and countless others? There indeed were German Christians who actually believed that God put Hitler into power. Did you know this? So how did that work out for them and the rest of Germany? Did God make a mistake? Or did they miscalculate God's intentions?

Fortunately there were those other German Christians who did not believe God had anything to do with German politics. Did history validate their belief that maybe God is not into presidential election business.

What about Joesph Stalin? Did God raise him up? Did God put him in his position of power from which he also exterminated millions of his fellow Russians? Did this make God responsible for all these deaths both in Germany and Russia?  How do you know for sure?

Look, I get it. I know you want a president that embraces your values and your hopes and dreams for America. I understand that having had an African-American president for 8 years was perhaps a bit too much for you. I get it. I really do.

But what I don't get is the arrogance and audacity of claiming to have the inside track on God’s involvement in American politics. Sadly there are too many who really believe in your pontifications of Divine intent and I know you hope they keep filling your coffers so you can remain on television in order to make further inspired pronouncements.

America needs you! We all need your self-assured confidence in knowing the mind of God in such a perceptive way. 

On second thought, I don't believe you anymore than I believe God rewards someone with health and wealth simply because he or she has been faithful and obedient.

Your so-called “Prosperity Gospel” is not the Gospel at all. It’s a sham. It’s a hoax designed to fill your own greedy coffers. And yes I feel sorry for those who swallow your heretical bullshit hook line and sinker. In the end they are the real losers. I find this tragic. 

It is because of folks like you and your other televangelist/megachurch cohorts that embarrass so many of us who believe the Gospel is not about health or wealth or power or American politics, but rather about dying to self in order to be raised in the likeness of Christ and to promote the values of God's kingdom here on earth. 

I’m not buying your message. I don't believe you! Yes, there are still many who listen to you and continue sending in their regular offerings to you; they continue to offer their support for your bat crazy pronouncements and end time predictions. But I’m not one of them and there are many others who are slowly seeing through your hypocritical/heretical ruse.

Tony Campolo, one of my favorite Evangelicals, once said:  

"Mixing religion and politics is like mixing ice cream and manure. It doesn't do much to the manure but it sure does ruin the ice cream.”

Forgive me my friend, but all this talk about what you think God is doing in American politics is beginning to smell a bit like manure.

Something really stinks!