Ponder Anew

I believe that Jesus was killed by the Empire for political reasons. Herod and his Empire loyalists were going after him since his birth in Bethlehem. Other religious political parties were also threatening him, soon after he began his ministry near his hometown of Nazareth. The Empire was interested.

What was it in Jesus’ message that got the politicians and the military so angry ? Jesus announced that new kingdom had arrived. The Caesar of the day might have thought of that as a threat to his rule of power. Some of the Caesars thought of themselves as the sons of God, so they would not have taken kindly to Jesus’ proclamation for himself as a new leader. Jesus called himself the Son of God. The Empire took notice.

And Jesus’ message was intended for the “ least of these “ or the “ the last will be first “ , or “ master will become the servant and the servant to become the master “ He sounds like he wants to bring down the powerful from their thrones, and have an equality for all. His mom had this poem come from the depths of her soul that talks about everything being turned upside down . Is Mary a political activist because she knew her son would change the world ? And Jesus’ disciples gave up everything, to follow this guy who said that a new kingdom was coming. His sermon that he delivered in front of a large crowd was all about changing the way the world should live. The Empire would have taken notice.

The Empire from Rome had been in power for a long time. They did not want to give it up. They controlled all things through the power of the sword. Their motto was “Pax Romana “ that meant the Peace of Rome. But, that peace was maintained  by the power of its military might . The Empire was large and powerful, extending itself from Rome to Ephesus ( Turkey today ) to Germany ( Gaul) to north Africa. They were brutal to any movement that would decrease their power. They crucified many criminals and non-criminals that put the fear of fear in everyone who saw them happen.  The Empire noticed everything .

So, the authorities put Jesus on a cross , and he died. The Empire thought it was done with him. While on the cross, Jesus did not say anything overtly political. His conversation with Pilate, the representative of the Empire in Jerusalem, is very interesting. Pilate tries to get Jesus to be political, but Jesus deflects with words and questions . Pilate cannot understand why others want him killed, but he is frustrated by Jesus. In the end, he sentenced Jesus  to death, but tried to wash his hands of the death sentence. I think because he did not understand, it was better to just kill Jesus, and be done with it. The Empire took notice of Jesus when he had come to Jerusalem at the Passover festival, and they had him killed.

The women celebrated the resurrection after three days, and the community of Jesus continued as a dangerous movement towards the Empire. After about three hundred years , the Empire realized the power of Jesus’ Church, and it co-opted the Church. The Emperor became a Christian, and the Church became part of the Empire . Christians began to serve in the military. The church leaders became part of the Empire’s religion. The Empire was always taking notice.

If Jesus’ death was political, as I believe, does it change the way we see salvation, and how we act in our world ? And the Empire is still watching.

Fred Redekop

A friend of mine went to Spring training baseball in Florida this year . He is Blue Jay fan, so he went to watch them get ready for their new season of baseball. He spent about two weeks there. He did not get a car, but depended on public transit. One evening, he missed the last bus to get back to his hotel. He could have walked to the hotel, but he did not know the area well, and  he thought it might take an hour. He went over to the convenience store to ask about the bus, and other transportation. One of the people in the store asked him if he was asking for someone to drive him to his hotel, and a woman in the store said to him , “ I would drive you, but I did not bring my gun .”

This story tells me that I do not know how the world works. This short story above makes me realize that in any given situation, I do not know what is going on. Why does this woman need a gun ? Does everyone carry a weapon in that community ? Is that area of the United States so dangerous that one must always think of carrying a gun ?  And is there that much fear about strangers or about family,  that this is the reaction of a person to someone who is asking for a ride ? The world is a crazy place I guess, or is this the new normal ?

But the community in central Florida, might think that carrying a loaded gun is just normal. Is 33,000 gun deaths a year in America normal ?  Is the first reaction to a fearful situation  to pull a gun, normal ? Gun deaths in America are so normal that they are very seldom reported on except if it considered to be a mass killing . Three people here, and four children there is not news anymore .

