THE BAIT AND SWITCH OF CONTEMPORARY MORMONISM?

In this link, Richard Beck talks of the bait and hook of modern Christianity – a high sense of spirituality coupled with a deplorable sense of social justice and simple kindness to others. Many call this hypocritical, but I imagine Beck knew how this word (hypocrite) is more insulting than instructive. For his main example he cites the cheap and haughty attitudes of Christians that bombard a restaurant for brunch after their morning church experience. The hypocrisy is found in how the people treat a restaurant waiter with contempt while eating, leaving little to no tip, right after worshipping and giving thanks to a generous and merciful God.

It’s easy for me to read this article and say, “Man, I’m so lucky to not be in that boat. I’m glad I have the direction in my life to not eat out on Sundays, helping me to avoid the pitfall of being a cheap and detestable customer.” But if Beck is critiquing Christians and Mormons consider themselves Christian, than we must ask ourselves how his observation applies to us. Sure, we may not eat out on Sundays but that doesn’t mean Mormonism is immune to the issue of a high sense of spirituality – Temple worship, reading scriptures, family time, prayer, callings – and a low sense of kindness and compassion.

Beck had his example, and here is mine. After reading Mosiah 4:16-18 a Sunday School teacher began to explain his approach to the issue of giving money to the poor. For him, it was easier to give to the church instead of the beggar on the side of the road because he was sure that the money would be used appropriately when given to the church, while if he gave directly to the beggar, who knows what it would be spent on (drugs, alcohol, etc). I was speechless. The scripture seems pretty cut and dry, but here was a teacher contradicting the very clear message of a very clear book. How about verse 22? Heck, how about the entire chapter! The lesson: If you got it, give it, and if you don’t, wish that you did. For some reason this teacher had no problem in missing the point and everyone in the audience was nodding their heads to agree – except me (and I hope there were others).

This is not an isolated event. I have heard this same rhetoric in other settings and lessons in the church. The LDS people make a bold claim that they have another testament of Jesus Christ along with the Bible, but when the attitude of the people does not conform to this additional unfolding of God’s love and presence, what’s the point? I almost want to say that it doesn’t matter if you believe in the Book of Mormon; what matters is how you live out its teachings. Who cares if God gives you all the lost books of scripture in the world if you can’t even be charitable to the one’s around you?

I taught seminary for one year. I was an awful teacher and I feel sorry for the youth under my care. However, I learned to love the teachings of Jacob 2:17-19 and made a special effort to really try and instill in my students the love of loving. I leave with you verse 17. I think it will really strike at the heart of the matter.

“Think of your brethren [and sisters] like unto yourselves, and be familiar with all and free with your substance, that they may be rich like unto you.”

 Search Ponder Pray Repeat

ONE BOOK THAT ALL CHRISTIANS SHOULD READ

No, I have not read it. I just found out about it yesterday. But based on the interview of the authors I am putting this on my must read list. The book is called Women Deacons: Past, Present, Future (Gary Macy, William T. Ditewig, and Phyllis Zagano. Paulist Press , 2012). This book is intended to address the issue of the ordination of women as deacons in the Catholic Church. The authors claim that this is one book that all Catholic Bishops should read. I can't help but think this is one book the entire Christian world should read.

Here is a link to the interview with the authors who discuss the interesting topic of women ordination in the early church.

I plan on giving a full review of the book in a later post. For now, enjoy the interview.

Here is a small excerpt from the interview of Phyllis Zagano:

For a long time the argument against ordaining women was heard only as an argument against women as priests: 1) only a male can represent Jesus (the iconic argument); 2) Jesus chose male apostles (the argument from authority).

Well, neither of those arguments applies to ordaining women as deacons. The iconic argument has as an unfortunate sidebar a suggestion that women are not fully human—not made in the image and likeness of God. That argument reduces to what some scholars call a “naïve physicalism.” It is not a healthy attitude for the Catholic Church. The argument from authority simply does not apply to women as deacons. The first seven recorded as put forth by the community in the Acts of the Apostles are often seen as the prototypical deacons. But they were called forth, accepted, and received a laying on of hands from the apostles. So the apparent choice of Jesus at the Last Supper regarding what evolved into priesthood does not apply to the diaconate.

