The old folks in church used to sing a song that says, “Whisper a prayer in the morning. Whisper a prayer at noon. Whisper a prayer in the evening. It will keep your heart in tune.” Well before the rigors of research revealed the truth of this song; our Ancestors and Elders believed in prayer’s power to impact our lives in positive ways.

This morning I not only embrace this truth, but I’m currently buzzing off of its blessing as well. This morning my church started an early morning prayer circle. At 6AM a small group of us pressed out in cold, clammy weather to meet in a “safe place” (sanctuary) just for prayer. In jeans, headwraps, sweatsuits and no “church bulletin” – we circled up, shared our concerns, hopes, and dreams and started praying.

I was so excited about prayer this morning that I woke up before the alarm clock went off and then sped to the church -barreling over speed bumps and remembering once I arrived that I forgot to brush my hair. It didn’t matter. I was in the right place at the right time and my soul knew it.

I firmly believe that prayer is a largely untapped resource and resevoir of power that has import to many if not most Faith traditions. From Muslims, to Hindus, to Buddhists, to Jews, to Christians and so many others – people of Faith at different times and in different ways attempt to transcend this time and place to commune with their God. In this fast-paced, 4G, broadband, 2.0 society, we would do well to remember that prayer is an Ancient Technology which far surpasses the ability and battery life of the latest trinkets on sale at our favorite store.

Prayer is not wishful thinking. It’s not “escapism”. It’s not a sign of retreat. But prayer can be thought of as the “forward march” of faith. Even as millions in Egypt are bringing revolution to that great African country, it’s powerful to watch as they stop their chanting, marching, and cheering, and jeering to bend their knees en masse in prayer. Even revolutionaries – or especially revolutionaries – need to pray.

In his classic book, Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster devotes a chapter to the discipline of prayer. He says that “prayer is the central avenue God uses to transform us.” And after 1 hour of prayer on this rainy Saturday morning, I must testify that I know I’ve been changed! I thank Almighty God for the blessing of the timeless spiritual practice of prayer.

We’ll gather again for community prayer on Saturday, March 6, 2011, 6AM at Pleasant Hope Baptist Church for one hour of prayer. All are welcome.  (If you’re unable to make it out, we welcome your prayer request.)

As Lincoln and Mamiya point out, for Black Christians it was (and is) in the context of oppression that there was “greater weight given to the biblical views of the importance of human personality and human equality implicit in the ‘children of God” (SOURCE: The Black Church in the African American Experience) He goes on to describe how the Black Church’s understanding of Christianity is “premised on the rock of antiracial discrimination” – a feature that is not central to the White Church.

Pastor John Hagee

The doors of the Black Church should be closed to Pastor John Hagee not because of his race or personality, but he should not be welcome in the Black Church because of his message.

Not necessarily his theological justification and insensitivity of the nearly 2,000 people killed during the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina…though that would be issue enough. Not necessarily because of his advertised “slave auction” at his San Antonio, Texas church as a fundraiser…though that certainly would be enough.

But the doors of the Black Church should be closed in Hagee’s direction because of his racist and discriminatory theology as it relates to Palestine/Israel. Hagee is founder and director of Christians United for Israel and is one of the country’s most vocal Christian Zionist. Christian Zionism is an exclusive form of theology which views the modern state of Israel as the fulfillment of God’s covenant with biblical Israel. It promotes exclusive Jewish ownership of the land of Israel, views Jews as God’s “Chosen People,” expresses hostility and hatred for Arabs and Palestinians, and believes that the gathering of Jews in modern Israel will usher in the end of history and the return of Jesus Christ. (even if that gathering of Jews in Israel includes the theft, oppression, and occupation of Palestinian people and land.)

Christian Zionism is founded on an ultraliteral and uncritical interpretation of the Bible which has mutated into a vile political agenda. In the name of obedience to scripture, Christian Zionism promotes intolerance, occupation of Palestinian people, discrimination, and sacredly sanctioned human rights abuses by the Israeli Government and Military.

