Finding Calm Amidst the Storming of the U.S. Capitol

For such as time as this we are called to speak a prophetic truth.

I share today’s message in light of the latest iteration of an ugly truth that has dogged this nation from its founding, one that was on full display for the world to see. Whatever good this nation has done in its 245 years, and there has been some good, it has been plagued by injustice, sin, evil and violence. These have been employed in the service of those who embrace the evil of white supremacy, white nationalism and a dangerous myth of Jesus, the foundation of the slaveholder’s religion, the terrible root of Christian Nationalism, that desecrated the U.S. Capitol building forcing lawmakers to evacuate with some fearing for their lives, while some insurrectionist urged on by a rogue president carried the confederate flag throughout the building.

As we solemnly reflect on the events of this past Wednesday, the 6^th of January, we should also reflect on the historical events of The Wilmington Riots, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Roseville, The riots of 1919, The Klan marching down the streets of Washington, D. C. brazenly in the early 1900’s and black men and women who fought for a nation that committed violence upon those who did not comfort a narrow and sick imagination. A few years ago, when I went to the Disciples of Christ National Convocation held in Selma, Alabama, Janice Ewing and I took a side trip to the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery. It is a sprawling memorial where you can see the names of more than 4400 African American men, women, and children and courageous white allies who were hanged, burned alive, shot, drowned, and beaten to death by white mobs between 1877 and 1950. The older I get the more I appreciate the history that mom and dad made sure my sister and I knew.  History, particularly American history is always part of the discussion I have with my mother and with Nick and Kacy.  Survival in this nation means to know your history.

Now I have heard some say, they were surprised, astonished, I could not imagine this would happen, or this is not who America is. They seem oblivious to the facts of American life as they listen to certain propaganda that gradually strips them of their humanity. Fact is, many people, knew, the moment Hillary Clinton lost the election in 2016 that this nation, this fragile yet resilient democracy was in for a rough authoritarian facist racist anti-immigrant ride begun in birtherism. Yet it has been the case in American political history that the election of a progressive politician, particularly one like Barack Obama is always followed by a reactionary politics of make America great again.  Once again, those who are students of American history are not surprised.

Even 4 former presidents from both parties had comments. Former President Barack Obama commented, “This is a moment of great dishonor and shame for the nation”, Former President George Bush commented, “It was a sickening and heart-breaking sight”, Former President Bill Clinton commented, “Today we faced an unprecedented assault on our Capitol, our Constitution, and our country," he said in a statement.

"The assault was fueled by more than four years of poison politics spreading deliberate misinformation, sowing distrust in our system, and pitting Americans against one another," Clinton wrote. "The match was lit by Donald Trump and his most ardent enablers, including many in Congress, to overturn the results of an election he lost. "Former president Jimmy Carter commented, “A National Tragedy.”

Carol Anderson, author of the book White Rage commented, “This is a consequence that has been years in the making. At every moment in American history, this country has had chances to deal with white rage that “has undermined democracy, warped the Constitution, weakened the nation’s ability to compete economically, squandered billions of dollars on baseless incarceration, rendered an entire region sick, poor, and woefully undereducated, and left cities nothing less than decimated.”

Meanwhile, the state of Georgia, home of the formerly Jim Crow and staunchly racist South elected its first black senator in the Rev. Raphael Warnock, the pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church, the spiritual home of Martin Luther King, Jr. and John Lewis and its first Jewish senator, Jon Ossoff a protégé of John Lewis, courtesy of the political organizing of Stacey Abrams and others and with that, flipping the senate to democratic control with the deciding vote being Vice President elect Kamala Harris, a black Woman of Indian and Jamaican decent born and raised right here in Oakland as well the most diverse, gender balanced cabinet in U.S. history.  So, while there is a broad religious political coalition that supports authoritarian anti-democratic policies of deception, misinformation, disinformation and ignorance perpetrated upon the people, with the help of a right-wing propaganda machine, the good and noble truth is that a multiracial democracy, begun in the 1960’s when a people from diverse racial identities and backgrounds came together is moving forward.

The Storm we witnessed this past Wednesday, January the 6^th, is a reminder that trusting in God is our greatest hope and strength. Prayer, fasting, meditating, reading our bible in community, the gifts of the spirit and radically inclusive hospitality are here because of the radical love of Jesus of Nazareth, to strengthen our trust in God. Matt 8:23-27 reminds us that Jesus calms the storm, bringing peace to our souls.  When wild and crazy times happen like it did on Wednesday, our relationship with Jesus keep us strong and steady protecting us from the schemes of evil. Our relationship with Jesus shapes our worldview, allowing us to see God doing new, miraculous and glorious things as well as the violent death of cultures and systems of evil. And love, the kind of love Jesus lived, is about looking clearly at the situation without pretense and working on a solution. It involves critique, analysis, relationships and actions grounded in the radically inclusive truth of God shaped by the pain, suffering and hope of the people. It is not about employing injustice, sin and evil through lies that hurt millions of people for selfish cultural, economic and political gain during a pandemic.  

Each of us must nurture our relationship with Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ to ensure that we do not find ourselves in relationship the myth of Jesus, the foundation of the Slaveholder’s religion. We must study our bible, making sure we are reading a life-giving interpretation, and embrace Jesus of Nazareth the one who died at a state execution because he cared for the people, and was raised from the dead because of God’s love. We must be vigilant in our faith!

Witnessing the mob desecrate the Capitol building and hearing the interviews that were done with those who participated in the insurrection, the common thread was no one is listening to us, our way of life is dying, and we had to do something. These were signs of desperation as a way of life is gradually and steadily dying, root and all resulting in a hopelessness that allows the lies of an impeached president to take hold on their psyche. As ugly and embarrassing as the insurrection was on Wednesday we needed to clearly see where our fellow Americans were mentally, emotionally, spiritually and the healing that needs to take place. It can be difficult to understand death, dying and transition. Logic, reason, seemingly rational arguments have no sway during this time. As many of them are being held accountable this must be the base of that accountability and if needed to offer psychological and spiritual help during incarceration.

Since Wednesday, I have had this vision of a really big tree. It is old, rotting and dying and the fellers, those called to the process of cutting down the tree are there. They fell the big tree and what is left is the stump. Now stumps are notoriously hard to remove requiring special tools for removal. If the stump is not removed it will begin to sprout anew. The whole stump and its deep complex root system have to be removed and thrown into the fire. If you have seen this process it is very involved and can be expensive but necessary for new life.

We are living through challenging times that may strike fear within yet trusting in God will make away and actually pour out the hope of Jesus in our lives.

Amen!