1 John 3:11-18
Just as Jesus turned the tables (over) in the temple, I confess to a giddiness at turning the tables myself. I'm not quite sure if it's part of my nature to be contrary or that I simply have a mind to make people think about the status quo. It is quite likely that feeling like a minority (even before I realized I really was one) makes me think of things in the exact opposite way that many people do.
I am in no way trying to diminish the wrong that Cain visited on his brother. But the feeling of righteousness very often incites a reaction in the opposite direction. Perhaps it's a natural reaction. I would argue that very often the majority that feels so self righteous is perhaps not so right after all. If majority rules then slaves quite possibly could still be with us. So might apartheid.
I find it quite interesting that when a judge settles an argument based on the law or the constitution ( as opposed to majority rule, or 'those who are in power at the time' rule), those judges are marked "activist". No righteousness is not necessarily a good thing and it tends to limit respect and dignity for the minorities.
It could very well be that the reaction to such righteousness is to be contrary. We should not be surprised then that the world hates you. The issue at hand is how to handle the hate, how to deal with the self righteousness of others. Martin Luther King Jr. and Gandhi had the right idea about non violent resistance. But the facts remain that demonstrations and violence are also a reaction to the righteousness of the oppressors. Who is not aware of the vociferousness of the JDL? Who does not know who the Rev. Al Sharpton is? In the gay community, when we were starting to seek our rights, fighting desperately for our rights, who recalls Act Up! ?
Knee jerk reactions and violence are no way to respond to the righteous enemy. If recent statistics show anything, it is political activism and truth that wins out over righteous oppressors. If Jesus taught us anything it was that emotions are not bad, it's what you do with those emotions. Save perhaps the overturning of the moneychangers' tables, all Jesus' efforts were positive in action. Perhaps though the money changers had it coming. After all, Jesus did not smite them did he?
As a gay person of faith we are called to be attentive to the downtrodden, the marginalized even if we are in the majority. Sadly we know all too well what is is to be the minority. We are called to be compassionate but fight for what is right and not be self righteous.
Just as Jesus turned the tables (over) in the temple, I confess to a giddiness at turning the tables myself. I'm not quite sure if it's part of my nature to be contrary or that I simply have a mind to make people think about the status quo. It is quite likely that feeling like a minority (even before I realized I really was one) makes me think of things in the exact opposite way that many people do.
I am in no way trying to diminish the wrong that Cain visited on his brother. But the feeling of righteousness very often incites a reaction in the opposite direction. Perhaps it's a natural reaction. I would argue that very often the majority that feels so self righteous is perhaps not so right after all. If majority rules then slaves quite possibly could still be with us. So might apartheid.
I find it quite interesting that when a judge settles an argument based on the law or the constitution ( as opposed to majority rule, or 'those who are in power at the time' rule), those judges are marked "activist". No righteousness is not necessarily a good thing and it tends to limit respect and dignity for the minorities.
It could very well be that the reaction to such righteousness is to be contrary. We should not be surprised then that the world hates you. The issue at hand is how to handle the hate, how to deal with the self righteousness of others. Martin Luther King Jr. and Gandhi had the right idea about non violent resistance. But the facts remain that demonstrations and violence are also a reaction to the righteousness of the oppressors. Who is not aware of the vociferousness of the JDL? Who does not know who the Rev. Al Sharpton is? In the gay community, when we were starting to seek our rights, fighting desperately for our rights, who recalls Act Up! ?
Knee jerk reactions and violence are no way to respond to the righteous enemy. If recent statistics show anything, it is political activism and truth that wins out over righteous oppressors. If Jesus taught us anything it was that emotions are not bad, it's what you do with those emotions. Save perhaps the overturning of the moneychangers' tables, all Jesus' efforts were positive in action. Perhaps though the money changers had it coming. After all, Jesus did not smite them did he?
As a gay person of faith we are called to be attentive to the downtrodden, the marginalized even if we are in the majority. Sadly we know all too well what is is to be the minority. We are called to be compassionate but fight for what is right and not be self righteous.
For this is the message you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. We must not be like Cain who was from the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous. Do not be astonished, brothers and sisters, that the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life because we love one another. Whoever does not love abides in death. All who hate a brother or sister are murderers, and you know that murderers do not have eternal life abiding in them. We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?
Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.
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