Pastor's Message

October Spirit Steps

I listened to a call-in show on the radio today as I drove through the country side.  Health care reform was the topic.  As I listened, I became increasingly confused and depressed.  My confusion and sadness were not about the issue itself but about how to have a rational and productive discussion about what I consider to be a moral issue.  That people in this country are suffering and dying needlessly because they cannot afford health care is to me a moral issue that I am concerned about.  What I found depressing and confusing was that many of the callers who identified themselves as Christians were aggressive, rude, and seemed concerned only about what the cost would be to them.

As I listened I found myself getting more and more angry and wanting to argue back in the same way that they were arguing.  It wasn’t about providing good health care anymore; it was about winning the argument.  Had I been there I would have been pulled into doing the same thing I was so angry at them for doing; neglecting the issues and attacking those who disagreed with me.  As it was, I only talked to a car radio that couldn’t talk back.

What I believe was at the root of my sadness was that I realized that we often do the same thing in the church, and I am a part of what so angers me.  Regardless of which side of the issue we are on we often react and lose sight of the issue.  And there are those who know how to exploit this tendency for their own purposes.  There are words that evoke a reaction in many people and the issue is lost.  Once the issue is lost, emotions take over and then all that is important is “being right”.

Nationally, words like “terrorist” “or socialist” or phrases such as “weapons of mass destruction”, create a reaction in many that is somewhat predictable and those in- the- know use these words to manipulate the rest to meet their ends.  In the church labels such as ELCA, Roman Catholic, Wisconsin Synod can also stir up predictable reactions depending on which group you belong to.

In the Gospel of Mark, it is recorded that John complained to Jesus that someone was casting out demons and that the person doing the exorcism was not one of the inner circle of twelve or even the outer circle of seventy.  What John seemed to be concerned about was that the person was not one of their group.  Until Jesus pointed it out, John didn’t seem to notice that the exorcist was getting the job done.

We have been called to heal the sick, feed the hungry, cloth the naked and visit those in prison.  In short, we are to care for each other.  When we are doing that to the best of our ability, we are living out our highest calling and Jesus seemed to indicate that what group we are affiliated with didn’t much matter.  The job is a big one, and if we are to get anything done, we need to work together.

May the Peace of Christ be with you.

Pastor Bob