(Editor’s note: The following is a submission to The Recorder’s weekly column titled “Faith Matters.” Each Saturday, a different faith leader in Franklin County offers a personal religious perspective in this space. For information on becoming part of this series, email religion@recorder.com or call 413-772-0261, ext. 265.)
The Politics of centrifuge: Forcing, separating, pushing folks to the edge of things. This is what some political analysts think is happening in our political arena.
In December of last year, a man on a Southwest Airlines flight approached a Muslim women wearing a hijab: “Take it off — this is America.” He pulled off her hijab. He was arrested, charged with violating her free exercise of religion. He appeared in Federal Court this month and pled guilty to obstructing the woman’s exercise of her religious beliefs.
Anti-Muslim hate crimes rose in the U.S last year when other hate crimes were down. (Story and statistics from Washington Post, article by Niraj Chokshi, May 14, 2016.)
The politics of centrifuge does not bring civility or keep us off the edge of things.
In the Jewish, Christian and Muslim traditions, peace is based upon Justice, No Peace, No Justice.
“When he, Jesus, came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:
“The Spirit of the Yahweh is upon me,
because God has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
Has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
to proclaim the year of the Yahweh’s justice.”
Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
Jesus takes Isaiah’s words and appropriates them for himself — Peace through Justice, No Justice, No peace. This becomes the foundational narrative for who Jesus is and what Jesus does.
One of the strengths of the early Jesus Movement is its diversity. In the Jesus Movement, the circle is enlarged, not narrowed.
Why can’t we allow people to be who they are, where they are on their journey? Why do we need to change folks, to make them think like us? Why are differences of belief a threat?
In the early Jesus Movement, who and where people are on their journey is not an issue. “They are all now accepted by God’s grace as free gift. For we hold that a person is accepted by God by faith not by any belief or thought” Apostle Paul, Romans 3: 24 – 28
The Realm of God, says Jesus, is present in restorative justice. The Realm of God is a way of being and relating. God is with us, in us, around us, ours is to recognize God’s presence and act upon it.
Unity comes out of a diversity in which all beliefs are held important. Diversity, not tolerance, tolerance is about machines and machined parts, how much tolerance before the parts don’t fit and the machine dysfunctions.
Diversity can be loose and messy, hard to manage. Diversity is held together not by a measurement but by just and equitable relationships in which all voices are honored and respected.
In this sense, the teaching of Jesus is political. Religion and Politics — We don’t discuss religion and politics. Why not? Jesus does, not partisan politics, but politics.
Not to talk religion and politics would mean that life is schizoid, two ways of functioning, political and religious, not whole.
“What have you done with the widow, orphan, poor and powerless? How are you caring for them?” ask the prophet Isaiah. Jesus, like Isaiah, challenges those who oppress the poor, weak and powerless. This is why Jesus gets crucified, mixing politics and God’s Realm of justice by mixing politics and religion for the common good.
Religion is political, dealing with power and authority, who has power and who does not. Who uses it for the common good and who abuses power for self-interest.
The world as we know it practices scarcity, fear, exclusivism. The Realm of God, says Jesus, is about breaking down those walls of separation that divide us.
The Realm of God is inclusive of people of all religions, races and cultures.
Life is not divided into two realms, religion and politics, subject to a centrifuge, separating and pushing folks to the edge of things.
First Church of Deerfield, 71 Old Main St., is a 328-year-old community of faith associated with the United Church of Christ and the Unitarian Universalists Association. We are a progressive, Open and Affirming Congregation. Theologically, we are diverse. Music is essential to our worship, expressed through our music ministry and led by our choirs and Director of Music Ministry, Dr. Thomas Pousont. We seek to bring meaningful and innovative ministry to Deerfield and surrounding communities. Come see if our spiritual expressions speak to your need, as we say, “No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.” We gather for worship on Sundays at 10 a.m. Phone: 413-773-5323. Email: office@firstchurchofdeerfield.org
Note: There will be no public worship at our church building on Sunday, May 29, due to Eaglebrook Academy’s Baccalaureate Service being held in our sanctuary.