He got the Gospel message

       As is my habit, along with the daily readings of ’the Hours’, I read a bit about the daily holy person from Holy women, holy men as part of the Episcopal tradition. Below is an excerpt from there on Walter Rauschenbusch (October 4, 1861 - July 25, 1918) eschewing the scripture passage for today.

In Rauschenbusch's early adulthood, mainline Protestant churches were largely allied with the social and political establishment, in effect supporting the domination by robber barons, income disparity, and the use of child labor. Most church leaders did not see a connection between these issues and their ministries, so did nothing to address the suffering. But Rauschenbusch saw it as his duty as a minister and student of Christ to act with love by trying to improve social conditions.

       One of the many enjoyable episodes of Golden Girls focused on Blanch dating a man in a wheelchair.  She flirts with this man in her local Library while they are both seated and quickly extracts the promise of a date only to realize his handicap as he excuses himself and instead of rising to leave, he simply rolls away. Blanches challenge focuses on her acceptance of the man as we are called to do in spite of our own preconditioned ideas and notions. One of the interesting twists is when Blanche later finds out the man is married and is basically a sleazeball. One of her preconceived notions was that a man in a wheelchair is somehow by his nature a good person.  Not so.

          One of our preconceived notions is that when someone says they are Christian that they follow the Gospel message and that they base their decisions on the love of Christ, the love God has for each and every one of us. Ahhhh, not so!  So many of today's political ills are based in a bastardized, self centered and errant execution of Gospel principles.

        I wish I could say that this is a recent development. Sadly, Religions have, for centuries been more bent on power and their own self interested translations than in the love of the Gospel. Denying the souls of indigenous peoples, inquisitions, crusades and the like. Apparently Walter Rauschenbusch also found errant practises in religions as well. Today we find the bastardization of the Gospel message in support of horrible policies and politicians that, ironically, these religions railed against only months before. What can be done?

        We need to foster in ourselves and in our children and in our lives, a renewal of Spirit.  Not a re-commitment to organized religion as a self righteous tool, but as a means to our wholeness and the love and respect of everyone. That is key. We need to remember the sins of our past. Perhaps more importantly, we  also need see the heroes of the Gospel like Walter Rauschenbusch.  We need to call on his spirit and that is one of the joys and reasons for having Holy women, holy men as a tradition and tool of trying to be a good Christian. 

       Thank you brother Walter. Perhaps we can look into our lives to try and recognize the holy women and holy men who affected us and shown us how to be the best person we can be and in so doing also be the best followers of the Gospel.