Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news." As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea--for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, "Follow me and I will make you fish for people." And immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him. -Mark 1:14-20 (Lectionary for Jan 22, 2012, Third Sunday after Epiphany)
And they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.
What does it mean to follow Jesus into the Kingdom of God,
where the last shall be first,
the humble exalted,
the valleys lifted and the divides leveled?
What does it mean to follow Jesus into the Kingdom
where the powerful are pulled from their thrones?
What does it mean to 'repent'--to be transformed, reformed, revolutionized in such a way that we become radically reoriented followers of Christ Crucified--he who was crucified by oppressive government, ridiculed by popular religion, but whose Love, stronger than death, leads to Resurrection, lifting up, up-rising?
What does it mean, for those of us raised to obey all Laws (just or unjust),
to not cause a commotion,
to not act-out,
to behave,
to work well with others,
to view God as an angry Father in the sky demanding that we be passive,
well-behaved,
dutiful
citizens,
honoring our powers and principalities
(apparently appointed by God--however, through democratic process)...
What does it mean
for us
to leave the boat,
to follow Jesus,
and to leave our "Father" and his "hired hands" behind?
This week we find John the Baptist--the one who also proclaimed the Kingdom of God's at-handedness, as well as the coming of Christ, the One greater than he who was to come after him (though he was before him)...
This week, we find John the Baptist in Prison.
He was in prison because he had a growing following.
(Organized people).
And because he was critical of the Empire.
That is, he was in prison because he spoke Truth to a corrupt government.
A very corrupt government.
Later he would be assassinated. By the government.
John had, it seemed, started the movement.
Now, with John in prison, it was Jesus' time to act.
Jesus reinstated John's message:
Repent (be re-centered, be revolutionized),
for the Kingdom of God is so close you can touch it.
It is at hand.
Then Jesus began to call leaders.
He didn't call just anybody.
(The Crowds would come later).
Up front, he was selective.
He wanted Simon and Andrew, James and John.
Folks who didn't fear change, but who needed it,
who weren't burdened by attachment,
like the Rich Young Ruler who would pay him a visit later in the story.
He wanted fisherman. Leaders who worked, who knew what it was to sacrifice for the sake of love of family. Folks who hadn't the benefit of hand-me-down luxury. Folks who weren't apathetic about the way things are.
In other words, Jesus called folks who were being screwed by the system.
Royally.
Pun intended.
Jesus called Folks who could imagine change.
Folks who heard "New Kingdom" as Good News.
Good News of Great Joy.
To follow Christ today is, no less, to long for that Kingdom,
to work for that Kingdom.
And to call disciples, (to organize people),
to build that Kingdom,
protest for the implementation of that Kingdom's values,
and to fight for those values,
values that lift up the poor and the oppressed and the marginalized.
Values that proclaim the poor
and the hungry
and the peace-makers as blessed,
because in God's Kingdom, there is no more poverty,
no more oppression, or hunger, or war.
Since the IIRON King Day Public Meeting,
(and long before that)
People have been criticizing the work that the organizers and leaders at SOUL and IIRON have been doing.
I even received a small insult from a "writer" on a mis-informed blog, suggesting that the work we do is not Christian. To those who share that author's critique, I would echo the words of St. Phillip to St. Nathaniel:
Come and see.
Tomorrow, leaders from SOUL and IIRON, in solidarity with Occupy the Southside are going to be reoccupying a home for a homeless family.
Homes all over the Southside of Chicago are sitting abandoned, rotting, foreclosed.
Our critics say we are trespassing.
And we are. Yeah. We know that. Thanks.
However,
those who have trespassed against us
are the big banks,
those whose worship of the god called Mammon,
the false god who always demands human sacrifice,
have left our sisters and brothers sacrificed.
Homeless, cold, displaced, crucified, unforgiven of unfair debt.
In these times, Christians would do well to remember
that Love covers a multitude of Sins.
Though only the Great Liberator and Redeemer can forgive the sick souls who continue to benefit at the expense of their own sisters and brothers,
we,
through responsible, careful, acts of love,
illegal or not,
(for Christ's love ethic teaches us that the Law was made for humanity, not humanity for the Law)
can begin to liberate our sisters and brothers
from the bondage of the Sin imposed by the Goliaths of our time,
the giants--corporations and banks who shape laws to benefit the few (the 1%)
rather than feeding the multitudes,
which,
as Christ demonstrated,
was the real work of the Christian.
As long as the Corpus Christi is suffering as a result of Corporate Greed,
the work that SOUL, IIRON, Liberate the Southside, Occupiers, and others are doing to liberate homes, people, and neighborhoods,
is the work of Christ the Liberator.
It is the work of the Church, the Body of Christ,
and it is a work of Love that liberates the poor and lowly from the Sins of those who sit in high places, while the human family is crucified again and again.
Thank you, organizers everywhere, for acting in accord with God's Law,
especially when the laws of men would hinder it.
Thank you for opening your ears to the prophets.
And thank you for leaving those in the boat behind,
so that you might Follow Christ, the Crucified, the King of Kings.
Much love,
And much admiration.
Pastor Tom Gaulke, First Trinity, Bridgeport, Chicago
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Monday, November 7, 2011
an open letter to james balcer, 11th ward alderman, bridgeport, chicago
Alderman Balcer,
I hope this email finds you well.
