Scriptural Basis
Matthew 16:21-28
Blog Reflection
As soon as I became aware of what the theme and scripture readings for this weekend would be, I cringed. This past week we saw an earthquake begin Virginia and go all the way up to Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts. This weekend the whole east coast is facing the devastating affects for Hurricane Irene.
The news stories about the earthquake barely got out of the news stations. Hurricane Irene had yet not made land fall before the Christianists started their tirade about why America is facing the natural disasters.
Joseph Farrar of World Net Daily stated:
On the earthquake Pat Robertson said:
A group of "orthodox Anglicans" said:
The Gospel for this weekend looks not at the eviloutside of the company of Christians, but within.
Is it not hypocrisy that Peter who was just said last weekend to be the rock on which Christ would build the Church is now a stumbling block to Jesus?
Hypocrisy is no stranger within the Christian religion. It is all too often a welcomed and well cared for resident. The people with the greatest zeal for what Christians believe to be true, can also be the weakest examples of who Jesus was and how Jesus lived. We sing those mighty hymns at our Sunday Liturgies. We pray the prayers, recite the Nicene Creed with devotion and conviction. We receive the Eucharist revived and grateful for the Presence of Christ. Yet, as soon as we turn to see the person who parked in our favorite parking spot or sat in ourreserved pew spot, and suddenly we are just like Peter denying Jesus during his passion and death.
There is no greater enemy of Jesus Christ and the Church than the hypocrisy of Christians who pray our belief in the Holy Trinity, while harboring attitudes of bias, violence and condescension for those who are different from ourselves. Racism, sexism, heterosexism, Islamophobia, the insistence that we let sick people live without health care, a home, the basic necessities of life, yet live with gun violence breaks the heart of Jesus.
The spiritual abuse of women, LGBT people, different religions etc reflect the evils of this world that have found their homes in many Christian church communities keeps Jesus and the purpose and meaning of his going to Calvary to die on the cross from gaining its true fruition. The stone remains at the entrance of the tomb and the resurrection of Jesus remains a dead legend when Christians use Gospels such as this one, as a defense of the evils within the Church.
In the Reading from Paul's letter to the Romans 12: 9-21 says:
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer people continue to experience a love that is not genuine when Christianists greet them with with erroneous interpretations of scripture verses like Leviticus 20:13 or 1 Cor 6:9-10 to condemn the natural love she/he feels for someone of the same-gender.
Those verses in and of themselves do not condemn homosexuality, bisexuality and/or transgender behaviors. When the authors of the Biblical texts existed there were no abstract words such as heterosexual and homosexual. Sexuality was a means of violence and domination. Over the centuries Christians have been understanding and revising what we previously understood about sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression.
When Christians dedicate themselves to scholarly readings of the Bible as the inspired word of God, and not the "infallible word" and seeks to continuously grow in Christ, the evils in the Church lose their destructive power. Inclusive communities are created and nurtured. An inclusive Church can face and work to heal the wounds of division, discrimination and violence when Christians practice radical hospitality and reconciliation.
Are Christians facing the evils that exist within the Church? Do Christians understand that suggesting that God sends earthquakes, floods, hurricanes or tornadoes because of individuals marginalized by the Church and society, is a sin that thinks not as God thinks by any means?
There is no doubt in my mind that there is much evil in the world. When the Church pretends there is no evil within our own walls, denominations or activities, the Church perpetuates evil. When Christians continually use rhetoric towards LGBT people, women and people of other races, cultures, languages, abilities, challenges etc that is by itself cruel in nature, so called followers of Jesus become a stumbling block to the real mission of Christ and the Church.
Christians and the Church make a greater impact on the world and other people when we seek ways to repair the damage done by the colonization of Christians upon the Native American communities for example. At the General Convention of the Episcopal Church in 2009 Resolution DO35 was to repudiate the doctrine of discovery. A small step forward, but a significant step.
The Church being an institution that is administrated by human beings will fall short of it's goals and ideals. But when the Church fails to see hate and violence among it's leaders and people, it is the duty and responsibility of Christians and other people of good will, to point it out and call the Church to be accountable for the actions of it's people.
May all of us play our part in confronting and dealing with evil. But may we all begin with an honest look at our own evils. God knows we have plenty of them. That is why God sent Christ. Why then are Christians pretending like no evil exists in the Church or there is nothing that can be done about it?
Prayers
Matthew 16:21-28
Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, "God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you." But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things."
Then Jesus told his disciples, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?
"For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."
Blog Reflection
As soon as I became aware of what the theme and scripture readings for this weekend would be, I cringed. This past week we saw an earthquake begin Virginia and go all the way up to Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts. This weekend the whole east coast is facing the devastating affects for Hurricane Irene.
The news stories about the earthquake barely got out of the news stations. Hurricane Irene had yet not made land fall before the Christianists started their tirade about why America is facing the natural disasters.
Joseph Farrar of World Net Daily stated:
"If America doesn't face judgment soon, God will have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah. And God doesn't offer apologies. He does, however, offer second chances, third chances, fourth chances. He's trying to get your attention. Are you paying heed? What will it take? Will your world have to be turned upside down before you recognize what's happening?"
