Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Reflections of . . . . ?
In the New York Times dated February 21, 2007 there is an article about the Episcopalian Church of the United States. See the link below.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/21/us/21episcopal.html?th&emc=th
Obviously news is only news if it is sensational and when it involves Christianity or Judaism it becomes even more "juicer" for reporters. We have been bombarded with Catholic Priests and children, a Pentecostal Pastor with a male prostitute and meth, Jimmy Swaggart's admission to adultery, Jim Bakker and the 700 Club, and now the Episcopalian Church in the United States.
I firmly believe that sin needs to be addressed and action taken. I also believe that forgiveness and not exploitation needs to be provided. Forgiveness is not forgetting, it is not excusing or condoning, it does not require a person to acknowledge they have done anything wrong. It involves the love of one person for another. Whether the law agrees, or you or anything else under heaven, forgiveness is warranted in God's world, this world.
How is it we overlook the wanton disregard of radical groups bent on domination based on religious beliefs and say we need to be "tolerant" of them. How is it we turn a blind eye to a politicians "indiscretion", the selling of National secrets, or misleading justification of military action for the sake of legacy. How is it that national and local governments foolishly spend taxpayer's dollars in a country of the brave and free? Freedom is not free but its a crime to extort the price of freedom from an uniformed population.
Now I understand that religious leaders and institutions are held to a higher standard of moral and ethical conduct. But why? Why should an Imam be held more accountable than a Congressman(woman)? Why should the President be less accountable for actions than the local grocer? Why should whites be treated differently than blacks and vice versa.
Not one "god" of any major religion tells us to be evil. The face of evil is not God's.
Look in the mirror.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/21/us/21episcopal.html?th&emc=th
Obviously news is only news if it is sensational and when it involves Christianity or Judaism it becomes even more "juicer" for reporters. We have been bombarded with Catholic Priests and children, a Pentecostal Pastor with a male prostitute and meth, Jimmy Swaggart's admission to adultery, Jim Bakker and the 700 Club, and now the Episcopalian Church in the United States.
I firmly believe that sin needs to be addressed and action taken. I also believe that forgiveness and not exploitation needs to be provided. Forgiveness is not forgetting, it is not excusing or condoning, it does not require a person to acknowledge they have done anything wrong. It involves the love of one person for another. Whether the law agrees, or you or anything else under heaven, forgiveness is warranted in God's world, this world.
How is it we overlook the wanton disregard of radical groups bent on domination based on religious beliefs and say we need to be "tolerant" of them. How is it we turn a blind eye to a politicians "indiscretion", the selling of National secrets, or misleading justification of military action for the sake of legacy. How is it that national and local governments foolishly spend taxpayer's dollars in a country of the brave and free? Freedom is not free but its a crime to extort the price of freedom from an uniformed population.
Now I understand that religious leaders and institutions are held to a higher standard of moral and ethical conduct. But why? Why should an Imam be held more accountable than a Congressman(woman)? Why should the President be less accountable for actions than the local grocer? Why should whites be treated differently than blacks and vice versa.
Not one "god" of any major religion tells us to be evil. The face of evil is not God's.
Look in the mirror.
The problems of the world are not God's.
Look in the mirror.
The solution to the nation's woes is not God's.
Look in the mirror.
Religions are not a reflection of God but a reflection of self. Maybe if we are expecting God to change what's going on in our life, this country, this world, the changes begin within us.
The more we learn about God the more we understand God's plan for all. The more we know and belief about God the more we willing become more obedient to God. And just like the old Christian hymn, we need to
"trust and obey, for there is no other way. . . "
Religions are separated by the size of box in which they stuff God. Every religion can be defended by an appeal to the authority of Scripture, tradition and reason but each finds it difficult to understand and embrace other faiths.
"All nature sings and around me rings, the music of the spheres". All "nature" reflections the grandeur and majesty of God . . except humanity. A humanity that was created in the very image of God.
What do you see when you look in the mirror?
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