PLEASE do NOT vote to start charging churches and other non-profits for water.
Many of us feed and clothe the poor. We use water to do this.
You know my church, First Trinity Lutheran Church, does this in Bridgeport (your 11th ward).
Two times per week we give clothes away for FREE to Bridgeport voters, and to people from all over the city.
We lose money doing this.
We donate our money to keep Bridgeport clothed.
Not only are we not-for-profit, we are forfeiting profit for the sake of those in need.
I believe so strongly in this mission that I work part time at First Trinity while working for auxiliary services at the Lab Schools, where our mayor sends his kids to school for more than my salary, to supplement my income.
Our parish is made up of a large base of working, working poor, and poor people in your ward, among others.
Our parish is your ward. Please open your ears to us.
Our church and other churches, synagogues, and non-profits (such as Benton House in Bridgeport - 11th ward and Union Avenue Methodist Church) that are picking up the slack after many human services have already been cut from the poor do not need another burden.
Don't tax us by creating another bill for us.
Please vote against this part of the mayor's budget, and help those of us who voted for you.
And those who might in the future.
I would suggest taxing those who are already rich and eliminating tax breaks for corporations, rather than taxing the poor, if the budget needs balancing.
That is what Jesus would do, if he were an alderman.
God's peace and the Holy Spirit's discernment to you.
Pastor Tom, First Trinity Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, Chicago
I hope this email finds you well.
PLEASE do NOT vote to start charging churches and other non-profits for water.
Many of us feed and clothe the poor. We use water to do this.
You know my church, First Trinity Lutheran Church, does this in Bridgeport (your 11th ward).
Two times per week we give clothes away for FREE to Bridgeport voters, and to people from all over the city.
We lose money doing this.
We donate our money to keep Bridgeport clothed.
Not only are we not-for-profit, we are forfeiting profit for the sake of those in need.
I believe so strongly in this mission that I work part time at First Trinity while working for auxiliary services at the Lab Schools, where our mayor sends his kids to school for more than my salary, to supplement my income.
Our parish is made up of a large base of working, working poor, and poor people in your ward, among others.
Our parish is your ward. Please open your ears to us.
Our church and other churches, synagogues, and non-profits (such as Benton House in Bridgeport - 11th ward and Union Avenue Methodist Church) that are picking up the slack after many human services have already been cut from the poor do not need another burden.
Don't tax us by creating another bill for us.
Please vote against this part of the mayor's budget, and help those of us who voted for you.
And those who might in the future.
I would suggest taxing those who are already rich and eliminating tax breaks for corporations, rather than taxing the poor, if the budget needs balancing.
That is what Jesus would do, if he were an alderman.
God's peace and the Holy Spirit's discernment to you.
Pastor Tom, First Trinity Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, Chicago
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
why i went to jail and why you should too
They who swallow up the property of widows and then mask their wickedness by making long prayers: these men will receive far greater condemnation. -Mark 12:40
So Jesus made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. -John 2:15
These are the words of the Lord: For crime after crime of Israel I will grant them no reprieve because they sell the innocent for silver and the destitute for a pair of shoes. They grind the heads of the poor into the earth and thrust the humble out of their way... -Amos 2:6-7
Woe to you...who make unjust laws and publish burdensome decrees, depriving the poor of justice, robbing the weakest of my people of their rights, despoiling the widow and plundering the orphan. -Isaiah 10:1-2
The last shall be first. -Matt 19:230
The humbled shall be exalted. -Luke 14:11
Ye cannot serve God and mammon. -Matt 6:24
This following is, in part, a haphazard description of why I believe it was my Christian duty to be arrested last Tuesday.
If you would like to read a story on the action, there is one here.
The theological and ethical notion that one can not serve God and Mammon, as reflected on below,
is not a theological concept, alone—or simply a nice Christian bumper-sticker.
It is a reality manifest in a number of ways in our communities and our nation today.
One very clear way humans are being sacrificed so that Mammon can be worshiped is this:
If you walk around or bike around or whatever around Chicago's South Side (and other sides), you will quickly realize that on many many many many blocks, houses are no longer homes.
They are boarded up boxes.
They've been foreclosed on.
Why?
(Please forgive my use of layman’s terms here if your are an econ person)
Folks on the South Side and other places are paying mortgages.
They owe money to the banks, who gave them loans to buy their homes.
Depending on the estimated value of the home, the amount paid back each payment period goes up or down, in relation to the home's estimated value.
If the banks estimate the home's value high, they ask for more money each payment period.
If the homeowner responsible for payments can't afford to make payments, overtime their house will be foreclosed upon.
They will be evicted.
This is where Mammon worship comes in.
(Remember Mammon, the god of wealth, is a false god who always demands human sacrifice in exchange for material blessings).
The banks are protected in such a way that,
whether they foreclose on a home or not, they still get money.
They get money.
And they don't have to deal with homeowners.
So folks get foreclosed on
(a disproportionately larger amount of black and brown folks than other races, by the way).
Those folks are displaced from their homes and/or are made homeless,
while the banks still make a profit.
Mortgage bankers continue to be blessed by Mammon.
As long as they make human sacrifices.
This practice is sinful.
