Reverend Ref +

YEAR C - PENTECOST 13 - PROPER 17

I've said it before, and I'll probably say it again: the faith we proclaim is a subversive faith. It's a faith that is in direct opposition to society. Society tells us that greed is good. Society tells us to look out for Number One. Society tells us that God helps those who help themselves. Society tells us that it is the individual above all things. But none of those things are what Christianity tells us. Christianity runs counter to what society tells us. Christianity has a different focus.

In the early days of the movement, Christianity was an extension nof Judaism. After the destruction of the Temple in 70 a.d., however, that commonality was shattered and it became its own religion. That religion was continually at odds with the society that surrounded it. It was different from the religion of Rome, it refused to acknowledge the emperor as God, it had strange customs (such as eating flesh and drinking blood), and Christians were persecuted for those differences and beliefs. Persecutions were an on-again off-again sort of thing, depending on who was in power and whre the problems were. But in 303, the emperor Diocletian bagan what is called the Great Persecution and many many Christians were martyred. And they were martyred because they didn't follow the rules of the state -- they were martyred because they were considered subversive.

This subervisiveness shows up in Luke when Jesus eats with outcasts and sinners. It shows up when Jesus heals people on the Sabbath. It shows up when Jesus forgives people of their sins. It shows up when Mary sings the Magnificat. It even shows up in Luke's genealogy of Jesus. Luke's geneology would seem to be a straightforward lineage of Jesus from Adam. But if you look closely, you'll find some interesting things.

For instance, Obed is listed as one of Jesus' ancestors. Obed was the son of Boaz and Ruth. Ruth was the great-great-grandmother of King David. Ruth was also a Moabite. According to Deuteronomy, Moabites aren't supposed to be admitted to the assembly of the Lord. But there she is, part of the royal family tree and with her own biblical book to boot. People of illicit unions aren't supposed to be admitted to the assembly either. However, Nathan is listed in that geneaology. Nathan, son of King David, listed in 2 Samuel after David had taken "many more wives and concubines." I guess "wives and concubines" aren't illicit if you're the king.

Why am I bringing all of this up? Because our faith tradition is filled with illicit unions, the admittance of the outsider, persecutions and people whose bad and immoral behavior was par for the course. Because our faith tradition advocates for the poor. Because our faith tradition expects us to help the helpless. Because our faith tradition puts a low value on social status. THAT is our faith tradition.

However, something changed. Over time, Christianity became the state religion of Rome and eventually the Western world. It tied itself to the goals of the state: self-preservation, creating rules and order, maintaining its hierarchy and promoting the status quo rather than promoting the Kingdom of God. When religion becomes one with the state, it's never a good thing; becuase in the long run, religion will acquiesce to the state to maintain its own existence.

Which brings me to our current political situation. The election season is heating up and we have just over two months unti we elect our next president. The conservative Christian right has proclaimed George Bush as the savior of the nation. Under him, the argument goes, Christianity will take its rightful place as the religion of the state. I've recently read a variety of quotes that essentially say, "Bush has been ordained by God to return our country to greatness and spiritual wholeness." With all due respect, I think they are wrong.

First of all, God isn't a Republican. Nor is God a Democrat for that matter. And second, the kind of religion being advocated by these groups is one in which the less fortunate, the poor, the destitute and the outcast are further marginalized. There is no hospitality. There is no grace. There is no room for the "other." There are only those who are in, and those who are out.

It isn't Christianity they are advocating. It's Nationalism wearing a diamond-studded cross for decoration. Christianity, remember, is subversive. The state martyrs subversives. Christianity is rife with drunks and womanizer, backsliders and whores, thieves and troublemakers. The religion of the sate requires three-piece suits, background checks, and an unquestioning allegiance to the approved statement of faith. Christianity is concerned with empower others. The state is concerned with keeping power to itself. Christianity is concerned with humbling itself. The state is concerned with exalting itself.

And here, the government and the conservative Christian right seem to be skating on thin ice. Listen again to what today's lessons have to say:

From Ecclesiasticus: The Lord overthrows the thrones of rulers, and enthrones the lowly in their place. The Lord plucks up the roots of the nations, and plants the humble in their place.

From Hebrews: Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured.

And from the Gospel: "When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind."

Are we doing that? Are we truly living out the faith as proclaimed in Scripture? Or are we living out a state-run, cleaned-up and censored faith approved by those in power?

Yes, this is the political season and you need to vote for whomever you think is the best person to do the job. But don't vote for that person because he has been anointed by his supporters as God's chosen man. Because I gotta tell you, it is exactly this type of prideful, self-exultation that today's lessons, and our overall tradition, warn against.