America, the Secular

This is not a comfortable discussion, but in recent weeks several people have asked me to comment on emails and news items they’ve read concerning that broad topic, “separation of church and state.”

Growing up as I did in Virginia, where one can hardly take a step without bumping into a historical marker or artifact, and growing up Baptist, where it was expected that we understood the First Amendment and its implications quite as thoroughly as we knew each week’s Bible memory verse, I’m always surprised that others don’t seem to know or understand this one basic fact of the American Experience: The United States of America was never, is not now, and—God willing—will never be, a Christian nation.

What we call “the American Experiment” is the fact that the USA was conceived and constituted as the world’s first intentionally secular state, where government and religion might coexist side-by-side, but where they stayed discreetly and absolutely out of each other’s affairs.

If you’ve been down Tampa way in recent weeks, you may have seen the billboards posted around Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties, featuring supposed quotes by founding fathers (Washington, Jefferson, etc.) supporting integration (what Baptists call “entanglement”) of church and state. I say “supposed” because some of the quotes were never said by that person. Yet the “Community Issues Council” there seems to say, they would have said it if they’d thought to.

Obviously, the folks at this “issues council” have not bothered to read the Federalist Papers, the correspondence of the Patriots, the records of the Continental Congress, and the debates on toleration vs. liberty which led up to adoption of the Bill of Rights.

Obviously, these folks have never read Article VI of the Constitution which states, “no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States,” and they clearly do not understand what “disestablishment” is all about.

The First Patriots had had their fill of church-state intrigues in the “old world.” Many, if not most, who came to these shores came looking—not just for freedom, but—for liberty. And when they finally had it, they were not about to let it go. The “new way” in America meant no state church(es), no clergy paid by tax revenues, no political-religious elite ruling church and congress. The “new way” was a different, secular, way.

Old Ben Franklin is supposed to have said, “The price of liberty is eternal vigilance.” Whether or not he did, the message is true, if we are to have a free church in a free society, we must learn and teach the truth about our Republic and our Religion. When they asked Jesus about this, he gave his famous answer which was, in essence, “Caesar is not God, and God is not Caesar,” and we need to continue to assert that one must never be confused for the other.

Missio Dei / Tikkun Olam

From time-to-time, I write or speak about Tikkun Olam, the Jewish concept of Repairing, or Healing, the World. With all the issues swirling these days about ecoresponsibility, global warming, etc., I find it refreshing when responsible Christian leaders come forth and attempt to help those of us in the church think theologically about God's Mission and whether or not we're working in harmony with it, or off on some tangent of our own.

Rev. Daniel Vestal writes compellingly about Missio Dei and gives us much to consider, both in adjusting attitudes and in adjusting behavior. CLICK HERE to read his article.

A Day to Pray

Any day---every day---is a good day to pray. And for those of us for whom prayer, meditation, or thoughtful contemplation is part of our way of life, it is certainly not a strange thing to do. And considering the present state of our religious institutions, nation, and world, we could probably stand to pray a bit more than we do. But do we really need anyone---religious, political, or governmental leader---to tell us that one day or another is a particular day to pray or a day to pray for a particular thing?

This video was recorded on May 7, 2009, designated the National Day of Prayer in the USA.

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Down to the River to Pray

Sunday night (4/19/09) we watched the season premier of "In Plain Sight" and were jerked up short at the end when the strains of the haunting Appalachian gospel song quietly stole into the soundtrack---"Down to the River to Pray." We'd first encountered it in George Clooney's hit movie "O Brother, Where Art Thou." (I have the soundtrack playing as I type this.)

This got me to thinking of the several excellent TV series which, as part of their weekly offering, include some excellent music as a footnote or exclamation point to the storyline. It got so that when we watched "Joan of Arcadia" and "The West Wing," we waited expectantly to see/hear what the producers would serve up for that musical point/counterpoint. We were never disappointed. Now we occasionally catch these bits of spice on "House," "Bones," one or another of the "Law and Order" offerings and other favorites that we follow, but it seems they're not used as a regular habit as they were in the earlier series.

Music---specifically church music---has been at the core of my existence as long as I can remember (and probably had its roots even earlier). One of the enduring agonies and ecstasies of my life as a pastor is the privilege of planning and leading worship for a community of faith where music is essential to the fabric of our existence. Yet, though personal taste may move us in one direction or another, I'm always a bit surprised to find my Spirit being equally nourished by Appalacian gospel as it is by Gregorian Chant or Taize or....

If you watch TV or go to the movies or worship with a congregation keep your awareness high for the choice and use of music---whether it's featured or part of the background. Note where, when, and how your Spirit resonates with the music and the message of the song. Then take time to dialog with your soul about what the music demands.

A Church Ancient and Alive

Pilgrims' UCC has made much use of the work of Marcus Borg, Diana Butler Bass, and others of their ilk over the past 3 years as we've worked hard to become and remain a church "ancient and alive," a church in touch with those parts of the authentic Christian tradition which have always energized and motivated Christians and Christian communities. We've also affirmed our belief that Pilgrims' posseses a "vibrant and vital" understanding of our call and commitment as "authentic Christians in our day."

If you'd like to read more about how Borg, Bass, and company understand these terms and phrases---and if you'd like to understand more about the progressive theology, worship, and practice which is Pilgrims' CLICK HERE to read an article posted in today's Presbyterian Outlook. (OK, we're not Presbyterian, but in matters of church health, we share some common features with Presbyterians.)

After the Resurrection

Private Eye ran a cartoon some years ago of St Peter standing in front of Jesus's Cross and saying to the other Disciples: “It's time to put this behind us now and move on.” It was a satire not on Christian belief, but on politicians and counsellors, and their trivialising mantras. It depended on Jesus's death being not just an odd, forgettable event - and that it was His Resurrection, rather than a shoulder- shrugging desire to “move on”, that got the early Christians going.

Easter was the pilot project. What God did for Jesus that explosive morning is what He intends to do for the whole creation. We who live in the interval between Jesus's Resurrection and the final rescue and transformation of the whole world are called to be new-creation people here and now. That is the hidden meaning of the greatest festival Christians have.


CLICK HERE to read the rest of the article by Tom Wright, Bishop of Durham.

Where's Jesus Today (Holy Saturday)?

Something strange is happening ... there is a great silence on earth today, a great silence and stillness. The whole earth keeps silence because the King is asleep. The earth trembled and is still because God has fallen asleep in the flesh and he has raised up all who have slept ever since the world began. God has died in the flesh and hell trembles with fear.

He has gone to search for our first parent, as for a lost sheep. Greatly desiring to visit those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, he has gone to free from sorrow the captives Adam and Eve, he who is both God and the son of Eve. The Lord approached them bearing the cross, the weapon that had won him the victory....

CLICK HERE to read the rest of this ancient Holy Saturday homily.