17 Comments
Oct 11, 2020Liked by Diana Butler Bass

Wonderful condensation -- nutshell-like -- of the issues we are facing. I, too, went to a church as a kid that was very much into the Liberation Theology movement (lead by the Catholic Church...and again being done so), which somehow got subsumed by world politics.

Jesus was, by all accounts, a socially aware and active Jewish "prophet" (unlike the the profit-mongers -- aka prosperity evangelicals today) and was killed for his social actions, not his religious ones.

As a social historian, I look forward to your presentation at my church this morning.

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Spot on! Personal fear of engaging in the conversation is fine as long as it does not dictate or exclude the conversation being had in the church. Jesus' death was a political move, so to think that we should not/must not talk about all aspects of our lives/ that which directly affects and impacts our lives, is a joke that everyone but the church laughs at. If the church doesn't have these conversations, they also wont have my support. Our money says in God we trust, without identifying which God that is. Should we stop using it?

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Thank you for the rebuttal. The email you refer to could have come from my church which prides itself on being non-political.

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Thanks for not backing down on what you believe to be morally right. Like what we say in the Poor People's Campaign, we are calling upon a National Call for a Moral Revival. I lost getting hired for a ministerial job last year because I was "too front of the lines." I was showing up at protests for Black Lives Matter and transgender rights and gay rights and when I heard that, I thought to myself that my fellow clergy person was too back of the lines. When we know something is egregiously not right, we need to have the courage to speak up. I also immediately thought of the scripture that says, "You are not cold, nor hot, you are lukewarm and I will spit you out of my mouth." Rev. 3:16 As Christians, these are dangerous times when the Commander in Chief says to the Proud Boys "Stand down, but stand by" and this white supremacist group proudly makes this in to a logo. How terrifying is that for all of the black lives in the United States to know that the POTUS does not have your back. It is not just our call to speak up, it is our duty as people of faith to speak out! Stay strong, Diana, keep pressing the narrative for a national call for a moral revival during these trying times. Pamela

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I posted on our congregation's private Facebook page the CNN article that captured The Rev. Dr. Samuel Adams' [of Union Theological Seminary in Richmond VA and ordained teaching elder] article in August that spoke clearly of the dangers of Donald Trump. I was asked to take it down by an outspoken member and Trump supporter and she was supported by another member. Since she asked the administrators of the page to remove it I did nothing further until she asked the pastor to instruct me to remove it, and he did. I don't know how many Trump supporters there are in our congregation but I sense there are more members who just want a pleasant place to go for photos and invitations and announcements of interest. We have seen through Sept 29 debate as well as the NYTimes' reporting on Trump's financial cheating just how dangerous this man is to our national security and to our domestic security. But "Shhhh," don't bring it up in church!

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Sep 30, 2020Liked by Diana Butler Bass

When the leader of our country threatens our democracy and spews hatred at every turn, clergy must speak out. It is the moral thing to do at this time.

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Sep 30, 2020Liked by Diana Butler Bass

Oh Diana, we have along way to go to recover from this mess! Please do not ever become silent in the face of such adversity. We desperately need your voice now more than ever. It is never too late to make a stand for integrity, and those of us behind the scenes rely upon those like you who are positioned to courageously exemplify the Presence of God in a more public manner. Never underestimate your positive influence. It is significant.

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With deep gratitude for your Voice!!

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I just wrote a paragraph to you in the Comment tab and then had to log in and lost what I wrote!!!!!!

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Sep 30, 2020Liked by Diana Butler Bass

Jesus talked of both to his followers about politics and living in service to love. He spoke truth and mercy to power, at the time the Romans and Herod. He was crucified for being a political dissident. In the ensuing millennia, political behavior has not improved or evolved enough to be free from humane, spiritual and awake questioning. You are a perfect mind and soul to carry on the Teacher's example in this regard.

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Sep 30, 2020Liked by Diana Butler Bass

Thank you for your blog. The 40 days of Lent with lots of cosmic suffering and muzzled gospel admonishing was prophetic. This was icing on the cake. Grateful for the reality check. At our Session meeting on Sunday the response to my question, "How do we as the church serve as a safe port as we move through this election season?" was answered emphatically with this: just preach the lectionary, avoid BLM lingo and for heavens sake stay clear of POLITICS!! The one voice exception said this, "Jesus loves the marginalized. We are the marginalized." It came from a voice remoting into our meeting. We almost missed it. I wrote it down. My sinking suspicion is that "our" Jesus is just too small to fit us all -- "and for the sake of the gospel, and our church, don't talk politics!!!" I need another post it note, "Jesus loves the marginalized. We are the marginalized" front and center on the pulpit so we might see Christ.

Unmuzzled, matters.

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Trying to prepare myself to watch debate tonite. Don't want but feel it is my responsibility to be truly informed. I always think of baptismal prayer that newly baptized have an inquirung and discerning heart. Tricky on Sunday mornings to preach in a way that inspires folk to inquire without angering and shutting minds. This is a weary time...a wary time time...a worry time...a watchful time...praying for wondering.

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Thank you for this.

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Sep 29, 2020Liked by Diana Butler Bass

Thank you for such truth! What isn't discussed is stuffed and can lead to an eruption. Fear hinders discussion---fear of someone disagreeing with one, fear of losing a friend [is s/he really a friend?], fear of not having the rights facts, fear of looking foolish. The solution lies in becoming informed, being kind, truly listening to the other. Humility and honesty can keep the conversation civil.

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Sep 29, 2020Liked by Diana Butler Bass

We have a group that meets on Monday nights - about 20 of us. We are a combined group from a local Methodist and ELCA Lutheran church. We are working through Allegiance to Empire from Work of the People. I am the youngest person in the group at 65. Last night we listened to Walter Brueggemann and (for good measure) threw in a vid clip of Joel Goza. The discussion was challenging but civil and the upshot of it was that we would take some funds that weren't otherwise being used (about $2K) and donate them to a local women's shelter. Engagement is essential if we actually wish to impact the world in any constructive way and give any meaning to the word "church".

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