Howie Luvzus

Mark Van Steenwyk at Jesus Manifesto reminds us that today is also the Feast Day of St. Elizabeth of Portugal, the Patroness of Peace. Check out the whole post here.

Wouldn’t it be great if we valued peace as much as we value freedom?

When I think of the 4th of July, I think of freedom. I think about Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I know this is a real downer, but here goes… As a Christian I think I should not only think about my “unalienable Rights” but also the rights of others. Thus, when I see my fellow citizens talking about freedom, it saddens me that there are those under the control of my government who really don’t have freedom. One of the cries of the revolution was “taxation without representation is tyranny.”

What about incarceration without representation? Jesus compels me to think of the “least of these,” those without a voice. On the day when we celebrate freedom, isn’t it hypocritical to not think about those persons, created in the image of God, who are imprisoned in Guantanamo with no one to defend them?

My prayer is that somehow we might become a country that champions freedom for all. Not just some. My prayer is that Christians might remember to whom their real allegiance lies. Not to our country, but to our Savior who commands us to love our neighbor and yes, even love our enemy. Maybe if we live by Jesus’ ethic we would make our country and world a better place for all.

God bless.

Recently, Michelle Obama has been criticized for saying that “for the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud of my country — and not just because Barack has done well, but because I think people are hungry for change.”

Cindy McCain disagreed: “I don’t know about you, if you heard those words earlier. I’m very proud of my country.”

For the last eight years, the Bush administration has rammed down our throats that life is simple. “Either with us or against us.” “Support our troops.” “Dems are weak on defense.” etc. Unfortunately, Americans have fallen for this simplistic, talking point, sound byte, mentality. You can see this type of mentality in a recent comment on my blog. I mention Mark Gstohl’s fine article critiquing Southern Baptists (which BTW has also been picked up by EthicsDaily.com) and David asked why I have so much hatred toward Southern Baptists! Can’t a guy point out a few problems with his country or religious tradition without being accused of being a hater (see definition 3)?

Can’t someone be ashamed of some of our country’s actions or policies and still be patriotic? I think so. I’m ashamed that my kids live in a country that started a preemptive war. I grew up with the Viet Nam War crap, but this is ridiculous and un-Christian. I grew up in a country that didn’t torture (or at LEAST tried to hide it). My kids are watching a presidential candidate who has been a victim of torture who doesn’t even have the decency to vote against it!

Call me unpatriotic, but I’m ashamed of that. It would be a proud moment to see my fellow citizens to vote against such a heinous political coward that called his wife the “c” word! But I’m proud of the Baptist minister who called him on it! See David, I’m not a Baptist hater!

No we don’t like that kind of language John!

I think Michelle Obama has much more courage than Cindy McCain. Her honesty is refreshing! Speaking of honesty…have you seen the latest on Cindy? We should expect Bill Clinton to lie, but cookie recipes? Come on!

Man, I wish I was this committed to freedom. Unfortunately with two kids in college, I can’t use my Stimulant Check to advance freedom like this guy. He’s a real patriot!

I was reading about Al Franken’s run for the Senate this morning and a quote really hit me.

“Some don’t remember that a president can be articulate. They don’t remember that the federal government worked. And the saddest thing was that they don’t remember that our country was well respected around the world.”

W is really the only president my daughter has ever known. Wow. What a shame. My other kids had the privilege of knowing another president. My oldest learned a bit early about a particular kind of sex (his granny reads this so it’s censored) thanks to Clinton.

I guess all presidents have their flaws. It would be nice to have one that I could be truly proud of. I know. I’m a dreamer.

I had Richard Nixon. Hmmm. I also had Jimmy Carter. Many folks say that he was a terrible president. I guess it depends on your priorities. He stood for peace. I think he was a pretty honest guy. He was an outsider. Guess I’ve always appreciated that.

Sorry Shirley Jr. Guess you’ll have to find your role models somewhere else.

