It's been quite awhile since I've posted...
I've got to admit to some minor depression about the death of my son, even after such a long time. Yes, even after almost two years since his hospitalization and the illness that took his life.
In the meantime, it feels (to me anyway) like the world is going to hell in a handbasket! A new and much more powerful terrorist group in Iraq and Syria; the continuing skirmish between Russia and the young country of Ukraine; the Hamas vs. Israel violence that continues; and last but not least, the ugliness in Ferguson, Missouri. And those are just the "big ones"! Not too long ago I heard on the news that there are at least 40 "killing" events going on in the world at any given time.
Lesser but still relevant events include the ebola epidemic in West Africa, the influx of Central American children at our U.S. southern border and let's not forget the House suit against our duly elected president. And all this just in the month of August!
Really, what is going on? Why can't we all just be reasonable with each other? Really LISTEN instead of attacking? Where is empathy, diplomacy, and the desire to live peacably with one another?
The rich are getting richer, the poor and even the middle class in America are getting poorer. Voting rights are being threatened and let's not forget the gerrymandering of voting districts. More tax cuts for the wealthier among us, subsidies for corporations, while cuts are being made to social programs. Our government officials being bought because now "corporations are people too" and being given religious exemptions because their owners don't want to follow the laws to provide certain services mandated-all the while keeping their bottom line in the black.
Yes, we all have certain inalienable rights, but it is now too often feeling like some folks have more than others. (Reminiscent of the piggies in "Animal Farm" perhaps?)
I have often said that more than caring about others, practicing the Golden Rule, or a government of, by and for the people-it's more about money, power, and influence. Whether it's Putin in Ukraine, or ISIL/ISIS in Iraq- don't they realize that killing and making war is self-defeating?
Here in the USA where we passed a Civil Rights law back in 1965, people are still being judged by the color of their skin. The recent shooting of Michael Brown brought it all to an explosive head in middle America. The continual bias and outright hatred of Muslim Americans is still apparent... as is the vitriol heard often against immigrants, even to the point of demanding that children be returned -- again, against the law.
I don't have any solution for any of this, except that each day I wake up, I do my best to LOVE my neighbor as myself. To do my part to make this world a little bit better for someone, anyone. I try to actively and intentionally LOVE without benefit of gaining money, power or influence. I recall the words of Jesus daily "Love your enemies..." (Luke 6:27–31) I suggest you read the entire passage. What I see there, corny as it may sound is "Love conquers all".
We have become such a selfish, self-centered, ugly world. I guess what really bothers me is that many of these bigoted, black-hearted actions come from people who say we (the USA) is a Christian nation, and wear Jesus like a badge to justify their behaviors. I can only imagine right now the truth of the shortest verse in scripture- "Jesus wept" (John 11:35)
In other news... I am going to try to get back to stuff that I've let slide for too long. Abiding Ways was initially meant to be a place for group and individual Bible learning. My call to teach has been refreshed as I emerge from the pit of depression and back to the land of the living. What that means for me is that 1) I will be re-doing the entire site, 2) switching over to Wordpress from blogger and 3) be more actively soliciting your attention whether in a blog post or announcing and inviting you to join me in learning. What do you think? In the next week or so, I'll be asking everyone to comment on a survey so I can better meet YOUR needs and desires to grow closer.
I am also working on a book-sorta... piecing it together for now. More on that as I get nearer to completion...whenever that may be :) Thanks for reading-comment as you will!
Friday, August 22, 2014
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Racism in the Bible?
I've been incommunicado for quite some time as I heal from the death of my son, had some unexpected health issues and well, just trying to get on with life in general.
In that time I've mostly eschewed politics and the news as during this time I've come to realize more than ever that by believing God is sovereign and in control I also must believe that He's aware of all the politics and unfairness in our country. As a result, I've realized I must, as a Christian believer, trust Him even as the ugliness and unfairness I perceive in this world is something that my Lord is aware of-and while I have mostly abandoned commenting, recent happenings have brought me out of my self-imposed exile of choosing not to comment.
Instead, I go to my Bible to see what God has to say on an issue... and leave it at that.
I have made some comments on my Facebook page when I see something that is contrary to what I've learned-especially when it's a family member! In other words, I've been pretty faithful to my commitment to keep my mouth closed when it comes to politically charged and/or controversial issues.
