Musings

Servant Consciousness and the Survival of Democracy

 

Matthew 20:25-28 NRSV

But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. It will not be so among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave; just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

Philippians 2:6-11 NRSV

 Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself...

 

A slave.  A servant.  Such is the status to which Jesus aspired.  The status to which he inspires us to aspire.

The slave, the servant, owns nothing.  The slave, the servant, tends to what belongs to the master.  The slave, the servant, belongs to the master and is charged with acting only in the master’s interest. 

Not what most of us have in minds for ourselves, is it?  Especially for those of us who live in an individualistic, capitalistic society in which we are barraged with propaganda suggesting that each of us was meant to be a master.

But as we clear our minds and hearts of this delusion, we can see its disastrous consequences.  In our quest to be masters, we lose the ability to cooperate for the common good.  In our belief that each of us is the captain of our own ship, our ships run aground and into each other.  We run amok, destroying our planet as we each claim sovereignty over our little patches of it.  In our quest to be masters of the universe, we lose mastery even over our own minds.

We’re not meant to be masters.  We’re meant to be servants.  But not of any one human being.

“Men must be governed by God or they will be ruled by tyrants,” said William Penn, the Quaker founder of Pennsylvania.  We must submit ourselves as servants of the Ultimate Reality.  Or we’ll end up as peons under autocrats.

Each of us is a temporary occupant of the role we play in stewardship of the Earth.  We own no status, we own no position.  We do our parts as we live, and we let our parts be taken up by others when our time is up. 

In America today, with the whole world watching, we are presented with a choice.  Will we follow the admonition of Jesus, will we remember the wisdom of Paul and of William Penn, or will we drift asleep into delusion?  

Here is one simple but jarring way to understand the extreme threat that Donald Trump poses to our democracy.  When he occupied the office of the President, he believed that he owned it, and he acted accordingly.  Just like he owned and operated the Trump Organization for his personal benefit.  He believed that the Attorney General was his personal attorney, to act in his personal interests.  He believed that the military was his personal armed force, to act in his personal interest.  He believed that the entire government – all three branches of it, executive, judicial, and legislative, was his personal property to do his bidding for his own benefit.  No matter that the underlying assumption of our Constitution is that all offices of government, including the presidency, belong to the people, and that those who occupy those offices are temporary stewards of those roles, charged with employing them to serve the people and not their own personal interests.

Donald Trump was only the tenant of the White House, but he was convinced he held title to it.  No wonder he refused to recognize the legitimacy of the person who became its next tenant.

The assumption that ours is a government of laws, not of particular people, is so fundamental to our system of government that few of us have thought about it or discussed it.  So when this man entered the highest office of the land and violated its essential nature with impunity, we were literally left speechless. 

And because we were left speechless, because we failed to wrap our minds around how profoundly he violated the root norm of democracy, this debased person could once again occupy the office of the President.  And then act without any remaining restraints on his assumption that he was, still is, and ever shall be the owner of the White House.

Donald Trump is the nightmarish cartoon image of the exact opposite of the person Jesus wanted us to be.  His obvious unworthiness of his wealth and status is crucial to this aspiration.  If a person so boorish, so disinterested in facts or expertise can be a billionaire and become president of the United States, then anybody can be master of the universe. His spectacular moral and intellectual incompetence isn’t a bug, it’s the main feature of the persona to which he inspires people to aspire.  He’s not aristocratic, not refined, not dignified like proper rich people expect each other to be.  He’s a low-class person with high wealth and power: that is the attraction. This is the message with which he has infected the brains of millions of people:  “He’s me, just with a lot more money!”

