Old Blog, New Tricks

Old blogs can learn new tricks after all! This recycled effort aims to invite those who claim to be followers of Jesus (and even those who don't!) to back away from current events and issues and to put on the lenses of faith in order to see them from the unique perspective of Christian teaching.

It acknowledges that there is plenty of dialog going on in the public square about current issues- more often than not of a shrill, divisive nature- that tends to polarize people into partisan political or social camps. Another Look offers to bring a different voice to the conversation that asks questions like, "How does what we know about the divine Living Presence we call 'God' lead us to think and act?" about the topic at hand.

Here we will not seek to affirm or deny the validity of other opinions. Rather, we will take another look at issues and events in the light of what our faith teaches us, notwithstanding those other opinions, and let the chips fall where they may.

Here's an example: The Presbyterian congregation which I serve as Pastor is moving to take seriously the biblical injunction to take care of Creation. Someone approached me recently and expressed the opinion that this "green movement" was part of the "liberal" (so-called) agenda. Now admittedly, one side of the political divide tends to give environmental issues a wider plank in their platform. But that doesn't mean they own the argument that we should be taking care of the world in which we live.

There are all kinds of practical reasons why we humans should take care of the earth, air and water, and there are all kinds of ways to ensure that we do. But there is another perspective that is not being heard in the conversation (OK, argument!). Strip away the political frame and put the issue in the context of what our faith teaches and take another look.

A careful reading of the first story in our holy book teaches that human beings were placed in this beautiful garden we call earth to perform a specific task. The unique abilities with which we humans are endowed are given so that we can care of the rest Creation. There is much more to support the point, but suffice it to say that what is first in the order is first in priority- in faith terms, this is the First Commandment.

This is offered merely as an example of what we are about here. In light of the truth of this teaching, the question becomes not whether we subscribe to a "liberal" or "conservative" position, but how will we align our thinking with what the Giver of the beautiful garden expects us to do to "till and to keep" it so that it continues to be "fruitful"?

This "old" blog, then, will take another look at this and other issues and current events in order to provide a spiritual perspective that, while it may at times align with one or another political or social position, overall attempts to bring people of faith together. It assumes that the Living Presence is neither liberal nor conservative but has another overarching agenda.

So, come back soon and let's have Another Look at some current events and issues.