Broken Beyond Repair

Over at the NY Times today another provocative Bob Herbert editorial appears. The title, Broken Beyond Repair, deals with the USA's capital punishment system. Herbert uses colorful language to describe it:

The death penalty in the United States has never been anything but an abomination — a grotesque, uncivilized, overwhelmingly racist affront to the very idea of justice.

One of the reasons I read Mr. Herbert is because he is so provocative. Some of the things he says makes you say, "Amen!" and some other things makes you say, "Ah...damn!" I think in this editorial there is both of that. I am one such American who struggles mightily with the death penalty. In a Romans 13 sense I am for it. But it is well known that the way the death penalty is carried out here has its plethora of problems, and we do not need Bob Herbert to point them out for it to be so. With the way it is used, it probably should be abolished. It is an overwhelmingly racist affront to the very idea of justice, to quote Mr. Herbert.

Although I am someone who affirms that no one is "innocent" based upon sin and death in general, certainly in civil society it is for the purposes of good order to establish a system of punishment that is layered and has different levels of severity to it. But the real problem with the death penalty, especially in its racist element(s) is that it de-humanizes people. This is not so much a question of innocence and guilt, as much as that may be the case, as it is about the value of life in a culture of death. To devalue humans is a most egregious offense. And if there is even just a few humans being devalued, let alone the probable millions Herbert talks about, then it should not be tolerated. Not because humans are innocent and sinless and everything is fine and dandy, but because God is the One who rules over life and he creates human life with a purpose, even if a dignity.

Well then, seems like this is an "Amen!" post from Herbert, where is the "Ah...Damn!" part? It comes with what Herbert does not address. There is another overwhelmingly racist affront to the very idea of justice operating in our country as well. The thing about that one though is its masked in "rights" and not as death or killing or even murder, as capital punishment can safely be labeled. No, this overwhelmingly racist affront to the very idea of justice is seen as choice, as empowerment, and the only sensible option in the face of so many who devalue women.

Indeed, I am talking about abortion. Yet this story doesn't get editorials in the NY Times or much play from Bob Herbert. This is seen as an entirely different thing, and it's for the supposed "rights" of women. If the death penalty is racist, and there is sufficient reason to believe it is, then abortion is akin to slavery and genocide. But before you get too bent out of shape, go research the issue for yourself. I speak not as a "white man" making an ignorant or inconsiderate comparison between abortion and slavery and/or genocide, but African Americans and other minorities talk this way. There is plenty of evidence to suggest Planned Parenthood targets African Americans and other minorities in our country. The statistics are horrifying. And this is an educational problem as well. When we neglect our inner cities, and the folks who live there, government OK'd organizations like Planned Parenthood move in for the literal kill. Instead of comprehensive educational and community programs from the government, or anywhere for that matter, we get a killing machine masquerading as a "pro-women's choice" group.

Strong language? Provocative? You bet. So I agree with Herbert, but want it to go further, let's stop both of these racist affronts to the very idea of justice.

you KNOW it's a myth

Reading over at the Belief Blog on CNN.com this morning prompted this post. The usual arguments are lobbed, but this is an interesting billboard that was put up by atheists.org:

CNN-Atheist Billboard

I then went to atheists.org and read up about their cause and watched a video about this billboard and others. You can find the video here: you KNOW it's a myth

You will immediately notice the arrogance displayed by the two men speaking in the video. What's funny is this modern atheist movement, championed by guys like Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens, really only reacts against American Evangelical Fundamentalism. To be honest, I agree with a couple of the things they have to say about these folks, especially in the above linked video. Christians should not be vandalizing billboards. Instead, we should be engaging the public debate and dismantling the juvenile arguments atheists put forth. Such arguments, like the ones which attack the historicity of Jesus, the Old Testament, the Gospels, and the rest of the New Testament are where we can actively and faithfully engage. What we have to be careful of however is that we never get too far from the Gospel Message, namely proclaiming Christ's life, death, and resurrection for you, including the arrogant atheist.

Also important to do is to pray the psalter. This is nothing new that folks will mock, scoff, and attack God and his people. But leave vengeance to Yahweh. Defacing billboards is childish and gets nowhere. This also is usually headed by those who want to make the Christian God the American god as well. The same folks who claim America is a Christian nation. I really want no part of that debate. It is useless, and historically inaccurate. What I do want is to protect the flock, and defend Christians who are left defenseless because we aren't preparing them the proper way. The fight is not rationalism vs. rationalism. But the hope we have over and against rationalism.

We ought to teach our people the beauty and usefulness of praying the Psalms in times like these, while also giving them reasonable explanations to the historicity of Jesus, the OT, and the NT. Also, notice I place Jesus in front. That is where he belongs. Jesus is before all this as God. And as God-Man he restores us to how we're supposed to be. Dismissive and arrogant arguments presented by atheists.org does not dismantle this truth at all.

