The Greatest Hope We Have

Some of you will remember my years of writing a column, "A Little Good News Today," for the West Plains Daily Quill's religion page and for posting on this blog regarding what could be called matters of the spirit. It's been a while since the focus here has been on such topics, but the time seems right to mention a few things about The Way that Jesus proclaimed.

"And without faith it is impossible to please God..." is from Hebrews 11:6. It is one of my favorite verses because of my belief that it should have a huge impact on our view of sin. Many people have a list of actions and attitudes which are considered to be immoral and are therefore sins. I'm not planning to argue about anyone's list of sins versus my list of sins, but I think we should be able to agree that at the center of the concept of sin is breaking God's laws or rebellion against God.

If we are concerned about pleasing God (and isn't that the primary job for those who claim to follow Jesus?), I believe our focus should be less on 'sinful' actions (especially the actions of others) and more about sinful attitudes. Our actions flow out of our attitudes, so attitudes are the source our troubles. That gets us back to the 'without faith' part. What does that mean?

Faith, like sin, is a big concept. Along with love and hope, faith forms the triangle which is the heart of the message of Jesus. Some would say that doubt is the opposite of faith, but I think that God understands, even expects, our questioning because Jesus himself expressed doubts. In his last days on earth, Jesus, in the Garden of Gethsemane, experienced great anguish and uncertainty over his calling and his circumstances. In fact, one of his last recorded statements on the cross is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

What I believe scripture reveals to be the opposite of faith is fear. Fear has several forms, including worry, anxiety and expecting trouble with each new day. One of my favorite quotes (not from the Bible, from a movie) is, "A life lived in fear, is a life half-lived." For those who are not Christians, being fearful is understandable. For those who claim to be believers, living in fear is not how we please God.

Jesus doubted. But he did not fear. He did not worry. Overcoming fear and worry are central themes to becoming the people we are called to be, believers who will be a shining light to the rest of the world.

What did Jesus say about worry? Many things, but here's one, "And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?" (Matthew 6:30)

What about fear? "For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' So we may boldly say: 'The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?'" (Hebrews 13:5-6) And, "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." (1 John 4:18)

Having occasional fears is part of our human condition. Being careful and watchful of immediate danger (like going inside during a lightning storm) is common sense which God also expects.

But when we wallow in fear; when we promote it and then claim to be advancing the views of Jesus; when we distort scripture to justify hatefulness; and when we're willing to bankrupt our country, morally and financially (and constitutionally, I'll add) because we have been goaded into fear by the greed and self-interests of the rich and powerful, then everything about that scenario is wrong. We are choosing fear over faith and for Christians, that's a sin. Scriputurally, there just isn't much other way to say it. Because the end result is a loss of hope and a loss of love, and if those things are gone, then all is lost. God has not abandoned us at that point. We have abandoned him.

I'm certainly not perfect in this regard (certainly not in any regard) and I know that many of you disagree with me on some issues. But I hope and pray that in the days and years ahead all of us can set aside our differences and focus not on the fear we're being fed through the media and other outside sources, but on the source of all good things, Jesus himself. As many of us celebrate his entrance into the world in the week ahead, it is my hope we will bask not in suspicion, dispair and dread but in the peace and goodwill the angels proclaimed at his birth.

Fear not. That is the greatest hope we have.

There's Always a Villain

Throughout history there have always been villains, enemies. There are reasons for villains, some might say there's a need for them. As the 21st century unfolds, ISIS has emerged as the enemy and it exists for multiple reasons. Based on history and the evolving nature and impact of the military-industrial-congressional (and oil) complex, one might say there's a need for a villain like ISIS.

