April
2007
A Vision for Restoration of Hope
From remarks by Rev. John C. Forney, March 25 Peace Rally, Rancho Cucamonga
For Christians the Lenten season is a time of reflection. The lectionary turns us back to the story of Christ’s temptations in the wilderness. Wilderness becomes our context as well.
Today our nation finds itself in a vast wilderness of human malfeasance and failure: a wilderness of lies and deceit, a wilderness of utter incompetence, a wilderness of fear mongering.
And as Jesus found, so we too find that there are many temptations in this wilderness: the temptation to think we can go it alone with utter disregard for the opinions of the rest of the world, the temptation to think that salvation can be found in the power of empire and oil, the temptation to cover up our self-inflicted disasters with bread and circuses, to declare “mission accomplished” in a flyboy suit.
Lent is a time to discern – to discern what it is that truly gives life, what it is that will truly restore equity and justice in the land, what it is that will truly restore sense of national purpose, what it is that will truly restore our commitment to one another.
My friend Steve Rohde, a constitutional lawyer, says that the three most powerful words in the American political lexicon are “We, The People….” Our beloved sister Molly Ivins put it this way: “We are the Deciders.” I say it is time to rise up against the tyranny and blindness that has led us from disaster to disaster and say to the usurpers: “We are the Deciders.”
Truly, a marvelous thing is happening across our beloved nation: people are starting to wake up from Vermont to Salt Lake City. Thirty-some towns and hamlets in town meetings in Vermont have began to say the word our timid friends in Congress still fear to mention: impeachment.
Even in that reddest of Red States, a mayor with courage has come forth in Salt Lake City to call for impeachment.
And why not? Surely the intimidation of federal prosecutors for political ends counts among what our Constitution calls high crimes and misdemeanors – real grounds for impeachment.
And when we’re told that torture is okay and that our civil liberties are a passing “quaint” notion: in my book, that ranks right up there with the most flagrant and audacious high crimes and misdemeanors.
When scientists are compelled to change their conclusions to so as not to upset the agenda of Exxon-Mobil: should we all not consider the manipulation of science for political ends among high crimes and misdemeanors?
Have you heard enough?
We in Progressive Christians Uniting have as our motto “See. Pray. Act.”
SEE:
When we look at the despairing faces of our sisters and brothers in New Orleans, we have seen.
When we look at the faces of our soldiers retuning home to the most shameful and criminal neglect, we have seen.
When we witness daily televised instances of rendition and torture, what more do we need to see?
We have seen enough.
PRAY:
To pray is to consider in the core of our being all that we have seen in the light of core values dwelling in quiet conscience: core values residing in our hallowed Constitution and core values finding expression in sacred book and holy tradition.
Before our Creator we cry out in prayer, What does all this jangling dissonance between our declared values and our actual behavior mean?
Before our Creator we cry out in prayer, What is required of us at this hour?
To stand in prayer with Jesus in our hearts is to petition for courage to stand for what we know to be true and life-bearing.
To stand in prayer with Jesus in our hearts is to know the assurance that our national nightmare of war and violence must and will come to an end. A lie cannot live forever.
So we have seen…and we have prayed.
ACT:
Now is the time, above all, for committed Christians to act.
Molly Ivins got it right indeed: “We are the deciders!”
I believe the time has come for women and men of courage who love their country to decide that enough is enough.
Lenten sacrifice is called for.
Some trivialize Lent, giving up a modest pleasure: a bit of chocolate, perhaps. Some deluded folks even give up coffee.
But I tell you God can do absolutely nothing with that puny token of remorse—with that little luxury or little pleasure you forgo for a few weeks.
If it is Lenten sacrifice you want to perform, try this: Try writing your elected representatives to demand humane treatment for those returning home from this disastrous war in Iraq.
Your letters of concern and outrage are something God can use!
Try going with a team heading to New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. Such work of solidarity is something God can use!
Try joining a church, a synagogue, or a mosque that is progressive–that brings the best of its life-affirming religious tradition to the critique of these dangerous times. Find yourself a community of the spirit that practices sisterhood and brotherhood instead of selfish isolation.
A rededicated faith grounded in generosity is something God can use!
And if you believe that we are really staring high crimes and misdemeanors in the face, and that it is now time for the adults to retake charge, try talking to your neighbors and friends about impeachment. Write your legislators. Shout it to the heavens.
Political courage is a virtue God can use!
I absolutely believe that this righteous speaking of truth to power is essential. The long view of our adventure in democracy shows us one thing: God will use our courage and our will and nothing else to restore sovereignty to us, the people. All else is magical thinking.
God will only return sovereignty to us when we choose to act as the sovereigns under God’s discipline. Democracy is not a spectator sport.
During this Lent and this coming Easter season, let us resolve to bring forth new visions of resurrection purpose and promise: visions that God will use.
As a Christian, I believe that when Jesus said all are invited to the table, He meant all. All is the color of our nation when it is trying to grow spiritually. Jefferson used it in the Declaration, Madison in interpreting the Constitution, Lincoln in calling for a new birth of freedom at Gettysburg, King in envisioning an America that could be at home and not perpetually at war within the World House.
All is the color of Easter as well.
This all is always a partially realized promise, a fragile hope, but it is our only hope in a world gone mad with exclusivism and violence.
Let us then go forth in peace and let us be of good courage, prepared to do the Easter deed that is given to our hands and feet, and to our hearts and minds, for the saving of our beloved Republic.
This is a work God will use.