It is idolatry.
Not only is this an ethical issue. It's a spiritual issue.
It is the ministry of the Church to call for repentance, for the sake of Love.
And for the sake of God's Kingdom.
Where the lowly and the poor are lifted up.
Already, the bankers who use these sinful methods have been approached individually.
But they haven't repented.
According to Jesus' advice in the Gospel of Matthew,
it is now time to bring the whole assembly before them (Matt 18:15-20).
The Assembly, in our broad context,
can be seen as the 99% whom the 1% have sinned against.
In a more local context, the assembly are the members of our communities--and we who symbolically represent our communities/parishes.
Because we all suffer when the members of our communities are hurt.
And if the transgressors still don't repent... Jesus says in Matthew 18: Let them be as tax collectors.
Which is funny.
Because banks have collected our taxes via the bailout.
They are tax collectors!
They're just not paying any... Hmmm...
So:
Why get arrested?
Our group, SOUL, brought demands before the MBA. We were there to talk to the president, in person. To the person who had the power to meet the demands we were making in order for a right relationship to be restored between him and us—in order to be reconciled to one another (in the words, again, of Matthew 18).
After all, we were simply asking the bankers to let our people pay them back.
Lower their rates so they can afford to pay!
Not incredibly radical.
Of course we pretty well knew that we would not get an audience with David Stevens, and that neither he, nor the MBA would condescend to our demands.
We knew that we wouldn't leave until we could speak to him.
So we knew we would be trespassing.
So we knew we would likely be arrested.
As a part of our action, we set up tents, and cardboard box art in the shape of a house and Pickett fences, along with posters listing our demands, and pictures of folks facing foreclosure.
Those planning on getting arrested sat along the window of the second story walkway that connected the two buildings of the Hyatt Regency Hotel where the MBA was assembled.
From the street, we were to look as if we were a family in a living room/house.
In order to arrest us, the cops had to tear down our houses first.
The crowd gathered below to witness and support this event got to see the folks at the top tear down our home and arrest us.
They got to see, in real time.
A foreclosure being acted out.
While they sat below.
On the other side of the glass.
Observing.
And shouting.
And angry.
As we left, some shouted, “Now arrest the real criminals.”
Now arrest the real criminals.
I think it is important, especially for clergy, in our clergy outfits (so we are identifiable),
when a law is unjust, and allowing the poor to be exploited while the rich benefit from exploitation,
to get arrested.
To give a visual.
To act out, clearly, the injustice.
Spiritual leaders, ethical guides, pastors, rabbis, missionaries:
They're all getting arrested.
Those called to care for the poor and marginalized are getting sent to prison by the rich.
Often folks say about foreclosures,
(and a million other things people suffer from),
“Well... That's the law! They should have known better.
There's nothing we can do about it.”
The assumption is that the law is always good.
That assumption is very wrong.
It's often not at all.
There are many, many awful and unjust and oppressive and racist [etc.] laws.
And there is actually something we can do about it.
Challenge it. Change it. Reform.
We (The Soul 16) were charged with criminal trespass, but it is clear that those who devour widows homes are the true transgressors, who need to pray, earnestly: Forgive us our trespasses, our sins,
as we forgive our debtors.
But they are not forgiving debtors. They are creating them.
As long as laws are unjust, it is important that those who work for justice get arrested visibly, in public, and reported on by the media.
To demonstrate actually, and symbolically, by virtue of our office, that injustice.
Because as long as those who hunger and thirst for righteousness
(those who Jesus calls blessed in Matthew 5:6),
are being carried off to prison at the command of the rich,
ethically, there must be resistance.
There should be moral and spiritual outrage.
There should be people of faith calling out our government, our banks, and our businesses,
when they are worshiping a god who demands that we, God's people, be sacrificed.
And, by the grace of God, there should be repentance and liberation.
Until that happens, I encourage all clergy and seminarians to be arrested, as able, for the sake of demonstrating the sinfulness and moral depravity of laws that allow the poor to be exploited.
I am happy to meet and pray with you if you are on the fence.
May God's Spirit guide you.
Peace, kids.
pastor tom gaulke
first lutheran church of the trinity, chicago
So Jesus made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. -John 2:15
These are the words of the Lord: For crime after crime of Israel I will grant them no reprieve because they sell the innocent for silver and the destitute for a pair of shoes. They grind the heads of the poor into the earth and thrust the humble out of their way... -Amos 2:6-7
Woe to you...who make unjust laws and publish burdensome decrees, depriving the poor of justice, robbing the weakest of my people of their rights, despoiling the widow and plundering the orphan. -Isaiah 10:1-2
The last shall be first. -Matt 19:230
The humbled shall be exalted. -Luke 14:11
Ye cannot serve God and mammon. -Matt 6:24
This following is, in part, a haphazard description of why I believe it was my Christian duty to be arrested last Tuesday.
If you would like to read a story on the action, there is one here.
The theological and ethical notion that one can not serve God and Mammon, as reflected on below,
is not a theological concept, alone—or simply a nice Christian bumper-sticker.
It is a reality manifest in a number of ways in our communities and our nation today.
One very clear way humans are being sacrificed so that Mammon can be worshiped is this:
If you walk around or bike around or whatever around Chicago's South Side (and other sides), you will quickly realize that on many many many many blocks, houses are no longer homes.