First, a few thoughts about the nature of villains. Some say ISIS is unlike any enemy we've faced or seen, but that's not the case. Yes, their methods of death and destruction might seem to be 'worse' than enemies in the past, but that's mostly because we live in a world in which we're technologically connected like never before. Social media gives this enemy a platform for communicating directly to all who have Internet access. They use it to recruit. They use it to network and coordinate attacks. They use it to terrorize the world. They are masters of manipulation and horrific theater. They goad us. They let us see inside their twisted minds and methods. They strive to make us live in fear that we could be the next to die. Effective. Yes, ISIS is a villain.

The accounts of civilians -- children, women, aid workers, journalists -- beheaded or killed in other shocking, almost unimaginable ways, elevates this enemy to a level which is new to most of us, except for those who have seen combat or for anyone who pays attention to history. The number of those killed by ISIS fighters is hard to calculate, but most estimates place the count in the tens of thousands rather than the tens of millions murdered by Stalin, Mao or various factions and despots in Africa (just in the past century) or the millions killed by Hitler, Pol Pot/Khmer Rouge, the Kims of Korea and others. Not to diminish in any way any pain or suffering, but ISIS is a relatively small-time villain by comparison.

Does ISIS target civilians more than past large-scale murderous regimes? No. Civilians are always the target of cowards and lunatics. (It's estimated of the approximate 250,000 deaths in the nearly five years since Syria's civil war began, ISIS is responsible for less than 5 percent. A ruthless dictator in Syria has been responsible for far more deaths than ISIS.) Are their methods more brutal? No, not really. I don't suggest anyone investigate the means of death inflicted by past or present criminal regimes, but beheading is humane in comparison to many ways people are murdered by madmen.

And something which seems to matter most to many in the US: Are they killing Christians on a mass scale? No, not in relative terms. And furthermore, Muslims of other sects have been the biggest target for ISIS. It is to their 'marketing advantage' (and they are masters at marketing) to publicize the killing of non-Muslims and de-emphasize the murder of other Muslims. Yes, the Islamic State is motivated by religious (and political) beliefs, based on their interpretation of the Quran. But all of us who follow religious teachings, approach our respective beliefs with our own interpretations of sacred texts. Apparently ISIS would like to 'rule the world,' (although there is simply no way that is close to happening), but even more important to those who are part of it, is their desire to bring about the End Times. Seeing the world come to an end is more important to them than running it. Oddly enough, they believe they are ushering in the return of Jesus who will defeat the armies of Rome. (ISIS publishes a slick magazine, "Dabiq," which outlines their way of thinking.)

North Korea continues to top the list of countries -- as it has for many years -- where Christianity is persecuted the most and China is no winner in that category, either. (Note: This persecution has nothing to do with Islam.) It is acceptable for us to label North Korea's Kim Jong-un as a villain because he apparently has nothing the US needs or wants. And because North Korea has nothing we want, we also generally ignore them because they aren't killing Westerners. China persecutes and imprisons Christians on a regular basis, enforces state-sponsored abortions (360 to 400 million in the past three decades) and yet we would never dare name that country a villain because, among other reasons, we love buying their cheap crap, especially during the Christmas season. So, we also ignore their atrocities, but for different reasons.

THE NEED FOR VILLAINS

Think of the need for villains. I hadn't considered this until several years ago -- because it's one more thing kids aren't taught in history classes -- when I realized my dad's grandparents were 100 percent American citizens, with 100 percent German ancestry and my father mentioned that they spoke German. Yet he knew not a single word of it and retained no German traditions. Why? I finally figured it out. My dad was born in 1918 as WWI was winding down, but anti-German hysteria in the US -- the flames of which had been vigorously fanned by President Woodrow Wilson -- was still in full swing. (Wilson gets my vote for Worst President Ever, by the way, for a variety of reasons.)

In the 19th century, millions of Germans immigrated to the US, and they were welcome additions to the melting pot. In the years leading up to the turn of the century and WWI, that all changed and Germans in America were targeted with hate as the country was enticed to panic, especially by Wilson's administration. It was a horrible time to be of German ancestry in the US. 'Patriotic societies' could call loyalty into question for any (or no) reason. Germans were persecuted, physically harmed and run out of business. In West Plains, Missouri, my hometown, a German family was allegedly "burned out of town" during WWI when their business caught on fire and there was no attempt by the town's fire department to put out the flames until it was too late to save the business. Not our finest hour.

