Faith Leaders Voice Opposition To Trump's Rhetoric - Jim Wallis in Sojourner's

"We don't call it 'politically correct' to speak out against racist bigotry.  We call it being faithful to the gospel." 

60 religious leaders, myself included, made a statement of faithful obedience three weeks ago.

We named it Called to Resist Bigotry, and aimed it at the messages sold by Trump — messages that deliberately promote and fuel bias, fear, and even hate against Mexicans, immigrants in general, Muslims, Syrians in particular, women, African Americans (including our first black president), a disabled reporter, and all political opponents, whom Trump consistently attacks in the most demeaning, degrading, and disgusting language.

Donald Trump offends our values.

One of the most recognized religious leaders for “values voters” is Russell Moore, president of the Ethics and Religions Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention. Moore is a conservative white evangelical, who normally votes Republican.

But last week, Moore wrote a column for The New York Times called “A White Church No More.” In it, he wrote,

"The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech did not envision that more than 50 years later ‘Go back to Africa’ would be screamed at black protesters or that a major presidential candidate would tweet racially charged comments.

Some American Christians may be tempted to ignore these issues, hoping they are just a wave of ‘political incorrectness’ that will ebb in due time. That sort of moral silence shortchanges both our gospel and our future.”

Faith-based organizations don’t endorse candidates. So you won’t be surprised that I am not going to endorse Donald Trump — neither will I endorse his Democratic opponents, Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders. But we faith leaders will comment on the morality of this presidential campaign, the issues raised or not raised, and the morality of candidates based on our moral values.

Our politics are not God’s politics. And as Moore concluded in his column, “The man on the throne in heaven is a dark-skinned, Aramaic-speaking ‘foreigner’ who is probably not all that impressed by chants of ‘Make America great again.’”

Call To Worship: Seeking God's Presence (based on Psalm 103)

Some of us are thirsty and parched, like an unwatered garden, so we have come seeking God’s presence, which is like a fresh-water spring.

Some of us are exhausted from worry and struggling, so we have come seeking God’s presence, where we are offered rest.

Some of us are feeling lost and confused, so we have come seeking God’s presence, where we are offered welcome and guidance.

Some of us are weighed down with guilt and pain, so we have come seeking God’s presence, which helps us to remain standing.

As we all remember God's goodness and love towards us, we give thanks.

A "Go" Community - K. Killian Noe at inward/outward

CRC Climate Witness Project: An Update - Kyle Meyaard-Schaap in The Network

How is the Christian Reformed Church of North America following up on the Paris Agreement?

Phase Two of the Climate Witness Project started on March 1, 2016, and will be completed by June 30, 2017. Many of the regional organizers from Phase One are continuing, and we may expand into new regions.

The CWP will work with at least 70 churches in order to continue educating congregations about climate change, will ask several Climate Witness Partners to write op-eds, and will arrange for visits with Members of Parliament and Congress.

In addition, congregations will be enabled to take steps to reduce their own greenhouse gas emissions by making their buildings more energy efficient and reducing their use of energy produced by the burning of fossil fuels.

Some congregations are beginning their work in energy stewardship by replacing incandescent light bulbs and CFL bulbs with LEDs, installing light sensors in bathrooms, and installing programmable thermostats. The Energy Star Program is helping the Climate Witness Project with this effort.

How can members of my congregation to participate in some way in the CRCNA effort?

Please contact Rev. Richard Killmer, coordinator of the CWP, if members of your congregation want to participate in the Climate Witness Project or if you would like to learn more about it.

He can be reached at 207-450- 7242 or at rkillmer@crcnapartners.org.

The full article is available here

Spiritual Literacy: Embracing The World

Call To Worship: Earth Day Weekend

based on piece by Greg Klimovitz

God, help us to listen so we may hear your voice all around us in the universe you called “good.”

God, open our minds so we may love one another and the earth you told us to care for and protect.

God, open our eyes to see your fingerprints in the wonder of all that surrounds us.

May our lives be worship to you.

Reflection and Renewal: Earth Day Weekend (based on Numbers 35:33)

God of All Life,

We give thanks for the beautiful, life-giving Earth that you created and called good.  We ask forgiveness for all of the ways in which we have failed to be faithful stewards of our common home; which you have called us to restore and renew.

