Yesterday’s acts of deadly violence executed by some extremist Trump supporters who stormed the Nation’s Capitol is egregious to say the least.
But the idea that some those people were trying to justify their actions by claiming that Jesus Christ was on “their side” is may be best described as evil. Those actions are flagrant breaking of the 3rd Commandment… yes, of the 10 Commandments. As you know the third command says, “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.” That commandment is about fair more than cursing when you stub your toe. Anytime words, acts, or thoughts of evil, hatred, division, supremacy, or destruction are ascribed to the Divine, God’s name is been taken in vain. All too often people ascribe things to God when they are too afraid to take responsibility for their lives, thoughts, and/or actions… so their god (intentional lower case) becomes their scapegoat.
In the Christian tradition, when a person wants to foster a larger more holistic vision for who God is and what God is like, they look first to the person of Jesus. Our sacred text dares us to imagine God through a lens of Jesus. What is Jesus like? What does Jesus teach? How does Jesus serve? How did Jesus die? Yesterday was a flat out assault on Jesus’ Beatitudes. And I don’t even know where to start in response to Jesus’s grand invitation to “Love God and love our neighbor as we love ourselves.” There was nothing Christian in those actions.
If this is what the conservative American church is, then February 6th, 2021 may also be call of people who seek to love in the Jesus Way to reimagine mission.
This may be the worst segue in the history of blog posts, but with all that been going on, Rihanna’s “What Now” from Unapologetic (2012), is playing in my head, heart, and body… especially the chorus and the repeating lines at the song’s end. What Now
What Now
by Rihanna
I've been ignoring this big lump in my throat I shouldn't be crying Tears were for the weaker days I'm stronger now, or so I say But something's missing Whatever it is It feels like it's laughing at me through the glass of a two-sided mirror Whatever it is It's just laughing at me And I just wanna scream What now - I just can't figure it out What now - I guess I'll just wait it out (Wait it out) What now - Oh, oh, oh, oh! What now I found the one, he changed my life But was it me that changed And he just happened to come at the right time I'm supposed to be in love But I'm numb again Whatever it is It feels like it's laughing at me through the glass of a two-sided mirror Whatever it is It's just sitting there laughing at me And I just wanna scream What now - I just can't figure it out What now - I guess I'll just wait it out (Wait it out) What now - Please tell me What now There's no one to call 'cause I'm just playing games with them all The more I swear I'm happy, the more that I'm feeling alone 'Cause I spent every hour just going through the motions I can't even get the emotions to come out Dry as a bone, but I just wanna shout What now - I just can't figure it out What now - I guess I'll just wait it out (Wait it out) What now - Somebody tell me What now I don't know where to go I don't know what to feel I don't know how to cry I don't know oh-oh why I don't know where to go I don't know what to feel I don't know how to cry I don't know oh-oh why I don't know where to go I don't know what to feel I don't know how to cry I don't know oh-oh why So what now
Peace, dwight
