by Bishop Yvette Flunder
As pastor of City of Refuge United Church of Christ, I view the CBS and NBC rejection of our denomination's TV spots as a conflict of political and spiritual values, and yet another example of how the church is being reformed again, all around us.
In fact, we are in a new Reformation. Open your eyes; take a look. The leadership of the Christian church has become more concerned with institutional and political strength than the needs of the people. They have created two kinds of Christianity: one official, one real.
Official Christians have official Christian bumper stickers, CDs, key chains, bookmarks, signals, sins and a Christian look, a serious official Christian look (they don't grin a lot). There is even a "Christian vote" to identify voter preference in election day exit polling.
What does the real Christianity do? It feeds the hungry, clothes the naked, shelters the homeless and comforts the afflicted. It loves them that hate you.
It's time to change. Today, Christians find their religious beliefs defined by hateful rhetoric, a redefinition of "moral values" and creation of a very real atmosphere of fear. Christianity is becoming the most intolerant, exclusive religion of all time. We say we know Christ, yet we can't stand one another. Christianity is leaning, and it needs to right itself.
Two thousand years ago a charismatic preacher from Nazareth said things like, "The meek will be exalted and inherit the earth," and "Love them that curse you." He said, "When you see them in need of a coat when they are cold, take yours off and give it to them." Also: "Care for the widows and the homeless and the elderly and those in prison."
Could there be a starker contrast between what he said and those who fuel an atmosphere of fear of minorities from a largely racist, homophobic and anti- Muslim religious right? Those people of faith who believe peace is the alternative to war are out shouted down by the "fearful faithful" who cannot believe God can bring peace by any other means but war. Religious leaders, afraid of losing credibility, supporters and resources, weakened the voice of the justice community by failing to speak out publicly.
The church is leaning. Something is wrong. We are at a crossroads and the time has come to take a stand. I have seen people afraid to speak out against the unjust war in Iraq, against homophobia, against assault weapons, against homeland security or anything else the Bush administration supports. The marginalized have not had a voice in much of the recent political fray, because we continue to be separated by our areas of concern.
We need to come together, connect and find strength in our common reality of political powerlessness. We need to find our voice, and then join the choir of people working for the rights of all people. I want to encourage speaking out by declaring we will not be ruled by fear. It is time to get angry, because what is happening is wrong. It is not negotiable, it is wrong. Excluding people from the inclusive love of Jesus and from the inalienable right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is not debatable; it is wrong. We must have the same determination our forebears had when they sang the lyrics: "And before I'll be a slave, I'll be buried in my grave and go home to my Lord and be free."
Bishop Yvette Flunder is founder and senior pastor of City of Refuge United Church of Christ in San Francisco (www.sfrefuge.org). She is also executive director of the Yvette A. Flunder Foundation, an AIDS Service Organization.
This article was published today in the San Franciso Chronicle and is re-printed here with premission from Bishop Flunder. Please click here to read more about Bishop Flunder's background. This is one of the most powerful statements that I have read this Advent season.