They are boarded up boxes.
They've been foreclosed on.
Why?
(Please forgive my use of layman’s terms here if your are an econ person)
Folks on the South Side and other places are paying mortgages.
They owe money to the banks, who gave them loans to buy their homes.
Depending on the estimated value of the home, the amount paid back each payment period goes up or down, in relation to the home's estimated value.
If the banks estimate the home's value high, they ask for more money each payment period.
If the homeowner responsible for payments can't afford to make payments, overtime their house will be foreclosed upon.
They will be evicted.
This is where Mammon worship comes in.
(Remember Mammon, the god of wealth, is a false god who always demands human sacrifice in exchange for material blessings).
The banks are protected in such a way that,
whether they foreclose on a home or not, they still get money.
They get money.
And they don't have to deal with homeowners.
So folks get foreclosed on
(a disproportionately larger amount of black and brown folks than other races, by the way).
Those folks are displaced from their homes and/or are made homeless,
while the banks still make a profit.
Mortgage bankers continue to be blessed by Mammon.
As long as they make human sacrifices.
This practice is sinful.
It is idolatry.
Not only is this an ethical issue. It's a spiritual issue.
It is the ministry of the Church to call for repentance, for the sake of Love.
And for the sake of God's Kingdom.
Where the lowly and the poor are lifted up.
Already, the bankers who use these sinful methods have been approached individually.
But they haven't repented.
According to Jesus' advice in the Gospel of Matthew,
it is now time to bring the whole assembly before them (Matt 18:15-20).
The Assembly, in our broad context,
can be seen as the 99% whom the 1% have sinned against.
In a more local context, the assembly are the members of our communities--and we who symbolically represent our communities/parishes.
Because we all suffer when the members of our communities are hurt.
And if the transgressors still don't repent... Jesus says in Matthew 18: Let them be as tax collectors.
Which is funny.
Because banks have collected our taxes via the bailout.
They are tax collectors!
They're just not paying any... Hmmm...
So:
Why get arrested?
Our group, SOUL, brought demands before the MBA. We were there to talk to the president, in person. To the person who had the power to meet the demands we were making in order for a right relationship to be restored between him and us—in order to be reconciled to one another (in the words, again, of Matthew 18).
After all, we were simply asking the bankers to let our people pay them back.
Lower their rates so they can afford to pay!
Not incredibly radical.
Of course we pretty well knew that we would not get an audience with David Stevens, and that neither he, nor the MBA would condescend to our demands.
We knew that we wouldn't leave until we could speak to him.
So we knew we would be trespassing.
So we knew we would likely be arrested.
As a part of our action, we set up tents, and cardboard box art in the shape of a house and Pickett fences, along with posters listing our demands, and pictures of folks facing foreclosure.
Those planning on getting arrested sat along the window of the second story walkway that connected the two buildings of the Hyatt Regency Hotel where the MBA was assembled.
From the street, we were to look as if we were a family in a living room/house.
In order to arrest us, the cops had to tear down our houses first.
The crowd gathered below to witness and support this event got to see the folks at the top tear down our home and arrest us.
They got to see, in real time.
A foreclosure being acted out.
While they sat below.
On the other side of the glass.
Observing.
And shouting.
And angry.
As we left, some shouted, “Now arrest the real criminals.”
Now arrest the real criminals.
I think it is important, especially for clergy, in our clergy outfits (so we are identifiable),
when a law is unjust, and allowing the poor to be exploited while the rich benefit from exploitation,
to get arrested.
To give a visual.
To act out, clearly, the injustice.
Spiritual leaders, ethical guides, pastors, rabbis, missionaries:
They're all getting arrested.
Those called to care for the poor and marginalized are getting sent to prison by the rich.
Often folks say about foreclosures,
(and a million other things people suffer from),
“Well... That's the law! They should have known better.
There's nothing we can do about it.”
The assumption is that the law is always good.
That assumption is very wrong.
It's often not at all.
There are many, many awful and unjust and oppressive and racist [etc.] laws.
And there is actually something we can do about it.
Challenge it. Change it. Reform.
We (The Soul 16) were charged with criminal trespass, but it is clear that those who devour widows homes are the true transgressors, who need to pray, earnestly: Forgive us our trespasses, our sins,
as we forgive our debtors.
But they are not forgiving debtors. They are creating them.
As long as laws are unjust, it is important that those who work for justice get arrested visibly, in public, and reported on by the media.
To demonstrate actually, and symbolically, by virtue of our office, that injustice.
Because as long as those who hunger and thirst for righteousness
(those who Jesus calls blessed in Matthew 5:6),
are being carried off to prison at the command of the rich,
ethically, there must be resistance.
There should be moral and spiritual outrage.
There should be people of faith calling out our government, our banks, and our businesses,
when they are worshiping a god who demands that we, God's people, be sacrificed.
And, by the grace of God, there should be repentance and liberation.
Until that happens, I encourage all clergy and seminarians to be arrested, as able, for the sake of demonstrating the sinfulness and moral depravity of laws that allow the poor to be exploited.
I am happy to meet and pray with you if you are on the fence.
May God's Spirit guide you.