The Southern Baptist Convention is coming up and I’m looking forward to what kinds of statements my Baptist brothers are preparing to make by means of resolutions. Here’s a brief history of Southern Baptist Resolutions concerning war:

Resolution on Peace

New Orleans, Louisiana May 1917

RESOLVED, (1) That we deeply deplore this awful and sorrowful calamity which has caused these leading nations to drench the earth in the precious blood of their own loyal citizens.
(2) That we reaffirm our faith in the righteousness of the Sermon on the Mount, and our confidence and infallible wisdom of him who has taught us to love our enemies, to bless them that curse us, and to do good to them that despitefully use and persecute us.

I love how they struggled with the issue of war here. WWI was a horrible event, however, Southern Baptists still struggled with war in light of Jesus’ command to love our enemies.

Resolution on War and Peace

Baltimore, MD June 1940

1. That we hereby express our utter abhorrence of war as an instrument of International policy and our profound conviction and belief that all International differences could and of a right ought to be composed by peaceful diplomatic exchanges, and, when these fail, by arbitration.

6. That while we acknowledge the right of national self-defense, our utter abhorrence of war and its attendant evils compels us to voice the conviction that even a defensive war should be waged only as a last resort after every effort has been made to reach a settlement of international problems in fairness to all the nations involved.

8. Baptists have always believed in liberty of conscience and have honored men who were willing to brave adverse public opinion for the sake of conscientious scruples. A considerable number of members of churches of our Convention, through their interpretation of the moral teachings of Christ, have reached the position of a conscientious objection to war that prohibits them from bearing arms.

The Convention ought to accord to them the right of their convictions as it accords to others the right to differ from them, and ought to protect them in that right to the extend of its ability.

9. Because war is contrary to the mind and spirit of Christ, we believe that no war should be identified with the will of Christ. Our churches should not be made agents of war propaganda or recruiting stations. War thrives on and is perpetuated by hysteria, falsehood, and hate and the church has a solemn responsibility to make sure there is no black out of love in time of war. When men and nations are going mad with hate it is the duty of Christ’s ministers and His churches to declare by spirit, word, and conduct the love of God in all men. In time of war it is our Christian responsibility to prepare for peace. We would, therefore, urge our churches to think and work toward a Christian social order in which a just and lasting peace can be realized.

Wow! Supporting conscientious objectors! War is contrary to the will of Christ? Imagine that!

The Korean War:

Recommendation Concerning World Order And Peace
Chicago, Illinois May 1950

1. Because we must have a renewal within our consciences of the basic incompatability of war with the moral principles and purposes of Christianity and because we need desperately to have new aspirations for world peace, we urge upon our people not to abandon the ultimate goal of peace and not to surrender to the inevitability of war as the only possible solution of international disagreements. We further call upon the President of the United States and upon those who determine American foreign policy not only to “keep open the door” to peaceful negotiations, but also to pursue aggressively every course that will lead us to peaceful settlements of international problems.

2. We recommend that our churches give serious consideration and study to all of the means being employed to promote world peace and that we give as Christians our prayerful support to the work of the United Nations Organization.

The War in Iraq:

On The Liberation Of Iraq
Phoenix, AZ June 2003

WHEREAS, Scripture commands individual Christians to love our enemies, but it also commands civil authorities to restrain evil and to punish evildoers through the power of the sword (Romans 13:1–5);

Crap like this is why the “Liberal” Baptists want Baptists to emphasize the teaching of Jesus over the teaching of Paul. It’s really hard to justify violence and war with Jesus’ teaching. With Paul, not so much. But even if this were a proper interpretation of Romans 13:1-5, (Which it is NOT!) all of the tension between having to go to war and the evil involved in it are gone. Not even a suggestion that war is contrary to the will of Christ!

A rich heritage of peace shot to hell. God forgive us. We don’t want to punish evildoers otherwise we’d be in Darfur spreading freedom. We want to protect our interests, but we are too blinded by sin and greed to recognize it. Maybe that’s why some people hate us. Southern Baptists not only have become a tool for the current administration, they have abandoned traditional Baptists beliefs and misused Scripture to do so! What a joke! It would be funny if it wasn’t so sad and sinful.

President George W. Bush met privately with Focus on the Family Founder and Chairman James Dobson and approximately a dozen Christian right leaders last week to rally support for his policies on Iraq, Iran and the so-called “war on terror.”