On the earthquake Pat Robertson said:
"Ladies and gentlemen, I don’t want to get weird on this so please take it for what it’s worth. But it seems to me the Washington Monument is a symbol of America’s power, it has been the symbol of our great nation, we look at that monument and say this is one nation under God. Now there’s a crack in it, there’s a crack in it and it’s closed up. Is that a sign from the Lord? Is that something that has significance or is it just result of an earthquake?"
A group of "orthodox Anglicans" said:
"We are asking that the kingdom of God would advance into the consciousness of backslidden Christians, atheists and sinners. Lord, let this be an evangelistic hurricane. Let it stimulate Wall Street to cry to You. Father, we ask for this storm to be instrumental in igniting a prayer movement on the East Coast."
The Gospel for this weekend looks not at the evil
Is it not hypocrisy that Peter who was just said last weekend to be the rock on which Christ would build the Church is now a stumbling block to Jesus?
Hypocrisy is no stranger within the Christian religion. It is all too often a welcomed and well cared for resident. The people with the greatest zeal for what Christians believe to be true, can also be the weakest examples of who Jesus was and how Jesus lived. We sing those mighty hymns at our Sunday Liturgies. We pray the prayers, recite the Nicene Creed with devotion and conviction. We receive the Eucharist revived and grateful for the Presence of Christ. Yet, as soon as we turn to see the person who parked in our favorite parking spot or sat in our
There is no greater enemy of Jesus Christ and the Church than the hypocrisy of Christians who pray our belief in the Holy Trinity, while harboring attitudes of bias, violence and condescension for those who are different from ourselves. Racism, sexism, heterosexism, Islamophobia, the insistence that we let sick people live without health care, a home, the basic necessities of life, yet live with gun violence breaks the heart of Jesus.
The spiritual abuse of women, LGBT people, different religions etc reflect the evils of this world that have found their homes in many Christian church communities keeps Jesus and the purpose and meaning of his going to Calvary to die on the cross from gaining its true fruition. The stone remains at the entrance of the tomb and the resurrection of Jesus remains a dead legend when Christians use Gospels such as this one, as a defense of the evils within the Church.
In the Reading from Paul's letter to the Romans 12: 9-21 says:
Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." No, "if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer people continue to experience a love that is not genuine when Christianists greet them with with erroneous interpretations of scripture verses like Leviticus 20:13 or 1 Cor 6:9-10 to condemn the natural love she/he feels for someone of the same-gender.
Those verses in and of themselves do not condemn homosexuality, bisexuality and/or transgender behaviors. When the authors of the Biblical texts existed there were no abstract words such as heterosexual and homosexual. Sexuality was a means of violence and domination. Over the centuries Christians have been understanding and revising what we previously understood about sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression.
When Christians dedicate themselves to scholarly readings of the Bible as the inspired word of God, and not the "infallible word" and seeks to continuously grow in Christ, the evils in the Church lose their destructive power. Inclusive communities are created and nurtured. An inclusive Church can face and work to heal the wounds of division, discrimination and violence when Christians practice radical hospitality and reconciliation.
Are Christians facing the evils that exist within the Church? Do Christians understand that suggesting that God sends earthquakes, floods, hurricanes or tornadoes because of individuals marginalized by the Church and society, is a sin that thinks not as God thinks by any means?
There is no doubt in my mind that there is much evil in the world. When the Church pretends there is no evil within our own walls, denominations or activities, the Church perpetuates evil. When Christians continually use rhetoric towards LGBT people, women and people of other races, cultures, languages, abilities, challenges etc that is by itself cruel in nature, so called followers of Jesus become a stumbling block to the real mission of Christ and the Church.
Christians and the Church make a greater impact on the world and other people when we seek ways to repair the damage done by the colonization of Christians upon the Native American communities for example. At the General Convention of the Episcopal Church in 2009 Resolution DO35 was to repudiate the doctrine of discovery. A small step forward, but a significant step.
The Church being an institution that is administrated by human beings will fall short of it's goals and ideals. But when the Church fails to see hate and violence among it's leaders and people, it is the duty and responsibility of Christians and other people of good will, to point it out and call the Church to be accountable for the actions of it's people.
May all of us play our part in confronting and dealing with evil. But may we all begin with an honest look at our own evils. God knows we have plenty of them. That is why God sent Christ. Why then are Christians pretending like no evil exists in the Church or there is nothing that can be done about it?
Prayers
Lord of all power and might, the author and giver of all good things: Graft in our hearts the love of your Name; increase in us true religion; nourish us with all goodness; and bring forth in us the fruit of good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen. (Proper 17, Book of Common Prayer, page 233).
Gracious Father, we pray for your holy Catholic Church. Fill it with all truth, in all truth with all peace. Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in any thing it is amiss, reform it. Where it is right, strengthen it; where it is in want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake of Jesus Christ your Son our Savior. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, page 816).
O merciful God, who taught us in your holy Word that you would not willingly afflict us, look with pity upon the sorrows of those affected by the natural disasters this week for whom our prayers are offered. Remember them, O Lord, in mercy, nourish their souls with patience, comfort them with a sense of your goodness, lift up your countenance upon them, and give them peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, page 831).
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