For a Time Like This

“A presentation like that is what makes it easier for me to retire.” Those words are forever inscribed into my memory. It was springtime 1980, Rev Henry Gerbrandt, recently retired General Secretary of then Conference of Mennonites in Canada, shared these encouraging words with this young pastor who had just braved a slightly controversial topic to a church full of delegates.

Now, forty-five years later and still in Alberta, I still remember title of that speech, “Evangelism and/or Christian Education,” definitely not an earth-shaking topic then and still not creating headlines! The occasion of this little tome, however, is kind of earth-shaking, not because of these few words I am writing, but because of this present date and time in history. Our neighbors just south of us have a problem; they have elected themselves an autocratic would-be-dictator President. Seems to me that our next generation of church leaders – and politicians - are being set up for a slightly greater challenge than what appeared before me back then.

I have always been a reader, this probably in character for an Old Colony eldest son back there who wanted to figure out many things (nesheah is the low German word used by my dad). So, this morning I was reading again, not so much to gather news (no end of that since January 20, day one), but to meditate, pay attention along with brothers and sisters, fellow Christians and many other Americans reeling in shock at what they have just done to themselves.

I find the Americans’ material quite compelling especially in these days, and courageously presented in Sojourners, a Christian magazine which I have subscribed to forever, valuable info from a larger vantage than our Canadian Mennonite. Here are several quotes from latest edition, published next door to the US Capitol, Washington, DC.

[Donald] Trump is arriving at a time of great social distrust: There’s more distrust of the media, medical professionals, experts, politicians, community institutions, and membership groups. There are rifts among friends and family. Even our trust in … weather is diminished. Distrust fuels the flame of autocracy because it makes it easier to divide people. [i]

A second quote by same author, On her bedroom wall, my mom had a copy of the Serenity Prayer: “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” Theologian Reinhold Niebuhr wrote this during the rise of Nazi Germany. [ii] There are several alcoholics in my family as well as addicts in most churches, a prayer well known by many of us. Good thoughts, these, for us North Americans who have been living the good life for the last 50 or so years.

Most western Canadian Mennonite forebears have been through European, Prussian, Russian history. Now we still have unresolved indignations about WW2. Most of us arrived with colonialist agendas, privileged immigrants moving in on Indigenous land, while our Swiss brothers and sisters in the U.S., along with other white settlers, reaped benefits from the Indigenous as well as the ‘colored help’ brought along by the shipload from Africa!

History has some critiques for us. Firstly, it’s Anabaptism at 500 time, and of course much attention to our early sixteenth Century beginnings. Among the celebrations, I cannot but make note of a recent podcast series by our former pastor and budding historian, Will Loewen. [iii] The original Anabaptists, even alongside deep convictions of peacemaking and adult believers’ baptism, were not all of stellar character, inflated egos and sin also part of those early beginnings, even as they sought to correct the Church and the Governments of their day.

And secondly, this one quite recent, well recorded in the books, and already hindering our effectiveness as a denomination. The year 2002 marked the end of General Conference Mennonite Church and beginning of Mennonite Church Canada and Mennonite Church U.S.A. Had that not happened, our life and witness would be of a greater wholeness especially at a time like this. North America could benefit from a continuing peace church not divided by a 49^th parallel.

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[i] Daniel Hunter, “Now That Trump has Won” Sojourners (Volume 54 No. 1), p. 27.

[ii] Ibid.

[iii] https://www.freeradicalspod.com /

Gout Kills

Once upon a time I was a long distance trucker. I have clear memory of a very unsolicitous incident. 

Driving down an inter-state highway in California, my right foot was killing me. It was so bad I could not touch the brake pedal without yelping in pain, dared not even hover around the pedal, so it seemed! Fortunately, with air brakes I was able to resort to trailer brakes via handle on the steering column of my truck, left foot doing the necessary fine tunes (clutch or brake) on the floor only as needed! Ow! [My 18 speed manual shift not yet one of those auto transmission units gliding along these days] I messaged dispatch to inform of my plight and that I would stop in at a nearby walk-in medical clinic. Message reply was reminder I had another appointment, namely delivery of my load! I responded to that with uncharacteristic bravado, "ER foot pain first." My dispatcher agreed (knew this operator's on time every time delivery record). End result was my first experience of 'miracle medicine.' After a considerable wait at the Walk In Clinic, this unbeliever limped into a nearby pharmacy and picked up ... a small prescription of Colchicine! Two hours later I was a believer happily singing down the highway, pain-free (almost), and next morning my load delivered as per usual on-time in Los Angeles. How undramatic the life of a trucker who delivers his loads on time! 😖😉   

Los Angeles in the Morning

This is the story I was reminded of when my wife woke me up this morning after an all-night sleep, the first time in months not even with the normal 3 a.m. pee. The evening before, after a few days of increasing pain in my right ankle we called an emergency hotline, immediately warned it may be a blood clot. Off to our local Urgent Care, after short exam asked if gout was in my medical history I said "no" - and then corrected myself, remembering suddenly every detail of that incident years ago. Bingo, this was it again as per these ER medical professionals. Again a little trip to a pharmacy, and again a prescription, this time Indomethacin, latest medication for said pain immediately recognized by my daughter, a pharmacy technician now - and a teenager back then! 