Vaclav Havel, an avant-garde playwright and freedom activist who went on to become the first president of the Czech Republic after the communist system there was overthrown, believed that the survival of humanity depended on humility – a recognition that we all answer to Something/Someone beyond us.  He wasn’t a religious person in any formal sense.  But his sentiment resonated with Jesus’ admonition for us to be servants to all the rest:  “… we must divest ourselves of our egotistical anthropocentrism, our habit of seeing ourselves as masters of the universe who can do whatever occurs to us. We must discover a new respect for what transcends us: for the universe, for the earth, for nature, for life, and for reality. Our respect for other people, for other nations and for other cultures, can only grow from a humble respect for the cosmic order and from an awareness that we are a part of it, that we share in it and that nothing of what we do is lost, but rather becomes part of the eternal memory of being, where it is judged….  Pride is precisely what will lead the world to hell. I am suggesting an alternative: humbly accepting our responsibility for the world.” (From his 1995 Harvard commencement address, later published under the title “Radical Renewal of Human Responsibility”)

We are tenants in this world, not its owners.  We are stewards of the earth, not its rulers.  We are servants of each other, no matter our station in life.  Whatever roles we occupy are temporary assignments to be left in better condition when we leave than when we entered.  And we do well to place people in high office who reflect this humble servant-consciousness.  The survival of our democracy – and the survival of our planet – depend on it.

The Christening

By Jim Burklo

(Matthew 26: 6-13, Mark 14: 3-9, Luke 7: 36-50, John 12: 1-8)

 

At a party,

when a woman,

without giving notice,

anointed Jesus with perfumed oil,

his fellow guests objected to its expense,

which could have been put to use serving the poor.

But in that extravagant act,

Jesus was made Christ, the Anointed One.

 

Men were made kings of Israel

with coronations of oil poured over their heads

by other powerful men in pompous ceremony.

Jesus was ennobled by surprise

by a powerless woman

of questioned repute

with fragrant oil

poured over him to excess.

 

And from her,

as profligately as with the oil,

love flowed out and over and into him.

Love without viscosity,

sinking into him

between and around and into his every pore and cell,

lubricating away every point of friction

between him and the world he was meant to serve;

loosening him from the rust of dogma and convention,

releasing his heart and mind

into unbounded empathy

for the sufferings and yearnings of others.

 

So the fine oil of love rises out of the hidden depths

through cracks in the hard strata of the world,

so subtle we cannot see, but only feel it

when, drawn to us, it finds its way

and seeps in.

 

At all costs, let us receive it

and share it

with abandon.

Action Now to Save Democracy

Obviously, American democracy is in enormous danger in 2024, as demonstrated in both the words and the behavior of Donald Trump and his followers and enablers. Now – not later - is the time for each of us to do our parts in preventing him from being elected to the presidency. 

Instead of fretting, we can take action right away.

Here are four very do-able, simple things you can take on right now – and I hope you’ll urge your friends to do the same.
 

1.  Make a list of friends, relatives, and acquaintances who are possible or likely Trump voters.  Initiate kind, friendly, curious, open-hearted and open-minded small talk with them, in person or online… without bringing up politics at all.  Be nice to them, even if you are upset with them. Especially if you’re upset with them. Trump is amping up the rhetoric of demonization, suggesting that all who oppose him are “vermin”.Demonstrate to his supporters that you are a decent, caring human being.  This injects cognitive dissonance into their minds, which they won’t be able to reconcile with what Trump and company are saying.

2.  Start waving the US flag. Put one in front of your house, put a flag sticker on your car bumper, etc. Do it now. I get it that a lot of you will find this very hard. A lot of folks will assume you’re a Republican because you wave the flag. But that’s the point! Later, when campaign season gets fully into play, put up a BIDEN sign under your flag. And/or signs for other Democratic candidates. Surprise! Again, this sets up powerful cognitive dissonance in the minds of Trumpers – whose most cherished assumption is that progressives are not patriots. But, in fact, YOU are the patriot!  Out-flag the Trumpers. If you wave the flag, as a progressive, you give other flag-waving folks implicit permission to change their minds without giving up their patriotism. Remember that many if not most people who support Trump and Trumpism are disinterested in public policy issues. It’s all about identity, culture, emotions, and grievances. By waving the flag, you bridge the culture gap and make it easier for them to move in the progressive direction. The more of us who reclaim the flag, the more powerful it will be for our cause!

