Righteous Indignation, Ch. 1 (p 3-14)

Righteous Indignation, Ch. 1 (p 3-14)
Can Social Justice Save the American Jewish Soul? -- Rabbi Sidney Schwarz, PhD

(1) I appreciated the two-part answer to the purpose of Judaism on pages 4 and 5.

1. "Extend the boundaries of righteousness and justice in the world" (p 4; Genesis 18:19).
2. To be a "kingdom of priests and a holy nation" (p 4; Exodux 19:6). The concept of "holy" includes being separate or apart.

"Judaism is a religion based on a paradox: Jews are expected to maintain a holy apartness as God's chosen people and, at the same time, are expected to be totally engaged with the world around them" (p 4).

Regardless of your faith orientation, do you feel this tension? Which do you find easier to maintain--holiness or engagement? Which do you value more at this point? Why? What do these words mean to you--righteousness, justice, holiness? What are potential problems of ignoring either personal transformation (holiness) or social transformation (justice/engagement)? Or do you disagree with the premise of this question?

(2) "Sinai consciousness is at the root of the Jewish understanding that to live true to the covenant that God established with the Jewish people at Sinai is to live a life of social responsibility" (p 5).

To our Jewish readers: Is it an improper gesture to co-opt this terminology for those not a part of the Jewish community? That is, can we say non-Jews are living with Sinai consciousness when they value and work for peace and justice?

It's my understanding that Rob Bell's new book addresses some of these issues--Exodus and Sinai consciousness. I believe it's based on 2 sermon series that I really appreciated--The New Exodus and Jesus Wants to Save Christians.

(3) "It is critical to recognize how central social justice is to Jewish consciousness. The concern for the stranger, the pursuit of justice and peace, the empathy for the poor, and the commitment to truth and fairness is buried deep in the soul of every Jew" (p 9).

That is a strong statement. Are these elements deep in my soul? In what ways are they manifested in my life? Is there anything I can do to help these values grow and thrive in my soul?

(4) I just want to highlight the lives of Michael Schwerner and Andy Goodman (p 10) who were killed along with James Chaney while working for racial reconciliation and civil rights in the South.

(5) The story of the $2 million synagogue project and the $1.5 million homeless shelter reminds me of Shane Claiborne discussing his similar frustration. What priorities does my local faith community demonstrate in its budget?

(6) As described on page 13, is your faith community more of a camp (defensive) or a congregation (nurtured by love)?

Righteous Indignation (p ix-xviii)

Righteous Indignation (p ix-xviii)

Welcome back from our short break. Today we'll cover the Foreword and Introduction, and in the future we'll also cover two essays per week.

FOREWORD (Rabbi David Ellenson, PhD)

(1) "...individual spiritual devotion and social justice are partners" (p ix).

Britt Bravo talks about this connection in two Have Fun*Do Good blog posts--Funding Personal and Social Transformation: Paula Sammons, Seasons Fund and Spirituality, Religion and Activism: What's the Connection? Both posts refer to the Seasons Fund which supports organizations that understand and develop this link between personal and social transformation. As a side note, Jewish Funds for Justice was one of the founding partners of Seasons Fund.

What connections between the two have you noticed in your life? How does your personal faith/spirituality/belief system/religious practice affect your attitudes toward social justice issues and your actions for making a better world?

INTRODUCTION

(2) "The creation of a just and sustainable world requires the cooperative efforts of people from all walks of life" (p xiii).

No single organization, political party or religion is powerful enough or humble enough to create a "just and sustainable world." I can do my part. You can do your part. In cooperation we will grow personally and collectively, and then change will come.

(3) "In assembling this anthology, we draw strength from past Jewish activists who sought to meet the justice needs of their times. The biblical prophets take as their primary task to teach people the need to create just communities" (p xiii).

This paragraph is the main reason I chose this book for us to read together. We must learn from the prophets the definition of peace and justice, the principles for action, the goals that are in line with God's priorities. As we learn from them, we gain wisdom for our actions today--what, where and how.

(4) "None of the essays in this book addresses direct service because we feel that the American Jewish community does this work very well. Virtually every synagogue we have entered has a 'social action committee' and provides congregants with ways to serve the needy. Very few social action committees, however, actually empower congregants as political advocates. And without political action, there can be no deep and lasting change" (p xvii).

What a statement! I wish every congregation in my denomination had a social action committe. That would be incredible. I know we try to serve and help, and many churches do this fairly well given their resources, but we are far from organized. We have school committees, budget committees, evangelism committees, etc., but I dare say the number of social action committees is pretty low. Let alone political activism that gets to the root of issues!