After war was declared, Wilson proclaimed all German-American citizens to be "alien enemies." They couldn't live near airports or military facilities and they were also banned from port towns and the nation's capital. In 1918, Germans had to fill out registration papers and be fingerprinted. Those who failed to comply or who were considered dangerous were detained in internment camps for the duration of the war. Wilson needed to keep the country focused on an enemy, a villain, so that support for the war didn't lag. The villains of WWII of course were Americans who were Japanese. They were forced from their homes and into concentration camps. Germans and Italians in the US also had a taste of hate during that time, too, although oddly, Germans were lesser villains in WWII.

Then that war ended and there was another shift in who the villains were when communism was perceived to be a dark force which would envelope the world and bring us down. Communism had a long run as the Worst Possible Villain (from 1947 until the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991). The Cold War, The Korean War and The Vietnam War were (at face value) because of our fear of the villainous communists. At more complicated levels, those wars were especially good for the business of war as the military-industrial (-congressional) complex really began to hit its stride just as President Eisenhower warned (or predicted?) it would. Once the major players got a taste of the profits to be made by continually making war and meddling in the business of other sovereign nations, it's been non-stop.

Of course, the Germans and the Japanese are our friends now, so they can no longer be the villains. Even the communists have cleaned up their acts enough that we tolerate them. (Some are still repressive regimes who rule with an iron fist, but so what, right? They're our trading partners, so we'll give them a pass.) Let's see, who could be a good enemy? Let's make terrorism the villain, and since people might start figuring out that terrorism in one form or another has always been the enemy, let's evolve it into a holy war, and give it a face because a War on Terrorism stretches the limits of irony just a little too far. Radical Muslims have been labeled and identified as the enemy, a villain which can take up our resources for several decades.

This is of course an over-simplified assessment, but it's how we've come to be in a permanent state of war in the Persian Gulf region: military operations there in the 90s, Afghanistan, Iraq, The Islamic State. One has run into another with no end in sight. We haven't solved anything. We've created a quagmire that none other than Dick Cheney predicted in 1994 would happen if we invaded Iraq. Ah, the irony just keeps going.

PRESENT DAY

And now we have the alleged threat of Syrian refugees and every adherent of Islam right here in our country to focus our attention on because, just like in times past, there are many powerful men who need a country filled with so-called patriotic Americans lining up to hate whatever villain, whatever enemy, we're told to hate. But hate is not patriotism and what we're contemplating by getting on board with the likes of Donald Trump is shameful, disgusting behavior such as Americans have displayed in times past and which we have come to regret with the passage of time.

I don't believe a majority of Americans want to be seen by the rest of the world as hate-filled and xenophobic. Let's stop allowing ourselves to be manipulated by fear and start asking ourselves questions such as: Why exactly do we need an enemy? Is it to fuel someone else's greed? To fire up political bases in an election year? To distract us from the real issues at hand?

ISIS needs an enemy because they want war. If our goal is to make peace why are we trying to make villains of an entire religion right here in our own country? The reasons we have villains are more and more convoluted all of the time. We're being more and more easily led down a path of hate every day and it is sucking the life out of us, literally. We are distracted from innovation and compassion and if anything is likely to lead to the end of civilization as we know it, that's it.

Consider this:

- Worldwide, 8 million people die from cancer each year.
- Half of the world's hospital beds are filled with people suffering from water-related diseases and 1.6 million die from those diseases, 90 percent of the deaths are children under the age of 5.
- At least 1.5 million people die from tuberculosis each year.
- In 2014, 1.2 million people died from AIDS.

The list goes on. How about we focus on solving these issues as a means of achieving peace?