3.  Wave your Christian identity, online and in person!  Make it clear that the way you vote has everything to do with your commitment to following Jesus’ way of compassion and justice. Again, this sets up powerful cognitive dissonance in the minds of those who are convinced that crude and cruel political positions are somehow rooted in their Christianity.  It gives them cover to keep their Christian identity while changing course about politics.

4.  Every vote counts, every voice counts, in saving democracy.  A vote for anybody but Biden is a vote for Trump.  And refusing to vote at all is a vote for Trump. Period. That’s just the way it is, whether we like it or not.  Had Ralph Nader not run as a third-party candidate in 2000, Al Gore would have won in Florida and become the president.  So have gentle but firm chats with your progressive friends who are mad at Biden about Gaza, etc, etc.  They’re right to be unhappy with the way he’s dealing with that conflict.  (They ought much more to fear what Trump would do instead.)  They were already mad at Biden for not being progressive enough about other issues.  Let them know you care about these issues, too.  And engage with them about the fact that making things right in the Middle East, dealing decisively with climate change, and addressing ongoing racism, all depend on the survival of democracy in America.  And that, whether we like it or not, today our system of government leaves us with only two choices.Biden, with all his warts, or Trump, who will dismantle democracy and take us backward on all the causes that matter to us.  And that in order for Biden to win, we must support him with vigor, even if some of us have to pinch our noses.  Everything that matters depends on backing him.   This is not a time to demand the perfect.  We’ve all got to act like grown-ups.   It is a time to save America from tyranny, so that it will be possible, over time, to make peace, do justice, and protect the planet.

A special note to religious leaders:  this is not the year to be timid about preaching politics from the pulpit.  It can be done with sensitivity and respect for everyone, but it must be done.  Not speaking out is taking a stand.  As folks who respect the law, we get shy about possible violations of IRS rules about endorsing candidates from the pulpit.  (Read this for helpful background on the regulations.)  Meanwhile, thousands of evangelical pastors have zero respect for the law.  They are blatantly violating the IRS rules and openly are endorsing candidates by name in churches, and are not facing any consequences.  They've successfully intimidated the IRS from taking action.  That doesn't take us off the hook, or make it right for us to do what they're doing.  But since the IRS is failing to enforce its code, we can move very close to the edge of the law and the likelihood of any consequences are virtually nil.  Without naming names, we can speak out clearly about the issues at play in the election, and take stands that have obvious implications.  An example would be for a preacher to say that denying the results of a free and fair election is an assault on the foundation of democracy and should be a disqualification from holding public office.  That's a generic policy position, not focused on a particular candidate, but clearly applies to a particular candidate for the presidency.  (For a "guidebook" on progressive Christian political rhetoric in and out of the pulpit, see my book:  "Deeper Love".)  If you want coaching about how to speak out without running afoul of the law, and without unnecessarily alienating people in your congregations, talk to me!  
 

Beyond these actions, there are of course many more ways you can join the mobilization to save democracy with your time and money.  You’ll get plenty of invitations to do so.  But let’s start now with these.  Instead of doom-scrolling on your smart phone, instead of wringing your hands and panicking, take action now!  It’s the cure for despair….

Toward Digital Wisdom: A Manifesto for Churches (and everyone else)

Many if not most of us spend a frightfully huge percentage of our time hunched over our “smart” phones, staring and poking at them. 

It’s not all bad.  But it’s certainly problematic for many, if not most, of us.

