Musings

To You

(with homage to Rumi, the Sufi poet)

You, the pollen on the bee's leg
That made my flower a pomegranate,
You, the haze of yeast on the grapes
That made the wine
That inebriated Shams of Tabriz,
You, who made the clay birds fly,
You, who cleansed the soul of "I".

You, the reason that shattered my logic,
You, the object of my subjectivity,
You, who broke and poured me
At the climax of your mass,
You, the incense that burns me,
You, Magdalene to my Jesus.

You, the laugh that lasted
After I studied you to death,
You, the stone in the desert
That Jacob used as his pillow,
You, the ladder that he saw
Reaching up to you,
You, the dream I forgot in the morning.

You, the lives taken
In your vainly-taken names,
You, the tent of black felt,
Shared by Sarah and Hagar,
You, the DNA
Shared by Isaac and Ishmael,
You, the gay lover
The fundamentalist preacher hid from his church.

You, the road that Rumi took
In search of Shams,
You, the time it takes
To remember you again,
You, the ink I used
To write about you,
You, the space between the words
Of this poem.

What's Not in the Bible

 

As election campaign season nears, it's good for progressives to be aware of some basics when it comes to the use of religious/spiritual rhetoric.

A lot of conservative candidates use phrases that they either assume are from the Bible, or know they're not but use them anyway. Here's a list -- call 'em out when you hear these:

 

What's Not in the Bible

“When God closes one door, He always opens another.” 

“A person’s got to lift himself up by his own bootstraps.”

“If you give a man a fish, he’ll be hungry tomorrow, but if you teach him to fish, he’ll never be hungry again.”

“God doesn’t give us anything we can’t handle.”

“God helps those who help themselves.”

“Hate the sin, love the sinner.”

“Everything happens for a reason.”

“Charity begins at home.”

“God works in mysterious ways.”

The list of the “Seven Deadly Sins” is not to be found in the Bible.

Jesus said nothing at all about abortion or homosexuality.

There is nothing in either the Hebrew or Christian scriptures that supports the idea of unregulated free-market capitalism: in fact, charging interest is forbidden according to the Hebrew Bible.

 

What IS in the Bible - pertaining to social justice:

These passages are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, which we recommend.  The NRSV is an academic translation into English of the most historically verifiable ancient texts.  Many Christians, particularly evangelicals, quote from English versions that really should be classified as interpretations rather than translations.  These include the Good News, Philips, New International Version, New Living Translation, and the New King James Version.  Some of these Bible interpretations are colored with theological and social or political perspectives that are not true to the original texts.  Many of these Bibles include footnotes or inserted boxes with biased commentary that presumes to be definitive on the meaning of the text.

It is most inspiring and effective to cite Bible passages that offer a positive vision of the society we want to build, rather than passages that condemn or decry injustice.  Faith rhetoric is at its best when it describes the “beloved community” that we want to create in our country and in our world.

Isaiah 1: 17: “...learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow.”

Jeremiah 29:7:  “But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on is behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.”

Amos 5:24: “…let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”

 Micah 6:8: “ …what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

Matthew 5: 14-16: “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5: 43-47: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?”

Luke 4: 16-30: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Romans 8: 24-25: “Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.”

I Corinthians 12:4-7, 14-26: “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of working, but it is the same God who inspires them all in every one. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good... For the body does not consist of one member but of many… But God has so composed the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior part, that there may be no discord in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.”

James 2: 14-17:  “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,” and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that?  So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.”

I John 4:16-21:   “God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgement, because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. We love because he first loved us. Those who say, ‘I love God’, and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.”

Revelation 21:22-26:  “And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine upon it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light shall the nations walk; and the kings of the earth shall bring their glory into it, and its gates shall never be shut by day—and there shall be no night there; they shall bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations.”

Other passages:

Prophetic Justice: Isaiah 2:2-4, 11:1-3a, 6-9; 40:1-11; ch's 27-31; 61:1-2; 65

Jesus: Beatitudes: Matthew 5:3-10

Jesus: The Good Samaritan:  Luke 10: 25-37

Mary:  Magnificat: Luke 1:46-55

Jesus: Golden Rule: Luke 6:27-31

Jesus: Law of Love: Luke 10:27

Jesus: Love One Another: John 13:34-35

Paul: Hold Fast to the Good: Romans 12:9-12

Paul: The Love Chapter: 1 Corinthians 13

Paul: Be Kind: Ephesians 4:25-32

Paul: Put on Compassion: Colossians 3:12-17

James: Doers of the Word: James 1:19-25

 

Faith Rhetoric for Progressive Campaigning

 

Despite the remarkable religious and spiritual diversity of America, and the concurrent decline in religious affiliation and participation, the people of the US are still deeply attuned to rhetoric that springs from the Jewish and Christian traditions. Creatively employ Judeo-Christian imagery and brief references to Bible stories, poetry, proverbs, and parables that express cross-cultural values of compassion for the vulnerable, fair-play, respect for differences, social justice, and social inclusion (see appendix). You do not need to indicate the source of the phrase or quotation. In many cases, leaving out the source is best, to avoid alienating non-religious people: religious people will recognize the quote from scripture. Avoid making reference to passages that focus on doctrine, dogma, or details of belief.