Call me naive. That's fine. But I challenge anyone to show me hard evidence of how bombing an enemy like ISIS into oblivion is even possible. It's like stomping around in a room full of roaches, killing a few and sending the others scurrying to hide in the walls. Even if it is possible to miraculously wipe out ISIS (let's be realistic, we're heading down the road of US ground troops in that attempted scenario), then how can that effectively solve the long-term problem of the repressive Syrian government versus rebels? And how does it work especially without a full-scale plan to rebuild the infrastructure which will be destroyed, leaving Syrians without a place to live and work? And where will we get the resources to do all of that? Merely throw another trillion dollars on the debt load? Great plan.

We're all being played for fools by politicians and our own government, and for those who think hating Muslims and trying to ban people from the US based on religion is the magic answer to dealing with an enemy who has mastered social media and recruits across borders without the need to even enter a country, then naive and misguided is the kindest description I have for that way of thinking.

When we allow fear to motivate and drive policy, if we turn on each other and turn our back on the principles of a free society, that's how ISIS wins.

A Passing Generation

My parents' generation and how they viewed the world has been on my mind lately. It's likely because the last sibling of either my mother or father passed away Jan. 5. My Aunt Golma, who had lived in Washington state since before WWII, was the youngest sister of my mother. She had turned 92 on Dec. 24. Mom and Dad and the eight brothers and sisters they had between them are all gone now.

Theirs is the generation born in the decades of the teens and twenties of the 20th century, during or just after WWI. Those of that age group, whether gone or still with us, lived through the Great Depression, suffered loss during WWII and perhaps Korea, and saw Vietnam through eyes the younger generation did not. During ensuing years, came baffling changes in society including those brought about by computers and a new age of technology. Through it all, they maintained an almost universal resolve to do the right thing, even if they sometimes failed.

I've been thinking about what it was like for me growing up. My parents were not non-political and they were certainly not non-religious. They believed in God and they believed the United States was a great nation. The two things were more or less naturally connected for them without the need for grandstanding in either area. Their unstated view, lived out in their everyday lives, was that following the basic teachings of Jesus by displaying kindness toward others and tending to our own business, rather than focusing on the faults of others, also made us good citizens. That's how God and country went together as I was taught by their example.

They didn't agree with everything that every elected official said or did, but it was never with disrespect that they would publicly express disagreement, if at all. Politicians didn't tell them their religion was 'right' or 'wrong' and they didn't have preachers telling them how to vote. That was not the church's job then, and it shouldn't be now. That was how church and state were naturally separated.

Think about how some in the church world talk about this country and how some members of Congress talk with complete disrespect not only to and about each other but to and about the president of the United States. It didn't start in the last six years, but it's grown to epic proportions in less than a decade. Think about how it's filtered down to how so many of us have allowed that same kind of anger, bitterness and strife to enter our own conversations related to religion and politics which sometimes filter down to other topics. To those who are 50 or older, especially, doesn't it seem unbelievable that in less than a generation we've gone from the kind of citizenship displayed by the majority of the “Greatest Generation” to what we have now?

How have we allowed this country to become ruled by people who on a daily basis invent new lows in ways to caustically disagree and who seem to take great joy in letting us know they don't intend to work together or try to reach agreement? How have we allowed ourselves to not only approve of that behavior but to celebrate the division and disgusting turmoil by taking part in it ourselves? I am encouraged by recent conversations about working together to make our local community better. As long as the talk doesn't turn to religion or politics we should be fine, because it's become seemingly impossible to have a civil conversation on those topics with someone who has an opposing viewpoint.

If we want to honor the hard work and sacrifice of the generation who lived in their prime throughout the last century, we need to return to the kind of Christianity and citizenship they displayed. If we refuse to do so, what legacy are we leaving the next generation? God help them if we won't.

