[Dialogue] Good preachers in Austin

[george]

We have some pretty good preachers in Austin. Check this out.

Don't Bow To God's Bullies
By Rev. Jim Rigby, HuffingtonPost.com
Posted on June 15, 2006, Printed on June 19, 2006
http://www.alternet.org/story/37565/

Whereas American theology was born out of a hope for democracy, much  
of it is wedded to a picture of Christ as a benevolent dictator.  
Should we be surprised that a hierarchical cosmology would produce  
hierarchical churches and nations? Should we be surprised that  
religious nations that picture Christ as a loving dictator have  
produced conquistadors, inquisitors and crusaders?

What else could they produce? As the tree is, so shall be the  
fruit.   The word "Lord" was not in the original Bible. It is an  
English word from feudal times. Whereas the Greek word kurios had a  
range of meanings, from a title of respect to a title of leadership  
to a name for the sacred, the English translation "Lord" refers  
specifically to a male European land baron. Many people have softened  
that interpretation in their own minds, but in times of great stress,  
such nuance falls away and many Christians seek a white male king. He  
may be called "Pope" he may be called "the decider President," he may  
be called "televangelist," but the title only masks what he is, a  
benevolent (or not so benevolent) dictator.

Neither Calvin nor Luther spoke English, but they helped the Popes  
lay the groundwork for the view of God as a cosmic dictator. From  
Popes, Luther and Calvin we have some of the ugliest slurs ever  
recorded against women, intellectuals and those who refused the  
church's message. How did Christians hold slaves, oppress women and  
slaughter nonbelievers? Perhaps they could not see Christ in non- 
male, non-European, and non-Christian people because they were  
limited by their theology. Their "Christ" was merely a glorification  
of the most powerful member of their own culture.

To picture God in terms of power is also one of the great bait-and- 
switch gimmicks of all time. People within the power hierarchy  
proclaim that God is the ultimate authority, and then appoint  
themselves as God's interpreters and enforcers. They are God's humble  
bullies. It has been one of the most successful con games of all time.

The real Jesus was born illegitimately. He called himself "the human  
one." Just like Buddha, his authority came from truth, not power. He  
taught whoever has love has God. He said those who work for the  
common good are his church.

The real Jesus was an anarchist. He spent his life refusing to claim  
power over anyone. He said that God is understood in terms of love  
not power. We add nothing to the majesty of "the human one" by adding  
a throne or a crown. If he did not want to rule over others in life,  
why should he want it in death? That is why Jesus is called "lamb of  
God"; he spoke not as the king of the universe, but from its heart.

If you want to know why Americans are so frightened and why we are  
attacking anything that would challenge our dominance over others,  
read the Bible. Like Cain we have murdered members of our human  
family. Even when we silence our victims, the ground beneath our feet  
cries out against us.

Today's church lifts its arms to praise Christ wearing liturgical  
garments woven in sweatshops. So called "Christian America" is still  
a nation built on the work of slaves. We do not see them because they  
toil invisibly in other countries. Today's church doles out bits of  
charity from booty stolen from God's powerless people the world over.  
Anyone who claims to believe in a just God, or even in justice  
itself, has to know at some level that the prayers for liberation  
coming from third world countries will be heard and answered. At some  
level, people of faith have to know that unless America repents of  
the sin of empire we are a doomed nation.

Whatever prophetic voices survive in the church must take a message  
to the mainstream denominations. "We are guilty of our leaders'  
crimes. Just because we are silent and passive does not mean that we  
are innocent. If we have any status in the power hierarchy, we are  
partially responsible for its misdeeds."

I realize that most of the church consists of wonderful and  
compassionate people, but that does not matter if we turn over our  
power to those less charitable. The moderate mainstream church is  
helpless against fundamentalism because it is built on a nuanced  
version of the same cracked foundation of a theology of power.

Whether or not we can change America in time to avoid a political and  
ecological apocalypse, it is never too late to do the right thing.  
All of us can begin to plant seeds of a better future for our  
children's children. For Christians today, that means suffering the  
consequences of refusing to bow to the dictator Christ of this culture.

The Rev. Jim Rigby is pastor of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in  
Austin, Tex. He can be reached at jrigby0000 at aol.com.

© 2006 Independent Media Institute. All rights reserved.
View this story online at: http://www.alternet.org/story/37565/
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