Dreadful pain to no pain fits into the miracle category for me. Biblical examples come to mind. There are so many instances of Jesus performing a healing - like instantaneously - and then issues to be dealt with, often raised by onlookers: Should you do that on the Sabbath? (John 7:23); who sinned to get you a blind son? (John 9); or inter-relatedness of healing or sins forgiven (Matthew 9:4-7). Seems like ofttimes the healing becomes the immediate context performed by Jesus the protagonist, and that followed by discussion, debate, learning, and even leaving it for another day (Luke 4:30). 

These gout occasions, although terribly painful, are not necessarily thought of as potential miracle incidents, but I do know if Jesus was going by just when the uric acid crystals scratch my joints, I also would cry out, and so rejoice if the pain would end right then and there! My doctor, although a man of faith, speaks calmly about many body functions including gout or brain waves seemingly all treated with medications. "It's all about chemicals," he says. Although I don’t quite believe him on this point, when he prescribes a helping drug, my disposition is near to proclaiming him the miracle worker. So it goes! Although I stop short of idolizing him (because sometimes he's wrong) 😇 his words are on par with topic at hand. Health and pain is similar to flowing water and plugged pipes or veins, living breath (ruach) given or taken away, Holy Spirit and Evil Spirit? Among the many dramatic healing and forgiving stories of Jesus, I note he also was known to 'follow up', namely sit with a freshly healed or forgiven beggar or prostitute to help them make new life decisions, e.g. "go sin no more" (John 8:10-12). His healing love probably also included tough love. Much to ponder and also give thanks for. 

Whatever my prognosis in these few paragraphs, I maintain that God is here among our pains, whether stretched out for long periods or terrible 911 occasions. Sometimes the healing seems miraculous if someone knows how to make the right diagnosis, and even more so if in the acknowledged presence of the One who's been there all the time, and knows how to retain the healed life. Thank you Lord.

Sacred Text

Here is sample of an unfortunate incident that occurred yesterday. I started a blogpost about a week ago. It took a while because I needed to check some details so it might read with some credibility. Among other things also commanding my attention, I whittled and researched and fretted, finally decided it was okay to post. Copy and paste proceeded as per usual, at least so I thought, until my Control V yielded only a blank page at the blogsite destination. Gone! Gone, not even a whimper. It was hard to believe, but after two requests for technical help from library staff, my plight began to sink in. Gone! Gone, still gone.

It was at that point that I began to do my usual - put the thinker in gear! Why is this document hidden in the netherworld somewhere? Is there perhaps a reason? Is the topic perhaps ill founded, perhaps unnecessary? I could definitely live with that. If, however,  it is merely a stupid copy and paste mistake that I had made, I’d like to know about it. I need a little more computer education anyway; I headed down that trail.

So here it is another day later. Among the suggestions I had heard yesterday “perhaps type it again” both from the librarians and from my son the residual expert for all problems of this nature (He lives in Ontario but that does not keep me from crying help from him). Typing again seemed like an impossibility – until late last night. Why not give up on retyping, but perhaps just ‘recreate’ using the same title and tell it with a different slant. There are actually several books written about that.[i] This is risky because I am a bit detail-challenged, even if concept-creative! And my only handwritten notes were a few scratches I had made while checking some details on Google! Here we go! 


"

It all begins with my slight frustration with the endless variety of versions of Bible readings I hear in church services these days. In fact more often than not a ‘creative’ reader is doing away with the Book and the scriptures get read from an 8x11 sheet of paper or even a cell phone! 😒 I know the inspired word is not conditional on the type of book we hold in hand, but is it not reading the Word? Public worship of God is best served if we read from only one version of the Bible. Does it not make sense to focus our readings on God rather than our variegated preferences?

A quick survey of Bible Gateway reveals 64 English versions without even signing in. Sign in to Gateway Plus and you get 233 Bible versions in a total of 74 languages! That is a lot of information, or should I say many different ways of saying the same thing. In this computer age we have resources to pursue whatever our language or version - or preference!