Our Part in Solutions

If our respective towns are in danger of losing economic ground, what's next? The discussion on last week's "Rising Tide" post was excellent. Commenters spoke to the heart of issues many communities are facing....attitudes; differing perspectives, goals and opinions about how to (or if we should) move forward; workforce improvement; the need to work together; how can we grow and/or make progress and what do those things even look like? and more.

There are problems which can, and rightfully should, be addressed by members of entities and organizations charged with leadership and governance. I'm not letting them off the hook -- that will be a post for another time -- but what about us? Community members, business owners, employees and citizens. What part do we play?

In regard to West Plains, in a Nov. 28 editorial in The West Plains Quill Frank Martin offered "New ideas needed not new businesses" in response to the city's move to hire a consulting firm to bring in new businesses. Frank makes strong points, but I covered the city council meeting where the decision was made and whether I agree with the decision or not, I can understand why the city made the move. They hear a lot of clamoring by residents for big chain retailers. How can they keep everyone happy? They can't. They're darned if they do, darned if they don't.

Regardless of how we feel about that particular issue -- again, a post for another time -- one of the comments that was made on the Quill's Facebook thread where Frank's editorial was posted made several excellent points. A woman who is relatively new to our community had a story about needing to get a horse trailer painted. She tried three different local businesses who could not accommodate her for various reasons. She continued to ask around to see who could do it. She said, "I ended up driving it to SC Oklahoma. Unless you grow up around here you have no idea where to turn -- the telephone book only covers business with landlines. Most people and businesses are using cell phones now."

Some of the most successful businesses are ones which know about the other businesses in the community, especially ones who offer similar services, and they aren't afraid to send potential customers to their "competition." Losing a particular sale might land a business a long-term customer. That's good customer service and it's good for the local economy. Keep consumers spending their money locally to make it better for everyone.

I see this from the perspective of having covered various Chamber of Commerce "Businesses of the Week" for the past two and a half years for The Quill. The Chamber is working through its list of members to eventually recognize all of them. It's free publicity for those recognized, a chance to say almost anything they want about their business. Some don't want to participate which is confounding (in most cases). But even more perplexing are the business owners/representatives who can barely describe what they do or muster any enthusiasm in telling their stories. I wonder how some of them stay in business. Customer service skills -- which encompass more than just a smiling face and a friendly voice, but I'd like to start there with many businesses! -- need widespread improvement.

And that goes for all of us, not just leaders/business owners, but citizens. We need to consider how our actions/attitudes might be driving people away and decide rather to become advocates for our community. I'm sharing here a prime example of this principle, which my friend Joe Davis posted on a public Facebook page:

The Beginning of DRS in West Plains, MO (1958)

"Below is an article that was sent to my father, Hilliard Davis, in December of 1958. Jim Idol was with the Division of Resources and Development in Jefferson City, Missouri. A note attached the article said, 'Looks Like news gets around, Jim.' The magazine was Management Methods, Practical Solutions to Administrative Problems. The article was on page 25 of magazine. It was placed under 'Sales Builders' and titled, Recruit Everyone as Industry Booster.

"Everyone can serve as a business builder for the community. Take this as a case in point.

"Hilliard Davis is a friendly filling station operator who likes living and working in West Plains, MO. and does not mind saying so. En route for some fishing, President Edward T. McDaniels of Southwest Truck Body, Inc. stopped off at his gas station. Besides good service, he received a bit of boasting about the town. Impressed by the enthusiastic comments, the visitor ventured the thought that he might be interested in moving a factory to such a fine town.

"Business Booster Davis promptly arranged for a meeting at the Chamber of Commerce. End result: Southwest Truck Body leased a $100,000 building there, West Plains has added $500,000 annual payroll, Hilliard Davis has a bigger business and E.T. McDaniels is a lot closer to good fishing. And everyone else is reminded that he can do his share of attracting industry to a community."

