Why Not Me?
- bordenmscott
- Nov 9, 2021
- 8 min read
Suffering, Syncretism, and Searching In Uncertainty
Remembrance Day and Syncretism
We just held our service prior to Remembrance Day and began, as we traditionally do, with a “Time of Remembrance” which is a simplified Remembrance Day ceremony that includes the last post, minute of silence, and singing of O Canada. (Which was presented with the updated lyrics, and definitely threw some people off! Sorry, but “in all of us command” is better AND more true to the original poem: “Thou dost in us command." But I digress…)
This kind of activity is seen differently among different churches. Some churches believe very strongly in full separation of religious and civic life - there would never be a secular ceremony or singing of O Canada in their sanctuaries. Other churches embrace patriotism and happily sing the national anthem, permanently display the national flag in their worship space, and may even have special services for dates like July 1st or July 4th.
As in many things, I seem to be drawn to the messy middle. I don’t know if it’s a distinction that means anything to anyone else, but I always state that our Time of Remembrance takes place before the worship service, not officially as part of it. I also take care to try to remind people that we are citizens of the kingdom of heaven who, by virtue of following Jesus, are called to be good and just citizens of the earthly kingdoms where we live. I think it is quite appropriate to give thanks for all that is good about our nation as we consider our calling to serve those around us. I’m glad to sing and pray the aspiration “God keep our land glorious and free.” But I do think there is a line here that must be drawn very carefully.
There is a phenomena in Christian history called syncretism. Syncretism is when you try to amalgamate different religions, philosophies, or schools of thought into some new combination. This can be a positive, or at least acceptable thing for Christianity when it is adapted to properly connect with people from different cultures and with different worldviews. A famous example of this is St. Patrick's evangelism to the people of Ireland, which incorporated elements of their Celtic polytheism to create a distinctive form of Christianity. The Huron Carol (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huron_Carol) might be familiar to some people as another example of this. It's good to recognize that Christianity isn’t the property of white European ways of thinking. It is a faith that does and should exist with many different flavours among the multitude of cultures and languages where the Church is found.
But syncretism can also be extremely bad, especially when there is an attempt to co-opt Christianity to serve some other purpose. Governments and rulers across the centuries have often tried to wield the influence of Christian faith to further their own agenda. (Examples abound, with the crusades and Nazi Germany high on the list.) What happens is that Christian faith is presented as combining naturally and fully with something else, when in fact actual Jesus-following Christian faith is being stripped away in the process. This is one of the many good reasons to avoid or carefully limit the role that “king and country” play in our faith and worship.
A term that’s received a lot of attention over the last few years thanks to the state of American faith politics is “Christian Nationalism”. Christian nationalism uses Christian identity and Christian language as tools to inspire devotion to a particular sub-culture.
Sociologist of religion Dr. Samuel Perry describes some signs of Christian Nationalism (amended for length by me):
· An “Us vs. Them” mentality where non-Christians are seen as enemies to be controlled or defeated instead of people to be served, loved, befriended, etc.
· Talking about “Christianity” as a particular culture (often a politically conservative culture) rather than as devotion to Jesus and a desire to imitate Him.
· A concern about national righteousness (which is improperly drawn from the Old Testament relationship between God and Israel) that often focuses on religious and sexual purity (and tends to ignore or demonize economic and racial justice).
· A belief that your country is central to God’s plans in the world and has a unique relationship with God compared to other nations.
· A high degree of comfort with force and violence: pro-death penalty, pro-guns, pro-military (to the point of uncritical reverence), pro-warfare, etc.
· Highly selective Bible quoting, with an emphasis on submitting to authorities.
· A lack of concern for witness. It’s OK to do whatever it takes and associate with whoever you need to in order to “win” the cultural or national victory you are after. A skewed version of Jesus is often created, one who is much more aggressive and militant than what you would come to see by considering the Gospels overall instead of just a few specific events within them.
· A victim mentality where everyone is out to get you. The media, scientists, opposing politicians, and certain institutions are never trustworthy (unless they agree with you fully). The feeling of having many enemies and being constantly under attack is a good motivator for many people.
Because the Bible and Christian faith hold a lot of influence over many people Christianity will always be a tool powerful people will try to use for their own benefit. That’s why I think it is quite right to be very cautious about allowing expressions of nationalism in the Church. I feel deeply fortunate to be Canadian and very grateful to those who serve and have served in times of war, peacekeeping, and in any other way we have sought greater peace and stability in the world. I just want to make sure that this is always expressed in truly Christian terms inside the Church, and that we do not approach matters like citizenship and war uncritically or in a way that is shaped by something other than our devotion to Jesus Christ.