Is your local faith community committed to social action to the degree that it organizes around these issues? If not, how can you work to change this? What leadership role are you willing to take?

(5) "Yet our tradition tells us that we can change our ways and transform our world. This is the essence of teshuvah (repentance)" (p xviii).

I'm reminded of the deeply philosophical and intensely political drama, Two Weeks Notice (Sandra Bullock and Hugh Grant). I believe it was tofu yogurt or cheese cake that Sandra's father uses to demonstrate that people change. He would have never eaten it before the influence of his wife. I hope that is indeed how the exchange goes. Hmm, I wasn't planning on referencing that less-than-engaging film in this post.

(6) "'It is not incumbent upon you to complete the task, but neither are you free to desist from it' (Pirkei Avot 2:16)" (p xviii).

It is possible that Thomas Merton had this in mind when he wrote "A Letter to a Young Activist," where he cautions the young man that he may not see results but that the work is still "crucially important." I first read this letter in Faith Works (Jim Wallis, 2002).

Do I have the courage to continue working for change, for justice, for peace, for sustainability even if I don't see results this month, this year, this decade? Do I believe it's still crucial? Do you? And if I do see results, will I remain humble?

There are so many more points that stood out to me in these short sections, but this introductory post is already lengthy.

Shalom,
Jeff

The Irresistible Revolution, Ch. 11b (p 305-314)

The Irresistible Revolution, Ch. 11b (p 305-314)
Making Revolution Irresistible

(a) "The transformation begins with the people--with ordinary radicals, courageous mothers and grandmothers like Rizpah.... Nations will not lead us to peace; it is people who will lead the nations to peace as they begin to humanize the nations" (p 307).

If peace and justice are to begin with me (my intentions, attitudes and actions), what's my mustard seed?

(b) "Protesters are everywhere, but I think the world is desperately in need of prophets, those little voices that can point us toward another future" (p 309).

What is a prophet? The esteemed wikipedia explains that in Judaism a prophet is someone God chooses to speak for Him for the purpose of bringing social change, a spokesperson with the goal of transforming society into God's highest ideal. And what did the prophets speak?

Isaiah: "Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow." Isaiah 1:17

Jeremiah: "'He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?' declares the LORD." Jeremiah 22:16

Ezekiel: "Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy." Ezekiel 16:49

Amos: "I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your assemblies." "But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!" Amos 5:21,24

Micah: "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8

Solomon?: "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute." Proverbs 31:8

Here are God's spokesmen declaring in no vague terms His priorities. Are they my priorities? As I raise my "little voice," am I singing in harmony with the prophetic voices of the past? What picture of the future does my song paint?

Last week a Christian leader explained to me that military spending is not a waste of money because we are able to sell the weaponry to other countries for a profit. How/why have we veered so far from the voice of the prophets (Isaiah 2:4; Micah 4:3)?

(c) The story on page 310 of the Camdenhouse crew wading into the demonstrations wearing clothes with the fruits of the Spirit is so great. What a brilliant example of using imagination. We do in fact need more love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Which of these do I need to pray most passionately for today? What will it look like lived out in my relationships today?

(d) "I take great courage from the fact that many of us are taking steps toward a gentler revolution. We need more prophets who laugh and dance" (p 313).

How do you react to this? Are you a laughing prophet? Do you know a dancing one? Am I a speaker of only gloom and doom, or is there a positive twist of love, joy and peace with some laughter and dance thrown in?

The Irresistible Revolution, Ch. 10

The Irresistible Revolution, Ch. 10
Extremists for Love

(a) John Perkins and Christian Community Development Association (CCDA). Of John's various books, I most want to read Let Justice Roll Down, Beyond Charity and Linking Arms, Linking Lives. Check out the CCDA Institute.

What would you ask John if you were sitting across the table from him?

(b) The story about the Iraqi lady on page 277 is just crazy. Who do I need to see twice a month (or more frequently) to gain a little perspective?

(c) "It is this third way, Wink writes, that teaches that 'evil can be opposed without being mirrored... oppressors can be resisted without being emulated... enemies can be neutralized without being destroyed'" (p 280).

That quote from The Powers That Be is further developed in Jesus and Nonviolence: A Third Way. Excellent little book.

How's my imagination? What new solutions are just beyond our mental horizons?

(d) "The only thing harder than war is peace. The only thing that takes more work, tears, and sweat than division is reconciliation. But what more beautiful things could we devote our lives to?" (p 285).