Thanks to Joe for posting. These same kinds of things still happen every day. Usually, industry officials looking to locate in a community don't start by contacting city hall or the Chamber of Commerce. They start by sending representatives out to a community, in person (and these days, online) incognito to do some scouting around. 

What if E.T. McDaniels drove through West Plains today? First, I can't think of a gas station in town where the owner has regular day-to-day contact with customers. There are certainly some friendly workers at convenience stores, but is part of their training to engage customers and tell them what a wonderful community we have? Probably not. They don't have time. Most customers pay at the pump anyway. How about us? The next time we're pumping gas and someone with out-of-state plates is there, too, maybe we should strike up a conversation and tell them how great our community is. Who knows how that seed planted might grow?

The point is we all need to be proactive. Progress isn't a magical process; it takes some effort, engagement and involvement. Maybe we can take it upon ourselves to find out why other places are thriving and see if there's something we can model and use in our own communities. Not everything works everywhere, but believing in our community is a good place to start. That includes believing working together is worth the effort. I don't know a better way to say it: Let's be the change we want to see.  

A Rising Tide for All Ships

I'm going to be specific and hit close to home with the following comments. I don't know how other communities are faring, but in West Plains, Missouri, we're navigating through some rough water these days: recent job losses with more on the horizon upon the closing of a local factory, the need for innovation and expansion of technology, West Plains R7 Schools facing decisions about how to accommodate elementary school kids, and Richards School putting a tax-levy issue before voters to build a new high school, just to name a few. We're seeing divisiveness in how to move forward. The situation is not bleak, but realistically, it's tough.

In traveling around in surrounding communities for my job and for other projects, people often ask me, "What's going on over in West Plains? Why can't you get along? What's wrong? You should be growing by leaps and bounds." We're viewed by many as struggling. We're widely seen as cliquish, especially unwilling to be open to outside ideas. Our neighbors point out specific organizations, businesses, individuals and entities and ask, "Why aren't they working together? Why aren't they pooling their resources?"

I see why they ask the questions. I don't know the answers, but as a start, we need to remember that we're all in this together, and it would be helpful if we acted like it. I've seen individuals who are on the same 'side' of particular issues find ways to disagree. There is often suspicion and mistrust even when it's unwarranted. Sometimes it feels like a competition rather than a community.

In some ways it's difficult to pin down exactly what the problem is, but at the heart of it, we're struggling for unity. It's bad enough that in larger circles we often allow our differences in opinions to spark rude comments on social media and even face to face with people who are supposedly our friends. Part of it is that the greater political issues we're facing as a country seem to be affecting attitudes at every level. We're allowing ourselves, as citizens, to be divided along political lines to our detriment.

In the context of the local community, there seems to be a certain kind of jealousy in hoarding ideas, not wanting to share those ideas if proper credit is not given. Rather than recognizing that a rising tide lifts all ships, we seem to be willing to retire to the swamp and sit there. I believe we have fallen into this pattern unintentionally, without realizing our flaws. As a native and lifelong resident of rural West Plains, I love my hometown. We are a generous, caring community with so much going for us. Maybe I'm overstating the problems when there are many positive points to be made, but we need to do better. And I know we can do better. I'm confident we will do better.

It's a rough stretch, but we'll get through it. Together.

Project 25

While the year is fresh and positive change is on the minds of many, now seems like the time to start working on some of the local solutions which are being discussed more and more by many in recent days. As a step forward, I propose a firming up of the “Project 25” idea suggested in December. The concept is to start a tradition of marking the 25th day of each month (or somewhere thereabouts as we might do with the observance of Christmas activities in December) as a day to do something extra-nice for someone, give a gift to someone in need, to volunteer somewhere or otherwise make an effort to have a positive impact on the community. Here are a couple of ideas to start.

After reading the initial post, my friend Michelle Cox who is an educator said, “I am the sponsor for a (school-based) service organization. I will present to the students the idea of doing a service project every month around the 25th. Simple things but hopefully will make a difference.”

