"Vox victimarum vox Dei. The cries of the victims are the voice of God. To the extent that those cries are not heard above the din of our political, cultural, economic, social, and ecclesial celebrations or bickerings, we have already begun a descent into hell. " (Matthew Lamb)
Just finished a 4 day conference with about a thousand Christians of all sorts who come together each year with a common concern for the status of our world. Part of me, reacting to the evangelical fundamentalism that has hijacked the faith in many ways, wants to say that these are true Christians, not the Christians who so easily confuse God and nation, who refuse or are unable to see beyond the bubble of comfort and self-righteousness. The same part of me wants to claim that these folks live the horizontal dimension of the cross as well as the vertical, who see themselves as channels of God’s transforming Spirit who is working to renew the Earth in justice and peace. I want to know that I am on the right side.
And maybe this is true. But the moment I do this I shut myself off and make a demon of the "other." I either tune myself in to the interior buzz of criticism and anger, or to the hum of self-contentment in knowing that I'm walking on the right side of the road. These ways do not lead to growth. How can I be attentive to vox victimarum and vox Dei if all I hear is my own chatter? Or the chatter of politique?
America leaves me much to be critical and angry about and I probably should articulate that at some time, but not tonight.
1 comment:
Dave,
I hear your struggle, and I have felt the same way at times in my life. I wonder, is it possible to be both? Can a person struggle with the problems of the world and enjoy their car, house, episode of "survivor" etc.? Perhaps the tangled web of our mind, this duality of sacrifice and self-fulfillment, is exactly what God intended. If not, why would he have created us in this way. Consider this. The man who knows only pain does not know pain. For one to know pain, one must know pleasure. Is one who sacrifices all of their time, energy and spirit to the plight of the world really using their life in line with God's will? Some would say yes. I say yes, but only some cases. God made the mother Teresas and Oscar Romero's, but I don't know that that is how he made us all. I think most of us are made with balance, and a need for both, and I think this is ok.
Post a Comment