So what has brought me out of hiding? A few seemingly dis-similar events in recent news. These being first, the Supreme Court's decision that a provision of the voting rights law is no longer needed because racism is no longer a problem. ...and then, of course, the trial of George Zimmerman in the death of Trayvon Martin. And lastly, our presidents' comments on this case.
Full disclosure: I voted for this man and I also have a grandchild who has a similar mixed race geneology (a Congolese father and a mom from Idaho). As I type, my daughter has made a decision to take her out of public school and home school her instead due to the outright mean hatred of classmates. For all intents and purposes, my granddaughter, by virtue of the color of her skin, could have been Trayvon.
Being troubled by all this, I recalled a story that touches on skin color perhaps. Check out Numbers 12:1-16 - and for my purposes Numbers 12:1 is the primary focus.
Briefly, Miriam and Aaron came to Moses on the pretext of the fact that he had a Cushite (Ethiopian or perhaps Nubian) wife. The color of her skin is never mentioned and in the many commentaries I've read before I set out to write this, she is described as perhaps "swarthy" or dark and different. The bigger picture is that Marion, and to a lesser degree, Aaron resent Moses special relationship before God. That being said, I have to wonder if the color of this wife's skin isn't more important in God's eyes. Scripture goes on to tell what God did about it... " When the cloud lifted from above the tent, Miriam’s skin was leprous—it became as white as snow (leprous skin disease).-Numbers 12:10 In other words, God put Miriam in her place and she suffered the isolating consequences of any skin disease and was banished from the camp.
Paul taught in Ephesians 2:11-18 that we are all equal before God. Somewhere, it's written that we, as Americans have "equal justice under the law". I'm not sure that is true anymore, if ever. When I see the stats on prisoners by race, and especially in the "Stand Your Ground" state of Florida, I DO see racism.
Hubby and I were discussing after watching the talking heads comment on President Obama's impromptu appearance and speech. It was mentioned how our parents never had to warn us about the dangers of being Caucasian. We, as "white folk" have never had to fear being pulled over just because of the color of our skin, or the way we dressed. While I am "color blind" now, I recall something my mom said after I loaned a black girlfriend a dress--- that "they" have an odor that never leaves. I never wore that dress again as a result because mom would have been upset. And I truly don't recall my parents being overtly racist... but subtly, this statement brought to my mind that "they" were not like us.
I was truly baffled by the statement of Mark O'Mara (Mr. Zimmerman's attorney) when he stated that "If Mr. Zimmerman were black, this would have never come to trial". REALLY!!! I have to question what world he's living in! The selective blindness for the sake of being seen as righteous is so much like what Jesus called the Pharisees- BLIND GUIDES. Sadly, I see this becoming more prevalent in this land of the free and home of the brave, this land of equal justice for all.
Some time ago, there was a book written called "Black Like Me" about a white man who turned his skin very dark in order to experience and subsequently write about his experience in the 1960s south ... I venture to say that while, on the surface, we are a less racist society, that if one peels off a layer or two, its all still there. God had it right when He decided to show Miriam how her attitude of jealousy and desire for power colored her-so white that there was a need to banish her from camp! Truly, my friends, how "white" are you really- pure as the driven snow or as diseased as a leper?
I realize that there are a number of other issues that I could consider in the Zimmerman case (guns, stand your ground, vigilantism, and of course the lesser issues inherent in the case). I choose instead to focus on the REAL issue that, per judge's order, couldn't be discussed:racism/bigotry/bias and the arrogance of white folk. The political hotbed of gerrymandering for the purpose of subjugating the minority vote and getting, keeping and maintaining government power to suppress equality are on my mind also-for another day perhaps?
The law of the land has found Mr. Zimmerman not guilty and that's how our justice system works. As his brother stated-he has to live with having killed a kid for the rest of his life. Soon after OJ was found not guilty, I said to many others that if indeed he is not innocent, he'll perhaps kill again or get into some other trouble-- we do, after all, reap what we sow...and we know where OJ is.
In that time I've mostly eschewed politics and the news as during this time I've come to realize more than ever that by believing God is sovereign and in control I also must believe that He's aware of all the politics and unfairness in our country. As a result, I've realized I must, as a Christian believer, trust Him even as the ugliness and unfairness I perceive in this world is something that my Lord is aware of-and while I have mostly abandoned commenting, recent happenings have brought me out of my self-imposed exile of choosing not to comment.
