January 20, 2002
Matthew 25: 31 -40
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“RELIGION IN THE NEWS: 2001”

For many years, I have tried, each January, to have congregations link their faith with what transpired in the previous year. Today, following that format, let us look at the religious happenings of 2001. While this will be a very subjective view, I hope it will stimulate your thinking.

If religion is dynamic, if it affects the lives of its followers, then it should have profound social consequences that are newsworthy.  Without question, Judeo-Christian believers, from the dawn of history, have believed in a God who does influence humans and, through them, profoundly impacts society.

If one looks at the way the world is viewed, through the eyes of the Biblical writers, two distinct viewpoints arise and counter each other.  Those of us who consider ourselves as liberal religious thinkers hold to the Old Testament prophetic viewpoint.  That viewpoint is: whatever God does is done within the historical context of life.

Those who are more conservative in their theological outlook, that is, seek to have more absolutes to guide their living and believing, hold to an Apocalyptic interpretation of history.  This viewpoint believes that God senses the evilness of the human condition and will crash through, in dramatic fashion, to re-establish a relationship that is in keeping with God’s plan.

Let me try and illustrate. In the Old Testament, the prophets called for loyalty to God.  They told of God’s promise or covenant with humanity, namely, that God would be our God and care for us and guide us, and we would be God’s people.  The obligation placed upon humans was the obligation of obedience.  The prophets held that disobedience to God would result in dire consequences, usually associated with the defeat of their country and the captivity by invading nations of the Near East.

The other viewpoint is what we call “apocalyptic.”  Conditions get so bad that only the direct intervention of God, to create a New Kingdom, will suffice.

The Old Testament has some examples.  Society is evil and disbelieving, so God decides to destroy by flooding the world and all people, except for Noah and his family –– Ham Shem and Japath –– and their spouses.

Daniel is a book of visions and predictions which are presented in very graphic style; the four beasts, with an interpretation, the golden image, and many more.  In the New Testament, there are Apocalyptic passages in Matthew and Mark, but by far the most significant is the Book of Revelation.

Christian apocalyptic writers view the plight of the world as so sinful and disobedient to God, that only God’s direct intervention to end the world, to destroy all things and people who are evil, and then to establish a kingdom over which God will rule, will suffice.

Within those two extremes, we live –– and most of us function.  While I hold to the prophetic tradition, that is, that whatever God is doing, will be done within the historical context, I also believe it is healthy for some leaders to arise and say, “There is a ‘Thus saith the Lord’ that we must listen to,” or we will suffer grave results. My objection is some believers insist that their view is the only view. That ought not to surprise us, however, because this debate has been going on for more than 5000 years.

As we look at the top religious stories of 2001, let us do so while mindful of these two extremes.  In my research, I have consulted with The Christian Century, the leading voice of Christian liberals; Christianity Today, the leading magazine of Evangelical Christians; as well as Newsweek; Time; and the internet.  I did not consult any of the fundamentalist groups, because I happen to think they are totally off-base.  Thus, you see, this has a large subjective element to it, with which you have full permission to disagree.

Whether religious or secular, all the journals I studied agree: the top story of the year was the terrorist attack on September 11^th.  This attack resulted in military, political, diplomatic and economic counterattacks against the Taliban regime in Afghanistan and the Al Qaeda terrorist network.  Any way you slice this story; it has profound religious aspects: so much so, that, while the attention given to Islam was ranked as the number two story, I wish to link these together as the top stories.

Instantaneously, Islam was thrust into the limelight of American thought as at no other time in history.  The twin towers became the symbol of western domination to these twisted extremists of Islam who claimed they have the blessings of Allah.

In the process, we learned that there are now approximately seven (7) million Islamic believers in the United States and more than one billion worldwide.  We learned that there is a strong missionary movement, here in the United States, sponsored by Islamic groups seeking and getting converts.

We learned that in a time of crisis, American people bond together in unparalleled fashion. We saw the generosity of American people with millions of dollars being contributed to assist those most harmed by the events.

On the opposite side, we also saw some divide themselves into either hatred camps or camps of pacifism and compassion. Some decried war as falling into the same mindset as the Al Qaeda, while others saw our military intrusion as a just war.  Christian liberals sided with Islamic scholars, who stated this was a tragic day for Islam, because the great body of the faith has been grossly distorted by the fanatics.

Osama Bin Laden stated, “The ruling to kill Americans and their allies –– civilians and military –– is an individual duty for every Muslim who can do it in any country in which it is possible to do it.”  The other pole is characterized by the comments of Yusuf Islam, whom some of you will know by his former English name, Cat Stevens: “Not only did the terrorists hijack planes and destroy life; they hijacked the beautiful religion of Islam.”

Two ultra- conservative clerics who lost face during this tragedy were Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell, who said the attack on 9/11 was because of the presence of the American Civil Liberties Union; the acceptance of homosexuals; and other liberal causes, forcing God to withdraw his protective arm.

Both suffered serious public relations hits. Robertson resigned as the head of the Christian Coalition, a conservative religious political action group, and Falwell, made a public toning down of his views on television.

The issue of stem cell embryo research made the top story list in both religious magazines.  This, of course, raises the whole pro-life, pro-choice issue.

On one side, a group of evangelical scientists and religious leaders has called for the banning of stem cell research and cloning of human embryos.

The other group notes that an ABC poll reveals that 2/3 of the American public support federal funding for stem cell research. Even Orrin Hatch of Utah, a Mormon senator and an ardent abortion opponent, has written the president, saying, “Experiments with embryonic stem cells are consistent with bedrock, pro-life, pro-family values.”

