Rev_Roger's blog

I would like to submit this blog by my friend Candace Chellew-Hodge, author of Bulletproof Faith.
I disagree with Candace regarding one issue on this work; This is a wonderful book with many insights and tools for all Christians regardless of orientation.

By: Candace Chellew-Hodge

First, let me offer an apology. I'm sorry there is even a need for my new book: Bulletproof Faith: A Spiritual Survival Guide for Gay and Lesbian Christians. I would have loved to have written a completely different book. Perhaps a feel-good self-help book, like the ones that have made Wayne Dyer a rich man, or perhaps one that celebrates the awe and wonder of being a follower of Christ - without having to distinguish between those followers based on something inconsequential to God, like their sexual orientation. But, because there is a faction of Christians who insist on making this distinction, there is a need for this book, and for that I'm sorry.

I would like to invite all those interested to the next Theology Panel conference call on Tuesday, November 18th, 8:30 EDT. To particpate call 1-218-339-2500, use 727705* as your access code.

The panel seeks to provide a progressive Christian theology to our our activist work in achieving social justice.

We have had several lively discussions thus far, and the value of those discussions can be enhanced with continued participation.

The agenda for the discussion is always open to suggestion, but I would propose that we discuss (in light of the election results) a christian response to sexism and racism.

I have long maintained that there are many progressive Christians who remain in their conservative churches.
Some are there in ignorance of the fact that there is a progressive alternative.
Some remain there for the programs for children and youth, in spite of the disconnect they personally feel with their worshipping body.
Still others remain active in the hopes that they can be a force for change within the oppressive structure.

It is this latter group that I would like to write about today. (names of individuals, congregations and denominations have been changed)

Regina is a 35 year-old mother of 2 grade school boys. She is an active member of a well established conservative church, serving as Sunday School teacher to 4th and 5th graders, as well as on several committees.
Regina is a lifelong Democrat, because "The Democratic Party's platform regarding taxation, civil rights and healthcare is more in line with my faith than that of the Republican Party".

Courtesy of Rev. James L Evans:

As we (thankfully) move to the final days before the election, the McCain-Palin campaign has seized upon an issue that may actually gain some traction with voters. They are making the claim that Barack Obama is a socialist.

The charge comes in the light of a comment Obama made to the infamous Joe the Plumber. In response to a question from Joe about the senator's tax plan, Obama said, "When you spread the wealth around, it's good for everybody."

Additionally, a radio interview has surfaced from 2001 when Obama was in the Illinois Legislature. He comments on the unfinished business of the civil rights movement and laments that there has not been much success in "redistributing the wealth." In America, when you start talking about redistributing the wealth, the conversation is either about Robin Hood or socialism.

America has a very specific history with socialism — all of it bad. After all, it was National Socialists, or Nazis, who we fought in World War II. And, of course, the really bad socialists we dealt with for nearly 50 years were the Marxist socialists of the old Soviet Union.

We Christians often speak of grace. What is this grace?
The Greek word most often translated as “grace” in the New Testament is charis. Charis is defined as:
1. Grace
a. that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness: grace of speech
2. good will, loving-kindness, favour
a. of the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues

It is therefore relatively easy to understand why we Christians are so enamored of the concept of grace. We have, through no action of our own, been afforded an unconditional love of a creator. We have truly been given better that we deserve.
Therefore, it is a good and joyful thing that we preach sermons about grace. Rightfully we extoll the virtues of grace to our friends, our church school classes. It only seems right that we rejoice in the grace that we have been given, even that we write and sing songs about grace.

“”Wonderful grace of Jesus, greater than all my sin; how shall my tongue describe it, where shall its praise begin? Taking away my burden, setting my spirit free, for the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.

From our friends at The Fellowship:

To Our Beloved Community,

God has laid it upon my heart to invite all of us into a particular time of contemplative prayer as we discern the will of God for many substantive issues that are at hand Momentous matters are before as we discern and deliberate the the leading of the Holy Spirit as it pertains to this election. No doubt we hear of financial crisis, 47 million people without health insurance, a national record setting pace of home foreclosures, marriage equality, rising unemployment and a declining fiscal commitment to our youth's education. These are not merely national problems but issues that transcend race, political & geographical boundaries and global markets. Those who have been marginalized and disenfranchised are looking for a supernatural move of the Spirit fo God, so, then, let it begin with us. I am inspired by the words of II Chronicles 7:14 - 16 which states:

If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face,

and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place.

For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that my name may be there for ever; my eyes and my heart will be there for all time.

I would like to invite all those interested to the next Theology Panel conference call on Tuesday, October 14th, 8:30 EDT. To particpate call 1-218-339-2500, use 727705* as your access code.

The panel seeks to provide a progressive Christian theology to our our activist work in achieving social justice.

We have had several lively discussions thus far, and the value of those discussions can be enhanced with continued participation.

The agenda for the discussion is always open to amendment, but I would propose that we bick up last month's un-addressed topic:
2 Views of God: strict father vs nurturant parent.

To refress our collective memory:
"I just re-read an article by George Lakoff wherein he states his belief that the difference between conservative and progressive Christianity is whether God is seen as a strict father or a nurturant parent.

"The strict father God is punitive: Follow His commandments and you go to Heaven. Disobey and you go to Hell. Since you're all sinners, He'll give you a second chance. His son has suffered so much that he has built up enough moral credit to pay for the sins of everybody. If you accept Jesus as you're savior, He'll wipe the slate clean as if you've been born again; but this time you'd better get it right or else. Do what your church says and you'll go to Heaven; disobey and you'll go to Hell."

Apathy?

Let me preface this diatribe by stating that I mean no offense to those of you to whom the following statements do not apply. If offense is taken, I would urge you to examine yourself for the root of that offense.
The progressive Christian movement is growing. There are new individuals, congregations and organizations appearing frequently. On the other hand, many of us seem content to identify ourselves as progressive and remain silent. Sure, we join groups like The Center for Progressive Christianity, CrossLeft, and Progressive Christians Uniting, et al. We click the “join this group” buttons on Facebook. Then what? Is it enough that we identify ourselves as Progressive Christians, and rest in the knowledge that we have found a spiritual home without inviting others to the nurturing environments that we have found?

On the night he was handed over to suffering and death, our
Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks
to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, “Take,
eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the
remembrance of me.”

After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given
thanks, he gave it to them, and said, “Drink this, all of you:
This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you
and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink
it, do this for the remembrance of me.”

Those words of institution from the Book of Common Prayer have been used for hundreds of years (with slight variations) during the Christian Communion service. Yet it strikes me that there are elements of the Last supper that have often been overlooked, nor is it stated in any of the gospel accounts of the Last Supper. I refer to the acts of hospitality as understood in middle eastern culture.