This was originally posted at EpinoiaCafe.com
Dear Brian McLaren,
I woke up this glorious inaugural morning–when he-who-must-not-be-named is leaving the white house, and a man who is beloved, who offers hope and change, takes his place–I woke up to your invitation to the Mobilization to End Poverty. And I was sad.
I opened the email with a tiny little spark of hope, that you would ask us to look into our hearts and find ways we better love one another. Maybe you’d ask us to take note of how we have so much more than we need, and invite us to voluntarily share it in the spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ. Maybe you’d remind us that a single moment of real human connection between two people is worth more than gold. Or maybe you’d encourage us to develop traditions like setting an extra place at the dinner table for a stranger, like befriending the scared, the lonely, the hungry and tired.
But instead, I found that I’m being invited to “hold President Obama accountable.” Apparently, it’s an event to “call the new president and members of Congress to take immediate steps to address extreme poverty.”
Is this what you think Jesus would be doing? Leading a crowd of thousands to the capital to appeal to Caesar for kindness? To hold the machine “accountable”?
18 Comments on “Open Letter to Brian McLaren”
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Excellent question, and no, I don’t think this is what Jesus would be doing.
Posted on March 29, 2010 at 7:58 pm.
Who knows what Jesus would do? I won’t be attending the Summit myself, even though I’m in support of its goals. Maybe I can take some of the money I would be using for travel and use it to further the agenda.
Posted on March 29, 2010 at 7:59 pm.
I think that is EXACTLY what Jesus did. He rode into the capital on a donkey with a crowd waving palm leaves in a staged public protest appealing to the authorities, demanding they return to the biblical mandate of kindness and justice. He quoted the prophetic indictment of Israel for its injustice and collaboration with Imperialism in another staged protest inside the temple. So YES, Brian is right on track! It also sounds as if Brian is being mocked, ridiculed and even verbally crucified for his Christ-like protest of abusive power, and his Christ-like prophetic demand for accountability and protection of the “least of these”. Bravo to Brian!
Posted on March 29, 2010 at 8:00 pm.
Obama Is not Ceasar, just as and Brian is not Jesus. Brian is a good friend of mine and is a good man; frankly one of the best I know. The writer of this letter fails to see that Brian cares deeply about the poor and is actaully doing something to improve their circumstances. I think you your open letter is misguided and more hurtful than good. Even Martin Luther King Jr. utilized the importance of the government to make the necessary changes to fulfull his dream. I ask myself, when as christians will we start putting our petty arguments aside and start working together for the betterment of the world?
Posted on March 29, 2010 at 8:03 pm.
Jay wrote: “I ask myself, when as christians will we start putting our petty arguments aside and start working together for the betterment of the world?”
It looks to me that Angela was asking much the same thing. I heard her voice her hope that our efforts for cooperation and understanding occur among ourselves without institutional mediation, and her sadness that Brian did not seem to promote such a vision.
What surprises me most, though, is your impression that Angela “fails to see that Brian cares deeply about the poor”. I think it’s plain to all who appreciate Brian that he, and those he will inspire into joining him in that project, care deeply about the poor.
Posted on March 29, 2010 at 8:04 pm.
Ouch! Brian McLaren, who I love, being “mocked, ridiculed… crucified”? “Misguided and more hurtful than good”? Wow, guys. My heart is aching.
For the record, if you’re listening, Brian, I adore you, both your philosophy and your heart. Otherwise, why would I question?
Posted on March 29, 2010 at 8:06 pm.
Hi, Angela – thanks for your posting. I very rarely reply to blogs, but thought I’d reply briefly – in large part because I really appreciated your recent blog about where the emergent road leads and in fact linked to it from my blog. First, please be assured that it was only coincidental that this letter came out on inauguration day. I wrote this some time ago and the decision to post it today wasn’t mine. Perhaps its timing was part of the negative reaction you felt.
Second, I was down on the mall today among the huge crowds to celebrate the new presidency. I was very pleased to hear our new president say these words about our need to pursue the common good:
“Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control – and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our Gross Domestic Product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart – not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.”