What do I take as normal in my home community here in Elmira that should be changed ? In Canada, there is a large number of single women with children , who live under that poverty line. Why is this accepted as part of our society? Why are people who struggle with addiction to drugs sent to jail, when they suffering from an illness ? What is now taken as normal in Elmira ?  

We take as normal, that Canada sells arms to countries that deny their citizens basic human rights? We sell over 140 million dollars worth of arms to  Saudi Arabia, and almost ask no questions ? We provide weapons and resources to countries at war as well. I think that Canada is about human rights and an end to all wars. We seem to be making money on weapons. Is this is what Canada should be all about ? Should we not invest money in industries that make the world a better place ? I might be naive, but war and war making should never be considered normal.

If I had been in Florida, and had a woman say that to me about her gun, what should I have said, because that should not be normal part of life ? How do engage with each other about difficult conversations around gun control, selling of weapons and poverty. These issues can never become just normal . Never.

Fred Redekop

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German theologian, teacher and pastor. He was executed by the Nazis in 1945 in Flossenburg concentration camp. Days after the Nazis were democratically elected in Germany in 1933, Bonhoeffer began to speak against the theology of the Nazis, and speak for the Church of Jesus Christ.

Bonhoeffer had spent a year studying in New York at Union Seminary. It was a very liberal school, but he had followed the work of the Swiss theologian Karl Barth. Barth’s theology consisted of saying that Christianity was to follow the person of Jesus Christ. It lent itself to a personal relationship to the Saviour. Both Bonhoeffer and Barth used the techniques of higher criticism, but they ended up at a different place than most early 20th century theologians.

Bonhoeffer went to many African American churches during his year in America, and it seems to have been a life changing worship for him. He does not talk in terms of being born again, but he seems to have changed. He began to read the Bible everyday, and talked about the need to know Christ on a personal basis.  Though he said that the rest of the American church was dead, but he was excited about the people who were former slaves, who had continued to believe.

And he became transformed by the Sermon on the Mount as well. It was the way to live in our world, and not a mandate for heavenly life. I had always heard about Bonhoeffer, but our book club is reading Eric Metaxas’ biography, and I have a deeper reverence for the ways that Bonhoeffer lived  his faith in Nazi Germany, and confronted the Church and the Fuhrer.

I am not as strong in my faith, as Bonhoeffer and others who were part of the Confessing Church. The Nazis took over the German Lutheran Church, so that they would agree with the Nazi movement . Immediately after the Nazis took over in 1933, and Hitler became Chancellor, Jews were targeted for abuse and ridicule.  Bonhoeffer stood up against these kinds of activities, but could not stop it. After being in England for a few years, he returned to Germany. As a matter of faith , he went back to Nazi Germany to see if he could change the way of history, and force the Church to be the Church.

In the end, he attempted with others to assassinate Hitler. They were unsuccessful, and he was executed for something else, but he was killed for trying to kill the Fuhrer. I would not try to assassinate anyone, but I would not judge Bonhoeffer for what he did. He had hoped it would end the suffering and carnage. He was a man of great faith, and was passionate about never having the church succumb to the power of the state.

As I have been reading about the role of the state and church in Germany, I have thought of the evangelical movement in the United States ( an maybe in Canada too) as they want the  support of the President . Mr. Trump is not a man of faith, but he likes the Church to prop up his many opinions while he is President.  What should the church do ? The Church should of Christ, and not of the state.

Fred Redekop

Why would a man take a gun, and go into a mosque, and kill and injure almost 100 people.? And it seems that he had planned it for a very long time. He picked out the mosque that he planned to carry out this massacre. He had had these feelings for a long time. In his manifesto or essay, he talked about the many other massacres that had inspired such violence. He named the shooter who killed the Muslims at the mosque in Quebec City.

