ALL SAINTS & ETC.
Hello Saints,
Maybe it's just me, but I don't usually think of this time of year as an "eventful" time of year. I mean, there is Halloween. Candy, decorations, and horror movies abound, of course. But then there's that other day: All Saints Day.
This is the day when we remember those Saints who have come before us in the faith. First, a definition of the word saints. This is of course a term we use to talk about grand figures of the church. Examples would be St. Augustine, St. Teresa of Avila, or St. Thomas Becket. But the word saints is actually meant to apply to all Christians. Hence, the way these newsletters usually start: "Hello Saints!" So as we remember those who came before us, we don't just remember the famous ones, but also people in our lives or in our family histories. I have my faithful parents to be thankful for (who I am blessed to still have in my life). But there's also people like my Uncle Norman, who passed away many years ago. Uncle Norm inspired me with several conversations. There's also my grandfather who broke with his Jewish family to become a Christian. Neither of them were perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but their faith mattered to me, and influenced my own faith.
Of course, there is also one more event that is consuming a lot of attention this year: the mid-term elections. As you know, Tracey and I carefully avoid being partisan in politics. But we can and should still talk about political ideas. I thought I'd mention a few of the highlights we have mentioned over the years.
First, we are citizens of God's kingdom above all. Yes, as Paul says in Romans, we are called to be good citizens of whatever country we happen to live in, but that does not include betraying our faith. Nor does it include thinking that somehow our country has a special status above others before God.
Matthew 22: 21b - “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
As Tracey said in her sermon a few weeks ago: “As Christians our civic duty is informed by our faith, but the two are not inextricable. Rendering to God what is God’s may mean calling out our civic leaders. We must be helping the vulnerable, the sick, the oppressed and the marginalized, not participating in their oppression.
Which brings us to our second point. It is clear in both the Old and New Testament that those with wealth and power are meant to find ways to bless those without resources or a voice. The poor, the vulnerable, and the outsider are meant to be taken care of. For example, Egypt was a blessing when they took in the vulnerable Israel during a famine. The problems came when they began to feel threatened by Israel and so they subjugated them for the sake of their own wealth and power.
Matthew 25:32-34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
Third, politicians and the media LOVE to make people two dimensional. What I mean by that is that they like to make it easy to dismiss and/or even hate those they disagree with. But we are meant to love our neighbor, and Jesus has defined neighbor as all people, even politicians. Our true enemy is not any person, but the spiritual darkness that wants to destroy all people.
Ephesians 6:12 - For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Part of our Christian witness can be to treat ALL people with dignity, even those we strongly disagree with.
I hope the above thoughts will be helpful on Tuesday as we all go to the polls.
Yours in Christ,
Jamey +
Song: Another new U2 release for you today: The Tears of Things. It's a personal reflection wondering if they have actually helped with their music throughout the years. But it's also a lament for a world that is still suffering. I do love the last line of the song.
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Youtube Link
Prayer:
Almighty God, to whom we must account for all our powers and privileges: Guide and direct, we humbly pray, the minds of all those who are called to elect fit persons to serve . Grant that in the exercise of our choice we may promote your glory, and the welfare of this nation. This we ask for the sake of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