The language of “holding the president accountable” was not intended to suggest that he doesn’t care about poverty. I believe he truly does, as his statement above suggests: “a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous.” That’s why I believe having a lot of voices raised on behalf of our poor neighbors this spring is important …
There will be plenty of well-paid lobbyists making sure that banks and big businesses are looked after in our economic crisis, but the poor can’t afford lobbyists. That’s one main reason why those of us who can do so should consider becoming volunteer advocates on behalf of poor people. That’s a big part of what the April gathering is about.
Third, I’m so glad you said what you said … about looking “into our hearts and find ways we better love one another,” and taking “note of how we have so much more than we need,” and inviting us “to voluntarily share it in the spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ.” I agree with you that a single moment of “real human connection between two people is worth more than gold,” although intense emotion is no substitute for sharing with those in need when we’re able to do so, as I’m sure you’d agree. And I not only agree, but have practiced through my life the tradition you suggest — of “setting an extra place at the dinner table for a stranger … befriending the scared, the lonely, the hungry and tired.” Amen. Thanks for raising those important values!
There are two places where I would respectfully differ with you, I think. I wouldn’t automatically equate President Obama with Caesar. The change upon which his campaign was focused, it seems to me, was a call away from militarist domination as a pattern for America. (I blogged about this during the election – http://www.brianmclaren.net/archives/blog/why-im-voting-for-obama-and-why.html ) The strongly-worded implied denunciation of torture in today’s inauguration speech was further evidence of a move away from the imperial mindset. Obviously, America has a lot of power, and with that power comes (to quote both Spiderman and Jesus) a lot of responsibility, so we need to remain vigilant that we stop behaving in Caesar-like ways.
Also, I wouldn’t withdraw from the world of public policy under the guise of government being a machine. You’re right: there’s a lot about our government that is machine-like, but democracy means that each of us is a shareholder in how the machine is operated, so I’m interested in inviting people to wisely and compassionately exercise our share in governance. So, to me, it’ s not an either/or thing – a matter of personal kindness and generosity on the one hand versus public policy action on the other. To me, it’s a both/and thing. One bad policy – an ill-advised war, a bad farm bill with harmful trade policies, a cut in key programs – can instantly wipe away millions of small acts of kindness. One good policy – of care for the environment, of appropriate help for people in need, of support for entrepreneurship and of opposition to slavery and exploitation and corruption – can mean a lot to those who are suffering.
So, it sounds like you opened the piece that I wrote hoping it would say things it didn’t say. Let me say I’m glad you said those things, and I agree with nearly all of them, and I trust that with a good both/and spirit, we can all work together on behalf of our neighbors who are in need.
Posted on March 29, 2010 at 8:07 pm.
Thanks for that response, Brian. I appreciate how you contribute to this conversation, and help me think about difficult things.
I wasn’t saying that Obama is Caesar. I was saying that the thing he’s become a part of is (like) Caesar, in that it approaches problems on a huge scale, and does damage even when its intentions are good. I don’t worship the “free market”–my atheist friends are disgusted by my “apostasy” there, too. But I think there’s something new coming… something completely different than the system that’s failed, over and over, to bring us true peace and compassion.
I worry about lifting programs up and pushing the message of Jesus down, because I really believe that only love can do what needs to be done.
I’d be much happier, for instance, joining a big party in Washington that was intended to remind Obama that “yes we can” and that he has our support in embodying love as he intended to, rather than holding him “accountable.” That just seems so… adversarial. And adversarial isn’t part of the vision of the kingdom that burns in my heart.
Thanks again for the conversation, Brian. I appreciate so much the work that you do.
Posted on March 29, 2010 at 8:17 pm.
Well said, Angela. I like your vision and words, as well as Brian’s. I’m hoping to participate in the Mobilization to End Poverty, and I certainly hope that amidst the seriousness of that goal there is some kingdom partying happening.
Posted on March 29, 2010 at 8:19 pm.