This is a lot of hatred built up over a long time. I think about doing stupid stuff , but my conscience or ethics stops me quickly. I would never think about doing this. What happened to this man, that he carried these kinds of thoughts for such a long time in his life ? He may have kept them to himself, and he never had a doubt he had in his mind that he was going to do ? How can a person keep such awful thoughts and actions in his mind for such a long time ? Is he mentally ill ? And what is wrong with Muslims ? Nothing.

We think this is awful, but what about rational killing by the military-industrial complex that happens everyday. But , that is for our own self-defence. We are killing our enemies ( I know Jesus said something about enemies one time ), and that seems to be fine. We rationalize it as part of our national security. We can threaten Haiti, Panama, Venezuela, Iran, Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan among many other places. And we call it normal. Threatening nations and people should not be considered normal at all. Politicians in Canada and America talk about that the problems in Venezuela might call into question our national security ( it is all about oil ? ). They have said this with a straight face, like it is normal. So, we can attack the country of Venezuela whenever we feel the need. Even if that would go against international law, but it is in our national security. No questions asked.

Let me return to the recent events of New Zealand. If this man thinks that a certain religious or ethnic group is endangering his life and the life of his country , then he thinks he is justified in carrying out this violent act of killing innocent people. I presume, if he say it to himself over and over again, that is becomes to him a justifiable act. It is not. It is a crime against humanity . It is a crimes against all of us. It hurts all of us.

“God, we are a broken and sinful people. Come near us, so that we might learn to be compassionate people to everyone. Help us to love even our enemies . That will change our perspective in life, but maybe not our enemy. Your son’s words on the cross, saying, “ Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing [ to me ] . Forgiveness and reconciliation are the hardest things in life. They are not easy God. Help us along, so we might be peacemakers. AMEN. “

Fred Redekop

Ash Wednesday 2019

It is 7:00 am, and I am preparing to be anointed with ashes this evening. The local Lutheran church celebrates this sacred event every year for the community. I have participated for the last 20 years. It was not my tradition growing, but I have looked forward to it , as I have been been living in the community.

Last year, there was a school shooting in Florida on Ash Wednesday, and one of the photos that I remember is a mother screaming about the tragedy, but she had the sign of the cross etched on her forehead, “ ashes to ashes and dust to dust”. She had attended an Ash Wednesday service that morning in Parkland , Florida

I will reflect on the day, and the sacred ash ceremony, and get back to you…..

Last night, we had about 50 worshippers in Elmira come to participate with the ashes. The text for the service was Jesus’ temptations in the desert for 40 days and 40 nights. Physical power, political activity and religious dominance are the three things that Jesus was tempted to take from the devil. Who is this devil, that would have this kind of power over Jesus, the Son of God.

“ Dust you have come, and to dust you will return “ is what I heard the pastor say, as he put the ashes on my forehead in the form of a cross. The Ashes are all about being okay with dying. We are to walk the 40 days to Easter with being comfortable with the death of Jesus, our Saviour,and our own deaths. I have been close to death, but I am still not comfortable with it. I guess I am ready for another Lenten journey, to try to give everything over to God.

 After the ashes were finished, the pastor offered to us the bread and cup of faith.We reenacted the final meal that Jesus had with his friends. People came forward to take the bread and then drink from the common cup. Communion is a community event, and it is a event for the community of churches here in Elmira.

Now, what do the ashes mean for me in my everyday life ? To be reminded that there are the dark days of all of our lives. Walking and talking with Jesus can be an experience every day of Lent, as well as all of the 365 days of the year. I forget that relationship as I get busy with the activities of life ?

Prayer of the Ashes

God, the ashes come from last year’s palm branches,

             At least that is what they tell me,

             And that is what the tradition says,

God, the ashes wash away at the next shower

       ,  like they did this morning,

       , so they are gone down the drain.

God, how can I keep the blackness of the ash

       , so they might provide a light for my path.

       , and I might feel and live salvation today, and always.

