Relationships Leading to Understanding

I recently spent a day with approximately 70 other pastors in a day-long "sacred conversation" regarding homosexuality and the church.  We were all pastors of the same denomination, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). I'm pretty sure we were all from southern California, although there may have been one or two from neighboring states. We were not, however, of one mind when it came to the topic at hand.

Generally speaking, ours is a progressive denomination - well, more progressive than some, anyway - but it is also one that grants a great deal of freedom to clergy and congregations. This results in a great deal of diversity in theological viewpoints, which we do our best to embrace.

Our "sacred conversation" was not intended to promote a particular viewpoint. Rather, its goal was to bring clergy together in conversation, allow them to listen to one another, and affirm that, despite our differences, we are still one body in Christ; a body that, in all its diversity, can still gather together at the Lord's Table.

Perhaps it should not be surprising that a few pastors had a hard time with this. Some left early, unable to remain in conversation with those of differing views. Most, however, remained.

The most significant (and challenging) conversation of the day for me came when I was seated at a table with a person who, like me, considered himself open and affirming in regards to homosexuality. He candidly admitted that while he finds it easy to welcome gays and lesbians in the church, he would be uncomfortable if, one day, a transgendered person showed up to worship.

His honest admission forced me to do some self-reflection, and I quickly realized that I, too, would experience some discomfort. I asked out loud (even though the question was directed at me), "Why is that?"
After thinking about it for a moment, I realized that the discomfort would be due to a lack of familiarity. In my life I have significant relationships with a number of people who are gay or lesbian. However, I don't think I've ever had so much as a conversation with a person who is transgendered.

I then began to think of people I know who are so distrustful and prejudiced against people of other religions in general, and Islam in particular. In my life, and especially through my work on the South Coast Interfaith Council, I've come to know people of different religions, and thus have gained a greater understanding of and appreciation for the different religions of the world. That understanding and appreciation came about through the relationships that have developed.

In order to build a world of peace and understanding, we must build relationships. I'm thankful for the relationships I have with people of different religions and different sexual orientations. I'm also thankful for relationships and conversations with people whose theological viewpoints are different than mine.

Anyone want to start a conversation?

Exaggerated Claims

It seems that a lot of people lately have been lying or making misleading statements in order to justify their views on things.  (If that introductory sentence gives the impression that the tone of today's blog post is going to be a little different than normal, and you don't like it, then you might want to visit some other blog today.)  I appreciate hearing from people with differences of opinion; conversations that include various viewpoints are, I've found, quite helpful.  But when the participants in those conversations lie, distort the truth, or deliberately mislead their listeners, it goes beyond annoying.  It makes me fear for the future.

One example:  I have before talked on this blog about those who insist that all Muslims are terrorists.  Well, this week I've noticed a video making the rounds on facebook and other internet sites which proclaims that all Muslims are advocates of violence, and will do anything to force Islam upon all people everywhere.  Even Muslims who claim to be advocates of peace, the video claims, are simply lying in order to achieve their goals.

Yikes!  The video is so blatantly hateful and prejudiced that I don't know where to begin.  The makers of the video have obviously used their own fears to paint a picture of Islam that is completely false.  In their effort to get people to view all Muslims according to their own distorted vision, they have become advocates of the type of hatred and even terror that they purport to criticize.

I wasn't going to talk about Islam in this post, since I've talked about it previously on this blog, but the shock of seeing such a hateful video trumped what I had previously planned to talk about.  What was on my mind originally was the misleading claims of politicians in this election season.  Politicians of all parties and ideologies employ half-truths and misleading statements in an effort to distinguish them from their competitors, but one I noticed this week seems particularly misleading. 

Candidates here in California (and, I suspect, elsewhere in the country) are talking about the "largest tax increase in history" that will take place in 2011 unless they are able to beat out their political opponent in history.  The phrase "largest tax increase in history" is attention-grabbing, and startled me enough to investigate whether the claim is true.

According to factcheck.org, the "tax increase" that is scheduled to go into effect is the result of the expiration of tax cuts that are currently in effect.  A vast majority of those in office today are committed to preserving those tax cuts for everyone except for families making over $250,000 a year, which means that for families that make less than $250,000, there will be no tax increase.

For the richest Americans, there might be a tax increase, but some politicians (Republicans mostly, but also a number of Democrats) are working to keep the cuts for even the wealthiest Americans.  Let's say, though, that the tax cuts are allowed to expire for the wealthy.  How does that compare historically?