My friend Connie Schachel, originally from Wisconsin, now living in Pomona, Mo., offers another idea. “Back 'north' when I was still a (member of a particular service organization), our club, along with the local building trades organizations sponsored Christmas in July. Residents could contact the city's social services department and fill out a request form and from these forms, a dozen projects would be chosen.

“The tradesmen headed each crew and volunteers from my club and other service clubs would spend the day doing service. We built wheel chair ramps, fixed crumbling porches, painted entire homes, replaced windows, even patched roofs. (A local beverage) distributor sent delivery vans around to the project site with soft drinks and (local pizza) delivery drivers brought pizza to feed the crews. It was astonishing what we could accomplish in one day by working together. Eventually we changed the date to April – Christmas in April – simply because it was too hot in July to be out working all day.”

Connie said there is a national organization associated with the concept, originally called “Christmas in April,” now rebuildingtogether.org, and there are several towns across the country which take part in Christmas in April activities. Can our individual communities take on such projects, maybe on a small scale to start? There are certainly many homes in the community where I live which could use some rehab.

I know many of us are busy, but civic and service organizations, church groups, Sunday School classes, business owners, what do you say? Even if we're not part of a group which might take on a bigger project, individually let's challenge ourselves on January 25 to take a few minutes and do something mindfully kind above and beyond what we might ordinarily do for someone else or for the greater good. There are so many possibilities and ways to make a difference. Doesn't it seem like an ongoing way to keep alive the spirit of good will brought to the world by the birth of Jesus?

Community Solutions

I continue to be amazed at the behavior in Washington DC of the 'Christian-values' members of Congress and how some still try to convince me we're a Christian nation. Compassion, love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (the fruits of the Spirit to be displayed by followers of Christ) are in short supply in the federal government. I don't even mean in the policies they're promoting, I mean in their everyday interactions with each other. What we see is plenty of hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy which are just some of the things not meant to be practiced by those who hope to "inherit the kingdom of God." (See Galatians chapter 5.) One might presume such deplorable behavior also wouldn't be part of a 'shining city upon a hill' which is the United States' alleged calling card. Christian nation, indeed.

Whatever happens in Washington DC – or doesn't happen – we would do well to recognize that local solutions can help turn our country from the path it's on. We can abandon the example we're seeing in Washington and make our own way forward. Communities working together is ultimately our best and greatest hope.

The second chapter of the book of Acts gives an outline of how this looked in the early Church. “All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts.” (verses 44-46)

What could this kind of community living look like today? Simple steps can get us going in the right direction. “Shopping local,” supporting locally owned businesses could play an integral part. Online shopping via the Internet is convenient, but it's helping to wreck local economies. We need to spend our money where it can be kept circulating in the area economy, providing income for local business owners and their employees. Growing our own food or knowing our growers is another important part of living in community and growing our own businesses, too, creating jobs, manufacturing the things we need and want within the local region when possible. Forming co-ops for farmers and artisans, bartering, sharing and connecting with our neighbors are all just the beginning of how day-to-day living could be improved.

We've been led to believe it's impossible for communities to be more self-sufficient, but not so many years ago that's how we all lived. Local choices exist, more need to be created and those choices are crucial. Local solutions are also about all of us taking responsibility and helping to care for those in need in our own communities while contributing time and resources to build strong families along with more education and job opportunities. Other things to concentrate can include apprenticeships, child-care co-ops, mentoring young people so they can break free from generational cycles of poverty, and much more.

The future of our country is worth working for, but we must face the struggle with respect for others, integrity and a sense of responsibility for doing what is right. Because in the midst of the fight, we must not lose the heart and soul of what made our nation great and how Jesus called us to live. Our so-called leaders need to see a citizenry being civil to one another and working together in spite of differences.