This is in sharp contrast to some recent experiences in our city's Interfaith Council (my main point). Scripture Reasoning is one of its program offerings. It has a narrow dogmatic sound to it; but it is exactly the opposite. It's a virtual or occasionally in-person get together, and one person, on a chosen topic will share the ‘Sacred Text’ from their particular faith. That is followed by questions for clarification and then reflections from anybody, either comparing to info from another tradition or spiritual reflection on the reading just shared. With help of a moderator, we do not critique it too death, just listen for the personal meaning, ofttimes leading to some quality testimonies of personal faith. I guess that is exactly what we're trying for, interfaith encounter! 

Also, yes ALSO, these sacred texts are shared in unadorned original form (at least my impression)! Coming from my non liturgical church tradition with Bible readings from pieces of paper, I have heard in last several years in this modernist environment a considerable rendition of King James English, an old unadorned sound whether from the Bible or from Book of Mormon, or from Writings of the Baha’i, or the Quran.. I hear gentle witness from a Hindu participant who from their Bhargava Gita does not participate in Creation arguments or theologizing because creation is so far back that it is just ‘eternity,’ totally unnecessary to waste energy speculating about. Now that is something that both modernist and fundamentalist Christians need to take to heart, allow that into our creation accounts as well as apocalyptic speculations.

So this is the context. I wrote about this, and then I lost it, probably because I was a little too adamant with my Ctrl button on my laptop. Turns out the development of my thoughts was not that important after all. This is shorter! No need to wade through my earlier expanded version of that scratchpad! In interfaith it is possible to do a personal version of our various faiths in a large peaceable manner! We do not argue, no debate, and our kindly moderator always thanks the presenter and each participant for their particular contribution to the topic. [Know-it-all moderators would have greater difficulty!]

Wonderful. Coming out of these sessions I am more grateful than ever for my faith, for Jesus, indeed my Savior and to the Latter Day Saints, acknowledged as Prophet to the Muslims and absolute example to the Buddhists (hear Dalhi Lama) and to the Hindus (hear also Mahatma Gandhi, giving witness and inspiration to fellow people of India as well as British colonialists). The inspiration for me in this ‘scripture reasoning’ is that when sacred texts are shared in a relational way, then there is little reason to debate. Positivity within this group becomes a positive contribution to our city.

Enough already. I see little need for more modernizing of our Holy Bible. More important is that we be in receptive posture to receive God’s Word for our worship and for our life. Sacred texts speak to us. No need to contort scriptures to please each and every one. Holy writ is not about us. It is about the One who is above and beyond.

All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16). This is what I was trying to say before it all disappeared!

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[i] Brenda Miller and Suzanne Paola, Tell it Slant 3,2,     https://www.overdrive.com .

Yes But ...

My thinker and I are having some almost disagreement, or perhaps just good discernment. The thinker is digesting some new information, and I, namely me, is just being the person I am. New information gets scrutinized against everything else I believe or know. The new information? It was presented last evening at a public lecture at our city library, [i] a service provided to the public in cooperation with our university’s Chair of Christian Thought. Title of the lecture was “Church on Thin Ice,” based on a recent study of persons who no longer attend or participate in their longtime places of worship. Very clearly and even kindly the guest lecturer provided us with the results of why these people have excused themselves, ranging from new thoughts in personal faith journeys to several victimized by pastoral misconduct and then no avenue of accountability. In addition to the thin ice image, there was another; this one a bit startling, “Church on Fire.” The accompanying slide was not a hellfire pseudo picture, neither was it a global warming environmentalist type image, but surprisingly earthy, it was a large church engulfed in flames. Kind of disturbing, we were provided with statistics of similar fires in each province of Canada (research limited to the Canadian scene). Arson was the fire starter in each case.

It is the Q and A following which now provided the nighttime thinking for me. After the usual clarification type questions, there were several obviously from deep faith perspective. They challenged the speaker in her claim that this was a sociological study, not theological. Said one of the responders in a very animated tone, “this is very theological, in fact it is at the heart of what church or faith is all about. Against all odds the church has lived on and still is.” Nobody clapped at that particular point, but it was obvious that this response was a winner, and likely most of the audience were in agreement. The presenter (also self identified as Christian) agreed this was a valid point. The evening ended nonetheless like public lectures will – a hearty round of applause, lots of exit door conversation, and then for me it was a thoughtful ride home on public transit – time well spent.