The continuing conflict between Israel and Palestine remained a top story in 2001. During the past year, the conflict accelerated to the point that during the one-year period from September of 2000 to September of 2001, 709 Palestinians and 155 Jews were killed in the conflict. Hard liners, on each side of the conflict, continue their harsh language, while efforts to broker a peace agreement have lessened, because of the events resulting from the 9/11 attack.  This struggle has gone on for decades, even centuries, and one wonders whether or not some type of resolution will ever be possible.

It is worth noting here that the deaths in this conflict are not many more than the number of murders in several American cities, including Milwaukee.

Turmoil in the United Presbyterian Church was named as one of the top stories. Like all of the major faith persuasions, acceptance of homosexuals within the body of the Church is an issue.  This truly comes to a furor point when the issue of “Should homosexuals be ordained, if properly trained?” and “Should there be

a covenant-of-union service for homosexual couples committed to each other?”

Thus far, the Unitarian-Universalist society has adopted an open and affirming clause, which also states that ordination for homosexuals is acceptable, if they are properly trained and called to serve a congregation.

That action has also been taken and adopted by the United Church of Canada and the United Church of Christ. In March of 2001, a majority of the regional Presbyteries of the United Presbyterian Church voted down a proposal that would have banned ministers from conducting rites for gay or lesbian couples.

Surprisingly, at the General Assembly meeting in June, delegates approved, by a 317 to 208 vote, a proposal for Presbyteries to drop barriers eliminating otherwise-qualified non-heterosexual pastors, elders and deacons.  This is strongly opposed by conservative Presbyterians, who warn that a denominational split

may be forthcoming down the road.

 The issue of human sexuality and its recognition is being hotly debated in the Episcopal Church, The United Methodist Church, the American Baptist Church and many other religious denominations. It is strongly opposed by most of the conservative denomination and para-religious organizations

Another story prominent in Religious News concerned a resurgence of the argument for-or-against the death penalty.  This arose because of the execution of Timothy McVeigh for the bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City.  McVeigh’s death, by lethal injection, made him the first federal prisoner put to death in 40 years.  A prayer service for healing and non- violent reaction was held in our own First Congregational Church in Terra Haute, Indiana.

Perhaps you read of the action brought by some Missouri Synod pastors to censure the President of the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod, The Reverend Gerald Kieschnick. 

Krieschnick was faulted for affirming, by his participation, the prayers on September 23 of Christian, Hindu, Jewish and Muslim leaders and for praying with more liberal Lutheran ministers at the World Trade Center disaster site. Happily, the governing council did not accept these charges, but their reason was political, stating that the censure request hadn’t come from the proper source.

In my opinion, this action doesn’t even deserve a comment.  My own editorial comment about these religious stories is as follows.

I believe that the extremes, that is, the ultra-conservative religious believers, and the ultra-liberal believers of all of the faiths, are all guilty of exaggerating their particular faith’s emphasis, to the exclusions of all others.  So long as exclusionary points are held, meaningful dialogue and acceptance will never take place.

In my mind, Charles Colson raised a serious problem when he wrote in Christianity Today:

“Any thoughts that peace and prosperity are assured, or that world views no longer matter, have been shattered. American Christians must recognize that we are engaged in a real war:  a battle for hearts and minds is no less crucial that the battle on the ground. Americans –– even some evangelicals –– will be uncomfortable raising such ideas, preferring faith to be a private matter and treating all religions as leading to the same God. Civic religious ecumenism is in fashion. Of course, we want to do nothing to disparage moderate Muslims, create ill will toward peaceful Muslims in America, disrupt national unity, or feed the passions of radical Islamists. But, at the same time, we need a bracing dose of realism: like it or not, ancient world views are again struggling for domination; we do not all worship the same God.”

My comment to that is: to me, the ultimate sinful arrogance is for humans to pretend that they understand the heart of God.

Colson says we do not worship the same God. Does this mean he is suggesting there is more than one God?  That is henotheism; and it was disclaimed in the Old Testament.  I believe the Bible and the historical witness claim there is one God; acknowledging other Gods, or deifying symbols, or teachings, or writings –– Even within our own faith –– is idolatry.

Some great Christian leaders died during the year.  Robert McAfee Brown, a great scholar, writer, and teacher. His book, “The Bible Speaks to You,” is still a good seller.  I used to see and talk to him at Pilgrim Place,           

a retirement community for ministers and missionaries in Claremont, California.

David H.C. Read, long time minister of Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City, noted author, teacher and world- renowned preacher.  When I was Senior Minister of Timothy Eaton Memorial Church in Toronto, the senior minister had nine weeks off during the summer. For 28 years, one of the summer guest preachers was David Read. With his rich Scottish speech and his keen insights, he was a summer favorite.

Leon Sullivan, a black Baptist minister who valiantly battled apartheid and who developed learning and training centers for thousands of black people in Philadelphia left a huge void with his death.

Lastly, it remains distressing and embarrassing to me that such divisive attitudes and feelings exist within the Christian faith.

I find it appalling that Christians are forbidden from praying with other Christians, that Christians are banned from having Holy Communion with fellow Christians, and that human beings are shunned and rejected because they are a different color, or have a different sexual orientation.

Our Lord Jesus ate and talked with sinners, dealt with lepers –– society’s outcasts –– shared with foreigners, and reserved his anger for the arrogant and unbending religious leaders.

The greatest contribution this Church can make to the larger Milwaukee community and to the Kingdom of God is to be known as a church that seeks to follow and live the life of Jesus, our Lord, i.e., to love God with all our hearts and with all our minds and with all our strength and to love our neighbor as ourselves.

Our legacy will be secured and honored if people can say of this Church: “They love God. They try to follow Jesus.  They love each other.  They care, and they try.”

May it be so.