I feel it is important to go blow by blow on that website to show specific arguments, but being in school I don't know if I can find the time. In the meantime, one common argument heard is how there is no evidence for Jesus outside the NT, and that the four Gospels are not the only ones, etc., etc.

Below I have provided a quote from Ignatius of Antioch of the 1st and early 2nd century. Ignatius is as apostolic as you can get. And the letter I quote is among those which are widely attributed to have actually been written by him. In this section he talks about the history of Christ defending his life, death, and resurrection. Including his birth by the Virgin, his suffering under Pontius Pilate, his death, and his being raised by the Father. Beyond that it also affirms the resurrection to eternal life for believers because of Christ's own resurrection.

In this section Ignatius quotes Matthew and John, while specifically referring to Matthew as scripture. Dates for Ignatius are ca.30-107 AD. He writes this well within a reasonable timeframe to judge the historicity of Matthew as legitimate and as a Gospel for the Church. Also notice, John having been written probably within a few years of Ignatius writing this is cited as legitimate scripture as well. The implications for this are huge in the face of arguments put forth by folks like the ones over at atheists.org. Aside from the defense that is legitimate and helpful which Ignatius provides, read this little bit devotionally as a powerful witness to the Gospel, which also needs to be primary in everything we do. As Advent is upon us, enjoy this appropriate piece by Ignatius of Antioch. The following chapter, The Reality of Christ's Passion, also isn't half bad.

Stop your ears, therefore, when any one speaks to you at variance with⁷⁸⁷⁷⁸⁷ Literally, “apart from.”70Jesus Christ, who was descended from David, and was also of Mary; who was truly born, and did eat and drink. He was truly persecuted under Pontius Pilate; He was truly crucified, and [truly] died, in the sight of beings in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth. He was also truly raised from the dead, His Father quickening Him, even as after the same manner His Father will so raise up us who believe in Him by Christ Jesus, apart from whom we do not possess the true life.

Stop your ears, therefore, when any one speaks to you at variance with⁷⁸⁸⁷⁸⁸ Literally, “apart from.”Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was descended from David, and was also of Mary; who was truly begotten of God and of the Virgin, but not after the same manner. For indeed God and man are not the same. He truly assumed a body; for “the Word was made flesh,”⁷⁸⁹⁷⁸⁹ John i. 14. and lived upon earth without sin. For says He, “Which of you convicteth me of sin?”⁷⁹⁰⁷⁹⁰ John viii. 46. He did in reality both eat and drink. He was crucified and died under Pontius Pilate. He really, and not merely in appearance, was crucified, and died, in the sight of beings in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth. By those in heaven I mean such as are possessed of incorporeal natures; by those on earth, the Jews and Romans, and such persons as were present at that time when the Lord was crucified; and by those under the earth, the multitude that arose along with the Lord. For says the Scripture, “Many bodies of the saints that slept arose,”⁷⁹¹⁷⁹¹ Matt. xxvii. 52. their graves being opened. He descended, indeed, into Hades alone, but He arose accompanied by a multitude; and rent asunder that means⁷⁹²⁷⁹² Literally, “hedge,” or “fence.” of separation which had existed from the beginning of the world, and cast down its partition-wall. He also rose again in three days, the Father raising Him up; and after spending forty days with the apostles, He was received up to the Father, and “sat down at His right hand, expecting till His enemies are placed under His feet.”⁷⁹³⁷⁹³ Heb. x. 12, 13. On the day of the preparation, then, at the third hour, He received the sentence from Pilate, the Father permitting that to happen; at the sixth hour He was crucified; at the ninth hour He gave up the ghost; and before sunset He was buried.⁷⁹⁴⁷⁹⁴ Some read, “He was taken down from the cross, and laid in a new tomb.” During the Sabbath He continued under the earth in the tomb in which Joseph of Arimathæa had laid Him. At the dawning of the Lord’s day He arose from the dead, according to what was spoken by Himself, “As Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly, so shall the Son of man also be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”⁷⁹⁵⁷⁹⁵ Matt. xii. 40. The day of the preparation, then, comprises the passion; the Sabbath embraces the burial; the Lord’s Day contains the resurrection.

Thanksgiving Thoughts

Just read this article over at the NY Times by David D. Hall. The article, Peace, Love, and Puritanism, takes a nice (quick) yet interesting look at the history of Thanksgiving, Puritans, and America. I'm not sure that I agree with the whole of the article, but his line at the end really clicked with me. Hall writes,

In our society, liberty has become deeply problematic: more a matter of entitlement than of obligation to the whole. Everywhere, we see power abused, the common good scanted. Getting the Puritans right won’t change what we eat on Thanksgiving, but it might change what we can be thankful for and how we imagine a better America.

