The Unauthorized Homily

By Bill Dunn

A commentary on the Scripture readings from the Sunday Lectionary

(Scripture readings for Sunday, August 9th: 1 Kings 19:4-8; Ephesians 4:30-5:2; John 6:41-51)

KINDNESS AND COMPASSION TRUMP BITTERNESS AND ANGER

In this week’s second reading, from the letter to the Ephesians, St. Paul offers some tough words to Christians: “All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting and reviling must be removed from you, along with all malice.”

Anyone who is even remotely familiar with Christianity knows some of the major principles of the faith are love, peace, patience, and forgiveness. In practice, however, many Christians are indistinguishable from pagans regarding displays of anger and bitterness and malice—and in some cases unbelievers show far more compassion and gentleness than believers do.

Are there issues in today’s world that are very serious? Well, our nation’s moral foundation is crumbling almost as quickly as its financial foundation, and politicians have become so addicted to power and prestige they’re willing to mortgage the country’s future to win re-election today. So yeah, there are very serious issues that need our full attention and involvement.

But do we have to be so angry and bitter about it? I mean, I listen to a lot of talk radio, since I’m on the road quite often for work. Don’t get me wrong—I love talk radio. It’s just about the only media outlet not dominated by the secular worldview. It’s one of the few vehicles where the traditional point-of-view is allowed to be presented. But isn’t it possible to discuss your views—logically and rationally—without resorting to venomous personal insults? Just because, for example, Keith Olbermann and Maureen Dowd are hate-spewing ideologues, does that mean conservative pundits also must spew hate, but just from the opposite side of the political spectrum? I’m just wondering.

Maybe I’m naïve. Maybe you have to be “edgy” and “inflammatory” to get ratings these days. Maybe if the discussions were merely logical and rational, the show would be as boring, and have the same miniscule audience, as NPR. Maybe railing against “Obama-the-Communist-Anti-Christ” is the only way to keep your show on the air.

Since the majority of radio talk show hosts I have in mind profess to be Christian, I wonder what they would say about St. Paul’s instructions this week? “Bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, reviling and malice” might get big ratings, but are they doing much for the cause of Christ? Are unbelievers being drawn to the saving love and forgiveness of Jesus by the witness of outspoken Christian media personalities? Is that vast throng of lost souls in our nation—people who will spend eternity separated from God if they don’t embrace spiritual truth—getting any closer to salvation?

I guess what I’m asking is: Is it possible to stand up for what we believe in, and be active in the political and cultural arenas, and still follow St. Paul’s instructions? Or have we reached a point where the only way to be effective is to demonize those who disagree with us and scream bloody murder that the sky is falling?

Lord knows it’s a whole lot easier and satisfying to take cheap shots at those we disagree with. I should know, I’m rather good at it. (Just read some of my political opinion columns at: http://www.boomertrek.com/OpinionColumns.htm )

As a showbiz tactic, fury and shouting and malice may be the best ways to get high ratings. But for those of us who don’t have our own radio or TV shows, why do we so often emulate these exact behaviors and ignore what St. Paul said?

I think I know why: fear. Along with selfishness, fear is one of the root causes of bitterness and anger. When we fear things are going wrong, or when we fear that something awful is about to happen to us, we get panicky. We yell and shout, and if others don’t pay attention right away, we get bitter and angry and furious.

Are things going wrong nowadays? Sure. As I mentioned earlier, regarding our nation’s morality, finances, and political leaders, you can make a good case that we’re going to Hell in a hand basket. (What an odd expression, huh?) But does this mean we should be fearful about it, with the resultant bitterness and anger? Well, about 8 million different times in the Bible, God tells us, “Fear not.”

Fear not? But what if I lose my job? Isn’t that something to fear? Nope. Why not? Because God said He’ll never leave us nor forsake us. But what if the economy collapses? What if crime spirals out of control? What if terrorists attack the U.S. again? What if North Korea launches nukes at us? What if, God forbid, Chris Dodd wins re-election?!!

Well, those are all bad things. No one in his right mind wants those things to happen. But the one thing that takes the sting out of temporary setbacks—even catastrophic setbacks—is eternity.

God told us that our life in this natural world is fleeting and fragile and practically frivolous. And at the same time He told us to be of good cheer, and not to be wracked with fear. Why? Because Heaven is NOT fleeting and fragile and frivolous. Heaven is forever and Heaven is fabulous.

So, do we just ignore our current problems and sit back and wait to die, and then go to this fabulous Heaven? Of course not. Our existence on this earth, however fleeting, is a precious opportunity to revel in God’s awesome creation. We are commanded to make the most of our time, talent, and treasure to advance God’s Kingdom. And how exactly do we do that? St. Paul tells us how in this week’s second reading: “Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ.”

If we trusted more in God and did what St. Paul commands—spend less time being bitter and angry and malicious, and more time being compassionate and forgiving—I suspect a few things would happen:

• We would have less fear and be a whole lot more peaceful and happy during our lives here on earth.
   
• We would demonstrate by our attitudes and actions that faith in Christ is real and good, and we would start attracting people to the Lord rather than repelling them.
   
• We would see our talk show’s ratings go down, and our show would be cancelled. (Oh wait, we don’t have radio shows, so we don’t have to worry about this one!)
   
• We may convince the likes of Keith Olbermann, Maureen Dowd, and Chris Dodd to put their faith in Christ. (Yeah, I know this is far-fetched, but God is capable of even the most astounding miracles.)

So, should we put our talent on loan from God to good use? Should we strive to be great Americans? Should we embrace psychological nudity? Should we enjoy being sick, twisted freaks? Should we continue to bloviate, loudly and angrily and ineffectively? Or is it time to start following God’s instructions, as offered this week by St. Paul?

What say you?

©2009