A presentation like this gives you pause, a close-to-home familiar topic for everyone, well illustrated and well presented, an excellent power point. According to this study no denomination is spared. Even large assembly evangelical city churches are lagging in population. Mainline churches are almost empty, colonialist loyalties no longer the go-to for millennial or gen x or z’ers. Historical churches like Mennonite, Christian Reformed or Lutheran; they have the modernist – fundamentalist stretch in each and every congregation. And in my neighborhood the United Church, Anglican  or Catholic faithful are out on Sunday morning walks or yardwork or children’s hockey games. This is present reality confirming the lecture just heard. And I realize this is somewhat on theme with a number of my blogposts especially near end of the pandemic (e.g. “Growing Faith Closing Churches,” Sept.28, 2021; “When a Church Gets Trashed,” Aug 13, 2021; “Where have all the Churches Gone,” July 29, 2021).

So, with the statistics and the societal trend telling a common story, my innermost being continues to ponder. The subtitle of last night’s lecture adds some additional tinder. Here is the full title. Church on Thin Ice: Lessons from the Quiet Deconstruction of Faith in Canada. My own protest is beginning to take shape. As per the theme in all of my blogging to date, and as I also see lowering church attendance and increasing confusion in the younger generation there are also lifestyle incongruities among us older folk. I keep thinking about the speech by the woman towards end of the Q and A at last night’s lecture. Statistics really are only statistics, and faith communities (as well as politicians 😏) will always provide exceptions to studies just completed. I can think of several exceptions also. An Old Colony Mennonite Church in rural Alberta, those apparently stuck in the old ways as far as modern ‘faith management’ is concerned, this latest Pentecost they had a baptismal membership class of 43! Also, a Roman Catholic Church just up the hill from our home here in Calgary, parking lot full and sanctuary packed every Sunday for Mass as well as midweek services!

I am reminded of a young lady some 2000 plus years ago, visited by an angel who announced to her that she would have a special baby, He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and Mary’s response was that of a normal bright young teenager, ‘How can this be, since I am a virgin?’ And the angel says to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God.’ (Luke 1:32-35) – kind of an ‘over message’ to a young lady who lived among people whose main wish was to get out from under Roman authority. God's message to her was about that ... and much more!

The Christian faith – and even other faiths – are not borne up by politics whether democracy or dictatorships, not by opportunism or statistical studies, nor even by consultants and the reports they might produce to determine the future. Rather, politicians, studies and consultants may be engaged only if accompanied by prayers (see Romans 12 and 13). Faith is a conviction of things not seen (see Hebrews 11). The carrier of this faith, as presented in the Bible, is Mary’s son Jesus the one predicted centuries before. The Messiah would not be a new hero. No, he would become the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6), not by his charm or charisma or even his winning ways, but by totally giving himself for all of us. The invitation to follow Him will continue through Epiphany, through Lent, the Passion and Resurrection and Ascension, and indeed Pentecost! The Savior will keep on keeping on even after the birth (Christmas Day) has been celebrated!

Statistics and studies are depictions of the present life we are living, not invitations to faith, although the information may be helpful and may be used of God to discover (rediscover?) the faith walk. The invitation to faith comes in many and variegated ways. The bad news for today's churches on thin ice may be momentarily comforting because looking around us almost everybody is in same boat (hmm, if the ice breaks a boat may be handy)! My inner being, however, takes greatest comfort in knowing a God who is eternal, everlasting, regardless of churches or institutions that come and go. Institutions may be deconstructed, but God, Creator, Allah, will not be!

Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God (Psalm 90:2).

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[i] Angela Reitsma Bick at Calgary Public Library, University of Calgary Chair of Christian Thought Iwaasa Lecture on Urban Theology: “Church on Thin Ice: Lessons from the Quiet Deconstruction of Faith in Canada,” December 11, 2024.

Utilitarianism

u·til·i·tar·i·an /yo͞oˌtiləˈterēən/ adjective 

designed to be useful or practical rather than attractive. "a utilitarian building."         -  Oxford                            

This morning I had an interesting conversation with a fellow customer at our local McDonalds. We have known each other’s names for a year or two, but this time it was that moment of further discovery – both of us retired, what’s the hurry. No surprise in the discovery either; he openly enthused at recent U.S. election results, and me not so enthused. Not much in common there, so what might a retired preacher and a retired RCMP officer have in common? Well, on the religion topic, his wife is Mormon and I am Mennonite, he not into religious things. I have Mormon friends right here in the neighborhood, and he grew up near Elmira, Ontario (horse and buggies?). Some clarifications were needed – fun conversation. Then some common ground (kind of); I have a considerable chapter of long-haul trucking and he used to own a limousine service before all the oil executives left town (Rachel Notley’s fault). Oh, and one of my front teeth got fixed since last time we said hello, so we agreed my smile is better now! This is beginning of a friendship. Who says friends need to agree on everything?

