ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL IN WHOSE EYES?
Words from Thomas Jefferson in 1776 holding out hope that this new nation was going to be different than every other nation in history. Our closest nation-kin, England 's rigid, historic economic class divides squashed the upward aspirations of 90% of its subjects. Of course, we know that Jefferson was talking about, well . . . men. White men. Mostly landowning white men. Still, upon this foundation much has been accomplished to further human rights progress than any other land. And yet, the inhabitants of the wealthiest, most powerful nation - ever - really have trouble even having civil conversations over Thanksgiving dinner. And, I'm not just talking about racial or religious divides.
It is often claimed that "America is a Christian nation." And, if the measure is the Pew Research or Time Magazine polls that 94% of Americans "believe in God," then, yes, God polls very well today. As we know, the devil is always in the details but, still, there is hope. And how could there not be when God is our North Star? We only need to recall the love God has written on our hearts, rather than succumbing to the siren-like selfish partisan principles designed solely to win, whatever the costs.
For me this question centers on who assigns the worth and dignity of people? For nations, the answer is easily found in their laws and policies. It seems easier to compare how people are viewed if we first recall what God has told us about his view of humans:
Of course this is where the pesky concept of sin, or our "messin' up" must be confronted head on. No rationalizing will do. If I cannot recall the eternal truths I was taught, or examine my heart for them before engaging with our fellow humans, then we will be where we are. Hard? You bet! Because in America we have been conditioned to believe that our government reflects these truths. And we can find a few laws or policies to confirm this bias.
Yet, didn't Jesus come to "turn the world upside down."? Surely then Jesus must be railing at our society that selfishly separates the proud from the humble? The rich from the poor? The powerful from the meek? The mighty from the weak? The law keepers from those in need of mercy? The beautiful from the plain? The clever from the naive? The first and the last?
Scary? You bet! I mean, how can I keep all that I got by my hard work, or my inheritance, or my deceit? In other words, I'm gonna have to eliminate the envy, greed and self-centeredness that has engulfed me. While that is impossible for me, it is not impossible for God's Spirit working through me. Better yet, God has created forgiveness of my . . . messin up, since he wants me to rely on him in my times of weakness. Which are daily. Hourly. For me this evokes the humility that I need. That God is God and I am not, I know the way Lord, help my unbelief. My path is clear before me but I cannot finish it alone. And, thanks be to God, that's OK.
Words from Thomas Jefferson in 1776 holding out hope that this new nation was going to be different than every other nation in history. Our closest nation-kin, England 's rigid, historic economic class divides squashed the upward aspirations of 90% of its subjects. Of course, we know that Jefferson was talking about, well . . . men. White men. Mostly landowning white men. Still, upon this foundation much has been accomplished to further human rights progress than any other land. And yet, the inhabitants of the wealthiest, most powerful nation - ever - really have trouble even having civil conversations over Thanksgiving dinner. And, I'm not just talking about racial or religious divides.
It is often claimed that "America is a Christian nation." And, if the measure is the Pew Research or Time Magazine polls that 94% of Americans "believe in God," then, yes, God polls very well today. As we know, the devil is always in the details but, still, there is hope. And how could there not be when God is our North Star? We only need to recall the love God has written on our hearts, rather than succumbing to the siren-like selfish partisan principles designed solely to win, whatever the costs.
For me this question centers on who assigns the worth and dignity of people? For nations, the answer is easily found in their laws and policies. It seems easier to compare how people are viewed if we first recall what God has told us about his view of humans:
- I love all of creation equally and
- I require of them only that they do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with me.
Of course this is where the pesky concept of sin, or our "messin' up" must be confronted head on. No rationalizing will do. If I cannot recall the eternal truths I was taught, or examine my heart for them before engaging with our fellow humans, then we will be where we are. Hard? You bet! Because in America we have been conditioned to believe that our government reflects these truths. And we can find a few laws or policies to confirm this bias.
Yet, didn't Jesus come to "turn the world upside down."? Surely then Jesus must be railing at our society that selfishly separates the proud from the humble? The rich from the poor? The powerful from the meek? The mighty from the weak? The law keepers from those in need of mercy? The beautiful from the plain? The clever from the naive? The first and the last?
Scary? You bet! I mean, how can I keep all that I got by my hard work, or my inheritance, or my deceit? In other words, I'm gonna have to eliminate the envy, greed and self-centeredness that has engulfed me. While that is impossible for me, it is not impossible for God's Spirit working through me. Better yet, God has created forgiveness of my . . . messin up, since he wants me to rely on him in my times of weakness. Which are daily. Hourly. For me this evokes the humility that I need. That God is God and I am not, I know the way Lord, help my unbelief. My path is clear before me but I cannot finish it alone. And, thanks be to God, that's OK.
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