What Pastor John Hagee is doing in the name of Christian Zionism is akin to what American slave masters did in the name of justifying the enslavement of my ancestors in this country. They used a perverse reading of the Holy Bible to provide divine sanction for the dehumanization and oppression of my forebearers. Hagee shares kinship with a long line of ministerial miscreants who misinterpret scripture for personal gain. To be clear: John Hagee is to Arabs, Palestinians, and Muslims in general, what the supporters of slavery where to Africans in America.

The doors of the Black Church should be closed to Pastor John Hagee, but unfortunately they are not. With a nod to the high level of biblical illiteracy and uncritical acceptance of any preacher that has a television platform, I have encountered an alarming number of African American Christians who embrace John Hagee’s message. Not just laity, but in fact, local Bishops of the Baltimore Metropolitan area have opened their pulpits to a man who could care less about their congregation or community and who simply wants to pimp Black pulpits for personal and political gain.

Bishop Harry Jackson of Hope Christian Church in Beltsville is hosting Hagee on Sunday, July 11, 2010 7PM. Jackson, a conservative and political right-leaning African American clergyman, characterizes Hagee as having a “timely message for our community and nation.” It’s very explicitly communicated on the website that Hagee will be representing Christians United for Israel during the event.

John Hagee flyer on Hope Christian Church Website

Bishop Clifford Johnson of Mt. Pleasant Ministries in Baltimore is also promoting a breakfast with Hagee slated for Monday, July 12, 2010 9AM – 11AM. Though it cannot be found on his church website, Bishop Johnson has mailed out this invitation inviting clergy to share in a breakfast where Hagee will be talking about “Evangelism, Church Growth, and Bible Prophecy Concerning Israel.”

Bishop Clifford Johnson's Hagee Breakfast Letter

Additionally, Hagee will be at Evangel Cathedral in Upper Marlboro, Maryland where Bishop Don Meares, a White pastor leads a congregation with a significant African American and Hispanic population. This CUFI event, “Unidos por Israel“, is specifically targeting Hispanics on Sunday, July 18, 2010 11AM.

These events are clearly Hagee’s attempt to garner support and no doubt, funds from African American and Hispanic Christians as he makes his way to the 2010 Legislative Summit for Christians United for Israel in D.C. from July 20 – 22, 2010. Unsuspecting and ill-informed Christians, with the permission of their Bishops, will be exposed to a message of intolerance, racial discrimination, and theological perversion in the name of Jesus Christ. They will hear about a God who has a perpetual preference for Jews over all other people and has divinely sanctioned the slaughter of Palestinians in the Middle East.

Therefore it is time for Christians of conscience… Christians who remember God’s heart for the marginalized and Jesus’ commitment to the disinherited to stand up and publicly rebuke Hagee’s message of hate, ethnic discrimination, and intolerance. Of all people, Black folks know the pain of being persecuted by the perverse theology of White pastors. We should identify in very intimate ways with Hagee’s assault on Palestinian humanity and his support of Israeli Apartheid. The Zionist message should not find sanctuary in the Christian Church and most certainly not the Black Church! The doors of the church should be closed!

Israel's Apartheid Wall

Thanks be to God, I have safely returned to my family and community from my two week trip to Palestine/Israel. As most of you know, I was away with a delegation from a group called Interfaith Peace Builders. I would HIGHLY recommend anyone considering such a trip to go with an organization like this. With the support of so many (including family, churches, and Friends of Sabeel – an international peace movement initiated by Palestinian Christians in the “Holy Land.”), I received an intense course on the Middle East Conflict. Our delegation, co-led by two phenomenal women – Anna Baltzer and Cathy Sultan – was filled with approximately 29 amazing people from all over the country and many parts of the world. Together, we connected with courageous activists who helped show us what it means to be Human while under the boot of apartheid today. I will never forget my new friends and family. It is impossible for me to be the same person that I was just two weeks ago. In Christian language, it would be most appropriate to say that I have been “born again.”