The current tax rate for the wealthiest Americans is 35%.  If the tax cuts are allowed to expire, then that tax rate would rise to 39.6%.  Jim Wallis, in his book "Rediscovering Values," puts that in perspective.  He points out that "under Republican president Dwight D. Eisenhower, the top tax bracket was at 91%.  Democratic president John F. Kennedy cut that to 70%."  Further reductions since have brought that down to 35%.

Now, if you think 39.6% is too much to tax the wealthiest Americans, fine.  But any claim that this amounts to the "biggest tax increase in history" must be put into historical context.  I don't know whether or not it is the biggest increase in history or not, but it is clear that it will not result in the highest taxes in history, which I think is what many people assume after hearing the claim.

Finally, I should point out that my own views on this are biased.  I admit it: I am biased by the faith I claim and the scripture that guides me in faith.   In scripture (as Jim Wallis points out), when the inequality of wealth grew too great -- when the rich grew too rich and the poor too poor -- God sent prophets to speak out against society's injustice.  Isaiah, Jeremiah, Amos, Micah ... all of the biblical prophets lived in times of great inequality of wealth.

On the other hand, when things were relatively equal -- when the rich weren't too rich, and the poor weren't too poor -- there were no prophets.

The first decade of the 21st century has been a period of extreme inequality of wealth.  The income gap between rich and poor is greater than it has been at any time in history since the 1920s.  The income gap of the 1920s is, according to many economists, one of the causes of the Great Depression that followed.

This, too, is part of the "history" that should be considered in this political season.  Perhaps, in this election season, what we need is fewer politicians, and more prophets.

Christians and Muslims

In an article I wrote for my church's newsletter this week, I talked about the importance of interfaith work.  Because of what's happening in this country right now, today's blog post will include much of what I shared in that article.

Before coming to Bixby Knolls Christian Church in the spring of 2008, I had very little experience in interfaith dialogue or programming. However, after arriving here, I discovered that BKCC has a long history with interfaith work. As a result, I soon found myself involved in the Long Beach Religious Leaders Association (LBRLA), the South Coast Interfaith Council (SCIC), and the annual Unity Bike-a-Thon.

Needless to say, I quickly discovered the value and importance of interfaith work. I am now a co-president of LBRLA, a board member of SCIC, and am on the committee that organizes the Bike-a-Thon. Thanks to the ministry that BKCC has shown me, I have found a new calling within my own ministry: a call to interfaith work.

In recent weeks, I’ve realized something: there has never been a more important time for interfaith dialogue and understanding. That may sound like an overstatement, but it’s not. Two-thirds of Americans believe that it is wrong to allow the building of an Islamic community center two blocks from “Ground Zero” in New York, even though America is the land of freedom (including freedom of religion). A church in Florida has declared September 11, 2010 “Burn the Quran” day, and thousands of Americans are in support of that. There is clearly a negative attitude toward Muslims in this country, an attitude that, if left unchecked, threatens the liberties we all cherish.

Let me be clear: Islam is a religion of peace. It is no more violent a religion than Christianity. In fact, it could be argued that Christianity has the more violent history, when one considers the Crusades, the Inquisition, witch hunts, racial lynchings, abortion clinic bombings, and so on. Yes, there are Islamic extremists who advocate terrorism; yes, there are Christian extremists who believe God calls them to kill. But that does not mean that either Islam or Christianity is a religion of violence.

It is, however, an act of violence to burn sacred books, whether they be Qurans or Bibles. Burning books is one of the tactics used by the Nazis in the last century (and soon after they burned books, they started burning people). Burning the Quran or any other sacred text is wrong.

As Americans who cherish liberty and freedom, we must speak against such acts. As followers of Jesus, we must live for peace and understanding. I am thankful for BKCC, through which I have become connected to SCIC and have gained a wider understanding of and appreciation for various faiths.

On Labor Day, I will once again ride in the Interfaith Unity Bike-a-Thon. The purpose of this event is two-fold: 1. to increase peace and understanding through interfaith fellowship; 2. to raise money, both for SCIC as well as for local congregations.

I am currently seeking sponsors to support me. Both SCIC and BKCC (like many other worthy organizations) rely on the voluntary support of members and friends to carry out their ministry. With rising levels of fear, prejudice, and even hate in our country, ministries that promote peace, freedom, and understanding need all the support they can get.

It is my hope that America will show to the world that it truly is the land of freedom, where no one is judged because of their religion, and where no religion is judged because of the actions of a few extremists.  It is time for healing.  It is time for understanding.  It is time for peace.