[Peace-discuss] RE: The Christmas He Dreamed for All of Us

[John W.]

At 04:16 PM 12/29/2005, Paul M. King wrote:

> > Christianity, true Christianity, is not about public
> > appearances or doing lip service, it's about deep
> > abiding faith, and transforming your life to serve God.
>
>I wish more Christians felt this way, Phil.
>
>Question: What would it mean for AWARE to have substantive
>dialogue with the mainstream Christian community? What do we
>want from them? What can we give them? What is the best way to
>develop genuine relationships with them for the purpose of
>building future coalitions?


Unlike Prof. Brussel, I think this ongoing discussion is fascinating and 
hopefully productive, and merits every bit of the bandwidth that it has so 
far taken up.  I wish I knew how to add productively to the conversation.

I've been a "born-again Christian" since 1970, and am unfortunately 
somewhat jaded and "backslidden" at this point.  I've also been a "leftist" 
for slightly longer than that, and am equally jaded by politics though I 
continue to participate after my fashion.

If we're seriously talking about transforming the world as we know it, I 
frankly don't think that there are enough of either (a) mature Christians 
or (b) mature "progressives" on the planet to make an iota's worth of 
difference.  Most folks are too busy fighting over ideological trivia and 
ego-driven nonsense while the Neros of the world burn Rome to the ground.

Christians fortunately have the hope of heaven, and also of a transformed 
earth when Jesus returns to earth to rule for a thousand years following a 
period known as the tribulation.  Many Christians believe that we are now 
in what is called the "last days" - which, if true, will mean a period of 
great suffering preceding the millennial reign of Christ.

As a born-again fundamentalist Christian, I interpret the Bible to mean 
that man CANNOT, through his own efforts, bring about a better world.  Sin 
- encompassing ego, selfishness, narcissism, greed, pride, etc. - is far 
too pervasive in man.  This, incidentally, is one of the principal tenets 
that differentiates Judeo-Christianity from every other religion and belief 
system of which I am aware.  And my study of history corroborates this 
Biblical perspective.  Man keeps doing the same old tired things over and 
over again.  I'm aware of very little in the way of human "evolution" away 
from brutishness and toward truly enlightened behavior.  Certainly far less 
than the technological evolution that we've all witnessed.

Nevertheless, Sisyphean though it seems most of the time, while I'm on this 
earth I believe I am called to try to live as Jesus lived.  "What would 
Jesus do?" is more than a cliche; it's something I'm supposed to ask myself 
constantly as I journey through life.  Some of you who think you know me, 
and who think you know yourselves, will scoff since I fail so often, but I 
do try.

I also believe that, if we work very seriously at living as Jesus lived, we 
can each make a small positive difference in that portion of the world 
which we impact, and perhaps in the world as a whole.  That would apply 
also, I imagine, if we genuinely lived as Buddha lived, or as Confucius 
lived, or as the Dalai Lama lives.  I'm not at all sanguine about our 
creating an earthly utopia, because as I said, there is far too much sin 
both within the church and without it.  But we can make the earth a 
slightly more hospitable place through the power of love.  That is what I 
strive to do.  And I see no conflict between Biblical Christianity and what 
has been termed "social justice".  I believe that if we are truly living 
the gospel of Jesus Christ, we are not only preaching a "pie in the sky by 
and by" Christ, but as stewards of the earth we are actively working to 
make our little corner of the planet a more loving, peaceful, equitable and 
sustainable place.

John Wason