I went to Palestine/Israel with a knowledge base grounded in my research, writings, and attendance at Middle East conferences. However, now I possess first-hand knowledge of what is going on in Palestine/Israel. While I was witness and participant in joyful, laughter-filled, fun moments while there, I also had a front row seat to how the Israeli Government and much of the Israeli Society actively sanctions the oppression and discrimination of Palestinian people solely based on their ethnicity. That, ladies and gentleman, is called Apartheid – a word most commonly associated with South Africa which literally means “separateness.”

The picture of the wall above is a concrete example (no pun intended) of the lengths to which the Israeli Government will go to separate and segregate the Palestinian community. These walls, which are built in the name of “security”, can be found all over the country separating Palestinians from families, fields, jobs, medical support, educational desires, recreational opportunities, and ancestral homeland. I heard about the Apartheid Wall, but actually standing in its shadow was a surreal experience. It has left an indelible mark in my mind about the reality of state-sanctioned oppression and will serve as one of the embers that fuel my activism on this issue for years to come. The sad part is that the wall is only one pillar in Israeli’s Apartheid program. There is MUCH more that I must share about what I believe to be my generation’s historic challenge and opportunity to strike a blow for justice during our lifetime.

It was good for me to be there in Palestine/Israel, but it is just as good for me to be home so that I can amplify the stories that I saw, heard, and experienced while there. For any who might be reading this in the Baltimore Metropolitan area, I would welcome the opportunity to come and share about my experience. Feel free to contact me. I also am connected to many others in the world who would relish the chance to share what they’ve experienced as well.

Thank you for your prayers and support while I was away. I am deeply thankful for you. Stay tuned as I continue to process and unpack my experience in Palestine/Israel.

In Solidarity,

Heber M. Brown, III

However, this year, Memorial Day has meant a day of mourning and focused anger. Humanitarians from Turkey and other parts of the world set sail in a grouping of ships to deliver 10,000 tons of aid to Palestinians who are trapped behind the concrete walls of an Israeli blockade.

As many in the world know by now, as the ships, known as the Freedom Flotilla approached the coast of Gaza, the Israeli Military attacked. Initial reports indicated that nearly 20 people were killed and many more were wounded by the assault by the Israeli soldiers. This brazen act of murder on the sea invited condemnation by many in the world.

My delegation had been watching the news of the Freedom Flotilla and were praying its safe arrival in the Gaza Strip. We knew that the 1.5 million Palestinians there needed it. We had just been at the Gaza Strip – at the Erez Crossing which is currently the only way that people can get in and out. The Israeli Occupation Soldiers were obviously irritated by our presence and after conversing with a few Palestinians, speaking with the Occupation officer at the front gate, and taking a few pictures, we left.

You can imagine our dismay and anger then we woke this morning to the news that the Israeli Occupation Forces opened fire upon the humanitarian vessels. Because the Israeli Occupation Forces are never held accountable by the world community, they act with tremendous violence without hesitation.

Demonstrations where held across Palestine/Israel today and our delegation ended in the major Palestinian cultural city of Ramallah. After a morning meeting, we made our way downtown, jumped off of our bus, and many of us joined the hundreds in the streets in nonviolent protest. People from all over the world were here marching and chanting together in solidarity. I’ve participated in street demonstrations for the past decade or more, but I’ve never felt a rush like I did today – knowing that I had the opportunity not to just watch the news in Baltimore and shake my head in disgust, but I was granted the chance to actually be on the ground in Palestine to show my support for justice and peace. While marching, clapping, and chanting in the middle of the city center, I wondered what my family and friends would see in the american media back home. I wondered if some “news” agency would get a clip of the march and send it around the world framing it as just a small group of Palestinian militants calling for “death to Israel”. It’s an implication that’s used regularly in the U.S. media, but today I knew that storyline was wrong – not just from head knowledge, but from heart experience.