So, Canada, I’ll stand on guard for thee to the best of my ability and limit of my strength, but I will do so making every effort to ensure that my faith informs my thoughts and actions rather than letting my faith be formed by the current culture in my country.
Suffering and Loss
In this Sunday’s message I spoke from the book of Job - not a book most Christians pick up and read independently. But maybe we need to change that and find more ways to encourage people or Bible study groups to spend some time with Job, Lamentations, certain Psalms, and other sections of scripture that focus on grief, loss, destruction, and hopelessness. I know we want to be uplifted and encouraged, but we also need to be prepared - prepared to understand and grapple with suffering and loss so that they add to our journey of faith and don’t derail it instead.
The pandemic has shown us that it’s a mistake to depend on good circumstances for our well-being, but there is still a persistent influence in Western Christianity of “prosperity Gospel” thinking. This tells us the lie that God shows us His love mainly by making sure everything goes our way - health, wealth, and opportunity for those with real faith. On Sunday I reflected that:
… a little thought and Bible knowledge shows why that is a wrong. The people who obeyed God best in the Bible and pleased Him most weren’t immune from suffering, in fact they often endured more than anyone else! The Old Testament prophets were rejected, hunted, and often killed. The Apostle Paul was stoned, beaten, flogged, shipwrecked, bitten by a poisonous snake, and had some unnamed illness or physical challenge that God refused to heal. Jesus was crucified. We could change our question from “Why Me?” to “Why Jesus and not me?”
I am not very qualified to say more about suffering and loss. My life has seen amazingly little of either so far. But I have learned a lot from hearing the stories of others as I’ve ministered to them and been in community with them. I’ve been both inspired and heartbroken by what some have been through and are going through. And one of the things all of this has shown me is that we want the whole Bible to help us through. Sunday's message has more on this from the book of Job, and the devotional moment that follows will focus on this area as well.
Watch the sermon here, listen to it here, or read it below:
Devotional
He has broken my teeth with gravel; he has trampled me in the dust. 17 I have been deprived of peace; I have forgotten what prosperity is. 18 So I say, “My splendor is gone and all that I had hoped from the Lord.”
19 I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. 20 I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. 21 Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:
22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”
25 The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; 26 it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. 27 It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young.
28 Let him sit alone in silence, for the Lord has laid it on him. 29 Let him bury his face in the dust— there may yet be hope. 30 Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him, and let him be filled with disgrace.
31 For no one is cast off by the Lord forever. 32 Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. 33 For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to anyone.
(Lamentations 3:16-33, NIV)
But I pray to you, Lord, in the time of your favor; in your great love, O God, answer me with your sure salvation. 14 Rescue me from the mire, do not let me sink; deliver me from those who hate me, from the deep waters. 15 Do not let the floodwaters engulf me or the depths swallow me up or the pit close its mouth over me.
16 Answer me, Lord, out of the goodness of your love; in your great mercy turn to me. 17 Do not hide your face from your servant; answer me quickly, for I am in trouble. 18 Come near and rescue me; deliver me because of my foes.
19 You know how I am scorned, disgraced and shamed; all my enemies are before you. 20 Scorn has broken my heart and has left me helpless; I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters, but I found none. 21 They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst.
22 May the table set before them become a snare; may it become retribution and[b] a trap. 23 May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever. 24 Pour out your wrath on them; let your fierce anger overtake them. 25 May their place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in their tents. 26 For they persecute those you wound and talk about the pain of those you hurt. 27 Charge them with crime upon crime; do not let them share in your salvation. 28 May they be blotted out of the book of life and not be listed with the righteous.
29 But as for me, afflicted and in pain— may your salvation, God, protect me.
30 I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving. 31 This will please the Lord more than an ox, more than a bull with its horns and hooves. 32 The poor will see and be glad— you who seek God, may your hearts live! 33 The Lord hears the needy and does not despise his captive people.
(Psalm 69:13-33)
Prayer for today
When evil darkens our world, give us light. When despair numbs our souls, give us hope. When we stumble and fall, lift us up. When doubts assail us, give us faith. When nothing seems sure, give us trust. When ideals fade, give us vision. When we lose our way, be our guide! That we may find serenity in Your presence, and purpose in doing Your will.
John D. Rayner
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