Utilitarian is a word that has come to mind in the last while, especially after conversations like this one. In this case the conversation was with an almost stranger but emerging friend. Conversations with people I have known for years and years; they are almost the same! As described in a previous blog (“Of Religion and Polemics,” October 31) many of us these days are in habit of eating out, and those occasions with a sort of unspoken protocol – things we can talk about and things we avoid. This is almost on same basis as my new friend. We find a way to speak with or around one another. Yes, we truly need one another, but this can also become an exercise of diplomacy - utilitarianism?

As per the epigraph definition above, utilitarian has quite a positive ring, at least for a simpleton like me. I like practical and useful things, rather than fancy or unnecessary impressionism. This down-to-earth image, however, gets blurred the minute we read into further variants, like utilitarianism. Utilitarianism gets complicated, reaching far and wide into all kinds of new images. It even reminds me of Unitarians, those in our inter-faith communities who will remind us that they don’t believe anything with too much dogma. 😏 Reading on in Google, also I get reminded of some boring university sociology classes I once sat in. I even remember a certain John Stuart Mill, a standard bearer in the social sciences, who argued in favor of Utilitarianism as an ethical approach that advocates the greatest good for the greatest number. Actions that lead to people’s happiness are right and those that lead to suffering are wrong. https://iep.utm.edu/mill-eth/

That was in 1861. This theory has had longtime credibility and also critique among philosophers, theologians and scientists. Happiness. Is it not more than our actions? Yes, so say I and so say many more (check your Google). It is indeed a longtime topic ongoing even as the world has repeatedly dipped into some opposite practices, like two world wars! Reality does not necessarily prove theories wrong (obviously because I needed to study Mill in university 112 years later). The interplay of reality and theory creates many university classes and ever more political debates! [i] Crux of the matter here? I believe that individual pursuit of happiness is not the best approach.

Not the best approach because it can also lead to hedonism. Hedonism focuses on the pursuit of pleasure and avoidance of pain for the individual – not concerned about others like utilitarianism wanting the best for the greatest number of people. Hedonism is solely about seeking pleasure and avoiding suffering, a little further down the slippery slope from utilitarianism. Very common these days, many sins would be in category of seeking pleasure. James 1:15 sort of … “after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”

Personal happiness is an elusive thing. As illustrated in a previous blog, even when sitting in social ‘gatherings’ we actually pursue our own happiness quite vigorously. One of my faith brothers may advocate a point of view which I am diametrically opposed to, but hold back because I do not wish to make a scene, or I don’t like to make him feel badly, or other unhappy reasons. Personal happiness in this case may lead to fearfulness, even while the brother and I both adhere to similar sentiments as stated in our Bible, e.g.1 John 4:18, “perfect love drives out fear.”  Knowing this, we probably should look at another scripture, Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body (Ephesians 4:25). Happiness especially among persons of similar faith commitment must include genuine encounter with one another.

There is irony here of course. In the ten minute conversation with my new friend there was no fearfulness, even though our differences popped up immediately. We do not agree politically, I am a Christian believer in Jesus and also one of those weird Mennonites who don’t believe in warfare, he is a militarist not a church goer, and his wife is a Mormon, one of those cultish Christians who we agree are excellent neighbors in this our community. And both of us having lived in Calgary for about 35 years after moving from Edmonton, still have sentimental Oilers Stanley Cup memories!

This is probably why the sociologists and others still have not yet solved the world’s problems! This happiness topic along with faith/unfaith implications, and this among long time and also brand new friends. While meditating on this I happen upon a striking digital headline (where else do we get news these days). I consider this not coincidental, but providential. I read about an influential man I have known about for years.

Tony Campolo, an American Baptist minister and sociologist who spent decades trying to convince evangelicals and other Christians that their faith should motivate them to address social ills like poverty and racism, has died. November 19, 2024. He was 89. [ii]

Tony Campolo, have heard him speak and a forever influencer in my years of ministry. Two further quotes in that same clip: Ryan Burge, former pastor and professor of Political Science, said, “He was able to speak to audiences from all corners of American Christianity — reminding them of the radical grace and forgiveness that is found in th Gospel”; and this one, “Campolo was a popular professor of sociology ... who made the study of social trends come to life for his students. But after moving to … an evangelical Christian college, he discovered that his contemporary evangelical world needed the gospel message as much as the wider world did. Evangelicals’ privatized religion had led them to abandon the social gospel that Jesus taught.”

This professor had a humbling message for all of us Christians, in fact for all people of faith and unfaith. Rest in peace brother. True happiness is to count yourself among all; it is to know yourself to be blessed. Above and beyond utilitarianism, even! I cannot but conclude with a few words from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, provided for us in two versions.[iii]

‘Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. (Matt 5:5-9 NRSV)

 

“Happy are people who are humble, because they will inherit the earth.

“Happy are people who are hungry and thirsty for righteousness, because they will be fed until they are full.