I will never forget those who gave their lives today for freedom and justice. People who were just trying to help were slaughtered at sea. Now the question is will the United States – Israel’s greatest international financier and defender in the U.N. Security Council move past words and hold Israel accountable. I guess we’ll see soon.

In memory of the martyrs from the Freedom Flotilla,

Heber

I am in Palestine/Israel right now with a delegation from Interfaith Peace Builders to learn more about the conflict here. We have been here for a week and have been meeting with people on all sides of this issue. We have visited the Gaza Strip and Palestinian refugee camps while here.

We have also been following the news related to the Freedom Flotilla that left Turkey in an effort to deliver 10,000 tons of humanitarian aid to the people of the Gaza Strip who are currently under blockade by the Israeli Government.

We were shocked this morning to learn that the Israeli Military boarded one of the ships of the Freedom Flotilla and killed at least 10 of the unarmed passengers and wounded 30 others. This is outrageous! Innocent people have been killed while trying to deliver aid to the 1.5 million Palestinians who are trapped in the world’s largest open-air prison.

I strongly urge you to explore every avenue available to you to bring to justice those who were involved in this murder and to end the blockade of the 1.5 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

Upon my return, I will immediately be in contact with your office to explore this matter further.

Because of the substantial financial and material support that the United States Government provides to the Israeli Government and its military; we are complicit in this atrocity as well.

Sincerely,

Pastor Heber M. Brown, III

Erez Crossing at the Gaza Strip

What if a military force came to your neighborhood built walls all around your block and refused to allow you to go and come as you please. How would you feel about that? What if they decided to attack your walled-in neighborhood from the sky and sent troops in to kill people too. How would you feel?

Those are two of the questions that I had to wrestle with while standing at the walls of one of the world’s biggest prisons. It’s called the Gaza Strip and has 1.5 million Palestinians as its prisoners. In the name of security, the Israeli Government decides who comes and who goes. It decides what is allowed in and what is not.

This is not something that I just heard about – I’ve seen the Gaza Strip with my own eyes. It was almost unbelievable to think that this could be happening in our world today. We claim to be so progressive as a global community. When certain natural tragedies strike, there is often quick and worldwide response. But this day, I stood at the walls of an unnatural tragedy – a government sponsored, world “leader” endorsed tragedy. 1.5 million Palestines in the largest open air prison on earth!

Our group got off the bus at the Erez Crossing which is a tightly controlled entry/exit point for the Gaza Strip. Only Palestinians with Israeli issued ID cards are allowed to enter and leave and even then there’s no guarantee. The guards at the gates saw us coming and began to gather – noticeably irritated by our presence. Some Palestinian taxi drivers were sitting nearby and some of us went to speak with them. Mustering up more courage, some others of our group walked right up to the gate to speak with the “security” officials and demand entry.

There were people locked up behind those walls. The world’s governments know it. President Obama knows it. But they won’t do anything of substance about it. Forget everything you hear them say. They are all lying and should be tried – all of these “world leaders” for crimes against humanity. You may read that and say I’m being harsh, but if your eyes had seen what my eyes saw this day, you would completely understand. To collectively punish and imprison human beings – HUMAN BEINGS! – behind “security” walls and restrict the flow of food, fuel, medicine,etc. is a crime. History will look back in shame at a world community that allowed this to happen.

Wailing Wall and Dome of the Rock

Today, the morning started with a call home…as it does most mornings. While I’m so thankful for this wonderful experience being in Palestine/Israel; I must confess that I miss home. I miss my wife, sons, and extended family members the most. There’s nothing in particular that I miss as it is the rhythm of life that I have become accustomed to which involves their presence. In so many ways, I know who I am because of them. Dr. Naim Akbar would describe this as a part of the African World View: There is no “me” without “we.” My family provides for me a sense of identity.