What reconciliation has God helped you achieve? With Him, friends, family, enemies, the planet, ideologies, etc.? What reconciliation is needed next?

This ministry of reconciliation we've been given is beautiful--2 Corinthians 5:18.

(e) "I was able to be the face of another kind of Christian extremist, another ordinary radical ready for a revolution that dances and laughs" (p 288).

What kind of Christianity am I the face of? How close to The Way is my "brand"? In what ways has God been making my "version" closer to reality? What inconsistencies are most pressing for an upgrade?

The Irresistible Revolution, Ch. 9

The Irresistible Revolution, Ch. 9 (p 243-266)
Jesus Is for Losers

(a) "The church is a place where we can stand up and say we are wretched, and everyone will nod and agree and remind us that we are also beautiful" (p 245).

A week ago three of us visited Mars Hill and met a young lady flying solo. Our new gang of four ended up sharing communion while briefly sharing our personal stories that need Jesus' last word. It was really powerful for me; the embodiment of this quote. The sermon will be online for a few weeks. I highly recommend giving it a listen.

(b) "Many of us want the same things. We want the world to be rid of evil. We want justice. We want to liberate the oppressed. The question is, How do we do that?" (p 247). This quote is given in the context of the parable Jesus told about letting the weeds and wheat grow up together (Matthew 13). Pulling up the weeds may kill the wheat at the same time.

So how do we do these grand things--liberate, bring justice, etc.?

And who are the weeds that need pulled? Is it the capitalists or the communists? Is it the Republicans or the Democrats? Is it the religious fundamentalists or the atheists? Is it the multinational corporation CEO or the single welfare mother?

Everyone has a different "weed" they want to pluck. If we each try to pull our favorite weed, won't we all be torn down by someone? So Jesus said, let it grow; don't call down fire from heaven on everyone you disagree with. Teach and live love as you understand it. The Holy Spirit is working on every heart, to bring it to the side of love. Use no violent means of weeding the garden. God will divide the two groups with His wisdom and love when the time is right. And we must remember that today's weed (Saul) may be tomorrow's wheat (Paul), so we can't give up on anyone. We shouldn't attack someone just because we label them a weed today.

So this partially answers the "how" question. With love. With forgiveness. With passion. With effort. With words. With reason and rationality. With self sacrifice. With kindness and goodness. With generosity. With the other cheek. With humility. With the Holy Spirit. With help. With a vision for a better world based on cooperation and community. With the understanding that God is the gardener, not me.

The subsequent pages describe this in positive detail (p 247 - 252).

(c) "We will hurt no one... We will love evildoers, even if it costs us our lives. And then we will see evildoers become extremists for grace. This is the story of our faith" (p 253-254).

How well am I playing my part in the "story of our faith"?

(d) "We know that we cannot do life alone, and the good news is that we don't have to. We are created for community" (p 254).

I am thankful for the people that are becoming our community in this new place. In addition to living it, I'd also like to read these books about community: Deep Economy, School(s) for Conversion, Organic Community, The Small Community, The Community of the Future, and Plan C (each considering community from a different perspective).

(e) "Dear God, liberate us from the logic of redemptive violence" (p 261).

The Shining Lady story sets up the Timothy McVeigh account well. Of all the stories in this book, I think I share this one about Timothy, Bud and Julie the most. Amazing.

(f) "There is something scandalous about grace. It's almost embarrassing that God loves losers so much" (p 262-263).

I start to squirm a bit when I feel moved to pray, "Jesus teach me to love like you do." Okay, more than a bit.

(g) "When we look through the eyes of Jesus, we see new things in people. In the murderers, we see our own hatred. In the addicts, we see our own addictions. In the saints, we catch glimpses of our own holiness. We can see our own brokenness, our own violence, our own ability to destroy, and we can see our own sacredness, our own capacity to love and forgive. When we realize that we are both wretched and beautiful, we are freed up to see others the same way" (p 264).

This just might be the most important paragraph in the book. May we spend some significant time meditating on this one paragraph alone. And then the next one. And...

(h) "When we have new eyes, we can look into the eyes of those we don't even like and see the One we love" (p 266).

Jesus, give me new eyes. Who do I need to look at again for the first time today?

The Irresistible Revolution, Ch. 7b (p 204-222)

The Irresistible Revolution, Ch. 7b (p 204-222)
Pledging Allegiance when Kingdoms Collide

(a) I think it is powerful when parents of those killed in brutal tragedies choose to end the cycle of violence. Bob McIlvaine is a brilliant example (p 204). We'll be getting another story soon. Could I forgive if something horrible like this happened to a family member of mine? How willing am I to forgive the smaller grievances I face now?