Instead, I go to my Bible to see what God has to say on an issue... and leave it at that.
I have made some comments on my Facebook page when I see something that is contrary to what I've learned-especially when it's a family member! In other words, I've been pretty faithful to my commitment to keep my mouth closed when it comes to politically charged and/or controversial issues.
So what has brought me out of hiding? A few seemingly dis-similar events in recent news. These being first, the Supreme Court's decision that a provision of the voting rights law is no longer needed because racism is no longer a problem. ...and then, of course, the trial of George Zimmerman in the death of Trayvon Martin. And lastly, our presidents' comments on this case.
Full disclosure: I voted for this man and I also have a grandchild who has a similar mixed race geneology (a Congolese father and a mom from Idaho). As I type, my daughter has made a decision to take her out of public school and home school her instead due to the outright mean hatred of classmates. For all intents and purposes, my granddaughter, by virtue of the color of her skin, could have been Trayvon.
Being troubled by all this, I recalled a story that touches on skin color perhaps. Check out Numbers 12:1-16 - and for my purposes Numbers 12:1 is the primary focus.
Briefly, Miriam and Aaron came to Moses on the pretext of the fact that he had a Cushite (Ethiopian or perhaps Nubian) wife. The color of her skin is never mentioned and in the many commentaries I've read before I set out to write this, she is described as perhaps "swarthy" or dark and different. The bigger picture is that Marion, and to a lesser degree, Aaron resent Moses special relationship before God. That being said, I have to wonder if the color of this wife's skin isn't more important in God's eyes. Scripture goes on to tell what God did about it... " When the cloud lifted from above the tent, Miriam’s skin was leprous—it became as white as snow (leprous skin disease).-Numbers 12:10 In other words, God put Miriam in her place and she suffered the isolating consequences of any skin disease and was banished from the camp.
Paul taught in Ephesians 2:11-18 that we are all equal before God. Somewhere, it's written that we, as Americans have "equal justice under the law". I'm not sure that is true anymore, if ever. When I see the stats on prisoners by race, and especially in the "Stand Your Ground" state of Florida, I DO see racism.
Hubby and I were discussing after watching the talking heads comment on President Obama's impromptu appearance and speech. It was mentioned how our parents never had to warn us about the dangers of being Caucasian. We, as "white folk" have never had to fear being pulled over just because of the color of our skin, or the way we dressed. While I am "color blind" now, I recall something my mom said after I loaned a black girlfriend a dress--- that "they" have an odor that never leaves. I never wore that dress again as a result because mom would have been upset. And I truly don't recall my parents being overtly racist... but subtly, this statement brought to my mind that "they" were not like us.
I was truly baffled by the statement of Mark O'Mara (Mr. Zimmerman's attorney) when he stated that "If Mr. Zimmerman were black, this would have never come to trial". REALLY!!! I have to question what world he's living in! The selective blindness for the sake of being seen as righteous is so much like what Jesus called the Pharisees- BLIND GUIDES. Sadly, I see this becoming more prevalent in this land of the free and home of the brave, this land of equal justice for all.
Some time ago, there was a book written called "Black Like Me" about a white man who turned his skin very dark in order to experience and subsequently write about his experience in the 1960s south ... I venture to say that while, on the surface, we are a less racist society, that if one peels off a layer or two, its all still there. God had it right when He decided to show Miriam how her attitude of jealousy and desire for power colored her-so white that there was a need to banish her from camp! Truly, my friends, how "white" are you really- pure as the driven snow or as diseased as a leper?
I realize that there are a number of other issues that I could consider in the Zimmerman case (guns, stand your ground, vigilantism, and of course the lesser issues inherent in the case). I choose instead to focus on the REAL issue that, per judge's order, couldn't be discussed:racism/bigotry/bias and the arrogance of white folk. The political hotbed of gerrymandering for the purpose of subjugating the minority vote and getting, keeping and maintaining government power to suppress equality are on my mind also-for another day perhaps?
The law of the land has found Mr. Zimmerman not guilty and that's how our justice system works. As his brother stated-he has to live with having killed a kid for the rest of his life. Soon after OJ was found not guilty, I said to many others that if indeed he is not innocent, he'll perhaps kill again or get into some other trouble-- we do, after all, reap what we sow...and we know where OJ is.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)