But by ordaining women as deacons, the Church would announce to the world that yes, women are made in the image and likeness of God.

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WILL A MORMON WOMAN RUN FOR PRESIDENT?

A question popped in my mind this morning: Will a Mormon woman ever run for president? Think about it. The first Mormon to run for president was Joseph Smith in 1844. Since Smith others have come along: Parley P. Christiansen, Ezra Taft Benson, George W. Romney (Mitt Romney's Father), Morris K. Udall, Orrin G. Hatch, to just name a few (click here for a list and description of the Mormon presidential nominees since Smith). Notice, no women on the list.

Maybe that's not too surprising. Women did not start putting their names in the hat for president until the late 19th century. We are now into the 21st century and we still haven't had a woman voted into the white house, despite numerous nominations. It has taken a long hard road for women to gain some semblance of equality in our society and it seems that it will always be a fight for women to be taken as serious candidates for leadership by the general public.

But there is something different about the issue of gender within LDS theology and culture. The emphasis on the role of males as leaders is practically audible when read in the The Family: A Proclamation to the World: "By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners" (Emphasis added). I can certainly appreciate the stress that the LDS people place on those final words, "equal partners." At the same time, I can't help but wonder if the deification of gender roles has somehow hindered LDS women to seriously pursue leadership positions in general society. It certainly has within the LDS church, since any pursuit by a woman to hold a priesthood office would be doomed from the start. So, if an LDS woman pursued a major political office, like the presidency, would she be doomed from the start because it does not conform to her divinely designed, primary and sacred responsibility of nurturing children?

Are there Mormon women in politics? Of course. Angela Buchanan , for example, was the Treasurer for the United States in the early 80's, and there are many other LDS women that have and continue to serve their nation. They must not feel any dissonance between their career and adherence to the teachings of the LDS church. I just can't help but think that while women in general struggle to convince America that their gender will not hinder their ability to lead a nation, women in the LDS church have an even steeper hill to climb when it comes to the presidency. An LDS woman running for presidency will not only have to convince the general public that she can lead, she will have to convince the members of her church that God's okay with it.

To answer my original question, I believe that one day a Mormon woman will run for president. It will most likely come after other women have forged the trail to the oval office and, no doubt, she will have to battle the same bigotry and misconceptions that our contemporary LDS candidates face. My new question: Will that bigotry come from within?

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TODAY I SAW JESUS

Dear Jesus,

I want to thank you for letting me spend some time with you this morning. When I first walked in to Food and Shelter for Friends I saw you in the corner, covering your face with your hands, and weeping. I was a little shocked to see you like that, so I let you be. You were dirty, wearing an old worn out coat, and my fear kicked in. I assumed that because no one else was helping you that maybe this was normal for you. How silly of me. Like I said, fear kicked in and I just kept moving.

I went into the kitchen and made omelets for you. Sorry. I'm not much of a cook. My omelets were the one's that were too brown; the fluffy ones were made by a young man who lives at Bridges (non-profit in town for homeless kids). He showed me how to flip an omelet and my timing is still horrible. It's okay though. You ate them and were grateful. You came up to me as an old lady with a scarf, an old coat, a worn face and shoes with holes in them and said thank you. You even blessed me for making over-cooked omelets.

I'm not the only one that fed you today. The StarBucks gave you dairy while Panera Bread provided amazing breads. A local farmer provides meat and Coach's Brew House opened it's doors for a Christmas party just a week ago. Other businesses and individuals really care about you, and I'm amazed at their generosity.  I can only give over-cooked omelets.

I can't wait to come back to see you again. It dawned on me, while I was there preparing the salad for your afternoon lunch, that I spend too much time preoccupied with myself. I say my prayers, I read my scriptures, I go to my church for three hours every Sunday. To be honest, I'm not sure if you want me spending my day of rest sitting in a church for three hours. I think you would prefer I spend more time with you, here.

When I walked out the door you waved good bye to me and wished me a Merry Christmas. You were an old man without teeth. Merry Christmas to you too.