Peaceful Tomorrows
Voices in the Wilderness
Christian Peacemaker Teams

(b) "Essentially, I went to Iraq because I believe in a God of scandalous grace. I have pledged allegiance to a King who loved evildoers so much he died for them, teaching us that there is something worth dying for but nothing worth killing for" (p 207).

What is important enough to me to die for? Would I really never resort to killing? But I am taught that hatred and murder are both evil (Matthew 5:21-22, loose interpretation). Do I have hatred festering in my life that I need to resolve? What is the first step to healing that I can take?

Pages 207-208 just blow me away. As do 204-207 and... okay, most things in this book.

(c) The story of the worship service and conversation with the bishop on pages 212 and 213 are so beautiful. How badly Christians in the U.S. need to embrace the wisdom of this bishop. Why are we so eager to embrace war as an effective means for creating a better world? War Made Easy

(d) Physicians are a bright spot in violence. Soldiers try to kill each other, but as soon as someone is hurt, doctors move in to help regardless of which side the injured person is on. It's great to see this kindness in Iraq as well. Long live Doctors without Borders. Long live the Rutba House.

(e) "Revolutionary subordination exposes the evils of power and violence without mirroring them, by gently allowing them to destroy themselves and then rising above the ruins" (p 217).

As Martin Luther King Jr. said, "nonviolence is the answer to the crucial political and moral question of our time - the need for man to overcome oppression and violence without resorting to violence and oppression" (Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech).

How do I respond to the little evils done to me in everyday life--the comments, gestures or actions that set me off?

(f) "Too often we just do what makes sense to us and ask God to bless it" (p 219).

The remedy Shane presents are the Beatitudes. Am I the kind of person God blesses--poor, peacemaker, merciful, etc.? What am I doing for the hungry and mournful around me? Do I have time for them, to bless them in some way?

(g) "Rebirth means that we have a new paradigm of 'us' and 'them.' Our central identity is no longer biological. And our central allegiance is no longer national" (p 221).

This is so important. The relevance of this is just barely beginning to creep into my understanding. In the words of Derek Webb (King and a Kingdom, Mockingbird):

my first allegiance is not to a flag, a country, or a man
my first allegiance is not to democracy or blood
it's to a king & a kingdom

The Irresistible Revolution, Ch. 7a (p 191-204)

The Irresistible Revolution, Ch. 7a (p 191-204)
Pledging Allegiance when Kingdoms Collide

(a) "They had lost all faith in the empire and had become faithful to God alone as the one who could preserve peace and prosperity" (p 196).

What do I believe, really believe, brings peace and prosperity? Democracy? Communism? Free markets? State-controlled economies? Democrats? Republicans? Theocracy? Anarchism? Cooperation? Competition? Military? Diplomacy? More education? More laws? More dichotomies? Meditation? Activism? The President? Jesus? (not listed in any particular order)

And whose peace and prosperity am I concerned about? Mine? My neighbors'? My blood relatives'? My country's? Westerners'? Humanity's?

About the role of government, we read:

Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. (Romans 13:2-4)

So government has a role that God has instituted. Yet we do look forward to the ultimate fulfillment of this promise, understanding that in some mystical way the kingdom of God is now, is inside of us now:

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. (Isaiah 9:6-7)

And the rub, the point of this chapter, is when they're opposed. Then we read:

Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than men!" (Acts 5:29)

Nazi soldiers should have disobeyed their unjust commands. All soldiers must disobey unjust commands. As citizens of heaven before citizens of a given country on earth, we must disobey laws and commands that contradict the laws of our true kingdom. No one can stand in the judgment and say, "But I was following orders." The response will be, "You weren't following MY orders. You belong to the king you claim, not Me." Am I committed to obeying God? How much time am I spending in the Bible each day to learn what it is He's calling me to?

Let me take this opportunity to shout out Centurion's Purse.

(b) "A people longing for a savior placed their faith in the fragile hand of human logic and military strength, which have always let us down. They have always fallen short of the glory of God" (p 199).

This takes me back to high school when I listened to a certain heavy metal band (You take a mortal man and put him in control...). Though Megadeth probably also falls short of the glory of God. This quote also makes me think of War Made Easy.

(c) "Jesus offers a new vision of family" (p 200).

If my mother, father or sister were starving, I'd find a way to help them. I wouldn't stop until their needs were met. If it was only about money, I sure wouldn't buy a nicer ride while they were suffering. But then I realize I lie, because they are.