And if there was a theme to this past Thursday, “identity” would be it. We started the day with a tour of two very important sites for Jews and Muslims: the Wailing Wall (which is part of the remains of the Second Temple built by Herod the Great) and Haram al-Sharif (where the Dome of the Rock – a very holy place for Followers of Islam) can be found. These two very holy sites which mean so much to these two passionate people groups are almost side by side. It is amazing looking at the Wailing Wall which Jews are praying toward and then look up and see the golden dome where Muslims believe that the Prophet Mohammad ascended to the heavens with the angel, Gabriel. Though I’m not Jewish or Muslim, I felt a deep and abiding spirit of reverence while at these locations. I decided to wear my Ghanian garb and it brought with it a few questions from the Muslim elders. I greeted them in Arabic and with my brown skin and traditional attire it made them pause and either invite me into the mosque for prayer or ask where I was from.

I could not enter the mosque for prayer (only Muslims are allowed into the al-Aqsa mosque), but the two Palestinian women who are a part of our delegation did accept the offer to enter for prayer. Already being two very proud Palestinians, I’ve seen them be edified even more so by walking the ground of their ancestral homeland. Being “home” truly does make a difference.

Which is part of the reason that I wanted to come on this trip. I wanted to learn more about the land, the peoples, and the conflict here that involves approximately 4.5 million Palestinian refugees who just want to return home to their land and to their lives.

That’s a side of the “Middle East” conflict that Americans are not allowed to see according to our media. When we see Palestinians in American news they are most times one-dimensional characters. They are stone-throwing, angry, irrational, terrorists who hate “our” way of life and don’t want peace. They are never portrayed as people living under the harsh boot of the Israeli Government’s occupation. They are never portrayed as people who at the end of the day just want to go back home. I’m going to continue hearing the un-filtered stories of Palestinians and Israelies while here and look forward to sharing my experiences in fuller detail with you when I get home…(I also look forward to throwing my television out of the window!)

That’s all for right now.

Salaam.

The Israeli Apartheid Wall

Today was an extremely full day that started bright and early at 8AM. Well, for me the day started at 5:00AM. After going to bed at about 11PM the night before, I found myself lying in bed staring at the ceiling at 5. I tried to force myself back to sleep, but I couldn’t do it. After showering and getting dressed, I made my way to the roof of the hostel. And in the pre-dawn hours of a beautiful Jerusalem morning I shared in conversation with a fellow delegate and we watched the sunrise in this beautiful place.

The beauty of the sunrise, however, was quickly eclipsed by the facts on the ground which we learned about during a tour with a amazing guide named Miya from the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions. She’s an extremely passionate 20-something Israeli female who gave us a crash course on the modern history of this complex conflict. After sharing stats, facts, and maps from Jeff Halper’s lastest book, Obstacles to Peace, we left the lecture hall and piled up in our bus to take a tour of East Jerusalem.

It was a tour that was almost surreal. I’ve blogged about the blatant racism, discrimination, and oppression of the Palestinian people by the Israeli Government over the years, but being up close and personal is a whole different story. We toured East Jerusalem – the Palestinian side of Jerusalem (with pretty big caveats called Jewish settlements) and saw how they were being forced to live in utter squalor within what Jeff Halper calls a “matrix of control.” It’s much deeper and complex than I can go into right now, but to give those who are unfamiliar a picture of what the situation is like here, think about Jim Crow laws, Black Codes, segregation, racism, and lynching of people of African descent in the states. I propose that when you can put that mental image in your mind, you are very close to envisioning what I’m seeing here right now.

I have to leave now, but real quick – the picture above is a photograph of a wall that has at least two names. The Israeli Government calls it the “security fence” and the many Palestinians and their allies call it the “Apartheid Wall.” We saw this wall today and learned about how it is used to intentionally make life unbearable for Palestinians in the West Bank – separating family members, making employment difficult if not impossible, making freedom of movement impossible, and by way of its placement – snatching even more land from the Palestinians. Many would conclude that the Israeli Government is trying to ethnically cleanse the land of all Palestinians and if that’s so – this wall is an integral part of that plan. It sounds like “Apartheid Wall” fits better.

