Did You Know Fear is an Acronym?

Rev. Rudy Rasmus shared that fear is what is at the core of the problem in the Church. This is not news to many of us. What was helpful to me, and perhaps to you as well, was a reminder that fear really might be seen as - False Evidence Appearing Real.

Who knew FEAR could be an acronym?* Maybe it is well know, but it is new to me.

What is the false evidence appearing real in your life? The Church seems to see the rapid of church attendance as equating to the death of Christianity. I would say this is FEAR. Christianity lives as long as Christ lives.

Some see the natural disasters and the rumors of war and the violence as proof that the world is going to hell. I would say this is FEAR. The world has always been headed toward a marriage with the heavens.

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* I also am very aware that there is the other definition of fear that is emotion based. When I see a wall of water coming toward me to drown me the fear I feel is not false evidence appearing to be real. It is a real wave. Perhaps this is what makes fear so difficult of an emotion to deal with. It is difficult to see what is real and what is posing as real.

Spinning Around in Order to be Still

Last week I heard Erin Hawkins (The General Secretary of the General Commission of Race Relations for the UMC) speak. One of the things she shared was her time learning a prayer practice of "turning". The Sufi prayer practice of turning (you may have seen "Whirling Dervishes") is deeply symbolic and there is a lot going on in the practice.  

The one thing she pointed out was the practice is to be an example how to be "fixed and focused" in a world that is constantly spinning.

It is a beautiful metaphor and one that is often missing or overlooked in Christian churches. How do you practice being fixed and focused on God in Christ through the Spirit while the world spends all around? It is easy to be focused and fixed on retreat or on Sunday morning but what about in the stress and turmoil of the most chaotic spinning? 

General is Populist, Specific is Prophetic

Elections of public servants is always a fun season for me, especially the Presidential elections. When else does everyone have a shared interest in politics enough to break the rules of talking about politics in public (even is most of the talk is disdain for the process or mocking a candidate's gaffe). The election cycle not only carries with it the gaffes but also the general platitudes to rally the base. These general stump speech comments range from "we need to change some things in Washington" to the story of how the candidate grew up in a working class home and is just an average person. These general statements not only bolster the base but also make those passive onlookers think, "you know I don't know much about that person but I like what they are saying right now." 

General talk is popular which is what makes it seductive to Church leaders. For instance we often talk about the Church needs to change, be open to new ideas, embrace the youth and make the hard decisions. We do a lot of general talk but we are missing the call of the Church to be specific. It is the specific that is prophetic. 

Reading the prophets in the Bible you will see they did not speak a lot in general terms. Nathan said to David, "You are the man that is stealing from the poor to profit yourself." Amos said to the wealthy women of his time, "You cows of Bashan!" Hosea told the people that they were "cheating on God by worshiping idols" Hosea said that people need to stop sacrificing and mercy.

So may we be a Church that speaks to the specifics as well as the general. When we talk about loving our neighbor (general) can we have the courage to say specifically how go about loving ISIS. When we talk about having Open Hearts, Open Minds and Open Doors (general) can we talk about how our hearts are closed to talking about racism; how our minds are shut to hear words like sin, angels or demons; how our door are closed to LGBTQ church leaders. 

They say the devil is in the details. May the Church not fear the devil.