For very many of us, it is confusing to sort out good uses of digital media from the worthless or bad.  As someone involved still in ministry on college campuses, I am aware that a lot of students, even at elite institutions, are lost in a miasma of highly questionable sources of information.  They get lost in comparing themselves, usually to the detriment of their mental and spiritual health, to other students who have more effectively curated themselves digitally than they have.  They don’t know what to believe.  In far too many cases, this has led them to wonder if there is such a thing as truth – or verifiable reality – at all.  Today, democracy is seriously threatened by the resulting unhealthy skepticism that makes people more vulnerable than ever to disinformation and unfounded conspiracy theories.  (In response to this crisis, I have created a ritual that has spread to campuses and churches far and wide:  The Blessing of the Smartphones – use it freely!)

I believe that progressive churches and campus ministries – and other organizations and communities – have a very important role in creating and sustaining a culture of consuming and producing life-affirming, socially-positive digital media.  To that end, I present here a “manifesto” on the subject.  Feel free to use, alter, and spread it!  (Special thanks go out to my friend Bernhard Poerksen, professor of media studies at Tübingen University in Germany.  His book, “Digital Fever: Taming the Business of Disinformation” (2022, Palgrave Macmillan, inspired me to write this.)  I hope this “manifesto” will be a conversation-starter in congregations.  Please send me your suggestions for improvement on it.

Digital Wisdom: A Manifesto

• We will use our smartphones and other technology for the common good.  We know they are public devices, and not just personal ones.  We will be responsible and thoughtful users of digital technology, and prayerfully consider the impacts of our own consumption and production of media on other people.
• We will post about our personal lives only with honesty, humility, and kindness – without hype, sexualization, or excessive curation in the ways that we present ourselves and our lives to others. We will be highly sensitive to the possible negative impacts of posting anything about other people.
• We will limit our use of smartphones and other devices so that they do not dominate our lives to the detriment of face-to-face relationships, physical activity, creativity, and contemplative practice.
• For news, we will seek sources of information produced with high journalistic or scientific standards. We will seek news from outlets that employ professional journalists working collegially, subject to editorial oversight, making a clear distinction between factual reporting and opinion.  We will not rely for information on public affairs from individual, independent bloggers or podcasters. 
• We will strive as best we can to follow professional journalistic standards in producing and distributing digital content. We recognize that, for better or worse, the wall between professional journalists and the consumers of their information has broken down.   As content-creators, we’re all “journalists” now, so we must aspire to their professionalism.  We will seek out and subject ourselves to the counsel and scrutiny of people wiser than ourselves.  We will make clear the distinction between facts and our opinions about them.  We will be transparent about our assumptions.  We will reveal our sources.  If legitimate flaws in our content are pointed out to us, we will publicly admit our errors. 
• We will avoid media sources that amplify outrage. We will seek verifiable information from sources that present facts without sensationalization.  We seek news that is presented as clearly and dispassionately as possible, trusting ourselves to respond emotionally as appropriate. 
• In our faith communities, we will support each other in living up to these commitments. We rely on our faith communities as safe spaces where we can openly and respectfully discuss public issues with our peers and get perspective on them from different points of view.  We will seek wise counsel from each other in responding to what we find in social media and news media. 

Speech and Academic Integrity on Campus

Speech and Academic Integrity on Campus:

Progressive Christian Campus Ministers Take a Stand

For more information:  [email protected]

 

We are leaders of progressive Christian ministries at colleges and universities around the United States, deeply concerned with right-wing assaults against free speech and academic integrity at the institutions we serve.  Many colleges and universities were founded by our progressive Christian forebears, who believed in the mission of secular higher education, believed in academic freedom and integrity, and released control of the institutions they started as the country became more religiously and culturally diverse.  We honor that legacy and, alongside others, we commit ourselves to carrying it forward.

On our campuses, we defend and encourage:

Academic speech spaces:  classroom dialogue that reflects the academic rigor of peer-review and basis in evidence, in pursuit of broad consensus, free from dogma.  We support shared governance between faculty and administration.  We oppose the efforts of politicians who are trying to impose their ideological agendas on our colleges and universities.

Free speech spaces:  free expression, except for direct incitement to physical harm, in public spaces on campus - making room for obnoxious or offensive speech.  We will either ignore bad speech or respond to it with good speech.

