There is a purported Chinese curse, most likely apocryphal, that goes something like this: May you live in interesting times. I think most of us would agree we live in “interesting times.” Maybe too interesting!
The election, inauguration, and implementation of the Trump presidency has been a catalyst for highlighting the divisions that underlie our country and society. We find ourselves wrestling with basic questions about democracy, the role of government, immigration, and justice.
The political skirmishes that have always been a part of our national dialogue have erupted into a deeper turmoil in our capitals and on our streets. It is to say the least an interesting time to be a follower of Jesus in a confusing and conflicted world.
Many of us find ourselves struggling to figure out how to respond running the gamut from whether we should post our anger and frustrations on Facebook to whether we will ever talk again to our family relative who voted for the other candidate (God knows why?).
There are some who feel vindicated in their political beliefs and others who are deeply depressed by the direction of the country. Many of us have protested in some form or another while others have been puzzled and frustrated by this reaction.
In this conflicted and interesting time, what are we to believe and do?
In our tradition, we identify as a confessing church. In other words, we assert that part of our “doing” as disciples is confessing to the world what we believe about God and God’s work in the world.
The first part of our constitution (Book of Confessions) as a church are a number of these statements made throughout history. Almost all of these confessions were written when the people of faith found themselves living in interesting times. They were forced to examine together in their time and in their place what they believe about God and God’s purpose in the world.
In our Book of Confessions, we have the Barmen Declaration where the church, in response to Nazism and its control of social institutions of Germany in the 1930’s, simply stated one thing: Jesus Christ is Lord! Jesus is Lord and not Hitler or a particular political party or a particular ideology.
We have the Confession of 1967 where the church bravely insisted in our society torn asunder by racial discord that reconciliation and justice was not only possible but inevitable by the Spirit of God.
And the most recent addition to our constitution is the Belhar Confession written by the church in South Africa during the period of horrible atrocities and ravages of apartheid. This statement asserts God is the God of the destitute, poor, and oppressed and claims that all forms of segregation (racial and social) are a sin. Interesting times leads to a clarification of values and fundamental beliefs as a church.
In the spirit of being a confessing church in interesting times, I want to share with you a short confession that I wrote for my own clarity of purpose as a disciple in the weeks following the election.
I do not share this faith statement as a litmus test for your own faith response but to encourage you to reflect yourself on what it is you believe in these conflicted days. And I invite you to share your confession with me either through email or via our Heartlanders Facebook page. (If you are not a member of the Heartlanders Facebook group, simply like the page and we will add you to the group)
You may not agree with the some of what is stated below or may not agree with how it is stated. But I am truly interested in your beliefs and assertions about God. And maybe we can develop together our common Heartlander Declaration of Faith.
A Personal Declaration of Faith
We, People of Faith, declare in a time of disagreement and disillusionment the value and dignity of all human beings.
We reject the religious and political ideologies that build walls and scapegoat vulnerable people as a means to define our identity as a people.
We reject the use of religion to support political parties and policies that deny the humanity of all people.
We reject the denial of women their full personhood.
We declare a vision of humanity beyond the racial, religious, and nationalistic boundaries that divide us.
We declare a commitment to stand in solidarity with those who face persecution from those in power.
We declare a promise to work for a more just and peaceful world with people of different faiths and with those who do not claim a faith.
We, People of Faith, declare in a time of disagreement and disillusionment the value and dignity of all human beings.