Do I care as much for each citizen who dies in Iraq (30,000, 50,000, 90,000, 151,000, 655,000???) as I do for those who died in the towers on September 11, 2001 (2,974)?

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
(Matthew 6:9-10)

The Irresistible Revolution, Ch. 5a (p 115-126)

The Irresistible Revolution, Ch. 5a (p 115-126)
Another Way of Doing Life

(1) “…what people are really wondering is whether there is life before death” (p 117).

Does my life show the world another, a better, way to live?

(2) “And the kingdom that Jesus speaks so much about is not just something we hope for after we die but is something we are to incarnate now” (p 117).

Sometimes I’ve heard or read people express the idea that Jesus’ teachings sound good, but they just don’t work here on this planet—love your neighbor, forgive, turn the other cheek*. But Shane brings up a good point in the quoted paragraph. These teachings don’t fit heaven; they were expressed specifically for planet Earth with its sin problem. We don’t need the teaching “turn the other cheek” in heaven because no one will slap the right cheek to begin with. Jesus’ hard words might not sound like actions we can live here, but clearly he wasn’t giving us advice on how to live later. It is meant for here and now.

(3) “We knew that the world cannot afford the American dream and that the good news is that there is another dream” (p 119).

This is so true. Already the world is feeling the pinch of limited resources with growing demand. Prices from steel to corn are rising as countries grow their economies in ways patterned after the United States. Demand for oil, food, water and all value-added resources will continue to rise. It has been estimated that for the entire population of the planet to live like North Americans, we would need seven more planets of resources. The U.S. style of life and production is simply not sustainable on a world-wide scale (or even within our borders, but that’s another discussion).

(4) “We narrowed our vision to this: love God, love people, and follow Jesus” (p 121).

That about covers it. What is my mission statement? What guides my decision-making process? How do I decide what to say yes and no to?

(5) “We share life with our neighbors and try to take care of each other” (p123).

What a great statement; reminds me of Galatians 6:2. This line is in the fun description of The Simple Way on pages 122 - 126. I want to quote the whole section here. It’s like the Sermon on the Mount to me.

Our upstairs neighbor is a retired gentleman who likes to garden. He knocked on the door the other day to see if we wanted another tomato plant. He had a couple extra and wanted to share because Charissa’s tomato hadn’t made the move so well. It’s a little thing, but it was really kind of him.

Neighbors can build community with the smallest of kindnesses. Charissa had taken him a plate of homemade cinnamon roles when we moved in, and that had opened the way to more conversations. How can I build community with people around me today?

*As explained by Walter Wink in Jesus and Nonviolence: The Third Way.

The Irresistible Revolution, Ch. 4a (p 91-103)

The Irresistible Revolution, Ch. 4a (p 91-103)
When Comfort Becomes Uncomfortable

(1) "I had been doing a study whose central premise was that rather than waiting around for God's special plan for your life, you should just go find where God is at work and join in" (p 93). What do you think? How does this fit your experience and biblical understanding?

(2) "He [Shane's roommate in the ROTC] explained to me that he did not believe Christians should go to war" (p 95). This is such a loaded topic. State: kill our enemies. Jesus: love your enemies. That's pretty hard to reconcile. Derek Webb has a great line, "I would rather die than to take your life. How can I kill the ones I'm supposed to love" (My Enemies are Men Like Me). I think this issue raises how closely we align ourselves with a given state or government as opposed to the government of God.

It's clear to a majority of folks, I would imagine, that Nazi soldiers should have disobeyed their leaders. They had a moral obligation not to commit genocide just because their leaders wanted them to. What seems less clear is how closely Christians in countries around the world should place their lives, hopes and futures in the armies of their respective governments. What would happen if the millions of Christians around the world refused to fight their secular government's battles? What if rather we embraced and lived non-violent social action? What if we refused to kill the ones we're supposed to love?

Even if you embrace a "just war" theory, how many of those have you seen in the past 100 years? We'll get back to this topic again. Developing a "consistent ethic of life" demands that we revisit and wrestle with this.

For those looking for thoughts on becoming a conscientious objector, click here--Wikipedia or Mennonite Central Committee.

(3) "So I learned not to be so quick to judge" (p 101). I'm still working on this one. Any stories of when you quickly judged someone incorrectly, or when you withheld judgment and were glad you had?

(4) "Jesus never says to the poor, 'Come find the church,' but he says to those of us in the church, 'Go into the world and find the poor, hungry, homeless, imprisoned,' Jesus in his disguises" (p 102). I rarely do this. I read about doing this. I talk about doing this. When have you gone?

[we'll finish ch 4 next week]