where pride will get you

Right now I’m really embarrassed to be a Lutheran, not a Christian – you’ve always made me lower my head in shame – but by joining a group (or staying in it after you were raised there) signifies your belief that one thing is right or preferable over the other options available.  With the recent hurricane and a certain someone from Minnesota who is at times Lutheran and at others ‘evangelical,’ making remarks that were ill-received that needed to be repackaged as a ‘joke,’ I want to hide under my bed until it’s all over.   

I would just once like the Lord Almighty, maker of Heaven and Earth, to shout down to us in his own voice and say, “THIS IS A REGULAR WEATHER PATTERN THAT HAPPENS ABOUT THIS TIME EVERY YEAR.  WHEN I GET ALL UP IN YOUR GRILL, YOU WILL KNOW IT.”  I’m a progressive so I’d really like an amendment that said, “I gave you dominion over this planet and you were supposed to be good steward of the aforementioned.  This is what you get for trashing it and making it uninhabitable.”  It has more to do with your SUV than Snookie.  

To claim that earthquakes, hurricanes, and other natural disasters happen because God is angry with us makes me question his feelings not just about the humans he created but also the fish.  He must be really, really angry at the fish.  The fish are clearly on his bad side because if you’ve noticed – and lets face it, the people who want to defend a constitution they’ve not read, beat a Bible they haven’t opened also haven’t made themselves aware of fourth grade level science which informs us that under the Pacific ocean there are over a million quakes a year from little wiggles to what we saw in Japan.  So, if the Pacific Ocean is seeing millions of earthquakes a year God must not only be angry with us but the errant, wicked fish.

People seek religion to better themselves and find peace in their lives.  This isn’t a unique attribute of Christianity – although I’d warrant the claim that Christians teach that Christ refines us instead of ourselves being the actors in our own betterment and that betterment is a reaction to his love and grace – we all go to houses of worship (or ascribe to a philosophy that guides our lives) with the hope and purpose of improving our human condition.  I for one wouldn’t get up on a Sunday morning, shave and get dressed if it weren’t really worth it. 

Let’s circle back to the word, “evangelical,” which is what Lutherans are called in countries that speak German – which is what Luther wanted us to be called.  I don’t expect you to know that piece of information, most Americans think I practice a religion founded by Martin Luther King Jr. and aren’t aware that they aren’t the same person.  “Evangelical,” means gospel-based and unfortunately the people in America claiming that are getting their social policy (and their politics) not from Christ or his Gospel but from the Old Testament.  

I’m not, nor never would claim that the Old Testament is invalid but don’t call yourself Gospel based when you’re not basing yourself on the Gospel and seem to be rejecting it and it’s central message.  I’ll be the first to agree that several of the behaviors are sins according to the Bible but Christ is his Gospel not only commands us to take care of each other and a true friend should point out when you’re in error but also take the plank out of our own eye before removing the speck from someone else’s.  This is why it seems ironic when someone who has been in a pulpit screaming about the gays on Sunday can be found on Wednesday coked out with a male prostitute.  We’re supposed to encourage each other in love and the public face of the church presented by ‘evangelical’ politicians and their supporters isn’t really what makes us look like a loving, encouraging bunch.  In fact it makes us look like the very same heretics that Christ, during his ministry, eschewed in favor of the very same people longing for redemption, love and acceptance.  God as our father loves us for who we are but not so much that he’ll let us stay there, friends should be the same way.  I think the church as a whole needs to take a long look at how we present ourselves.

 Lutherans pride themselves on an absence from political involvement – where other churches and religious groups revel in it – and on our internal education and academic heritage.  This seems to belie that whole perspective and make us look like the goofy science denying homophobes parading around as Christ’s followers.  

If nothing else it goes to show you where Pride will get you.  

 

Comments

[Margaret]

Very wise words and why I approve of you so much. My favorite part:
I’m a progressive so I’d really like an amendment that said, “I gave you dominion over this planet and you were supposed to be good steward of the aforementioned. This is what you get for trashing it and making it uninhabitable.”
I find it utterly ridiculous when people blame weather on God or his disapproval of us. Really? What have they been smoking?

[Jay]

Bravo.

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