That’s all I have time for tonight, but stay tuned. More updates are on the way.

Salaam.

As I type this, I’m sitting on the roof of a hostel in the breeze of a cool Jerusalem night. My group has recently retired for the evening after a long two days of travel. I’m here in East Jerusalem with a delegation from Interfaith Peace Builders - an organization that focuses on education advocacy for the Middle East. The purpose of this group is to learn more about the occupation from people who are directly impacted by it. When I say the occupation – I’m referencing the systemic oppression of Palestinian people by the Israeli government. Palestinians have been forcefully removed from their land, piled up in refugee camps, and are generally harassed every day as official policy of the state.

I joined this group, with the support of so many, because I was tired of being a sympathetic, yet inactive observer to the unrest here in the Middle East. I felt that I had to do something more than just sympathize. I had to do something more than just write blog articles about what’s going on here. I had to do more than just repeat that catchy, but all too easily stated phrase:”Peace in the Middle East.”

I believe that peace does not just happen. Peace is born by those who work to nurture and establish it. The “more” that I felt God calling me to was to actually come here and learn. This was by no means an easy decision. It actually was an “inconvenient call” from God. By most logical accounts, this was not the right time to be here. Family considerations, financial issues, church obligations, and other concerns were at the forefront of my discussion with God about why the timing wasn’t right. But if the invitation by God to this type of service wasn’t convenient, I’d doubt that you could call it discipleship. I believe that a part of walking with Jesus along The Way involves an embrace of sacrifice.

For that and many other reasons, I truly feel that it was providence for me to be here right now. After meeting amazing people in the last year like David Hosey and Na’im Ateek; I felt a special kinship to Palestinians and Israelis working for a just peace. I knew that at some point I would be here in the land that is called “holy” to bear witness to the unholiness of occupation and to meet people who are living and standing up courageously in its shadow daring to declare that there is another Way.

While, I think I’m going to deposit the bulk of my Palestine/Israel experience in another medium, I will be blogging as I have opportunity during my short sojourn here. Internet connection isn’t always reliable so forgive me if I’m not able to promptly respond to your comments.

I solicit your prayers for my family, myself, and to the fellow pilgrims on this journey with me. I already feel it in my bones that this experience is going to change me forever. I thank God for the blessing of this opportunity which I know has nothing to do with vacation and everything to do with vocation.

Until I return – Salaam

By now many of you have heard about this Christian Militia out of Michigan that allegedly was planning to incite a violent attack on police officers – hoping to spark a larger militaristic confrontation. These types of stories pop up from time to time so while I’m dismayed by it, I’m not necessarily shocked that these groups exist.

What does disturb me though about this group in particular is its stated connection to Christianity. In fact, this group is not just connected to Christianity; they base their foundation and reason for being on the scriptures and Jesus Christ. Calling itself Hutaree – which they say means “Christian Soldier” – they proclaim that their purpose is to “[prepare] for the end time battles to keep the testimony of Jesus Christ alive.”

In visiting their website [which I full expect will be taken down soon], they have John 15:13 listed. The scripture, which is commonly shared and celebrated in my Christian tradition during the Holy Season, says, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” Right below it is a picture of about 17 men standing in the woods, posing in camouflage, and holding high-powered rifles.

Their “About Us” page says in part:

“As christians we all are a part of the Souls of the Body of Christ, the one true church of Christ. Not any specific man made building or any man controlled organization. This is the belief of the Hutaree soldier, as should the belief of all followers in Christ be. We believe that one day, as prophecy says, there will be an Anti-Christ. All christians must know this and prepare, just as Christ commanded. [It then references Luke 22:35-37]. This clearly states the reason for the training and preparation of the Hutaree. Jesus wanted us to be ready to defend ourselves using the sword and stay alive using equipment….”

