LSPS Reflections - Another Way of Knowing

The cultural aspect of the intensive continues to be thought provoking.

Today we learned more history of Mexico and its historical development. A particular focus today was on the differences between the dominant culture and the ones being dominated.

We explored of the relationship between the conquistadors and the natives they conquered. The not-so-surprising thing was that these patterns are still being played out today in Texas between the dominant white, or anglo, culture, and the Mexicans, Tejanos, Native peoples, and Latino immigrants that find themselves in Texas.

The dominant culture always attempts to press its way of life on other cultures. It can do so with an aggressive energy that sometimes leaves no room for an alternative way of life or point of view (to put it mildly). As the dominant group impresses its way of life on another group, it does not take the time to build relationships. It borrows what it wants. Renames what it often does not understand. And seeks conformity from the totality of the other.

For me, the journey through the details of how this played out on the North American continent is important. I want to understand how we got to where we are now. We have the opportunity to acknowledge the development of the dominant culture, and the destruction of those dominated. The commitment to knowing and acknowledging history can help us build a better way forward. We cannot afford to make the same mistakes twice. This responsibility lies with the dominant culture.

One of the important lessons we learned today was “another way of knowing.” The phrase has come up over and over again in during our time together this week. “Another way of knowing” refers to the understanding that there is always another perspective, another culture, another person, from whom to learn. There is always another way of telling a story, or recounting a memory from history. We (I speak from the dominant culture) have to be willing to take the time to listen.

This is an integral understanding to doing ministry. One of the issues with the dominant, “white,” church in the United States, is that we expect those who come into our doors to conform to our ways. The phrase “all are welcome” is a good idea, but often poorly executed. Sure we (as the dominant culture) want people to come to our churches, but after a while we have expectations for them to conform to our way of doing things. This can manifest itself quite simply - unspoken dress code, the actions of children, the manner of singing or prayer, and the list goes on.

“Another way of knowing” acknowledges that there is not one “correct” way of living life or encountering God. Crossing cultural boundaries opens up space to learn about a different way of life. There are multiple ways of singing - in many rhythms and languages. There are many ways of praying - with many languages and energies. There are many ways of living on the way with Jesus and proclaiming the story of the Gospel. 

I heard the story today of a church that has its roots at Mexican rodeos in its community. The church was born out of a simple moment of a girl asking a pastor to bless her horse. The church was not growing with the pastor and other leaders going door to door, so they started hanging out at rodeos. And their faith community began to grow. Their presence in the community, at the important events, was a way to connect to the people.

“Another way of knowing” is a way to follow Jesus. It’s a “Bartimaeus Effect” moment. It’s having our lives opened to a new experience - a new way of singing, a new way of hearing our brothers and sisters, and new way of telling the story of God’s love. Throughout history, the disciples of Jesus have been multicultural and multilingual. “Another way of knowing” helps us to recognize how others have told God's story. It helps us to encounter the diversity of God's presence in our world. 

La Paz de Cristo,
Travis  

Thursday's Reflection - "It's In Our DNA"

An Army of Hope

Sometimes while writing a sermon I have to take a break and put words to paper (or mac screen) in order to get some ideas off the table.  Too many ideas can clog the gears of thought, leaving too many options that try to force their way into my weak attempt to articulate God’s words for us.  Rarely do this words ever see the light of day.  But there’s a first time for everything.

These are some words that I need to get out of my mind. 

There is a great deal of darkness and hate swirling around in the last week.  Now perhaps is just me and the cold germs that I currently harbor in my body, but every time I turn on the TV, read the newspaper, or float around the internet and twitter, all I come across is negativity. 

There is a war going on and its got many fronts.

There’s the war on Christmas….

…the war of words surrounding Phil Robertson and A&E…

… the war on Obamacare…

…the war of words over gun legislation - brought to fresh light by yet another school shooting…

…the actual wars raging in Syria, Irag, afghanistan…

…the actual wars raging in our city streets - I am reminded of the constant shadow of death on the south side of Chicago…

…the list goes on…

I do not record this list in an effort to bring more gloom to the table. 

Actually my purpose is quite the opposite. 

I want to talk about hope. 

Specifically the hope we have in Christ. 

As we draw closer to the nativity, moving through this fourth week in Advent, I want to add my voice to the conversation raging in the world around us.  I want to talk about hope. 

Hope comes in many forms in the Christmas narrative - too many to name - to many that still may find their way into my Christmas Eve sermon.  The one I want to focus on can be found in Luke’s version, in the fields with the shepherds, as their lives were interrupted and their world turned upside down. 

The shepherds could have probably come upon with a pretty gloomy list of events and issues that brought darkness to their lives - much like the list above.  They were outcasts of society…oppressed by empire…poor economically…unclean religiously.  They are the last folk on earth who would ever think about receiving good news - that night, or any night.  And yet to them the angles appeared. 

There is good news.

And here’s the cool part, at least for me.  As we tell the story today, the shepherds are visited by a “host” of angels…a heavenly host.  This is a very pastoral scene.  Shepherds and sheep and a large group of singing angels.  But I don't think this is what Luke had in mind.  The word for “host” can also be translated as “army.”  The shepherds are literally visited by an “army of angels.” 

Now the shepherds knew about armies.  So did Luke.  They were familiar with Rome’s legions who spread the “pax romana” - the so called roman peace - with violence and brute force.  They knew all to well the violence of an army - be it a physical force…an army of words that let them know just how outcast they were…an army of labels like unclean…an army of reminders that they did not belong. 

But here Luke offers a different army - one that truly brings peace and good news for all the world and (no categories and labels here….no paperwork or hoops to jump through - All.  The. World.) for all people.  Here Luke presents an army of peace, sent by God to a world worn out by armies of hate - be they Roman or religious or otherwise.

The shepherds are greeted by an army of peace.  This is good news.  For them.  And for us.  But the story is not over.

The shepherds are then drafted into action.  They are no longer bystanders of the story.  They are drawn in by the word of peace and hope.  They join the army.  Excitement builds and they invade Bethlehem in peace and they get to look upon the prince of peace in wonder.  And hope.  And they go back out into the world to be voices of that hope.  As they share the good news, the army of peace grows.  

As the darkness of rhetoric, of hate, of hopelessness builds around us - as the nameless armies go through their maneuvers in our midst - I wonder if we can counter them with love.  I wonder if we too can join the army of peace.  The army of the angels and shepherds and the generations that have come before us who have boldly spoken words of peace and love - keeping the flame of hope alive in our world.   

And it all starts with love. 

Love…love…love…

I am reminded of one of my favorite Christmas songs.  It’s not a traditional one by any means, but it is one that speaks of hope and love.  It was penned by Dave Matthews and is simply titled “The Christmas Song.”

One of the chorus lines begs the question, “Why in all this hatred do you fill me what with love?” 

It's a hard question.  Why are we filled with love?  And I am not here to answer it, but simply to remind.  We are filled with love.  This is what we need.  To be reminded that we are filled with love, by God, through Jesus, to be an army of hope in this world.

My hope and prayer is that we can join the army of angels - and shepherds - in speaking words of peace, God’s peace, to our world that needs this good news so badly.  That we can become an army of hope in our world.