God,    wash me whiter than snow

       ,    with the darkness of the ash.

       ,    with a promised new life, in forty days.  Amen

Fred Redekop

 

“ You can’t claim to trust in God, and spend trillions on weapons. Jesus put it bluntly , ‘for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also ‘ [ Matthew 6:21 ] “    Postcards from Babylon, by Brian Zahnd.

Brian Zahnd is American. I am a Canadian. I work for Mennonite Central Committee, and the Poole Mennonite Church. Since December I am also a municipal politician in the Waterloo Region in one of the townships. As a Christian, I am committed to the way of nonviolence. I do not always live up to this vision and mission for my life. I do not think that the state ( Canadian government ) will be pacifist. I will not demand it, from my faith, because that is not the state’s role to be pacifist . But, I think we/I should comment on the ways that Canada’s military/government goes about its activity in the world. The state should live up to its own vision, ethics and values.

Canada used to be part of UN peacekeeping missions, and then during a recent Liberal government we left it, but my understanding is that we have returned to this kind of military activity. I do not think that we should be in the business of selling weapons to civil wars, and to regimes that are trying to put down legitimate minorities. We should not make money when people suffer from those arms sales. Look at Saudi Arabia. Why are they a legitimate buyer of our weapons ? Why should we benefit economically from providing weapons to a country with large human rights questions ? They are using our weapons to fight in Yemen. That is not what we want for Canada.

I believe in God. I trust God. Can I just sit back , and say nothing, while the state defends my security through the threat or use of weapons. Do I have more faith in small armoured vehicles than I do in the saving grace of Jesus ? Why should my life be dependant on whether Canada has enough weapons to defend me ( and my faith ) ? How is depending on God for your security different than depending on the military ( ours or NATO or the United States ) ?

Recently, Project Ploughshares asked Prime Minister Trudeau to end the military contracts to Saudi Arabia . Ploughshares is a group churches who want to rid the world of small arms and nuclear weapons, and demilitarize all countries. They are realistic about their aims, and work at calling countries and weapons manufacturers to be about justice and peace.

So, I am a follower of Jesus of Nazareth. When Christians say that we have to be ready to defend ourselves, I see in my mind a picture of Jesus holding  a sword or machine gun. If I mix the two, my faith and our military, then that is what I am doing, and I am not comfortable with that. The early church was not to take up arms, but  when the Church became part of the Empire, then the church was co-opted by the need to defend our privilege and power. The Church of the New Testament was left by the side of the road. Are we part of the Empire today ?

I will keep working for peace.

Fred Redekop

 

I am not an American. I am a Christian. And I have many questions.

President Donald Trump can survive anything. He has been sued hundreds of times over the course of his business career. He failed to pay the contractors of some of his buildings He and his father put some restrictions on people of colour living in their apartment buildings. But, none of these situations have caused him to slow down, or be sent to prison.

He has gone bankrupt six times in his career, by his own admission. It does not seem to have affected his self-confidence. He brags about how smart he is. He knows more about trade than anyone else. He knows more about nuclear weapons than anyone else. He knows more about national security than anyone else.

It has been shown many times that he lies about things all the time. I know that most of this is said by “left” leaning people, but CNN is not leftist at all. How do I know what I know ? It is a tough call to know what is true and what is not true. He even denied saying that he had said during the campaign that Mexico would pay for the border wall.

More than 20 women have accused him of doing sexual harm to them . They cannot not all be lying can they ? Another woman came out last week,  with an accusation that he tried to kiss her without her consent. It was buried in the news. If this happens to a Republican or a Democrat, they respond to it, and often they resign within a week. I believe he does not think that this kind of abuse is wrong, and he forgets about it after he has done it. I believe he has no recollection of what happened. He lives in the moment.

But, maybe there is nothing to all the accusations towards the President. He has not been convicted of anything, but he has paid out people to be quiet or stop criminal proceedings, but that is perfectly legal. Some people say that he is “teflon” . Everything slides off of him, and he continues as if nothing has happened. Maybe nothing has happened, and his life is all above board .