Peace, kids.
pastor tom gaulke
first lutheran church of the trinity, chicago
God / Mammon / Occupy
Theological Learnings as of Late:
The God of Christian theology is a God who sacrifices himself
in order to lift up the poor and the lowly.
The God called Mammon (Wealth, Money, Greed)
is a god who, when worshiped,
always
(and without exception)
demands human sacrifice.
So our Lord says:
You can't serve God and Mammon. -Matt 6:24b
You can't serve God and Money.
You can't serve God and Wealth.
Ever.
You can not.
Unfortunately, our current economic and political systems are set up in such a way that those in power:
our politicians, our banks, our corporations,
do not worship the God of the Bible,
or the God, for Christians, made known in Christ.
Even if they pray.
Rather, the powerful of our day, much like the powerful throughout much of the Bible, and history,
are willing to crucify most of humanity in exchange for, not 30 pieces of silver (Matt 27:5),
but, rather, for all the wealth and kingdoms of the world (Matt 4:9).
Corporations, banks, and politicians have given in to Satan's lure in the wilderness:
the temptation that Christ resisted (Matt 4:10),
and the temptation that Judas repented from in suicide (Matt 27:5).
The worship of Mammon has resulted in the sacrifice of the innocent (Matt 27:4),
leaving humanity the beaten and bloodied Body of Christ (Rom 7:4),
hoping, yearning, and longing for Resurrection.
Until Resurrection begins and overcomes, the Church preaches Christ Crucified (1 Cor 1:23).
And we look, earnestly, for the Resurrection of the Dead (Nicene Creed).
It has become quite clear to me, as I have been reading through the Gospel of Matthew this year,
a Gospel that shows Jesus constantly criticizing both popular religion and those in political power, urging them to repent for the sake of Love, for the sake of the poor (Matt 19:21) and for sake of the Kingdom of God,
(a Kingdom where the first shall be last, and the last shall be first; the lowly lifted up and the high brought down, a Kingdom where blessed are the hungry, those who hunger for justice, and those who weep; where blessed are the poor and the poor in spirit, the merciful, and those who are now persecuted, oppressed, imprisoned for the sake of God's Kingdom of justice and mercy and Love
BECAUSE one day that WILL NOT BE THE CASE anymore) (Matt 5, etc., etc., etc.),
a message that ultimately leaves him arrested and crucified (Matt 27)...
It's become quite clear that if Christians actually care at all about following and/or proclaiming Christ's teachings,
then out of Love for our neighbor,
out of care for the 99% (or whatever number you prefer)...
Out of care for the crowds (who, in Jesus' time, were the 10% of the people who only had 90% of the wealth), to whom Jesus ministers (Matt 5:1, Matt 8:1, etc.)
the world-wide crowd we now see beaten and lying on the side of the road (Lk 10:30-37)
while the powerful feast with fine wine from thrones on high...
Out of care for the cracked and broken people whom Jesus calls the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Matt 5:13-16)...
out of Love, we, the Church, are now being called to act.
Fortunately, as in the Life of Jesus, as well as in the book of Acts, the Holy Spirit often moves first outside of houses of worship, and then sends messengers to the faithful: prophets, missionaries, Christ himself.
As stated above, our current economic situation, I believe, is not just economic or political.
It is a Spiritual crisis.
And, at root, it is a problem of Idolatry.
I believe the Holy Spirit has begun to work in a great and visible way in the Occupy movements around the globe. Though critique has often held that the message of the protesters is often unclear, or at least muddled, it seems one thing is clear:
People are angry about Greed and injustice.
The call of the people, in religious language, is a call to those in power to repent.
To change a system wallowing in the Sin of excess.
Calling the 1% to turn from their idolatry. (They do have a chance to repent).
To serve the poor, whom Christ served, and to turn away from the God called Mammon.
In this sense, this is a deeply spiritual movement.
And the church would do well to open its doors and ears and join in the call of Amos and Isaiah and John the Baptist and Christ.
The church would do well to speak truth to power, and call the 1% to repent.
In the name of the Crucified and Resurrecting God.
Amen.
The God of Christian theology is a God who sacrifices himself
in order to lift up the poor and the lowly.
The God called Mammon (Wealth, Money, Greed)
is a god who, when worshiped,
always
(and without exception)
demands human sacrifice.
So our Lord says:
You can't serve God and Mammon. -Matt 6:24b
You can't serve God and Money.
You can't serve God and Wealth.
Ever.
You can not.
Unfortunately, our current economic and political systems are set up in such a way that those in power:
our politicians, our banks, our corporations,
do not worship the God of the Bible,
or the God, for Christians, made known in Christ.
Even if they pray.
Rather, the powerful of our day, much like the powerful throughout much of the Bible, and history,
are willing to crucify most of humanity in exchange for, not 30 pieces of silver (Matt 27:5),
but, rather, for all the wealth and kingdoms of the world (Matt 4:9).
Corporations, banks, and politicians have given in to Satan's lure in the wilderness:
the temptation that Christ resisted (Matt 4:10),
and the temptation that Judas repented from in suicide (Matt 27:5).
The worship of Mammon has resulted in the sacrifice of the innocent (Matt 27:4),
leaving humanity the beaten and bloodied Body of Christ (Rom 7:4),
hoping, yearning, and longing for Resurrection.