What a tragic and trite misinterpretation!

Their “Doctrine of the Hutaree” page further grounds their militia in biblical scripture citing Hebrews 11:1, Matthew 25:1-12, and 1 Peter 5:11.

Then there’s the youtube videos of their training operations. You’ll see them running through the woods, firing their guns, throwing bombs, and maneuvering in coordinated attack and defense patterns. The badge on their uniforms says “CCR” (Colonial Christian Republic) and is made up of a cross with red spear tips.

What is obvious and striking to me is their dangerous misinterpretation of scripture used to justify their violent aspirations. Of course, Christianity, the Bible, and Jesus have been used throughout the centuries to validate imperial, racist, paternalistic, sexist, and other unrighteous actions by humanity, however; I believe it is the obligation of responsible stewards of scripture and concerned people of all Faiths to speak out whenever these issues arise.

Not only should this type of prophetic protest and re-interpreting of scripture (based on its context) be undertaken in extreme cases such as the Hutaree militia, Palestinian apartheid, and other similar instances where religion is being used to validate ungodly goals; but even within the confines of the local assembly – action is needed. In our local churches, synagogues, and mosques – we need to challenge at every turn long-held, uncritical, abusive interpretations of scripture and of our Faith.

What this might mean for Christian pastors like me is that we need to slow down and unpack the presuppositions that are found within some of our sacred texts. As I type this, the Adult Sunday School class at my church is reading through the Book of Joshua. In a few of the classes that I’ve sat in on, I’ve trembled at the theologizing that has taken place around the barbaric act of genocide. Joshua chapter 6 describes the military tactic of laying siege on the city of Jericho and its inhabitants. Scripture says that once the walls fell, the men of the Hebrew’s armed guard went straight in and after devoting the city to the Lord, they “destroyed with the sword every living thing in it—men and women, young and old, cattle, sheep and donkeys.” [With a stroke of irony, these fierce warriors decided not to kill the town prostitute.] As pastor, it was my responsibility to delicately, but firmly challenge this interpretation and encourage deeper thought about where this passage fits in our Faith.

As practitioners of the Christian Faith, we have to wrestle with passages like these and locate their proper placement (if a placement at all) within the fabric of our understanding about God and that understanding’s implication on our daily application. Dan Clendenin, on his website, Journey with Jesus, gives a courageous example of this in his treatment of the classic David versus Goliath narrative in an article entitled: “Texts of Terror and Enemies of God: What Should We Do When Religion Becomes Evil?” He quotes a beautiful saying by German Pastor Martin Niemoeller, which goes, “It took me a long time to learn that God is not the enemy of my enemies. He is not even the enemy of his enemies.” When God hates all the same people that you hate, you can be absolutely certain that you have created him in your own image.”

We need to be clear about literal and figurative interpretations of scripture and empower the people we serve with the tools to faithfully read the Bible within its own context and wrestle with righteous applications that fit our own. Share articles like “How To Read the Bible” by Marilyn McEntyre (Free subscription may be required to read this) and “Taking the Bible Seriously, but not always Literally” by César J. Baldelomar.

For my African American clergy-sisters and brothers we need to have discussion in our churches about how Christianity was used by some as a tool of terror and enslavement for our Ancestors. That can be a launching pad into a deeper discussion around the question “where in today’s world is religion being used to subjugate, enslave, and terrorize others?” – Making sure to brainstorm ways that we can support the oppressed no matter their religious affiliation (even if none at all).

There are countless ideas that we can employ to engage this issue of gross and dangerous misinterpretation and/or application of scripture. The important thing is that we don’t watch the news of religious violence around the world and simply shake our heads in dismay. Religious violence and violence justified by interpretation or support (overt or tacit) of religious ideals (whether a militia or a national military) needs to be actively challenged in both word and deed.