Unfortunately, the “Christian Right” is neither.

Instead of this:

Romans 12:17-21

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”says the Lord.
On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

1 Peter 3:8-13

Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
For,
“Whoever would love life
and see good days
must keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from deceitful speech.
He must turn from evil and do good;
he must seek peace and pursue it.
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?

Matthew 5:38-48

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Unfortunately, Bush heard this from James Dobson:

‘We are being threatened and we are going to meet this with force — whatever’s necessary.’”

A few weeks back, I committed to regularly posting about peace. Sorry Michael!

Here’s a link to a great post about peace at The Katrinacrat Blog.

“It isn’t enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it.
And it isn’t enough to believe in it. One must work at it.” Eleanor Roosevelt

Shirley and I went to the Jazz Funeral for Helen Hill today. Take a look at the pics here. It was very inspiring. Thanks Jason for the encouragement yesterday, but my birthday has really hit me hard this year. I never met Helen, but when people who knew her speak about her you know how special she was.

I’m seriously considering my legacy right now. I don’t expect a huge jazz funeral, but I want folks to speak about me as someone who loved God and tried to make a positive impact on the world.

I’ll have to admit that Seminary seemed to side-track me. Usually Seminary is supposed to prepare you to grow spiritually and care for others. In my case…not so much. I’ve got to get that behind me though and find a place where I can grow and serve. A place where I can show others how much they are loved. I saw a cool bumper sticker today. Take a look:

Recently, Michael Homan, a friend of mine, blogged about a young man who had returned to New Orleans from his Katrina exile and lived just four hours here before he was killed. Robert Dawson, the 17-year-old, got an a fight with Clarence Johnson, another 17-year-old. Clarence Johnson went home, told his mother about the fight. His mother, Vanessa Johnson, reportedly gave him a handgun and told him to go outside and “kill them all.” He did.

Michael’s post then received a hate-filled response. Here are his suggestions for “solving the problem: (Caution—Bad language ahead):

Okay you liberal pussy, you say you want to help, I’ll tell you.

1) Keep your EDITED mouth shut when you and all of your little budies get together and defend this trash and fight to keep the projects standing and repopulated.

2) You keep your EDITED mouth shut and stop whining about that these people deserve to come home and are owed some sort of reparations for their plight. They bring this EDITED on themselves.

3) While it is tragic that this child was killed, you don’t let your children wear baseball caps backwards and gang colors. If your black, oh no, African American, and not a criminal, then don’t dress like one. If you dress the part, you will be treated as one. While the Homan School of Liberalism will tell you this defeats “individuality” it keeps your EDITED kids alive! Be a EDITED parent and give your kids some direction.

4) Call the police everytime you see a banger like this walking down the street.EDITED the ACLU and all of you liberal types that think this type of profiling is illegal. Ask Harry Lee for help.

5) Arm yourself heavily and learn to shoot back.

Do you get my point yet? I could go on?

Take it from one of the rich that you speak of that gets richer everyday. Liberal worms like yourself are as much the problem as the bangers. Get a EDITED clue!!!

THIS SECTION HAS BEEN EDITED DUE TO GRAPHIC CONTENT. SORRY IF I OFFENDED ANYONE. I WAS JUST SHOWING HOW OFFENSIVE ANONYMOUS” COMMENTS WERE.

I hate to give this jerk a forum, but he makes my point. We live in a culture of violence. Not just those who kill each other, but also those who wield power. What’s the rich (supposedly) person’s response to this violence? More violence of course!

When I read Michael’s post, which ends with “But how can we make a society where nobody has to go through that?” I responded with—“We can’t.”

Pretty depressing answer huh? Well, unfortunately It’s true. As a naïve young Christian, I used to believe that the only hope for this country was for it to become more “Christian.” But when I see Evangelicals in bed with politicians who believe the best strategy to ensure peace is to launch a pre-emptive strike, I lose hope.

When our goal and the goal of our children is to grow up and get more stuff (and protect our stuff from losers), we will not stop the violence.

Saw this image at PostSecret:

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