I am a minister of the Christian tradition, so I am intrigued by some of my fellow believers comments about the President. Some say that God had him elected in 2018 because he supports the right to buy and carry a gun. They say he is for certain immigration laws, and that is important to some believers. He is for a more conservative Supreme Court, especially around abortion laws. And he is of course for lower taxes for the rich. Why is this a faith issue ? Recently, I heard someone say that he has this beautiful tan all the time, and that it is a sign of the Holy Spirit in him. He has a prayer circle around him, and he has a spiritual advisor who is a Christian. Who am I to judge anyone if they believe he has been called by God ? By why is he so mean to others, calling them nicknames and belittling them ?

But, I cannot believe he has been called by God. If you believe it, convince me.

Fred Redekop

In the Old Testament ( or Hebrew Scriptures ) there is the story of a man, Jonah , who gets swallowed by a whale, and then three days later he is spit out of the whale’s belly . There is also a story about the sun standing still. There is a story of war where the people of God defeat thousands of soldiers of the enemy with only 300 men.  Also, there is the account of the people of Israel being sent to Babylon because they do not follow the ethics of God. Then at the end of another book, the people of God are told to destroy everything of the nation that had wanted to destroy them. And they annihilated everything.

Then, in the New Testament ( or Christian Scriptures ) , Jesus healed a woman who was bleeding for over 12 years, because she had touched, in the middle of a crowd, his cloak. Jesus of Nazareth also healed people who had had leprosy for most of their lives . They jumped up and down because the sores has somehow left them. Then there are the potluck miracles. One story, and there seems to be two stories, of feeding 5000 men and women, with five loaves and two fish. He invites his friends to help in the distribution, and he blesses the food,and begins to hand it out. After everyone has had enough there are 12 baskets full of leftovers for another meal. I would rather have bread and hummus, than raw fish. I am really not a sushi guy !

Then, there is the raising of the dead of Jesus, now the Christ . He comes into Jerusalem a week before his rising. There is an adoring crowd, but there are also leaders who want him dead. He does some teaching , healing and confronting during the week. He is anointed by a woman  a few days before the action really begins. He has a final meal with his best friends. One friend leaves early to tell the political and religious leaders that Jesus will be walking outside later in the evening. They grab him and arrest him. They put him on trial overnight, and by the next day, he is hanging on a cross, dying a slow death. He dies. His body is taken down by some friends, and is put into a tomb. Then on the third day, men and women see that the tomb is empty. They tell people he is risen. After 40 days,, and a few more sightings, Jesus returns to heaven, and we have waited for his second coming for about 2000 years. We wait impatiently.

What do you think ? I have outlined just a few stories from the Bible. There are many more stories of faithful people since the Bible was written. I was raised from the dead, by God, firemen and my wife . Who knows where they each played a part in that miracle ? What holy book should my story go into today ?

The Bible is for our faith, and not for science or facts . I find the Bible about mystery and uncertainty,  wiht a lot of room for prayer and reflection. The Bible is leading us/me into a new relationship with God every day. I do not need facts from God, and God needs faith from me. And I just need God, and what do you need to today for your life and faith ?

Fred Redekop

 

Sometimes it is only five, other times the news says there are ten things, and many TV  stations deliver BREAKING NEWS after every commercial break. So, what am I to do with all the things that I need to know to make it through the day. CNN has a thing on it website that says the five things I need to know before the Stock Exchange opens at 9:30. Really, most people in the United States do not have money in the stock market. It is mostly for the top 1% or so. But , for some bizarre reason,  I follow the Dow Jones Industrials average throughout the day; and I have no money in it. Ha ha.

