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A Few Words from Pastor Bryan
...and Ted Koppel
I was so glad to see a number of you from our congregation on the screen last night for the presentation on Immigration Justice featuring Doug Pagitt of Vote Common Good. Doug and his team have visited our congregation twice in recent years, once to talk about immigration, and the other to talk about so-called “Christian Nationalism.”
Last night’s presentation was recorded in case you missed it. I was hoping to give you a link here to the recording but it has taken most of the day to upload the 90 minute file and it is still in process. I'll send out the link in a separate email as soon as I have it, and it will be on our church's YouTube channel as well.
In his presentation last night, Doug effectively responded to a number of the most common arguments we hear by those who are opposed to immigration and who are afraid of an “invasion” of immigrants at our southern border. I strongly encourage you to watch this and equip yourself to be able to speak more factually and faithfully regarding immigration realities. If you, for example, find yourself sometimes thinking, “I’m fine with people coming to the U.S. but I just want them to do it legally,” please watch this presentation.
One thing we did not have time to get into last night though was why the facts regarding the reality of the southern border will most likely not be enough to convince many people who are anti-immigration that their fears are unfounded and many of their positions do not hold water in reality. I find myself wondering what’s really at stake when people simply refuse or are unwilling to deal with reality. Sure, the misunderstandings, distortions, and outright lies are being fed strategically and effectively to us all on a regular basis. It is hard to know who and what to trust, and everyone’s position and perspective should be vetted and scrutinized. But there is a point at which facts are facts and the truth is the truth. One of the most dangerous and disorienting things about life in our culture at this point in history is the extent to which lies are not only presented as truth, but passionately believed and clung to by so many . I knew we were in trouble almost a decade ago when certain political spokespersons and media pundits started talking about “alternative facts,” and doing so without blushing.
I hope those of you who have been around our congregation for a while since I’ve been your pastor know that I really am not interested in approaching social justice issues in terms of partisan politics. I have no desire to frame issues in terms of “left vs. right,” “conservative vs. liberal,” “democrat vs. republican,” or even “sacred vs. secular.” I don't think these dichotomies are helpful. They only divide us further from each other. I simply want to know what’s true and real so that I can commit myself to positions that are as just and loving as possible for the greatest number of people, for the wellbeing of the natural world, and for the most vulnerable and exploited among us. That is not my desire because I’m “progressive” or even because I’m trying to be a “good person.” I desire truth and justice and love because I am trying to live in alignment with the Spirit, and because I am committed to trying to follow the teachings and example of Jesus.
In the 12 step recovery world, there is a saying that is often used to emphasize how important it is to get out of denial about one’s core issues, and to stop numbing out or running away from difficult truths. The saying is, “life on life’s terms.” That means facing what truly IS, whatever it happens to be. That’s the only way healing and transformation can happen. To me, this is what Jesus meant when he said in John 8:32, “You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” No truth, no freedom.
There’s a chilling interview that Fox icon Sean Hannity did not long ago with retired anchorman Ted Koppel. Here’s a link to the part I’m referring to here. At the end of the interview Sean said to Ted, “So you think I’m bad for America?” And very calmly Ted Koppel responded by saying this;
“In the long haul I think you and all these opinion shows are bad. You know why? Because you’re VERY good at what you do, and because you have attracted people who are determined that ideology is more important than facts.”
“Ideology is more important than facts.”
That’s quite a statement, and I'm afraid it is profoundly accurate and profoundly dangerous. But that's where we are. And once again, we followers of Jesus don't get to just point a finger at someone else. We have to first look at ourselves and admit how difficult being truthful can be for all of us. The danger of refusing to deal with reality can apply to each of us as individuals in our own personal journeys as well as to nations or groups of people wrestling with social issues. None of us are immune. I can think of plenty of times in my life when I was simply unwilling or unable or just not ready to admit or deal with the truth about something or someone (including myself) for any number of reasons. Sometimes I was afraid. Embarrassed. Ashamed. Or afraid of who I might hurt or disappoint. Or what friendship or affirmation or support I might lose. Sometimes the energy and time it would take to let go of one point of view or perspective was just more than I was willing or ready to deal with. Sometimes I was just too invested in my own opinions or positions to entertain the possibility that the foundations of my position were full of cracks. All I know is that real growth and healing has only come to me and to many others I’ve known when I/we were finally ready and willing to be honest, no matter what, and face what's real. Richard Rohr once wrote that "contemplation is nothing more than a long loving look at the real." I think it's time for us all to contemplate the issue of immigration.
At our best, the community of faith we call church is a group of people who are committed to helping each other deal faithfully with reality. With life on life’s terms. We create an atmosphere in which it is safe to admit when we’ve been wrong, and in which it is safe for others to question even their most cherished and long held beliefs. We offer each other and ourselves the amazing Grace of God that enables us to embrace—without shame or fear-- Truth and facts, no matter what they are or where they lead.
I’m not sure if we Americans are ready and willing to embrace reality regarding immigration or any number of things. And we all need to listen and learn and be open to opposing points of view and even different interpretations of what actual facts will compel us to do in response. But we also need to speak the truth in love in as many ways as we can, and to give God a chance to correct distortions and lies within us when we perpetuate them, and through us when we have access to truths that others need to hear. To be blunt, I think we need to lovingly but firmly and clearly speak out now regarding what's happening (and NOT happening) at the southern U.S. border.
Let’s stand for justice, compassion, truth, love, humility, and for the wellbeing of all persons. Let’s embrace life on life’s terms, do it together, and have some fun in the process. Let’s do this with regard to all the issues connected to immigration, and with regard to every issue and every aspect of life. In other words, let’s enjoy being on the Path of Jesus together.
Grace and Peace to you all,
Pastor Bryan
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