We ask forgiveness for the ways in which we haven’t loved our neighbors as much as we’ve loved ourselves.

May we learn to respect all life, in which your spirit dwells, as a sacred gift. Thank you for inviting us to take part in your kingdom work of making all things new again.

Help us to live a fully-engaged life.

Amen.

Earth Day Prayer - Climate Caretakers

Creator God,

Your creativity knows no bounds and your creation shouts of that boundlessness.

Thank you for sharing that creation with us and giving it to us to take care of and look after as our common home. Thank you for the progress that has been made to address carbon pollution and climate change.

Let us take heart from what has been done and from the progress that has been made so far. At the same time may we use the presence of that progress and your presence with us to encourage our next steps.

May your presence and the promise of future progress give us hope. May we and our leaders not rest on past progress or future promise. Instead, empower us to press ahead. Help us to build on that progress, to express your presence and to fulfill that promise.

With love, grace, patience and perseverance may we learn, pray and act together to care for your creation and its climate.

Amen.

The Not So Hidden Message in Contemporary Christian Music - Ken Dahl

There seems to be a continual psychological love affair for some distant place that is “Oh, so much better than Earth,” which sadly creates a contempt for the world of the here and now.

This irreverence for the world we're all born into is almost like wishing death would come faster so they could get out of this nasty, horrible place God supposedly called ‘good.’

The following is the result of a quick research project I did of just two days of to-and-from-work commutes, listening to a contemporary Christian music radio station.

Out of all the songs I heard, these five messages were loud and clear.

1. How terribly, unbearably hard, it is ‘down here below’ in this burdensome world.

2. A perpetual “I am nothing without You God” underlying theme throughout the music. I call this “not-enoughness theology.”

3. An almost begging, ultra-dependent neediness and crying to ‘God up above’ to please ‘come down’ and help us.

4. An emotion-based romance, almost lamenting for some future utopian, off-planet paradise that will be oh so much better than the life we have to continually struggle through here in the here and now.

5. An endless, very romantic emotion-based adoration and worship.

This continual barrage of sad, desperate dependency actually fosters an emotional, low-self-esteem, soap opera-like, daily lifestyle. And it paints an unrealistic picture of us being an emotionally-unhealthy, ultra-dependent, otherwise-helpless bunch of needy souls barely making it through the week without our God.

Although there are some small pockets of Christians who have moved beyond the theology that many of these songs portray, the majority of evangelicals still unfortunately cling to this belief system cross section.

When we are ‘worshiping’ an up-there-somewhere God it becomes not much different than laying flowers and fresh fruit at the base of a statue in some other religion. In reality, it IS the same thing with extra emotional romance, the feelings of indebtedness, unworthiness, and not-enoughness added.

Why would I want that? Why would anyone want that?
I guess for reasons of comfort perhaps. It is indeed the opposite of taking 100% personal responsibility for our own demeanor, our own maturity, our own personal growth, our own humanitarian benevolence, and even our own happiness and mental wellness. All the music purports that we are simple “not enough” to govern our own lives in such a responsible manner.

Its The Theology!
I began to realize that it is not the lyrics of these songs that are ‘all wrong,’ it is the theology. It is the theology that is creating this perpetual ultra-dependency that never progresses beyond a certain point.

The Strange Romance for Anywhere Else (But Here)
In some of the songs, there seemed to be a continual psychological love affair for some distant place that is “Oh, so much better than Earth,” which sadly creates a strange sort of contempt for the natural world of the here and now. This boredom and irreverence for the world we were born in is strange at best. It is almost as if they wish death would come faster so they could get out of this nasty, horrible place God supposedly called ‘good.’

The full article is available here

"God's Not Dead" Movies Fail Christians - Chris Williams at Patheos

“God’s Not Dead” are offensive and harmful movies — and I say that as a Christian.

The “God’s Not Dead” films fail their target audience and become the thing they claim that they're preaching against.

“God’s Not Dead” are offensive and harmful movies — and I say that as a Christian.

The plots feels more like a chain email or Bill O'Reilly segment than anything resembling real life.  The world of “God’s Not Dead” sees all questions and disagreements as an attack, not an invitation to dialogue.  “God’s Not Dead” prepares young people to strike a defensive, fearful posture, which is the first step toward blocking friendships and discussions.