• Use religious and spiritual rhetoric in a positive and emotionally authentic way. “Angry appeals… do little to win the hearts of voters, and in fact, there is little difference in how religious committed and uncommitted voters responded to angry religious messages… Interestingly, candidates who conveyed anger through religious rhetoric actually tended to be evaluated less favorably by the electorate as a whole as a campaign progressed.” (Religious Rhetoric and American Politics, Christopher Chapp, 2012, P 100.) Use religious rhetoric to inspire people to build a better America, to express a vision of the good society. Avoid using it to condemn personal or social sins.

• Liberally use spiritual adjectives, while being conservative about the use of religious nouns. “We gather with divine gratitude” is an alternative to “We thank God”. This evokes spiritual values in a way that feels gentler to the many Americans who are “burned-out” on organized religion.

• Occasionally employ imagery and short references to scriptures and traditions of other faiths, again focusing on passages that reflect universal values. Again, in many cases it may be best not to tell the source of the quotation. (See Appendix under “Scriptural References”.)

• Occasionally use “code” terms that speak positively to particular religious communities without insulting or denigrating any other traditions. Examples of evangelical Christian “code”: “have a heart for—hedge of protection —blessed and favored—name and claim—iron sharpens iron—wonder-working power”.  Code terms inspire specific audiences without catching much attention from people outside those groups.  Here's a LIST.

• Have simple answers when people ask you about your faith. Be honest about it, of course, but in the context of public life, avoid references to dogma and doctrine that might have the effect of alienating people needlessly. Some examples: “Do you believe in the Bible?” Answer: “I believe every word is worth reading.” “Do you believe every word of the Bible is true? Do you believe the Bible is without error?” Answer: “I believe that God, who inspired it, is without error.” “Do you believe in God?” Answer: “The Bible says God is love, and I try to put love into practice.” “Do you take Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior?” Answer: “Jesus asks me to follow his way of love and justice. I believe in that way, and I am committed to following it!”

• Know enough about the Bible to know what’s not in it.  Here's a LIST.  For example: Jesus said nothing at all about abortion or homosexuality. “Give a man a fish and he’ll be hungry tomorrow, teach a man to fish and he’ll never be hungry again” is not in the Bible. There is nothing in either the Hebrew or Christian scriptures that supports the idea of unregulated free-market capitalism: in fact, charging interest is forbidden according to the Hebrew Bible.

Evangelical Christian Code Terms for Progressive Campaigns

 

"Code" terms and phrases inspire certain audiences while remaining “off the radar” for others. Theologically progressive Christians, and many other religious people, primarily situate themselves in the “mainstream” culture. They use jargon specific to their faiths, but mostly only in the context of their faith communities. However, evangelical and fundamentalist Christians often use “code” language publicly to mark their identity as a distinct subculture in contrast and often in contradiction with the “mainstream” culture. Using this code language in public rhetoric can be powerful in making an emotional connection with people who are part of this subculture, while signifying little for those who aren’t.

 

Evangelical/Fundamentalist Christian “Code Terms”

God laid it on my heart

I have a heart for (“I have a heart for the special needs of the elderly”)

Let’s invoke a hedge of protection

I have discerned

I have a word of the Lord for you on that (an interpretation of scripture, or an opinion that feels like it came from God)

Let’s love up on people (“We need to love up on our school teachers”)

Let’s get prayed up (common in African American churches)

Let’s press into God (“Let’s press into God in prayer for….”)

Afterglow (after a spiritual moment)

Bathe it in prayer (“Let us bathe this decision in prayer”)

Missional (“My missional imagination is activated for making health care available to all Americans”)

Walk the aisle, pray the prayer

Blessed and favored

Name it and claim it (popular in “prosperity gospel” churches)

Christ-follower (rather than Christian – a current popular conception among evangelicals is that Christianity is not a religion – emphasizing that it is a way of life)

Set me on fire (for a cause, for a mission)

Put on the armor of God

Iron sharpens iron

Freedom in Christ

Wonder-working power (of the blood of Christ – from an old hymn)

 

Mormon (Latter Day Saints) Code Terms

A type and a shadow (something foretold or suggested from scripture or other tradition)

Nourish and strengthen (used in prayers and blessings)

Long and suffering  (enduring something)  --  Sustain --  Endure to the end

Heavenly Father (for God)

Good for our bodies -- Wholesome

Wherefore --  It came to pass

In the fullness of time

The more we give the more we will receive

Calling from God

Tender mercies

Bear testimony (telling one’s story)

Lengthen your stride  (do more to help)

Magnify your calling (take on a task)

Provident  (beneficial)

Unrighteous dominion  (abuse of power)

Softened heart (open to accepting or doing something)