Sisters and Brothers,
Last night the Vestry gathered for its monthly meeting. We had a good discussion (as usual) about various topics. As we were going over the list of events for this fall, I realized that we really are a busy parish. Some of the things we will offer this Fall promise to be spectacular. I hope you will stay tuned as we roll out various announcements.
Now, let me turn our attention to something in the news. My homiletics professor in seminary always taught us that we are supposed to preach with the bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other. Now, I know politics make many of us uncomfortable and for the most part, I usually try to skirt politics. These days, it seems unavoidable.
In case you have missed it, our President has (perhaps jokingly) self-identified himself as the King of the Jews, and said that he is the second coming of Christ. While some may smile and just shake their heads, I find this highly offensive. Sisters and brothers, this is blasphemy. And statements like that should be taken seriously.
We must be clear, Jesus had something to say about leaders who would come claiming to be the Christ. He warned that we should not believe them. They will seek to lead folks astray. (Matthew 24:4-5) So perhaps we should take Trump's statement as a self-revealing truth. Whatever his intention, whether it was a kind of off-colored humor or whether it reveals true delusions of grandeur, it is dangerous to dabble in this kind of rhetoric. And I find it hard to believe that our evangelical brothers and sisters would allow this kind of rhetoric to go unchallenged. (If they don't, perhaps that reveals something too!)
I watched a video today of a former evangelical Christian who left organized religion because of the hypocrisy he found within it. He still believes in Jesus, but stated that he is appalled at the atrocities that his conservative brethren are willing to tolerate. In his video he told the story of St.Telemachus, a 4th century saint who died in the Roman Colosseum. Telemachus spoke out against the horrors he witnessed saying, "In the name of Christ, Stop!"
Perhaps that is a mantra we need need to take up once again. In the name of Christ, Stop! Stop the madness! Stop the horrors! Stop the blasphemy! In the name of all that is good, and right and holy: Stop already! Enough!
Blessings!
Fr. Dewayne
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