“God’s Not Dead” depicts Christians as a beleaguered, persecuted minority. Never mind that American Christians have done pretty well for themselves and hold a political and cultural sway that many other faiths covet. Never mind that many people feel intimidated by Christians and are nervous about having evangelicals impose their views on them.

The films paint non-Christians as obsessed with bringing down religion and making Christians look stupid. They try to convince young Christians that people who don’t share their faith are enemies. The films don’t just eliminate dialogue; they set up genuine conflict.

The films also encourage stereotypical views of Christians. This issue is indicative of a large problem in evangelical subculture, which often equates Christianity with voting a certain way, listening to certain music and generally not being “weird.”  True, biblical Christianity is diverse, encompassing all political spectrums, artistic tastes and levels of intellect. These films fail to allow that diversity.

In their attempts to prepare young Christians for challenges that they likely won’t face — persecution and outright hostility — the “God’s Not Dead” films ignore the very real challenges they likely will.  But what about when the "threat" is internal, and new thoughts and philosophies challenge what they believe?

Unfortunately, “God’s Not Dead” would rather traffic in fear and anger.

The full article is available here

For All Creation: A Guided Prayer - Climate Caretakers

Often when an issue as huge as extreme poverty or climate change comes to mind, we wonder how on earth we can pray for this? There are so many facets, issues, and worries that go along with each of these issues.

The funny thing is, when we feel like that, that is exactly when we must pray! We know that our God is so much bigger than these problems and He has given us the tools to help make a difference.

We have created a guided prayer called For All Creation, that leads each of us through thanksgiving, repentance, and petition as we seek to end extreme poverty and reduce the changing climate.

We ask that you join thousands of Christians around the world as we meditate on the scriptures and prayers in this guide.

The full article is available here

Worship Resources for Faithful Climate Action - Center For Public Justice

April 5th is the Global Day of Prayer for Climate Action.  Use these engaging resources and activities to support faith action on climate change in your community!

These sermons and small group studies can help foster healthy dialogue about the causes and consequences of climate change. The songs and prayers can help open up space for understanding and accepting personal responsibility for the injustices of a changing climate.

Please, pray and act for climate justice - and engage your faith community in the same! We hope that these materials will serve as a guide as you express gratitude for the gift of creation, pray for those impacted by climate change, and also to pray for the leaders charged with making the policies that will shape our future.

The full article is available here

Easter Is About The Transformation Of This World - Marcus Borg

The Veil Is Torn: Good Friday Reading - Jeff Wiersma

"Hope is imagining God’s future into our present." - N.T. Wright

The temple in Jerusalem had a 60 foot high, 4 inch thick curtain that separated the holiest part of the temple - the place where the very spirit of God was said to reside - from the area where people were allowed to worship.

At the moment that Jesus died, that curtain tore in half.

What's especially interesting is the verb that Scripture uses to describe this event. It is the same verb used to describe heaven opening up when Jesus was baptized - when a voice from heaven said, "This is my son, chosen and marked by my love, the pride of my life."

The curtain tearing in half symbolizes how we are no longer separated from God. God choosing to come and voluntarily suffer alongside humanity made it possible for a new way of living. With death and darkness defeated, the very spirit of God was on the loose. God’s Kingdom was thrown open to all of us.

Perhaps you’ve had a similar experience in your personal life - where walls that had separated you and someone else were torn down, where pain and the absence of life were transformed into healing, connection and new life. What was closed off and dammed up was finally opened wide again and flowed freely.

The cross is the place where death and unbearable pain were transformed into the healing power of God himself, which could then flow out into the world in and through us.

It’s for this reason that – of all the possible words that could have been used to describe the day that Jesus died – we use the word “good.”

That’s eternal hope.

Into Your Hands: Good Friday Reading - Jeff Wiersma

"Then Jesus said, 'Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!' And with those words, he exhaled - and breathed no more." - Luke 23:46

If death was to be truly defeated, it was only by dying himself that Jesus believed he could defeat it. If God was to reach the hearts of humanity, it was only by suffering his own heart to be broken on our behalf that he believed it could happen.

Maybe you’ve had a similar experience; a time when making the right choice – taking the action that will make things right or bring reconciliation – will cost you in some way?

