Let No Christian Be as Judas

To be the church of Jesus Christ in relationship to the State, any state, anywhere, requires any number of things, and especially so the ability and the willingness to critique the state at one important point: that souls, people, and their destinies and needs, are always more important than the civilization represented by the state.

To put the civilization of the state, as good as it may be, ahead of people and their dignity, their rights and needs, is blasphemy.

That the Church should sometimes forget this central truth, and align itself with the State ought not to surprise us.

History is replete with an abundance of illustrations. Of a more recent time, we need look no further than the church's support of Franco in Spain, Mussolini in Italy, and Hitler in Germany. 

I dare say the drift of some churches here in the States, aligning themselves with the current administration and its willingness to write off the death of tens of thousands of people in service of the economy, is blasphemy.

It's the abomination in the Temple (Matthew 24.15) and the idolatry of power (Revelation 13.11ff) ... 

The Mammon God has made promises such that some Christians are willing to trade away the Gospel for the fulfillment of their political ambitions. Their desire for righteousness has made them susceptible to the smooth words of those who would use them to further the economic interests of the few, and thus has rendered their righteousness as so many "filthy rags" (Isaiah 64.6)

The Mammon God cares not one whit about life; all that matters is gold and silver, cattle and sheep, chariots and horses, "and human lives" (Revelation 18.13) all to be used for its own advancement and glory, its investments and its profits.

Let no Christian be as Judas - willing to trade away the Christ of God for 30 pieces of silver.

Of Reading Biographies

Been reading biographies of late - John Adams, Abraham Lincoln and now John A. MacKay (former missionary to South America and president of Princeton Seminary).

I am always comforted by women and men of courage and faith - no matter life's challenges, pitfalls, and pain,
they made it through.

They advanced the human cause,
they added to the goodness of human longing,
they enlarged the library of wisdom,
they lived with passion and compassion;
they weren't perfect, but they did great things for humanity.

They loved, as best they could;
they saw the realities and needs of others,
and to others they were devoted,
and each in their own way, devoted to God,
to the highest and best to which any of us might aspire.

These are some of the heroes of my life.
They make it clear: Life is hard.
And not to unduly fret.
But to stay the course.
Keep my eyes on what is good and fair and lovely.

And for me, personally, to remain centered in Christ.
In the words of the Sacred Text.
With mindfulness and generosity.
With love for fellow travelers on truth's road.

And so it is.
And so it goes.

To God be the glory.
And God's glory is a human being fully alive.