“Happy are people who show mercy, because they will receive mercy.

“Happy are people who have pure hearts, because they will see God.

“Happy are people who make peace, because they will be called God’s children. (Matthew 5:5-9 CEB)

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[i] Well illustrated in United States just prior to latest presidential election.

[ii] Religious News Service, http://religionnews.com/

[iii] A further must see is Matthew 5:5-9 in Eugene H Peterson, The Message (NavPress, 1993, 2002, 2018).

Making Churches

Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body. 

(Ecclesiastes 12:12)

This is the time of year when my thinker really gets going, and probably also the season of my life to think about what to do with all that thinking. My wife’s opinion, knowing me for many years, is that the thinker cannot be denied, but do not yield to too much musing. Musing can be destructive, especially when you have what the medical practitioners call Seasonally Affected Disorder. So, when I sit with my laptop and some books and some notes or out on long walks, apparently that is better than if I just lay on the couch.

After the latest predictable results of the U.S. presidential election there is of course much to read and hear and, yes, think about. After reading the next morning’s New York Times headlines (no need to subscribe, I just click the poor-man’s overview), I then also clicked to Sojourners, my lifelong Christian social justice magazine which I have subscribed to since I was a college boy – quite a while.  Two quick readings, both of similar opinion but presented very differently.  Adam Russell Taylor, [i] current president of Sojourners, gives some advice for a day like this. “There is a lot of work ahead,” he says, “and I’ve felt tempted to just pour myself into all that will be required of us in months to come…. I challenge you to rest before you reset. This is the time to lean first and foremost into our faith and not our politics." Rest. A good idea it was, because the thinker was already tempted into verbosity. In my case, verbosity can be a risk, a liability even.

This morning’s sermon in our church [ii] was on similar premise as Russell Taylor and the NYT, namely that Donald Trump is not good news for America. The sermon provided good advice from the Bible’s epistles; eager to do good (1 Peter 3:13) and also the famous one from Ephesians 6 about the full armor of God, so that “you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand…” (:13).  So here we go. The title of this post, as well as my previous post, as well as today’s sermon, does not really suggest restfulness. Considerable diligence here; if not lots of work to do, then at least lots to think about.

Without claiming any super insight at this point, I find myself thinking a slightly different line. What if the premises, the assumptions are wrong? What if Donald Trump, in spite of his misogyny, his unbearable egocentric Make America Great Again (MAGA) platform, may be the right President for the next four years? Is it right to write editorials and present sermons with the assumption that he should not have won? I totally enjoyed the opener of today's sermon recounting conversation with an elderly kind philanthropic long-time supporter of our worldwide relief service agency being of the opinion that Donald Trump is God’s choice (she cringed and we laughed). It was an excellent attention getter and clearly communicated her respect for this elder in our midst and also the importance to communicate peaceably especially in days like this. It also raises this my further question.

In this last year an interesting podcast series has emerged among all the inboxes, notifications and posts in our digital world. This one is quite gentle and very respectfully presented. It becomes interesting in its somewhat unique format, story-form history providing a new look at some old stuff. [iii] Well researched, it is about the makings of the Anabaptist Mennonites. Being a person of this background, I still have good memories of my post-secondary education throbbing with exciting sixteenth century ‘discoveries.’ That was my people back there, those not wishing to be encumbered by big Church taxes and tithes and ‘indulgences’ to help get out of the catholic middle state of purgatory and joyfully jump into heaven. This is our movement with the noble beginning and which I wrote enthusiastic essays about. This latter podcast series is now becoming an old-age ‘fresher upper’ for me.

Anabaptist history can use a little reality check. We too were among other diligent students of Martin Luther, of Ulrich Zwingli and other clerics and church leaders along with a thirsting population; all this after invention of the printing press and people beginning to read for themselves. Much has been and continues to be written about the Reformation chapter of history.

This podcast tells about a twist in those early beginnings. “Free Radicals is a historical story-telling highlighting events from the radical fringes of church history, redeeming them from the unforgiving lens of orthodoxy.” In the first post (Season 1, Episode 0 – available here https://www.freeradicalspod.com/2023/12/29/episode-zero-released/ ) William Loewen provides a delineation of the word ‘radical’ definitely there at beginning, but not the first impression one gets in today’s Anabaptist or Mennonite culture. Although a cool discovery in my college years back in the early 1970’s (hippy years), now seeing this series hosted by a young man the age of my youngest daughter is not only humbling but educational. Those of us inclined to think that our honorable way of following Jesus was and still is the right way, still kind of radical, and yes way back there we even suffered for it at the hands of our fellow believers, the Lutherans. [see my previous blog!] 😏

