|
A Few Words From Pastor Bryan
Are you a warrior?
This past week during our morning devotions I shared several excepts from Valerie Kaur's amazing book, See No Stranger. I thought it would help make this Sunday's visit to the Sikh Temple in Madison that much more meaningful if we familiarized ourselves with some of the core tenets of the Sikh religion. What an amazing book, and what a beautiful religion.
Here's one thing I never knew about Sikhs. They understand themselves to be "warriors for justice, equality, and love." Both men and women have ways in which they identify themselves openly and physically as Sikhs. The purpose is for others to know that if they are ever in trouble and in need of help, all they need to do is look for a Sikh man or woman and they will immediately know that this is a person who is committed to protecting them, and even fighting for them if necessary. For men, this is what the turban is all about. They wear it so that people anywhere will be able to immediately pick them out and run to them knowing the man with the turban will help and protect them and even defend them physically if push comes to shove.
(This link is to a video of Sikh men using turbans to rescue hikers in Canada from a very dangerous situation!)
This really touches me. Especially when I think of the prejudice, hatred, and violence done against Sikh men simply because their turban makes it obvious that they are "other" or "not one of us." Or because people ignorantly assume the turban means that someone is a Muslim extremist or terrorist. Our ignorance is so dangerous and ugly sometimes. Not to mention the precursor to heinous acts of violence and hate crimes.
Sikh men and women understand themselves to be warriors for justice, equality, and love. They want it to always be easy for people to find them if they need help. They will use their strength, resources, resolve, and even physical force if necessary to defend people who are vulnerable. I love this.
I also can't help but contrast this with times throughout history when the Cross of Christ has been used as a symbol of conquest and domination and the power to force others into submission. That's a tragic misunderstanding of course of what the Cross of Christ is truly about.
There is such a thing as sacred warrior energy. It's a beautiful thing. It's never about using force to dominate or subjugate others for self-centered ego-driven reasons. It's about the willingness to take a strong stand for the sake of justice and love.
Sometimes I think in the name of trying to correct the misuses of warrior language or militaristic metaphors, we've left no place for the sacred warrior in the best possible sense of the word. I think this world needs people who will not stand back or stand by and allow others to be harmed. It's another shade of the Divine Love that is not always quiet or soft and gentle. I'm not talking about machismo or bravado--I'm talking about the boldness and power of clarity regarding what will and will not be tolerated. Period.
I have been blessed to know so many men and women and gender fluid persons who embody this sacred warrior energy beautifully. They know the strength of gentleness, and they also know that Christ-Centered gentleness is not the weakness of cowardice, moral relativity, a lack of boundaries, or a refusal to engage in conflict when necessary.
One such friend is certainly Brian Mclaren. In his own attempt to get rid of what he considered to be toxic warrior energy in the name of Christ and to replace it with authentic Divine warrior images, he wrote some new lyrics to the old Christion hymn, "Onward Christian Soldiers." I'll leave you with his new lyrics.
Hope to see you Sunday at 9:00 a.m.!!!
Pastor B
"Onward, All Disciples"
A rewrite of "Onward, Christian Soldiers"
by Brian McLaren
Onward, all disciples, in the path of peace,
Just as Jesus taught us, love your enemies
Walk on in the Spirit, seek God’s kingdom first,
Let God’s peace and justice be your hunger and your thirst!
Onward, all disciples, in humility
Walk with God, do justice, love wholeheartedly.
We now face our failures in remorse and tears.
We must hammer plowshares from our swords and spears,
Turn from the broad highway of prejudice and war
To follow Jesus to a place we’ve never been before
Onward, all disciples, in humility
Walk with God, do justice, love wholeheartedly.
Feel a fresh wind stirring. Justice, flowing free,
Makes our deserts bloom in Eden-like beauty.
Seek the greatest treasure: let peace be your dream –
Justice like a river and an ever flowing stream!
Onward, all disciples, in humility
Walk with God, do justice, love wholeheartedly.
All regimes of violence, dominating power,
They will boast of victory for their fragile hour.
But the way of Jesus, weaponless and meek,
Will not be defeated, and so his way we seek.
Onward, all disciples, in humility
Walk with God, do justice, love wholeheartedly.
Onward arm in arm, then, onward hand in hand,
March with joyful song so all can understand
Nothing is impossible for our God above,
Through the power of service and the gentle might of love.
Onward, all disciples, in humility
Walk with God, do justice, love wholeheartedly.
Boldly let us venture where Christ’s feet have trod
Sharing the adventure of the living God
Saving, not condemning, not casting a stone,
Spreading a rich banquet for the outcast and alone.
Onward, all disciples, in humility
Walk with God, do justice, love wholeheartedly.
| 