Matthew 25:31-46

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IN THE SPACE WITHOUT A NAME

We orientate our lives based on our beliefs and group affiliations. "I am here and I am who I am because I believe X and I am associated with group Y." But I mentioned in my first post 'New Beginnings'  that there was a period of my recent life characterized by pain, confusion, even anger. I came to a point wherein I was disorientated. I found myself in a space that had no name.

Can you imagine that? Feeling absolutely sure of your life path and then suddenly blinking to find yourself somewhere you can't describe. Suddenly you cannot describe what you are feeling or where you are going. All words are incapable of providing clarity of where you are in your life. The space has no name. If you don't know what I am talking about, then you've never been there. It's a place where life is foggy and the future, both immediate and long term, are unknown. I think people experience this place when they lose a close loved one. For me, I lost a part of my very self.

What do you do in such a space? How do you reorientate your life? Can you go back to what you were before and just try and forget what you have learned, the critical skills obtained, the legitimate information that glares at you? To go back is not possible; the human memory cannot so easily be deleted. So there you are in a space with no name.

I found a word that helped me orientate myself while I was in this space, and it is fitting to talk about it during this season of advent. It is found in Isaiah 7:10-17, and it is the name 'Immanuel'. It is a Hebrew word meaning 'God is with us', and it symbolizes the saving presence of God. When Isaiah spoke it, it was intended as a sign of peace and reassurance for a people surrounded by their fiercest enemies. It is intended for a people that are suddenly met with the doom of utter defeat. In this space without a name, I clung to this name - Immanuel - for comfort and peace. Reality became this one word - Immanuel. God is with us.

'Immanuel' brought me hope. It was a coveted breathe of air after a deep submersion. God is with us. Breathe. God is with us. Moving forward is not so hard when this hope wrapped up in a simple name becomes real flesh in Jesus Christ (Matt 1:23). It is no longer a word, but it is made flesh. Someone of substance now holds that name and I celebrate his coming more joyfully then before.

God is with us.

Search Ponder Pray Repeat



 

New Beginnings

I am a Mormon. Sort of. I think I am, anyway. I attend church every Sunday, wrestle with my children during sacrament meeting, make comments in Sunday School, and endure poorly prepared Priesthood lessons. I use to be all about it. So what happened? I took a Systematic Theology course that really challenged my presuppositions and made me clarify where I stood on certain theological and ethical matters. Yeah, Systematic Theology (ST). It's really a cool class to take, if you ever get the chance. Warning: It will rock your world. 

After my ST class I continued to explore more into LDS history and theology. I began to learn the critical issues about Joseph Smith, The Book of Mormon, Priesthood, Temple, etc. I learned things that they don't tell you in Sunday School or from the pulpit. At the same time, I began to withdraw from people around me: I asked to be released from my calling, spent a lot of time in contemplation, and became secluded at times. I will admit, it all became frustrating and at times I became very angry, hurt, confused. Amid all of that emotion I tended to dwell on the worse possibilities that could happen to me and my family. I really wanted to leave the church and I knew that would be a devastating blow to my wife, who is amazing.

Over the past few months I have become much more open with people about my situation and, as I am sure most people can imagine, things improved. One peculiar thing happened as I began to share my questions and concerns about the LDS faith with other members. I began to find people silently asking the same questions and raising the same concerns to a degree equal or greater than my own. People you wouldn't expect were questioning core teachings. I also found that they benefited from a genuine and rich theological discussion. I realized that I am not alone, and maybe more people would benefit from openness, sharing and dialogue.

So I am starting a blog. I titled it "Search Ponder Pray Repeat" because it is a phrase that has motivated my personal exploration of this thing we call the Gospel. It comes from a classic LDS primary hymn, but I decided to add 'Repeat' at the end. I'm afraid too many people have stopped searching, pondering and praying. Too many people believe they have it figured out. My hope is that this blog will be a window for those close to me with questions about my doubts and concerns. I also hope it will serve as a catalyst for others to extend their searching to areas previously unknown.

I am not an expert. I am simply one more person on a faith journey much like your own. But I can tell you that I am passionate about God and people. For that reason I am passionate about love and dialogue. Join in the conversation and please do not feel afraid to voice your perspective. Most of us are seeking for the same source of wisdom and knowledge with the purpose of becoming better human beings. May this blog be helpful in some way.

Search Ponder Pray Repeat