Today we are bombarded with a theology of certitude. I don’t find much biblical support for the stance of “God told me and I’m telling you, and if you don’t believe as I do, you’re doomed.” A sort of “My god can whip your “god” posture. From Abraham, going out by faith not knowing where he was being sent, to Jesus before the cross, beseeching the Father for a better way, there was always more inquiring faith than conceited certainty.
Why can there not be a one-sentence peace treaty: “It shall be a violation of international law for any nation to kill a child of another nation.” What nation would not sign the treaty? And how would war then be waged?
Let every congregation adopt one person who lives on the streets. Ask no questions as to their worthiness. Who among us is worthy? Just find them lodging, a job, friends – give them hope. That would solve the problem of people living on the streets.
Miss Velma Westbury used to say, “If you just love the folks that’s easy to love, that really ain’t no love at all.” She said, “If you love one, you have to love ‘em all.” That is the radical message of Easter. That is the glad tidings of Christmas…. Of course, some folks said Miss Velma was crazy.
Most of the serious wars today are by people of competing religions. That’s absurd. Let’s do it this way: Judaism is the oldest of the three major faiths. Christianity is the adolescent in the middle, and Islam is the youngest. The youngest is generally favored in a family. So let’s all go to their house, all kneel on a rug and put our heads to the ground, and pray, vowing as we do never to kill one another again in the name of God.
