The Making of American Liberal Theology

The Making of American Liberal Theology

Strawberry-Rhubarb Theology: Galatians 5:24

Strawberry-Rhubarb Theology: Galatians 5:24: "'Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh and its passions.' Not: lessened. Wrestled with. Wounded. Crucified."

Clinging to Religion? Really!

I won’t endorse a political candidate…but I can sure respond to national comments made by some…especially if they move into an area of my own pastoral work: reli

Last week, Barak Obama said in a fundraiser with some wealthy donors in San Francisco, that people in smaller towns are bitter and therefore ‘cling to guns and religion’ and others.  The comment is universally agreed to be arrogant and condescending (except by Obama).  You can read reasonable and sometimes passionate comments about this comment all over the web and blogosphere.

As my mother used to put it to me, “What an ugly thing to say.”

This is the second time that religion and pastoral issues have come up with this candidate.  In the first instance regarding his relationship with his pastor, Obama distanced himself from his pastor’s comments (slightly) but maintained his formal relationship with his church.  He made us think that the reason he went to church was to raise his kids and worship God.  He said publically that he was a Christian and that Jesus was his Savior.  But many seemed to discount his authenticity.   (Read this for one look into Obama’s life and faith journey.)  Some felt strongly that his relationship with his home church was politically expedient.  Did he need some ‘cred’ in the black community of Chicago?

Up until these last comments about ‘guns and religion’, I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt.  I wanted to believe that he might have been a God-fearing candidate who if elected, would bring change and hope to America.  I love his tag line at his website.  It is positively hopeful.  “Change.  I am asking you believe not just in my ability to bring change to Washington.  I am asking you to believe in yours.”  The logo on the website is positively Reagnesque, “It is morning in America…”

But Obama now has said that bitter people ‘cling to religion’ like they are needy and weak.  Could we say the same things about the way he clung to his religion at his church for 20 years?  Did he cling to whatever the church gave him the way he says those bitter blue-collar workers cling to there’s, namely, to see what it could do for you? 

Was it a gaffe?  We all misspeak and we should all give every public speaker (and preachers!) some leeway and grace.  But even the most progressive blogs  and writers find that Obama’s comments, viewpoints, and even his apology are dripping with arrogance and condescension.  (Saying “I’m sorry for saying that”…and “I’m sorry that you misinterpreted my saying that” are two different things). 

His ‘Audacity of Hope’ is proving to be filled with an equal measure of narcissism and vainglory.

I would say to Mr. Obama that the Christian religion (I assume that he is critiquing the Christian religion and those to go to church) is not crutch you hobble through life on.  It is not a tiny scrap of hope you cling to when all else has failed you.   If fact, true religion is not something you cling to at all.  The Apostle Paul said that he pressed on take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.  (Phil 2:12) That doesn’t sound like there’s a whole lot of clinging going on!  He is holdig on the Christ because Christ is holding on to him. 

The Christian religion is much more too.

·      It is a set of practices and observances that are offered privately and corporately to honor God, give Him glory, and build up the people of God.  What could be more important? 

·      New Testament religion is based on the person of Jesus Christ.  As Paul wrote to Timothy, “And we all agree, our religion contains amazing revelation: He   was revealed in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit,  seen by angels, proclaimed among Gentiles, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.”  (NET Bible, I Tim 3:16)

·      You don’t cling to a Jesus-centered religion.  You embrace it.  It is quite literally the most challenging thing one can ever do.  The day-to-day living of the Christian faith means that you carry a significant burden of truth, behavior, grace for others, personal ethics, and holiness.  You often fall short.  My experience is that when a non-Christian tries to live a Christian life without the power of the Holy Spirit, they often find it too hard!  They don’t ‘cling’ to it…the cringe from it!

 

And finally, if people really do ‘cling to religion’ they find quickly that is does not save.  Religion is the outward form.  Jesus is the substance and it only when we cling to Jesus that we find His strength and courage coming flowing into our lives.

 

That is the audacity of Hope in Him!

The Call; April 17

Dear Friends,

This is be a short letter…as I am firmly couched here at home recuperating from my back surgery.  It seemed (from what the doctor shared with Fran) that it went well…and I should be making a full recovery over the next week.  I deeply appreciate your prayers.

But I just want to give you a ‘heads up’ on a movie!  A few months ago I took a friend from Christ Church to see a sneak preview of a movie called “Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed”.  We were both impressed.  It is a well-done, humorous, wonderfully provocative, and very relevant for today’s world.  It opens this Friday in wide-release.  It has a great trailer that outlines the purpose and point of the movie.  These topics are endlessly interesting and I hope you get a chance to see the film.  (Name Drop:  the Producer, Logan Craft, is a friend of mine.)  Anyway, check it out.  Ben Stein (whom you know is Jewish) is the star of the film and has the same dry wit that is seen in all of his work.  Only now, he is helping us see the marvelous work of a creator God and the prejudice in the academic community against scientists who are believers.  Here Ben is in on the Bill O’Reilly Show.

Anyway, I hope you can get in to see the movie.

Again, thanks for your prayers,

 

David+