Brave speech spaces:  environments on campus where difficult differences can be explored through respectful dialogue, where skills in constructive communication and listening can be honed.  Following Jesus' way of unconditional love, our ministries are committed to creating and supporting such spaces, in cooperation with other groups on campus.  What is learned in brave speech spaces will humanize and enrich academic speech and free speech on campus.  

Safe speech spaces:  environments on campus where particular communities with common interests gather, where students can express their concerns freely in an atmosphere of mutual support and encouragement.  Our ministries offer such spaces and support other groups in doing the same.

Letting Go

 

What does it take to change your life?  -when it is clear that you need to change it?

Tis the season for making resolutions.  Plans for change in our lives.  Goals, objectives.  But I am going to guess that a lot of us are more than a bit skeptical about making resolutions, because so often they get put by the wayside, ignored, lost in the shuffle.  Resolutions that seemed shiny and compelling in January begin to fade and wilt in March.  Or maybe even in January…

Perhaps another way to making changes in our lives would be to look at its process.  And making resolutions or declarations is only one piece of it.

One of my very favorite sayings of Jesus is found in Matthew 12.  And I think it is useful for stimulating deeper consideration of the process of making changes in our lives.  He made this statement in an era when pretty much everybody believed that invisible spirits could enter into a person and take control of them.  It was a folk explanation for mental illness and spiritual distress.  Jesus got a reputation as a healer partly because of the stories about him driving evil spirits out of people, bringing afflicted people back to spiritual and emotional and social wholeness.  So this passage has to be understood in that historical context:

“When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it wanders through waterless regions looking for a resting place, but it finds none. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ When it returns, it finds it empty, swept, and put in order.  Then it goes and brings along seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and live there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first.”

Such a rich and even funny description of how life goes, eh?  Anybody who has suffered from addiction understands this story right away.  So you get clean and sober.  Then what?  How do you fill the space that drugs or alcohol used to occupy?  If you don’t fill that space, relapse is more likely – a relapse maybe worse than the mess you were in just before you got clean and sober.

The image of the first evil spirit inviting seven others to occupy the house – familiar, isn’t it?  Like the house down the street where the owner left town and let a deadbeat relative move in, and that person decides to bring in a bunch of sketchy pals as roommates, and the next thing you know, the house is a public nuisance. 

In this earthy, vivid story, Jesus lays out a path for us to follow in making needed changes in our lives.

Step one, get clear about the change you want to make.  The resolution, the goal, the objective.  But make that resolution at the very same time that you commit yourself to making room for it.  Your resolution has to have a corollary.  A companion resolution that you’ll do what you need to do to make the ultimate resolution possible.  And usually that involves exactly what Jesus described in his pithy story.  It involves housecleaning.  It involves letting go.  Making room.  And letting go is usually just as hard, if not harder, than achieving your resolution!  So you resolve to take art classes in 2024 – great!  But in all likelihood, the reason you haven’t taken art classes already is because your life is full.  What activity, what existing engagements, will you commit to abandoning in order to make room for the art classes?  Get specific.  Count the cost of your resolution, factor it in. 

And likewise, if your resolution is to clean your spiritual or physical house, what’s your plan for filling the hole that will result?  You retire because you’re worn out from working at your job.  But what will replace that job?  What will fill the void that opens up?  You don’t want the devil’s roommates to move into the empty spaces in your life.  You gotta have a plan for what to do with your life.

So our new year’s resolutions have to have companion resolutions.  A resolution to give something up needs to be accompanied by a resolution about how to replace it.  A resolution to do something new needs to be accompanied by a resolution to let go of something else in order to make room for the new commitment.  Otherwise our January resolutions will get left in the dust by Valentine’s Day. 

So what do you resolve to give up in 2024, and how do you resolve to replace it?  And what do you resolve to take on in 2024, and what do you resolve to give up in order to do it?