Until Resurrection begins and overcomes, the Church preaches Christ Crucified (1 Cor 1:23).
And we look, earnestly, for the Resurrection of the Dead (Nicene Creed).
It has become quite clear to me, as I have been reading through the Gospel of Matthew this year,
a Gospel that shows Jesus constantly criticizing both popular religion and those in political power, urging them to repent for the sake of Love, for the sake of the poor (Matt 19:21) and for sake of the Kingdom of God,
(a Kingdom where the first shall be last, and the last shall be first; the lowly lifted up and the high brought down, a Kingdom where blessed are the hungry, those who hunger for justice, and those who weep; where blessed are the poor and the poor in spirit, the merciful, and those who are now persecuted, oppressed, imprisoned for the sake of God's Kingdom of justice and mercy and Love
BECAUSE one day that WILL NOT BE THE CASE anymore) (Matt 5, etc., etc., etc.),
a message that ultimately leaves him arrested and crucified (Matt 27)...
It's become quite clear that if Christians actually care at all about following and/or proclaiming Christ's teachings,
then out of Love for our neighbor,
out of care for the 99% (or whatever number you prefer)...
Out of care for the crowds (who, in Jesus' time, were the 10% of the people who only had 90% of the wealth), to whom Jesus ministers (Matt 5:1, Matt 8:1, etc.)
the world-wide crowd we now see beaten and lying on the side of the road (Lk 10:30-37)
while the powerful feast with fine wine from thrones on high...
Out of care for the cracked and broken people whom Jesus calls the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Matt 5:13-16)...
out of Love, we, the Church, are now being called to act.
Fortunately, as in the Life of Jesus, as well as in the book of Acts, the Holy Spirit often moves first outside of houses of worship, and then sends messengers to the faithful: prophets, missionaries, Christ himself.
As stated above, our current economic situation, I believe, is not just economic or political.
It is a Spiritual crisis.
And, at root, it is a problem of Idolatry.
I believe the Holy Spirit has begun to work in a great and visible way in the Occupy movements around the globe. Though critique has often held that the message of the protesters is often unclear, or at least muddled, it seems one thing is clear:
People are angry about Greed and injustice.
The call of the people, in religious language, is a call to those in power to repent.
To change a system wallowing in the Sin of excess.
Calling the 1% to turn from their idolatry. (They do have a chance to repent).
To serve the poor, whom Christ served, and to turn away from the God called Mammon.
In this sense, this is a deeply spiritual movement.
And the church would do well to open its doors and ears and join in the call of Amos and Isaiah and John the Baptist and Christ.
The church would do well to speak truth to power, and call the 1% to repent.
In the name of the Crucified and Resurrecting God.
Amen.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Bridgeport International Sept.
Hey Kids - Here is the unedited version of my shorter article written for the Sept. edition of the Bridgeport International. Print copies can be found at Trinity, the Coffee Shop, and Maria's.
Peace!
tom
Dear Reverend,
I’m angry with my neighbors. They have loud parties early into the mornings and leave garbage around the yard and street. I’m also concerned that these neighbors are involved in gang activity. No one on my block is friendly and with the police so busy fighting “real crime” I feel alone in solving this problem. What would you suggest?
Sincerely,
Exasperated Local
E.L. -
My favorite Christian Theologians talk about the concept of sin like this: Sin is that which is made manifest in broken relationships. If we think about sin this way, we find that breaking rules—even religious rules—is less of a problem than fracturing relationships. The goal of ethics is mutual, neighborly, brotherly and sisterly love, between people and people, people and creation, and people and God.
In the Bible, Jesus is criticized by the orthodox of his time for breaking the Sabbath. That is, breaking religious laws. But he's justified, in that in his act of transgression, people were fed and people were healed. Love happened when Jesus “sinned.” So it wasn't sin after all.
But love's not happening to you.
You're angry.
You have been sinned against.
Your ears, your sleep cycle, and your sidewalk have been transgressed, polluted, profaned.
What's a neighbor to do?
Jesus' most famous advice on dealing with conflict is the advice that he gives in the Gospel called Matthew (chapter 18). He says something like this: If a brother or sister sins against you, first go confront him/her alone, in private, seeking reconciliation. If that doesn't work, go back with two or three witnesses. And if he/she still doesn't listen, then bring the community. If that doesn't work, away with them. Don't let them waste any more of your time.
How does that translate into the twenty-first century?
First, don't go alone. Humans have guns and drugs now, and they've been known to use them simultaneously. Bring a friend, But definitely go. Talk to your neighbors. In person. Direct communication. No notes on the door or letters in the mailbox. No texts or emails or passive aggressive facebook status updates that they hopefully, maybe, might see.
Talk to your neighbors. In person. When they're not partying. When it is light outside. And after you've come down from your anger a bit. An herbal tea from Bridgeport Coffee Company tends to calm me down.
Use I statements, not you statements. I feel un-rested because the music was loud last night, rather than, You are loud and annoying every night, stupid-face.
If they hear you out: great! You've gained a brother or a sister (Matt 18:15).
If not, talk to your other neighbors. You say nobody on your block is friendly. That's sad, but they just might be mad about the same things you are. And nothing brings folks together like anger.