Want to see change? It's time for us to be that change. It's how we can get through these rough times with hope for good things ahead. Have courage. Be kind to others but also question authority and hold those in power accountable for their actions. Just because I believe it's up to individuals to improve their own communities, it doesn't mean I'm ready to let Congress off the hook. They should be ashamed for their behavior, and we should demand better.

What Does Rebellion Look Like?

Two things to start:
1. Speaking out against injustice was at the heart of the message of Jesus.
2. Jesus openly promoted abiding by the law of the land, but subversively he worked to change the rules.

When people are treated unjustly/unfairly because of their station in life, when those who have plenty refuse to share with those who don't have enough and when those who use dishonest means to swindle others or in some way try to obtain personal gain, it is safe to say that Jesus is not pleased.

When he turned over the tables of the moneychangers in the temple and drove them out, it was because they were buying and selling in a place where such activity should not have been going on, and they were cheating those who came to worship. They were charging more to change money (from one currency to another) than the law allowed and they were selling sacrificial animals at more than the going rate. Jesus drove them out, at a basic level, because of greed and injustice.

You might say that Jesus was taking the law into his own hands, thereby giving his followers permission to do the same, but it is the context which is important. The moneychangers were defiling the sanctity of the house of God, and I have read some accounts that indicate the high priest at the temple would have been taking a cut of profits. Jesus is consistently seen to be openly angry throughout the New Testament at the religious people, the 'church people,' of his day, those who said one thing and did another, those who used God as an excuse to promote their own will, those who turned their backs on 'the least of these.'

It was within his authority to deal openly with those matters. Now it is time for all of us who are his disciples to hold houses of worship accountable for what they're doing (or not doing). For example, if churches want to promote politics, that's fine. Let them lose their nonprofit status. The non-charitable activities within the church should not be exempt.

Jesus expressed anger toward religious hypocrites, but his very existence was in opposition to Caesar because Caesar was considered to be divine by, well, mostly Caesar and everyone who wanted to stay alive/unharmed or who wanted to benefit materially from being in his favor.

Jesus lived within the realm of the ruling authorities of the day (Caesar and his representatives). While he was alive, the Jews in Israel were living under Roman occupation. The debt, impoverishment and hunger Jesus addressed in his teachings were a direct result of the policies of Caesar, including his over-taxation of the poor which led to the literal enslavement of many because of their indebtedness. 

What is recorded from the teachings of Jesus would seem to indicate he didn't care so much about the corruption of the Romans -- there was plenty of it -- as he did about the corruption of those who claimed to be religious. Thus came his oft-quoted command to "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's." But I believe that was only part of the picture. 

Jesus did not promote open rebellion, but clearly he was a threat to not only the religious leaders, but to the government. (There are many things in the New Testament viewed from our modern thinking which seem passive that are far more subversive than we've been taught in church through the years.) Remember, the Jewish hierarchy and Pontius Pilate representing Rome, teamed up to crucify Jesus. Pilate claims to have washed his hands in the death of Jesus, but he was the only one with real earthly power in the matter, so it would not have happened without his consent. 

Out of his great love for justice for all of humanity, Jesus was a revolutionary. He rebelled against 'the system' (religion, government, society's standards) there's no way to deny it. 

This is a much bigger topic than can be addressed in a short blog and all of it is not to get too deeply into the theology of the matter. It is to say that the kind of rebellion which follows closely to what Jesus taught is for religion to be pure and unadulterated -- without hypocrisy, always acting in love for the betterment of all -- and for believers to work cleverly and peacefully from within the system to change the system. It is the way forward which brings lasting and satisfying success.  

Demonizing any group because of the actions of few, promoting violence or being angry to the point of causing strife which leads to acts of evil are not paths to the kind of change which Jesus was born to bring. Jesus made it clear that we all matter and at the core of our being, we are all the same. When we allow ourselves to be divided into categories and start turning on one another, the spirit of Caesar wins. Working to make sure that doesn't happen should be the ultimate goal of us all.