So, what do I really need to know to start my day, and then end my day ? Well, I should/do start with God. On my morning walk, I think about whom I should pray for on that day. I have trouble sleeping, and sometimes when I wake up at 3 am, I think of people in my life. And when  I am at church or at Mennonite Central Committee, I think about how I should follow the ways of God.

I need to try to remember to be compassionate to my family, my community and the world. I should start the day with , “ I am a sinner in need of the grace of God “ . I will never be perfect while here on this earth. I mess up all the time. God does not want to shame me. I am in the hands of a gracious of God, who thinks I am perfect, but also realizes that I sin, and I sin boldly. God does not want me to be frozen in sin, and therefore loves me, but I still sin. I use up too much of the earth’s resources. I do not recycle enough. I drive and fly too many times. I have been told this, and yet I do not change the way I live. Ugh ! Do we really have only until 2030 to change our ways. We will not do it because we are too greedy.  “ I am indeed a sinner in need of the grace of God.”

You need to know how much money the world spends on military equipment and soldiers. The United States spends so much, it is sinful. They spend trillions of dollars, and they still do not feel safe. The Middle East has much hardware, sold to them by Canada and the United States, and they do not feel safe either. And the expenditures continue to go up and up. The West has been at war with Afghanistan and Iraq since 2001 and 2003, and what has it accomplished in terms of peace, infrastructure and stable government. And US does not ask if it can stay in Iraq or  Syria, it just does so. I need to know this every morning, but what do I do with it ? I do not know.

Jesus said, and Jesus said a lot of things especially in the Gospel of John, “ You may ask for anything in my name and I will do it.” John 14:14. Maybe that is all I need to know in my life. God is in my corner. God love me. If I need something, God will make sure that I am comforted and cared for in my life. I will not get all I want, but God is… is… will be… and was… and IS

Derf Pokeder

 

I am reading a book recommended by my daughter. It is called A Little Life and it is written by            Hanya Yanagihara . It is about the relationship between four college roommates. Their names are Jude, JB, Malcolm and Willem. The main character is Jude, and he  goes through some terrible things in his life. He is a lawyer, and struggles with health issues. I am only halfway through the book, and it is a long book, over 800 pages. It explores male relationships in these four men who are friends. It is a emotionally packed book, and has many difficult passages to read, but I would recommend it to anyone for a good read.

Jude was a mathematics major as an undergraduate . On page 326,  there is a conversation about a mathematical concept. It concerns the idea of nothingness. Math is most interesting when it is simple, and “ pure math “ is most elegant , as it attempts to find the most simple equations for highly complex problems or theorems. At least this is what I have been told by some math graduates. I am a English and History guy, who has not taken a Math course since Grade 12 Algebra more than forty years ago.

There is the “ axiom of the empty set “ that is also the axiom of zero. In the book, Jude’s professor of math  explains that the best parts of math are the most simple. “The axiom of the empty set is the axiom of zero. it states that there must be a concept of nothingness, that there must be the concept of zero: zero value, zero items. Math assumes there's a concept of nothingness, but is it proven? No. But it must exist.”

What does this say about faith. It tells to me that life and faith or both steeped in mystery. Even Paul, that early church leader, who sometimes talks tough, is all about faith and mystery. He cannot fully explain what happened before life, nor what happens after life. He invites us into a life of faith and mystery, rather than in certainty and facts. “ Math assumes there’s a concept of nothingness, but is it proven ?  No. But it must exist.” Zero is nothing but it has value. It is by faith we accept that. Just as faith in Christ is about faith, and not on what we know. We might not be able to define it, but we have faith that we have faith.

“ We know that both states exist, but we will not be conscious of either experience; they are states that are necessary parts of life, even as they cannot be experienced as life “. Wow! Those are profound words of life and faith. Amazingly simple equation for life, and for faith.

Before life,  and after life, are about nothing. It is the here and now that we know exists because we can feel, relate to others and love one another. It is here that we can make a difference in the world , and try to understand what is in the here and now. At least, I have faith in God, in that.

Fred Redekop