If your neighbors have no regard for the wishes of all your other neighbors, it may be time to bring your now organized neighbors to the landlord. Tell the landlord that you would like these tenants evicted. Ask the landlord to answer clearly, yes or no, and tell the landlord what the consequences will be if he or she doesn't comply. The landlord isn't going to evict someone just because you complain. You're not that special. There have to be consequences if he/she does not comply.
From exasperated local to community organizer. Way to go, E.L.
Or you could just buy some earplugs.
Peace.
Rev. Tom Gaulke
Pastor, First Trinity Lutheran Church, Bridgeport
Peace!
tom
Dear Reverend,
I’m angry with my neighbors. They have loud parties early into the mornings and leave garbage around the yard and street. I’m also concerned that these neighbors are involved in gang activity. No one on my block is friendly and with the police so busy fighting “real crime” I feel alone in solving this problem. What would you suggest?
Sincerely,
Exasperated Local
E.L. -
My favorite Christian Theologians talk about the concept of sin like this: Sin is that which is made manifest in broken relationships. If we think about sin this way, we find that breaking rules—even religious rules—is less of a problem than fracturing relationships. The goal of ethics is mutual, neighborly, brotherly and sisterly love, between people and people, people and creation, and people and God.
In the Bible, Jesus is criticized by the orthodox of his time for breaking the Sabbath. That is, breaking religious laws. But he's justified, in that in his act of transgression, people were fed and people were healed. Love happened when Jesus “sinned.” So it wasn't sin after all.
But love's not happening to you.
You're angry.
You have been sinned against.
Your ears, your sleep cycle, and your sidewalk have been transgressed, polluted, profaned.
What's a neighbor to do?
Jesus' most famous advice on dealing with conflict is the advice that he gives in the Gospel called Matthew (chapter 18). He says something like this: If a brother or sister sins against you, first go confront him/her alone, in private, seeking reconciliation. If that doesn't work, go back with two or three witnesses. And if he/she still doesn't listen, then bring the community. If that doesn't work, away with them. Don't let them waste any more of your time.
How does that translate into the twenty-first century?
First, don't go alone. Humans have guns and drugs now, and they've been known to use them simultaneously. Bring a friend, But definitely go. Talk to your neighbors. In person. Direct communication. No notes on the door or letters in the mailbox. No texts or emails or passive aggressive facebook status updates that they hopefully, maybe, might see.
Talk to your neighbors. In person. When they're not partying. When it is light outside. And after you've come down from your anger a bit. An herbal tea from Bridgeport Coffee Company tends to calm me down.
Use I statements, not you statements. I feel un-rested because the music was loud last night, rather than, You are loud and annoying every night, stupid-face.
If they hear you out: great! You've gained a brother or a sister (Matt 18:15).
If not, talk to your other neighbors. You say nobody on your block is friendly. That's sad, but they just might be mad about the same things you are. And nothing brings folks together like anger.
If your neighbors have no regard for the wishes of all your other neighbors, it may be time to bring your now organized neighbors to the landlord. Tell the landlord that you would like these tenants evicted. Ask the landlord to answer clearly, yes or no, and tell the landlord what the consequences will be if he or she doesn't comply. The landlord isn't going to evict someone just because you complain. You're not that special. There have to be consequences if he/she does not comply.
From exasperated local to community organizer. Way to go, E.L.
Or you could just buy some earplugs.
Peace.
Rev. Tom Gaulke
Pastor, First Trinity Lutheran Church, Bridgeport
Thursday, July 7, 2011
bridgeport international
hey friends - i am working on a newsletter with some cool kids in the neighborhood, called:
the bridgeport international
Here is a draft of what may be my article.
Peace.
tom
Dear Reverend,
During last winter's blizzard my wife, friends and I hotly debated the ethical and moral implications of reserving a parking space with lawn furniture, or other household items. The shear amount of snow the blizzard dumped on the city certainly made it tempting to save the spot one work hours to clear. Yet when Chicago has an average storm (2-3 inches of snow) it hardly seems fair for someone to claim public space, especially when so little effort was expended to clear the parking spot. I won't even get into how terrible the neighborhood looks with all that junk in the street.
As a man-of-the-cloth what do you think of this moral and ethical dilemma? Is there a point at which streets filled with lawn furniture is morally acceptable?
Be Well,
Dan
Dan–
Wow: a perennial question. And quite fit for the month of July.
At the center of my faith (and ethics) is an ideal that professes that one loves God by loving one's neighbor. Period. That's how it happens. If you're not loving other people, you're not loving God. Even if you think you are.
But there's more than just love.
Also in the mix of ideologies inherited by Christians over the past 2,000 years, is the ideal of self-sacrifice (a.k.a.. altruism). “Perfect” altruism is modeled, ultimately, by Christ, who, according to much of Christian theology, gives his life for the sake of giving other folks new life.
So we've got Love. And we've got Altruism.
When we put these ideals together, we get something really, really, beautiful.
(Sometimes).
Other times, this combination really sucks.
For example: misguided clergy of Christian past have done awfully horrible things with these ideals.
Such as: advising an abused spouse to stay in an abusive relationship, claiming that was that spouse's “cross to bear,” and that the right thing to do was to endure the suffering for the sake of staying together. For the kids. For the marriage. For Altruism. For Love. Nonsense.
