Warning: Christianity is Dying

The election in Alabama yesterday to replace Senate Republican Jeff Sessions ended another high profile, tawdry political race, one that reminds us of how far our political system has fallen into disgrace.

Roy Moore, a controversial evangelical firebrand, a man who had twice been removed from office as an Alabama Supreme Court justice, for blatantly ignoring federal laws, and who reportedly was banned from a mall for spooking teenage girls, and who was accused by various adult women of having made inappropriate advances toward them when they were teens, centered his campaign, unbelievably, on Christian principles.

Moore made a career of using religion to bolster the support of Christians for his political ambitions. And for years it worked. But apparently many voters got tired of the hypocrisy and the manipulation and rejected him. Including a large number of Black voters who courageously stood up to Moore’s shoddy politics that were often prejudicial and intolerant of minorities and certainly gays. They defied his sanctimonious campaign.

The statistics are clear and indisputable that Americans are weary and even repulsed by Christians who use their faith to promote a political agenda that is anything but Christian. Church attendance is down in all denominations and the institutional church is becoming a farce in the minds and hearts of many. Simply because the church has lost its historic message of love, grace, peace, compassion, and tolerance.

Obviously, not all churches have succumbed to this watering down and polluting of Christianity, but it’s clear Americans are fed up with the bullying, mean-spiritedness, dogmatism, and fraud of so much of the Christian community.

Roy Moore’s brother, Jerry Moore, told an NPR reporter after last night’s election that Doug Jones, the Democratic winner, will have to “answer to God” for what he said about his brother. “It might not happen on this earth right now,” he said, “but Doug Jones will pay for what he’s saying.”

We have made belief in God a business of revenge, greed, meanness, bigotry, one-sidedness, and inflexibility. We have turned the Bible into a book of antagonism and grudge holding. We have dishonored the beautiful and fearless life of Jesus and left his legacy a tainted glory.

Some years ago, author and clergyman, John Spong predicted that unless the Christian church redefined its message and focused on the care and grace that Jesus offered people, then Christianity would die.

I thought it was a shocking statement when I first read it. But as each year passes and Christianity and Christians grow more belligerent and heartless, more selfish and emotionally unhealthy, and the more they put aside the teachings of Jesus and allow politics to guide their behavior, then yes, Christianity will finally see its last days. And it won’t be in the return of a radiant Christ, but in the ruin of a mocked and humiliated church.

If I had five minutes to evacuate--what would I take with me?

If I was told there was a bomb in my building and I had five minutes to evacuate my apartment I’d grab a grocery bag and quickly toss these items into it: 1. A photo of my grandparents, Mom and Pop and me, when I was 15 years old. I learned what love is made of from them. I learned what it is to be kissed on and hugged in arms so tender they felt like God’s arms. I discovered self worth from those two angels in human flesh. Of all the people in my life, they were the ones who made me feel I counted. Honestly, whatever capacity I have to love others came from them. 2. A sentimental, dog-eared, stars in the margin copy of Pat Conroy’s, “The Prince of Tides.” It is a book I have read three times and often return to for its wisdom. It is a harsh, profoundly tragic novel, the story of a family so broken and tortured by such flawed and wounded people that it is sometimes difficult to turn the next page. And yet it is the story of such Herculean courage and endurance that you want...

I Saw the Delicacy of Life

I was flying Across the deep And I saw the delicacy Of life Wrinkles on the faces Of the old So pure they glistened Like awards The joy of children Running with abandon Their laughter ringing Like chimes in the wind I saw the soft moving waves Across the sea And the trees releasing Their rainbow leaves Birds joined me on my flight And I saw the surface of their wings Adorned with patterns Glorious and unfurled I saw the tears of the sad And the smiles of the glad The suffering in mourning And the celebration of birth As I descended toward the ground Slowly, slowly, softly I saw the gentle grass of the field And smelled the fresh earth It was a perfect landing © 2018 Timothy Moody

Actions Make a Difference

“We make progress in society only if we stop cursing and complaining about its shortcomings and have the courage to do something about them.” ~ Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, Physician/Author Pictured here is Kikuko Shinjo, 89 years old, a survivor of the Hiroshima atomic bomb blast. As a 17-year old nursing student she helped nurse victims of the carnage back to health. Many of them died in her care. She says she holds no grudge against America and encourages interaction between the Japanese and Americans. She has devoted her life to peace, saying, “I want all the people around the world to be friends, and I want to make my country peaceful without fighting.” Today she makes colorful paper cranes and donates them to the Children’s Peace Monument at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.

The Unclad Soul

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