How scary true is this? I feel this speaks volumes, loud ones at that, to contemporary America. I also feel this speaks volumes to the current American religious landscape. Hall points out the Puritans had no self indulgent work ethic. The "Protestant Work Ethic" is really the American way. I am Christian. I am American. I am free. Get out of my way.

It brings to mind the parable of the Good Samaritan and how many Americans would cross by on the other side of the road. My real point however, is this: Martin Luther, in the 16th century, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in the 20th century, saw Christian freedom not as freedom from but rather freedom for. You can almost hear the American religious chorus shouting, "Amen!" Until we realize this freedom for means that as a Christian, American or not makes no difference, your freedom is that you are not in condemnation by sin and as such are free for your neighbor. The Christian call is not American gluttony, "Give me my rights!" talk, but rather a sense of humility and service that often gets overlooked, yet you do it because Christ has gone before you to the cross, and also in his resurrection we know we don't live in vain.

So I would ask this Holiday season we do not clamor for our rights and our freedoms from things. Instead, I would ask that we clamor for our neighbor and our freedom for him.

Blessed are the...

Tomorrow we observe All Saint's Day in church. Here are some thoughts that I have concerning tomorrow's Gospel text, Matthew 5:1-12...

The revelation of God is revealed to those who are his disciples. The end times intrusion upon the earth that God has made in Jesus Christ is what makes the disciples “blessed.” They are blessed because of the already reality of the advancement of the reign of heaven, but they also wait in anticipation of the not yet. The not yet is the day of reversal when the wicked ones the Psalmist lament about will be put away forever, including the very wicked one himself the devil, and the righteous will remain. The entire life of the Christian is one in anticipation, in hope, of the things to come. Yet, this does not create a disavowal for what is already here. There is still work to be done for sure, and those who are a part of that working reign of heaven are certainly blessed.

Social justice theories and Evangelical moral laws of conduct do not give this text its due. The purpose of the beatitudes is not to advance left wing political ideology or right wing American theology. The beatitudes are Gospel, pure and simple. The best way to study and read the beatitudes is within the narrative framework that Matthew the Evangelist uses. There is no reason to tear them from their place in the story of salvation. Those beatitudes speak a truth and a reality about those found in Christ. Ours is already now the reign of heaven, even as we wait the day of the not yet. The future promises found in the beatitudes establish the purpose of Jesus’ coming, dying, and rising again. The purpose is restoration. And all of creation groans with the flock of Jesus for that day when all things will be made new. There is no hope outside of Christ. The beatitudes point directly at what that hope is.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, from Creation and Fall

Just read Bonhoeffer's Creation and Fall and I gotta say the man did an incredible job with the text of Genesis 1-3 (and also first verse of 4). It reads poetically and with a literary prowess unrivaled by much of anything that I have read. Bonhoeffer will get criticism because of his higher critical tendencies, but find me someone who in dealing with the actual text does a better job.

This excerpt I give to you is from his final chapter, about page and a half, when after having gone through Genesis 1-3 he sets up the next movement of the biblical narrative, and its Christological implications. He starts off by wrapping everything together under the theme of humans becoming "like God" getting what they wished for in falling for that very temptation by the serpent. And yet not fully understanding the consequences and heavy implications that come with being "like God." We are now our own creators, we live off of our own resources. In our delusion we grasp at the tree of life more and more because it was banished from us, but we cannot eat of its fruit because it is out of our reach. The only thing we can really grasp in our obsession to live is death. So humanity marches on and Cain is born. And we know the story that Cain strangles life out of his own brother. Bonhoeffer writes that Adam, the one who is preserved for death and consumed with thirst for life, begets Cain, the murderer (Bonhoeffer, 145).

All of this to set up for a breathtaking finale in which Bonhoeffer writes,

The end of Cain's history, and so the end of all history, is Christ on the cross, the murdered Son of God. That is the last desperate assault on the gate of paradise. And under the whirling sword, under the cross, the human race dies. But Christ lives. The trunk of the cross becomes the wood of life, and now in the midst of the world, on the accursed ground itself, life is raised up anew. In the center of the world, from the wood of the cross, the fountain of life springs up. All who thirst for life are called to drink from this water, and whoever has eaten from the wood of this life shall never again hunger and thirst. What a strange paradise is this hill of Golgotha, this cross, this blood, this broken body. What a strange tree of life, this trunk on which the very God had to suffer and die. Yet it is the very kingdom of life and of the resurrection, which by grace God grants us again. It is the gate of the imperishable hope now opened, the gate of waiting and of patience. The tree of life, the cross of Christ, the center of God's world that is fallen but upheld and preserved – that is what the end of the story about paradise is for us (Bonhoeffer, 145-6).

Like I said...breathtaking!