So it was with Jesus. As he breathes his last, he says, “Father, into your hands I entrust my spirit.”

It’s interesting to note that Jesus didn’t say, “I guess God isn’t listening, I’ll just give up” or “I guess I will die alone here, this was pointless.”

As his body can no longer endure the unbearable pain and despite feeling forsaken by God - indeed, quite a cost to pay - Jesus completed the work of love and surrendered his spirit.

This is where we see a God who loved the world so much that he gave the world himself - freely and completely.

And that act of selfless love made it possible for us to participate in God’s kingdom; where our acts of selfless love can help to bring healing and recovery, can remove blinders, can be good news to the poor and freedom to the oppressed.

God’s kingdom - coming alive on earth as it is in heaven - is where darkness and death are pushed back by light and life.

That’s eternal hope.

Lament Is An Act Of Faith: Good Friday Reading - Jeff Wiersma

Around mid afternoon Jesus groaned out of the depths, crying loudly, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” - Matthew 27:46

As Jesus spoke those words, all was lost. As far as he can see, God is not there for him. Jesus was overtaken with the sense that God seemed to remain mysteriously distant.

When Jesus cries out those words on the cross, he is quoting Psalm 22. In the tradition of other Jewish prophets, Jesus is lamenting the suffering he is experiencing - expressing his grief and sorrow. It’s in many ways similar to how Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane the night before, asking if there was any other way - beside the cross - to accomplish what needed to be done. His words are a question, not a declaration.

In both instances, the answer is the same - God the Father doesn’t rescue Jesus by using some miraculous power. Restoration of the intimate relationship between God and creation will not come from above or at a distance.

God must also suffer with creation.

So Jesus cries out in utter distress, suffering such unbearable pain that he is questioning God; demanding to know why it seems that God has abandoned him at such a desperate time.

And who hasn’t felt this way when going through their own “valley of the shadow of death?” – awful experiences like a losing a loved one, the rupturing of a family or relationship, a doctor’s phone call relaying a much-feared diagnosis.

Yet Jesus refused to be silent. This is because lament and questioning are acts of genuine trust in God; their use assumes that God is listening. If that wasn’t the assumption, what would be the point in lamenting or questioning since no one is there to hear it?

Lament is firmly grounded in hope; that rugged, more earthy and muscular cousin of optimism.

So even though he feels forsaken and abandoned, even though he is in the midst of unimaginable suffering - Jesus still believes that God is listening.

That’s eternal hope.

The Mystery Of The Cross: Good Friday Reading - Jeff Wiersma

"The cross is a paradox – a mystery. Why would a symbol of execution – a cross of all things – be the chief symbol of Christianity?" - Frederick Buecher 

Have you ever wondered why a tool of execution – a cross of all things – would be the chief symbol of Christianity? The cross is a strange symbol for the church to use when you stop and think about it.

A cross?!? It might as well be a gallows or an electric chair, right?

 And Good Friday … the day that Jesus was killed on a cross; if you’re like me, you’ve wondered what exactly is good about that?!?

The mystery of the cross and what’s “good” about Good Friday are both part of the greater mystery of God the Trinity; who is 3 persons in one being - Father, Jesus and Holy Spirit - living in selfless relationship - whose very essence is love.

To make that same kind of close, loving relationship possible between the divine and us, this God chooses to become human. God becomes a vulnerable child - completely dependent on human care - to begin the work of removing the distance between humanity and the divine.

That vulnerable child grew into the Jesus that was nailed to the cross. On that cross, God often looks unrecognizable to us - because we’re so used to thinking of God as all-powerful. But there’s Jesus nailed to the cross; overpowered, humiliated and suffering unbearable pain.

But here’s the twist; the cross is actually the instance where God is most fully revealed - since God’s very nature is selfless, giving love. In being crucified, Jesus brings the realities of suffering, pain, rejection and humiliation back into the life that is God the Trinity - completing the work of removing the distance between God and humanity.

This is why the cross - that brutal tool of execution - also gives us a reason for eternal hope. It shows us the life-giving, selfless love of a God that chooses to suffer alongside with - and out of care for - creation. It’s another example of God’s willingness to be vulnerable so that we can have genuine relationship.

