Sunday Musings - March 28, 2021
Psalm Sunday
Many in the United States of America like to promote this country as a nation in which Christianity is the primary religion. We know, of course, that the United States of America is comprised of individual representing many different religious faiths and those who do not align themselves with any religion or religious practice. Still, at many Federal, state and local functions the blessing of the god of Christianity is invoked. Many of the laws and customs of the United States are defended from a so-called Christian perspective.
As the Christian community approaches Palm Sunday which commemorates the entrance of Christ into Jerusalem palm branches are symbolically laid in his path. All know that on Good Friday he will be crucified between two thieves. Any Christian will tell you that this story celebrates the fact that the resurrection will follow on Easter. No matter what the state says or how they label this man, Christians knows that no one could diminish his work or his mission. Jesus had consistently taught that everyone is more than their worst behavior; that the state could not decide who was worthwhile and who was a throw away person. He taught that no matter how much the community declares that success is determined by financial worth, social constructed labels or titles, the size of one’s house or other ways of presenting oneself as more than or better than, all are equally guilty of hurtful behavior and all are deserving of forgiveness.
On this Palm Sunday many Christians will celebrate the reopening of churches by singing the praises of this Jesus person who they believe is also God. Yet, many of those same people will call for justice by “throwing the book” at individuals. Even when individuals are finally released from prison they will be denied jobs, access to housing, often voting, and in many other ways be treated as throw away persons.
University of Chicago sociologist Reuben Jonathan Miller discusses these and related issues in his book ‘Halfway Home’. We incarcerate those with mental illness including addiction, those who did what they need to do to survive, and those to whom we often deny equity and equality. We do little to give them new tools (there are some exceptions in some prisons). When they are released they are denied the basics of housing, jobs and dignity which one needs to function. When they fail we assign them new labels indicating that they are the bad people - the criminals - we knew they were.
We have historically done the same with black people and are now determined to create what some are calling the new Jim Crow laws to once again deny access to voting and other rights. When people do not vote or are otherwise unable to become “successful” members of the community living “on the right side of the tracks” we can blame them.
We do the same in many South American Countries. We help to create and support the policies which contribute to them not being able to safely function thus forcing many to flee and them demean or criticize them. In fact, many refer to them as criminals, drug dealers or with other terms which seek to justify treating them as throw away people.
As Isabel Wilkinson has documented in her recent book ‘Caste: The Origins of Our Discontent’ the caste system in the United States of America ensures that people remain in the caste to which we have assigned them. We then blame them for remaining in that caste and/or we cite the example of the few who seem, on the surface, to escape as proof that we are not doing what we are doing.
On this Palm Sunday it is not surprising that Christians find the teachings of Jesus too radical; too threatening to an entire system. Too many of us are busy convincing ourselves that we cannot be one of the throw away people until, of course, we are those throw away people who are disinvited from a seat at the table.
The movie “Come Sunday” is the true story of what happens to a Christian minister, Carlton Pearson, when he suggests that the all people are welcome home by Jesus; that all of us deserve Grace - unconditional love. No exceptions. There was no longer any room at the inn for Pastor Pearson. All of us whose tradition is the Christian framework know even if we can “pass” there is no room at the inn for the real us either; that if others knew the real us we would find locked church doors.
Written March 27, 2021
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
?
Psalm Sunday
Many in the United States of America like to promote this country as a nation in which Christianity is the primary religion. We know, of course, that the United States of America is comprised of individual representing many different religious faiths and those who do not align themselves with any religion or religious practice. Still, at many Federal, state and local functions the blessing of the god of Christianity is invoked. Many of the laws and customs of the United States are defended from a so-called Christian perspective.
As the Christian community approaches Palm Sunday which commemorates the entrance of Christ into Jerusalem palm branches are symbolically laid in his path. All know that on Good Friday he will be crucified between two thieves. Any Christian will tell you that this story celebrates the fact that the resurrection will follow on Easter. No matter what the state says or how they label this man, Christians knows that no one could diminish his work or his mission. Jesus had consistently taught that everyone is more than their worst behavior; that the state could not decide who was worthwhile and who was a throw away person. He taught that no matter how much the community declares that success is determined by financial worth, social constructed labels or titles, the size of one’s house or other ways of presenting oneself as more than or better than, all are equally guilty of hurtful behavior and all are deserving of forgiveness.
On this Palm Sunday many Christians will celebrate the reopening of churches by singing the praises of this Jesus person who they believe is also God. Yet, many of those same people will call for justice by “throwing the book” at individuals. Even when individuals are finally released from prison they will be denied jobs, access to housing, often voting, and in many other ways be treated as throw away persons.
University of Chicago sociologist Reuben Jonathan Miller discusses these and related issues in his book ‘Halfway Home’. We incarcerate those with mental illness including addiction, those who did what they need to do to survive, and those to whom we often deny equity and equality. We do little to give them new tools (there are some exceptions in some prisons). When they are released they are denied the basics of housing, jobs and dignity which one needs to function. When they fail we assign them new labels indicating that they are the bad people - the criminals - we knew they were.
We have historically done the same with black people and are now determined to create what some are calling the new Jim Crow laws to once again deny access to voting and other rights. When people do not vote or are otherwise unable to become “successful” members of the community living “on the right side of the tracks” we can blame them.
We do the same in many South American Countries. We help to create and support the policies which contribute to them not being able to safely function thus forcing many to flee and them demean or criticize them. In fact, many refer to them as criminals, drug dealers or with other terms which seek to justify treating them as throw away people.
As Isabel Wilkinson has documented in her recent book ‘Caste: The Origins of Our Discontent’ the caste system in the United States of America ensures that people remain in the caste to which we have assigned them. We then blame them for remaining in that caste and/or we cite the example of the few who seem, on the surface, to escape as proof that we are not doing what we are doing.
On this Palm Sunday it is not surprising that Christians find the teachings of Jesus too radical; too threatening to an entire system. Too many of us are busy convincing ourselves that we cannot be one of the throw away people until, of course, we are those throw away people who are disinvited from a seat at the table.
The movie “Come Sunday” is the true story of what happens to a Christian minister, Carlton Pearson, when he suggests that the all people are welcome home by Jesus; that all of us deserve Grace - unconditional love. No exceptions. There was no longer any room at the inn for Pastor Pearson. All of us whose tradition is the Christian framework know even if we can “pass” there is no room at the inn for the real us either; that if others knew the real us we would find locked church doors.
Written March 27, 2021
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
?
RSS Feed