Some recent studies tell us that around 70% of us Americans claim to be "Christian," but that only a small minority let their understanding of "Christianity" affect their everyday lives. According to recent reports, despite 70% of us claiming to be “Christian,” in reality only a tiny minority of us American adults (6%) demonstrate a consistent understanding and application of biblical principles. So, the question to us is this, “If it was a crime to be a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict us?”
Unfortunately, many of those who are most vocal about claiming the title "Christian" are making "Christianity" synonymous with bigotry, meanness and repression. I, for one, am not about to let them get away with it! I am not as angry at such religious fanatics, with their narrow political agendas and religious arrogance, who would have us believe that they are the only true Christians, as I am angry at the rest of us who are letting them get away with it! I consider myself a person trying his best to be a "Christian,” but I do not share their narrow political agendas nor their religious arrogance. I'll be damned if I am going to let them dismiss me and claim that only people who think “like them" are "truly Christian!” Hogwash! Rubbish! Nonsense!
How will people know that we are disciples of Jesus? The gospel answer is that it is our love for one another which should make us stand out in the community as "Jesus-like!" Yet, the facts reveal that some self-professed "Christians" can be just as nasty, just as hateful and just as selfish as anybody else! As the famous Gandhi once said, “I like your Christ, but I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”
Just look at the public behavior of some of the men and women who self-righteously proclaim they are "Christian," but engage in rhetoric that is intolerably non-Christian and language that would be profoundly offensive in any authentic Christian community. Venomous hate is now preached daily under the banner of reclaiming our "Christian culture!" The same people who scream "family values" are teaching a whole generation that it is OK, and even cute, to encourage vicious personal assaults on our duly elected officials. I do not understand that at all! I have voted for both political parties. I have prayed for and encouraged both those for whom I voted and those for whom I did not vote. I thought it was a "family value" to respect legitimate authority and then vote them out if need be. Can you imagine a country whose citizens refused to respect any elected officials except those they voted for? Well, we are already there! Can you imagine our church if individual members only respected Popes they "liked?" Well, we are already there! Nastiness and meanness are epidemic, even in so-called "Christian" communities and sometimes especially in some so-called "Christian" communities!
“This is how they will know you for my disciples: your love for one another.”
What does it mean "to love?" It means living out the ways, the works and the words of compassion. By doing that, we will leave God's signature on the church and the world. It's really millions of little things, done out of love by millions of Christians, that will transform this world, not the hateful words and mean-spirited actions of "wolves in sheep's clothing!" Christians are called to resist such behavior, even when those actions are coming out of the mouths of the enemies of Christianity. Did Jesus not tell us explicitly to "love our enemies" and "do good to those who hate you?"
Let me give you three simple examples of what I think it means to love. The first example came in the mail when I was pastor of our Cathedral. It was a "thank you note" from a someone whom we had been helped from our community service fund to which parishioners generously contributed. It was addressed to all of us. "Dear Members of Assumption. Even though I don't attend your church, you didn't try to force me into your beliefs on the grounds that I needed your help. I know now that there is still unconditional love left in our world." This note was signed by a woman and her children. I kept the note.
The second example came from my mother. When we were growing up in the country with seven kids in the family, food was never wasted. When we had fried chicken, my mother even fried the chicken back and ate it herself. I grew up believing my mother loved chicken backs. I was much older before it dawned on me -- she wanted us to have the best parts. She was willing to take what was left over, out of love for us.
The third example occurred one Friday when I had the opportunity to go to the Islamic Center on River Road. The Muslim community invited some of us from the Cathedral Heritage Foundation for lunch and to attend a Muslim prayer service. We were reverenced and respected and welcomed. We had reached out to include them in our inter-faith Thanksgiving and rededication celebrations. They reached out to us in return with a loving gesture.
“This is how they will know you for my disciples: your love for one another.”
My friends, this is the heart of our religion. this is what it means to be a true Christian. This must be present in every Christian's life or else all of his or her religious practice is one big silly joke! This is not an optional activity. This is essential for discipleship. Often, religious people confuse loving someone else with approving or agreeing with everything they do. How ridiculous! How dangerous! Why can't we help another person for their good, and not for what we get out of it, as the Cathedral did for that struggling single mother? Why can't we freely and quietly “give each other the best pieces of chicken” sometimes, as my mother did, instead of always competing for the best? Why can't we be good, strong and faithful Catholics and at the same time have a curiosity about, and a reverent respect for, people who have a different religion and who sincerely try to live it? This is what it means to love one another. This is our trademark as Christians, as disciples of Jesus. This is the heart of the matter.
Religious militants are very frustrated today with the complexity and contradictions in our world and they feel they must change it by whatever means necessary, even by force, until it conforms to their vision of God's plan. Religious militants need an enemy, someone to hate. Once they identify that enemy, it isn't much of a jump to see themselves as superior people fighting the inferior elements in society. They pick and choose particular religious teachings, usually wrapped in some obscure Scripture passage that serves their needs and justifies their goals. This insanity is being passed off as religion these days in many of the world's religions, including our own!
“This is how they will know you for my disciples: your love for one another.”
It is time for us to go back to basic Christianity. Lived Christianity is what will attract people to our faith, not forced religious conformity. Lived Christianity is about all those small loving gestures in thought, word and deed carried out by millions of disciples. Lived Christianity, not another Christian "crusade," will transform the world. Don't let the religious crazies of this world seduce you with their hateful brand of religion. Christianity is, and always has been, about "love." Those of us who know this must respectfully and firmly disagree with those who spew their venomous hate without restraint, without hesitation, without compassion, and who call it Christianity! We must live love and let love's power infect the world. There are no short-cuts. If it isn't love-based, it isn't Christian! It's that simple and it's that hard!
Happy ordination anniversary to you Fr Ron. Having read your penetrating and unambiguous homily as both a father and grandfather, your concluding adage hit home as an enduring litmus test. On further reflection, it quickly struck me that on changing the word "children" to "parishioners" the truthfulness and compliments implied in the statement apply 100% to you. I also bet that the people on the island of St Vincent who knew you for only a short while would also concur with this
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