As well all know, real, healthy relationship can’t exist without vulnerability. We’ve all seen examples of this in healthy marriages, families or friendships. It’s only works when we are willing to be open and accommodating with each other. That’s the posture God took in this mission to restore relationship with us; being willing to risk being hurt and rejected – even going as far as death!

What wondrous love.

The God Who Suffers - Dorothee Soelle

Our Relatedness To The "Other" - Ilia Delio

Liberation Theology - Richard Rohr

The Danger of Demagogues - Leonard Vander Zee in The Banner

For the welfare of the United States, the guarding of its civil discourse, and the spiritual guidance of the church, Donald Trump needs to be called out for the demagogue that he is.

I have been hearing the word “demagogue” lately in the media. A demagogue is defined as "a political leader who seeks support by appealing to popular desires and prejudices rather than by using rational argument."

It’s a dangerous thing for an editor of a denominational magazine to get into politics, but sometimes the situation calls for it. Something pernicious (another good word: having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way) is going on, and it needs to be called out.

According to the definition above, I think it is safe to say that one U.S. presidential candidate fits the definition of demagogue. His dismissive and prejudicial language about various groups of people, his slanderous statements about fellow candidates, his cavalier attitude toward the truth, all tend to appeal to voters’ basest instincts and legitimize their prejudices.

And to top it off, he is no longer a fringe candidate, a political curiosity, but the front-runner for a national party.

For the welfare of the United States, the guarding of its civil discourse, and the spiritual guidance of the church, Donald Trump needs to be called out for the demagogue that he is.

The full article is available here

Finding God In The World: Interview with Diana Butler Bass - Patheos

Nothing short of a spiritual revolution is afoot. This revolution is happening not within the walls of the church, but outside of them, in nature, in neighborhoods, in the home, and in the global commons.

The environmental language and the language of the web from technology has conspired to create a new spiritual language for us and it’s been very powerful to me.

Nothing short of a spiritual revolution is afoot. This revolution is happening not within the walls of the church, but outside of them, in nature, in neighborhoods, in the home, and in the global commons.

Where is God? "Right here," Butler Bass says, in the dirt, in the water, in the air we breathe, and in the face of our neighbors. And this makes a world of difference in how we live as people of faith.

This spiritual revolution is really about a shift or a transformation. It really isn’t about institutions or the church. It’s about the way in which we understand and experience God. And yet our churches and institutions are still locating God in the very same place they did 500 years ago, in a far away heavenly realm.

Lots of people are now looking immediately around themselves, and saying, look at this! God is in my garden! Who knew God cared about tomatoes? Or, God is in the air I breathe, or in the face of my neighbor. The direction in which we are looking for God has really shifted.

God is with us here, in the web of life — not beyond it — and we live here, and the rest of nature is here, this whole amazing system of the world, and this planet we inhabit, its all interrelated.

This is a God who is interested in how we live now. It is so challenging to me. It’s a realization that is turning not only my spiritual life, but also my ethical and moral choices, inside out and I’m personally on a path of re-imagining my entire understanding of what it means for me to be a Christian person.

The full article is available here

Reflection and Renewal: Do Justice, Love Kindness (based on Luke 18:18-23)

adapted from Service Sunday
by Beth Merrill 

God, we must admit that we can no longer feign ignorance.

You have indeed shown us what you require:

• to do justice - seeking peace & reconciliation, standing with the marginalized and forgotten 
• to love kindness - showing compassion and unconditional caring for those in need 

God of the oppressed, protector of the poor, liberator of the unfree,
help us to live our lives in service to our neighbors and so in service to you.

Amen

Benediction: Overflowing, Extravagant Love (based on Luke 18:18-23)

adapted from Blessing of Balm
by Jan L. Richardson

When we see brokenness in this world which God created in goodness and loves, may we meet it overflowing grace and pour ourselves out with extravagant love.

Responsive Call To Worship: God Welcomes All (based on Luke 7:36-50)

adapted from Call to Worship: Luke 7: 36-50
by Pastor Seth A. Normington

Reader: God, you welcome all of us as honored guests.
All: You welcome us all - even though we don’t always get things right, 
even though we don't always show love like you do.

Reader: You forgive our failures and give us a seat at your table.
All: For this amazing gift, we give you worship and praise.