by Bishop Bill Gohl
It was “New Member Sunday,” and as part of my visit to St. Paul, I was witness to the new members being taken on both a physical and spiritual tour of the building. In each space, lay folk and staff invited folks into a deeper relationship with Christ and the ministry shared in that place. From worship and fellowship, to outreach, learning – and, it made my smile irrepressible, the flower guild (replete with an invitation for everyone to take home bags of mulched leaves from the memorial garden to "tend their part of the earth"); there was a sure testimony shared of being a community in Christ. Each new member was accompanied by a sponsor from the congregation, who answered questions on the margins of the conversation and tour.
I had the opportunity to greet each of the new members (one even tried on my miter and crozier – as did most of the kids). I asked each of them what drew them to make a commitment to the community at St. Paul, to wit one said, "I came from a church where I knew what we were against, here at St. Paul, I know what we are for." Probing a bit further, they said, "everyone is welcomed here: rich, poor, black, brown, white, gay, straight, young, old, men, women, children" and a sponsor chimed in, "even Democrats, Republicans and Independents."
This will give you an opportunity to testify...
Last week, I reached out to the rostered ministers of our synod and suggested that we approach the preaching task carefully in the aftermath of the general election. Whereas there is little secret to how I lean politically, I came out of last week chastened, humbled – reminded that I have much to learn. It’s easy to smugly think that "other people" made bad decisions and to absolve myself from any responsibility for the polarization we are experiencing as a nation. I know that I am still trying to gather my own voice, because this election cycle has legitimized some behaviors, postures and positions that must, in the name of Christ, be challenged every time we are witness to it happening. I may not understand what is happening in the body politic, but I do know that God calls us to love neighbor and to work tirelessly toward justice and beloved community. This is not simply an echo of Dr. King’s dream, it is the very movement we have been baptized into for such a time as this.
What will be our testimony? Will it be so trite as to be reduced to a punch-line, bumper sticker or Facebook meme; or will our lives in word and deed give witness to the radically inclusive love of God in Christ for all of our neighbors – even those with whom we would vigorously disagree?
This is not to legitimize those who would under any circumstances, but especially repugnantly in the name of Christ, spark violence, mollycoddle hate and incite fears in any segment of society. Though we often fail to fully live into our high calling as the body of Christ, we cannot be indifferent to injustice nor fail to act in the face of suffering.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who was martyred by the Nazis in 1945, said it like this: "We have for once learned to see the great events of world history from below, from the perspective of the outcast, the suspects, the maltreated, the powerless, the oppressed, the reviled, in short, from the perspective of those who suffer. Mere waiting and looking on is not Christian behavior. Christians are called to compassion and action."
I think we have much to learn from this election cycle. And while I am not sure what the future holds, I turn back to God with humility and ashes, looking for God’s "words and wisdom" and not a small measure of new courage and deeper faith to step into the breaches of this society, longing to begin the work of rebuilding community and praying that I – and we – will not let the most vulnerable and frightened of our neighbors down.
This will give you an opportunity to testify.
When the opportunity presents itself, which it will - if it has not yet, I remember our Lord’s words, not in an apocalyptic way, but with high expectations and great compassion: What will your testimony be?
When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, "As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down." They asked him, "Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?" And he said, "Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is near!’ Do not go after them. When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately." Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven. But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. This will give you an opportunity to testify. So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance; for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your souls." -Luke 21:5-19