I think Jesus is doing exactly that. Both inspiring love and calling to account those that love not, especially the powers principalities that were created by his father for that very purpose. Surely in our efforts to join in with God in his work we will join our voices to his in calling all rulers to account
Posted on March 29, 2010 at 8:20 pm.
Hey, maybe you’re right! I’m always struggling to know which way the path of love leads. I am so glad to have you (all) here to help me look for it.
Posted on March 29, 2010 at 8:23 pm.
Great dialog Angela! The blogosphere can be a tough place to have a conversation, but there are always those moments when disagreements and honest questions provide clarity.
When it comes to the critique of systems, I think we should be careful to differentiate between “corrupted systems” and systems in general. There has been an abundance of misdirected critique of all systems simply because of the past corruption of particular systems. We need systems. I can’t change the world by myself. Neither can you and neither can Brian McLaren. We should be sure that we protest the corruption of systems not all uses of systems. Systems ensure justice. Systems create and protect freedom. Systems educate and liberate us. Systems provide jobs. Systems provide care for those who can’t care for themselves.
Jesus protested Caesar, not because he was “the government”, but because he lead a corrupt system. Jesus protested the Temple, not because it was a system, but because it had become a corrupt system. To question your own system is an act of caring for that system. Just like to criticize or respond to a blog post or article is to care about the conversation (and the blogger).
Posted on March 29, 2010 at 8:24 pm.
Thank you for that insight! As we were driving today I pointed my children to look out the front window, where the road was blocked off by police, ambulance, and fire vehicles. We prayed for the people involved in whatever was going on out there, and I realized again that not all systems are bad, and thanked God for the systems that cause all of those people to be out there helping the people in need outside my window. I do however worry when the body of Christ is a system, whether corrupted or not, because it seems to suck some of the true life out of it. Just some things on my mind lately. Also, I loved your last comment the most: “Just like to criticize or respond to a blog post or article is to care about the conversation (and the blogger). ” That just shows me the kindness of God. I’ll take that anytime I can get it!
Posted on March 29, 2010 at 8:28 pm.
Seriously – is this open letter for real? I want to respond, but I’m at a loss as to the seeming presumptive and loaded nature of the question. Wow.
I still think you’re free to set a place for a stranger.
Posted on March 29, 2010 at 8:29 pm.
It’s not either/or, Angela, it’s both/and.
Posted on March 29, 2010 at 8:30 pm.
I think who needs to be held accountable are the American People. As for what Jesus would do? I don’t think He would be this obvious and He would always give the credit back to the Father.
What bothers me about all of this is it sounds like “We The People” are putting our faith, trust and hope in a man. Yes, he may be a man who God chooses to use but he is just a man. And our new President needs us to be involved, not just excited. Amercans’ are great at jumping on a band wagon but we have trouble hanging on when the road gets rough and bumpy. I pray for President Obama and this country. I hope, like you, that we stay behind him. I hope in eight years we aren’t trying to blame him for what we didn’t do.
Posted on March 29, 2010 at 8:31 pm.
Angela, I just think you are an amazing woman with boldness to live the gospel and seek the Kingdom. You go girl! Brian, you just rock for even coming here and responding, as busy as you are. Thank you both for what you share here with us – this all could have been done via e-mail, but you shared it with us.
Posted on March 29, 2010 at 8:32 pm.
The blog seems to have eaten Theresa’s other comment, so I’m reposting here:
Theresa Seeber said:
Thank you for that insight! As we were driving today I pointed my children to look out the front window, where the road was blocked off by police, ambulance, and fire vehicles. We prayed for the people involved in whatever was going on out there, and I realized again that not all systems are bad, and thanked God for the systems that cause all of those people to be out there helping the people in need outside my window. I do however worry when the body of Christ is a system, whether corrupted or not, because it seems to suck some of the true life out of it. Just some things on my mind lately. Also, I loved your last comment the most: “Just like to criticize or respond to a blog post or article is to care about the conversation (and the blogger). ” That just shows me the kindness of God. I’ll take that anytime I can get it!
Posted on March 29, 2010 at 8:32 pm.