Down by the Riverside
![[Riverside Church: aerial photo]](/mt/archives/photos/ex_possibilities_119x175.jpg)
I just watched the Bill Moyers NOW episode that’s been sitting on the TiVo since December 26: James Forbes, Jr., Speaking to Power.
(The Rev. Dr. James Forbes, Jr. is the senior minister at Riverside Church in New York City.)
The whole piece was profoundly moving to me. Here’s a place, a pastor, and a people whose worldview and inclusive understanding of faith provides a community in which I could immerse myself. I felt like a lonely man catching a glimpse of home. I wept.
In a snippet of a sermon (captured in episode’s transcript) I see one of the gentlest pastors I’ve ever observed speaking truth to power more forcibly than almost anyone else I’ve observed:
Dr. Forbes: When Jesus was led into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil, one of the temptations was the devil took him on a high mountain, showed him all the kingdoms of the world and said to him, all this I will give you if you will fall down and worship me. [Matt. 4:8, NIV]
I fear that the ideology informing the present policies of the nation are coming from some people who took the devil up on it, who said, “You elite, you handful of people with your special interests, if you act quickly all the kingdoms of the world, their oil, their land, their money, their resources, I will give it to you.”
Jesus said no. But somebody helping to set policies in this nation got duped by the devil and said yes! And the policy is moving in that direction.
I think this succinctly explains the Bush Administration, its ambitions for empire, and its disregard for life and all that is holy. Someone in it said yes.
Now we outside it must assert our responsibility as followers of Jesus and say no. (I will boldly say no on Election Day.)
Interesting that Riverside is “affiliated with the American Baptist Churches and the United Church of Christ.” This tells me the word “Baptist” in a denomination name no longer conveys anything meaningful. I went to a Southern Baptist funeral a few months ago where I experienced the most fear-drenched church service I think I’ve ever been to.
In sharp contrast, this NOW episode’s depiction of Riverside Church shows a hope-drenched place of welcoming, scripturally-aware, Spirit-led people of all colors, stations, and gifts that looks to me like the coalescing Kingdom of God on earth.
Now. Where is Riverside’s spiritual kin in Memphis?
2004-01-11 update: Wow, this NOW program motivated me more than anything else has in the last six months — I went to church today, visiting Grace-St. Luke’s in Memphis because it’s listed in The Center for Progressive Christianity network directory (as I had noted back in August).
Welcoming place, that. More to learn …
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"I fear that the ideology informing the present policies of the nation are coming from some people who took the devil up on it, who said, "You elite, you handful of people with your special interests, if you act quickly all the kingdoms of the world, their oil, their land, their money, their resources, I will give it to you."
"Special interests" (meaning: voluntary groups to which we all can choose to belong) were dealt a fatal blow, as was free speech, with the passage of the McCain-Feingold bill, as with the Supreme Court upholding it. There go the influences of special interests, and our freedom, right down the drain.
Ambitions for empire? Where are the rallying calls for adding terrority to the United States? I have heard of no cries for this, not a one. And wealth? What wealth are we so bent upon obtaining? Where is it?
When survival is miscast as "empire building" the civilization will fall. Defending the borders is "empire building". Right. So is a Middle East policy that puts pressure of terrorist states and their leaders (Araft, and the House of Saud). Right.
We've had years of ignorance, of looking away and pretending that the hatred of Islamists can't hurt us. The USS Cole didn't whet their appetities. Neither did the first Twin Towers bombing. Neither did the embassies in Kenya. And it's not about "root causes" either -- poverty and lack of opportunity did not cause the well-off Saudi bombers to commit 9/11. Neither is it simple ignorance on the behalf of Islamists, as their ranks are replete with well-educated folk.
To go back to the Clintonian days of "head in the sand" politics, or pulling out of Iraq achieves only the confirmation of Somalia in the minds of Islamists. Who do you think is funnelling money to the Democrat party, anyhow? The Chinese money that Clinton and Gore obtained apparently has run dry, and now it's time to get more from others who wish to see us all dead. One thing that should be obvious -- you don't make common cause with folks who want to kill you.
— tenebrous Monday February 2, 2004 #Tenebrous, empire's roots in spiritual darkness run deep. Exercise your discernment: see what's implied by a policy of preemptive war. Exercise forgiveness and humility: hear what the Lord says about domination and pride and planks in the eye. As he puts it, if you have ears to hear, hear. Do not give in to the bad theology of fear and hate and retaliation. Do not say yes to the devil.
"One thing that should be obvious -- you don't make
common cause with folks who want to kill you."
Unless you are a follower of Jesus, in which case you must:
"Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."
I will no longer be silent about things that matter.
— Mike Wednesday February 4, 2004 #Alternative news and informationa about the United Church of Christ: www.UCCtruths.com
— James Hutchins Thursday February 19, 2004 #