Fact is, our history got perverted also by us, enemy forces within (Luke 6:45) even while apparently trying to correct forces without. That early history included misappropriated ambition, egocentric preachers, misinterpretation of scriptures, twisted eschatology, and sin. Maybe after we have done our Anabaptism at 500 celebrations in 2025 and then four years of Donald Trump, us longsuffering peacemaking half-evangelical, half progressive Anabaptists will render an apology to the Lutherans and the Catholics! [Interesting tidbit from our latest historian: Loewen advises that in 2018 a service of apology by unofficial representatives of Catholic, Lutheran and Anabaptist believers actually did take place at the St. Lambert’s Church in Munster, the very place of the unsolicitous uprising.] [iv]

So this post shall conclude here. It would be premature and irresponsible of me to wade into further opinionating of how us Christians – or other faith communities – need to participate, or perhaps not participate, in the pratter and the social media so prevalent after election results in the U.S. (and before the imminent election in Canada). Elections so far by democratic process (almost?) and democracy still means leaders chosen by the people, all eligible persons of whatever faith or unfaith (if you didn’t watch too many U.S. media scrums before this last election). Our Anabaptist history and the history before that, is not about democracy; it was/is extreme faith practice in whatever political circumstance. Today’s situation: is it nothing new? Or is it very new? Or is it nearing the Parousia, the return of the One who gave his life for all? [v] I am old enough to say I’m ready for the end. Then no need to make more churches, or denominations, or seminaries to explain the Greek variants of Parousia, or political dictatorships with new old-fashioned rules.

Even as my thinker goes on, I take comfort in the epigraph above. No need to study it all too hard! And I am willing to follow the thinking of this present generation – not blindly, but with humble gratitude to those who review our formative journey. Thy will be done, Oh Lord!

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[i] Adam Russell Taylor is president of Sojourners and author of A More Perfect Union: A New Vision for Building the Beloved Community. https://sojo.net>sojoaction.

[ii] Donita Wiebe-Neufeld (2024) "Thoughts of War and Peace and What to Do" (Unpublished sermon at Trinity Mennonite Church, Calgary, AB: November 10, 2024).

[iii] Loewen, W.J. (Host), 2023/12/29 – [Audio Podcast] Free Radicals.

[iv] Lloyd Hoover, “Group seeks forgiveness for trauma of Munster,” Anabaptist World, June 11, 2018.

[v] Parousia, Greek root meaning presence, with variants Divine Presence, Second Coming preceded by signs,  https://www.biblestudytools.com/dict.

Of Religion and Polemics

po·lem·ic /pəˈlemik/ noun plural noun: polemics

a speech or piece of writing expressing a strongly critical attack on or controversial opinion about someone or something. [i]

 

Even as the price of groceries is upward bound along with everything else (except wages), it seems that social encounters are still happening, at least for those who are healthy enough mentally or sufficiently extroverted to make the effort. High prices notwithstanding, these social occasions continue around food and drink. To me this is both a comforting thought and also a bit of concern. Comfort comes easily along with the term “comfort food.” Familiar food well prepared is reason enough to rejoice to high heaven for the great privilege of having enough tasty morsels to continue our habits – such luxury. For example, at latest Thanksgiving the mealtime guests and the turkey were almost coterminous.

Concern is more related to the places of our eating. Eating together, still a sentimental idea, may show up kind of noncommittally, like conversations that end with, “You’ll need to come over for dinner one of these days” or “drop by for coffee or a beer” or one of those equivalents. I can think of a couple open enders like that which are stretched out way too long. “We say it and then we don’t do it,” my wife lamented the other day. Exactly. Even while “we wish it weren’t so,” neighborhood insulation or isolation continues. We don’t come over to each other’s places.

There are variations on this, of course. In our case we are part of the church. Here the blanket wish statement about ‘get-together-sometime’ is almost being replaced with a new discovery. We have become an after-church lunch crowd in nearby restaurants! It is kind of in-groupish and informal, so the usual participants are easily gathered by whispered signals in the foyer (occasionally a guest invited); then we each get into our cars and join a little cavalcade. Presto, in 15 or 20 minutes we are assembled (reassembled) at the chosen eating place. Now we are in the larger crowd, neighborhood Sunday lunch! These after-church lunches follow a protocol: Everybody pays their own, usually men and women somewhat separated just to facilitate ease of conversation. Topics to avoid: the sermon we just listened to; the ongoing war in Gaza; the election going on in the U.S. (Canadian scene not necessary at the moment because we already know who are the Liberals, the NDP, or Conservatives in our circle). Topics okay: dental or medical appointment issues of the past week, sunshine holiday trips reviewed or being planned, and what the kids are up to, plus some CFL or NHL reports or World Series right now, final word usually provided by person with the loudest voice! 😐 That’s about $25 per person, tip included. We do like to keep up with one another and we also like to support our local economy! We do this because we can! Part and parcel of a societal trend, still not coming to each other’s places, but at least getting together.