God's not into people getting beat up.
Self-sacrifice, when chosen, might be noble (like a kid jumping in front of a bus to save another kid). But when imposed from the outside, or by societal expectations, it's not self-sacrifice. It's oppression.
And God's not into oppression.
The God of the Bible is into liberation. Redemption. Deliverance.
What's this have to do with snow?
We certainly don't live in a neighborhood so morally bound that its members will look at your dug-out spot after a big storm and say to themselves:
“Well, somebody else dug a spot for him/herself here! Therefore: I ought to dig a spot for myself. After all, that's only fair!”
And you, as a moral person, even with an ideal of Love and Altruism, are in no way obligated to dig out someone-else's spot, though it would be nice to do so for an elderly neighbor.
If someone were to take “your” spot, who was perfectly capable of digging out their “own” (and you were okay with that), you would simply be enabling that person to be lazy, get fatter, and continually abuse other spot-diggers in the neighborhood. Not cool.
In my opinion, the best way to be ethical in such a situation—the best way to be both neighbor-loving, and to encourage healthy, mutually self-giving relationships, would be to:
Not simply dig yourself out and call “dibs,” claiming: to each his/her own;
Not sacrifice self for the sake of an abuser by digging out spaces and giving them away without discretion, leaving yourself (and those really in need) without a spot;
but, rather:
to love your neighbors by meeting them. Gather your dig-able neighbors and their shovels. Go out for a couple of hours, and clear the whole block. And if your block wants to call dibs: fine. You deserve it.
The snow is deep.
May your love be deeper.
Peace.
Rev. Tom Gaulke
First Trinity Lutheran Church, Bridgeport
the bridgeport international
Here is a draft of what may be my article.
Peace.
tom
Dear Reverend,
During last winter's blizzard my wife, friends and I hotly debated the ethical and moral implications of reserving a parking space with lawn furniture, or other household items. The shear amount of snow the blizzard dumped on the city certainly made it tempting to save the spot one work hours to clear. Yet when Chicago has an average storm (2-3 inches of snow) it hardly seems fair for someone to claim public space, especially when so little effort was expended to clear the parking spot. I won't even get into how terrible the neighborhood looks with all that junk in the street.
As a man-of-the-cloth what do you think of this moral and ethical dilemma? Is there a point at which streets filled with lawn furniture is morally acceptable?
Be Well,
Dan
Dan–
Wow: a perennial question. And quite fit for the month of July.
At the center of my faith (and ethics) is an ideal that professes that one loves God by loving one's neighbor. Period. That's how it happens. If you're not loving other people, you're not loving God. Even if you think you are.
But there's more than just love.
Also in the mix of ideologies inherited by Christians over the past 2,000 years, is the ideal of self-sacrifice (a.k.a.. altruism). “Perfect” altruism is modeled, ultimately, by Christ, who, according to much of Christian theology, gives his life for the sake of giving other folks new life.
So we've got Love. And we've got Altruism.
When we put these ideals together, we get something really, really, beautiful.
(Sometimes).
Other times, this combination really sucks.
For example: misguided clergy of Christian past have done awfully horrible things with these ideals.
Such as: advising an abused spouse to stay in an abusive relationship, claiming that was that spouse's “cross to bear,” and that the right thing to do was to endure the suffering for the sake of staying together. For the kids. For the marriage. For Altruism. For Love. Nonsense.
God's not into people getting beat up.
Self-sacrifice, when chosen, might be noble (like a kid jumping in front of a bus to save another kid). But when imposed from the outside, or by societal expectations, it's not self-sacrifice. It's oppression.
And God's not into oppression.
The God of the Bible is into liberation. Redemption. Deliverance.
What's this have to do with snow?
We certainly don't live in a neighborhood so morally bound that its members will look at your dug-out spot after a big storm and say to themselves:
“Well, somebody else dug a spot for him/herself here! Therefore: I ought to dig a spot for myself. After all, that's only fair!”
And you, as a moral person, even with an ideal of Love and Altruism, are in no way obligated to dig out someone-else's spot, though it would be nice to do so for an elderly neighbor.
If someone were to take “your” spot, who was perfectly capable of digging out their “own” (and you were okay with that), you would simply be enabling that person to be lazy, get fatter, and continually abuse other spot-diggers in the neighborhood. Not cool.
In my opinion, the best way to be ethical in such a situation—the best way to be both neighbor-loving, and to encourage healthy, mutually self-giving relationships, would be to:
Not simply dig yourself out and call “dibs,” claiming: to each his/her own;
Not sacrifice self for the sake of an abuser by digging out spaces and giving them away without discretion, leaving yourself (and those really in need) without a spot;
but, rather:
to love your neighbors by meeting them. Gather your dig-able neighbors and their shovels. Go out for a couple of hours, and clear the whole block. And if your block wants to call dibs: fine. You deserve it.
The snow is deep.
May your love be deeper.
Peace.
Rev. Tom Gaulke
First Trinity Lutheran Church, Bridgeport
Saturday, June 25, 2011
It's been a while.
Hey folks - So, I've kinda switched preaching styles, and very seldom use manuscripts as of late, leaving this blog rather deserted. Alas... I hope to be posting again soon. Until then, peace. And happy Ordinary Time.
tom
tom
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