August 14, 2011:

Ponderings of a Pilgrim PASTOR

“R.E.S.P.E.C.T.”

I got a "double whammy" this past week. My much-esteemed friend and colleague, Jim Philpott, in our clergy support group, challenged us to consider a sermon defending the Tea Party. The rest of us — good Liberals that we are — snorted in derision. "Say a good word for the Tea Party? You’ve got to be kidding!" But Jim persisted. We need to understand the rage and helplessness felt by many Americans in the face of a stagnant economy, lost jobs, and ever-rising national debt. Yes, yes, I know. The Tea-Partiers are both wrong-headed and bull-headed. In their search for someone to blame they have focused their venom on many of the very people most concerned for the plight they and other Americans are facing.

But perception is always more important than reality. And high emotion trumps deep thinking every time. Still, we make a terrible mistake if we dismiss the Tea Partiers as a bunch of yahoos. Some may be and some of their leaders may be self-serving demagogues but unless — to quote a recent President! — "We feel their pain," our country will more and more be divided into warring camps.

On top of that challenge I then received the latest issue of a professional journal, "The Christian Century," with a thoughtful article by theologian Miroslav Volff, reminding readers that it is an explicit Christian command to respect all people. As it says in I Peter 2:17: "Honor everyone." Really? Everyone? Yes. Because God loves all equally, we should respect all equally., That doesn’t mean that we must agree with everything people may say. But grant those with whom we disagree the same dignity and respect we wish for from them.

Have our disagreements gone too deep for that kind of respect for all people? I am not sure. But as difficult as it is (for me) I know that God in Christ expects me to take the first step. While others may not respect you or me, that is no excuse for us to behave disrespectfully toward them. Who knows? Perhaps our respectful disagreement might help to heal some of the hate that threatens to destroy our country.

Love,
Pastor Dave