I used to be pastor of a church with no building. This is 40 plus years ago, a new congregation in formation stage. Our worship life happened in a rented facility, and everything else in other places wherever two or three gather in my name (Matt.18:20). I would cheerfully frequently reference that scripture. Small groups for fellowship or study, committee meetings, and even occasional large group gatherings (eg Christmas Eve) all happened in our homes! In this lively environment, I would preach openly against Sunday restauranteering, saying it is no-fair to seat ourselves in those establishments on a Sunday, expecting chefs and waitresses to look after us. My reason? They too need a day of rest just like we had just enjoyed in our worship services. Now I smile to myself knowing that the people of today would smirk and wonder at the presumption of that young (or by now old) know-it-all. The good people of those years? They agreed. [Old bygone days, I know. Sigh!]

Of Religion and Polemics. The gaudy title of this post might suggest it will be a doctoral dissertation or something like that. Definitely not; it is merely the ponderings of my thinker again. The big title and the restaurant meals are two sides of the same coin! Seems to me (that’s as close I’ll come to saying “It is my thesis …”) that our yearning for fellowship and the avoidance of genuine encounters are but today’s version of a thirst that has been forever. Among the proclamations and idealisms of young preachers and the testy opinions of middle agers, or the experienced perspective of senior citizens, I am increasingly convinced that faith communities – whether they be churches, synagogues, mosques, gurudwaras, or people’s living rooms -  are all in pursuit of company, including Divine company. Religions, of whatever label, also in that pursuit.

Just yesterday I picked up a small freebie pamphlet entitled The Bible and the Protestant Reformation [ii] giving a brief and concise description of how Martin Luther, chosen by God, had been instrumental in availing the Bible for all to read, and thus to find the way to salvation through Jesus Christ, not the Roman Catholic Church. It is a Protestant statement about the Reformation. Within my faith commitment there are elements of precise agreement with this Trinitarian apologetic, but also something in this document that I must label as polemics. Things have changed in the 500 or so years after the16th century. [iii] A news article in Christian Century, August 12, 2008 is entitled “Lutherans to apologize for Anabaptist Persecution: Decision of Lutheran World Federation Council.” Yes, the initiators of Protestantism have extended an official apology to the Anabaptists for their participation in the killing of those who took Luther’s teachings seriously enough to celebrate the rite of adult Believers baptism, thereby removing themselves from membership in either Catholic or Protestant Church. This heartfelt apology is an example of honorable review; ongoing relationship with fellow pilgrims in the Christian faith and also people of other traditions. The Lutheran pastor, one of my friends in this corner of Calgary, is in full agreement with that new view of their Reformation history. Reading and relating to my neighborhood in this way is indeed a great satisfaction in my continuing faith journey.

Some time ago I read a book by an author named after my two sons (not at all true, but the author’s name is David Bentley Hart). [iv] 😅 Even if I was a little over-enthused by his name, I found this book quite informative, an overview of Christianity including the Early Church, the Gnostics, the Crusades’ encounter with Islam, Oriental and Western Church, Middle Ages, Reformation, to name but a few headings. [v] The Edicts, the reassigning of allegiances, persecution and warfare is a testimony of endless polemic. That historical rhetoric is ongoing and gravely illustrated especially now as I type these words just a few days before the U.S. Presidential election. Discussion topics in our fellowship circles aside; we must pray fervently for our American brothers and sisters.  "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10).

It is because of these observations and learnings that I find myself occasionally weary of routine habits like coffee klatches and rhetorical polemics, whether political, religio-political, or within our various and sometimes competing denominations of Christianity. There is much to learn, and much to repent of. This must therefore end with the same vision as my last blog. 

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away” (Revelation 21:1).

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[i] Google. Oxford Languages.

[ii] A. Stoutjesdyk, Trinitarian Bible Society (London, England: William Tyndale House, 2017).

[iii] See Rev. Ruedi Reich, Inauguration of the Memorial Plaque to the “Anabaptist Martyrs of Zurich,” Gareth Brandt, Radical Roots (Morgantown, PA: Masthof Press, 2024), p 26.

[iv] David Bentley Hart, The Story of Christianity: A History of 2000 years of the Christian Faith (New York: Quercus, 2009).

[v] Ibid., Two chapter headings illustrate Hart’s interesting style, “The 19^th Century: A Time of Radical Doubt” p.306 and “The 19^th Century: A Time of Fervent Faith” p.314.