Micah 6:6-8 (NRSV)
Over the past three weeks while I have been unwell, I have spent a lot of hours in my recliner alternating between reading, watching TV, and napping. I haven’t had the energy to do anything else. And I’m still waiting on an answer as to what is going on with me, after all these tests. It’s been an anxious and frustrating time; I know that something’s wrong, but so far there’s no name for it.
All those hours in front of the television have made me aware of how many political ads are on the air, and just how nasty they have become. There are very few ads that focus on the positives of the candidate, what he or she stands for, and what they want to do if elected. Instead, the ads are negative attack ads focusing on the things that are wrong with the candidate’s opponent. They are beyond just critical; they are unkind and designed to demonize that person. I have been so disgusted by all of these ads that I will change the channels to avoid having to watch them.
When did it become okay in America for one person to completely trash another person in the name of getting elected to political office? And why would I want to vote for someone who can be so vicious and nasty towards another human being? These politicians aren’t the only ones who trash-talk each other; with the deep political divide in America, average citizens are just as hateful as they talk about people with whom they disagree. It’s incredibly disturbing and I wonder about what is often called “the soul of America.”
In the midst of all this negativity and nastiness, I discovered a United Methodist Church that is working to change the culture in their community. Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas, a suburb of Kansas City, has begun what they call the BE Campaign. This congregation, led by their pastor, Adam Hamilton, has committed themselves to being just and kind and humble in all their dealings with other people. The campaign is based on three verses from the book of Micah, which record the words of a prophet who lived in the 8th century B.C.E. You might wonder what something written so long ago could have to do with modern American life. But I can guarantee you that these words are incredibly relevant to our day and time.
Micah wrote: “With what shall I come before the Lord and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” He has told you, O mortal, what is good, and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?
Church of the Resurrection is inviting others to join them in taking the following pledge: “I pledge to strive to follow Micah 6:6-8 in all aspects of my life: To act justly and pursue justice by standing with and speaking out for those who are vulnerable, mistreated, in need, or exploited. To practice kindness and mercy in every interaction, even with those with whom I disagree. To act with humility, surrendering my will to God’s will, acknowledging that I may not always be right and should listen more and speak less. And I will seek to inspire others to do the same.”
I went online and signed this pledge myself. Because this campaign really made sense to me. Can you imagine how it might change life in our country if everyone made a commitment like that? Both the Old and New Testaments have numerous references to all of these practices: acting for justice, being kind, and being humble. These are things that certainly are congruent with the Ten Commandments and the Golden Rule. In this time of political polarization and divisive issues in America, what our country needs from Christians is for us to seek justice, to be kind, and to be humble. We should model this Biblical way of relating to each other. And we should let our politicians know that we would expect them to behave that way, in their relations with their constituents and with their opponents. If members of Congress adopted these three simple rules for being in community, think what might get done! Some of the problems our nation is facing might actually be addressed in a manner of respect and the willingness to compromise.
In the midst of all the negativity being spewed at me from my television set last week, there was a bright spot that came in the form of an article in the Union Leader. Garrison Keillor, on of my favorite writers, had a piece called, “Sitting in the sixth pew, brooding on things.” In it he shared an experience he had recently when he visited Washington, D.C. He wrote:
I took the train to Washington last week … I go to Washington to remind myself what a beautiful city it is despite the contempt brought upon it by so many elected officials, many of whom are emptying their chamber pots in the form of campaign advertising …
I went to church Sunday morning, which I need to do if I want to know whether I’m a believer still or if it’s just nostalgia. The opening hymn was one I love, especially the lines “Teach me some melodious sonnet sung by flaming tongues above. Praise the mount I’m fixed upon it, mount of God’s unchanging love.” … And then came the opening prayer in which we acknowledge that to God all hearts are open and from Him no secrets are hid, which, if candidates for public office sincerely believed were true, democracy would work much better …
… we heard from David in his Psalm 84: “My soul has a desire and longing for the courts of the Lord … Happy are they who dwell in your house,” which happened to be true Sunday morning for me at any rate. I was surrounded by men and women absorbed in prayer, calling up the people in our lives, their needs, their troubles. And our leaders: we prayed for wisdom.
… We sang the closing hymn to the Lord who shelters us under His wing and were dismissed to go serve God … I’ve made dreadful mistakes, wasted time, indulged in self-pity and prideful ignorance, but I am a believer and it was worth my while to confirm that. I believe we’re all susceptible to lying awake at night imagining horrible things but eventually the truth dawns and we rise up and find our way to where we need to be, following the light.
There are many, many people in America who are following the light of God’s love and God’s truth. They are out there working for justice, practicing kindness, and serving with humility. I really enjoyed this week’s issue of People magazine, which was the “Kindness Issue.” The cover story was about Michael J. Fox, who shared ways in which people had been kind to him. There were also brief stories about average Americans who are practicing kindness in their communities. It’s definitely worth the read.
I would challenge each of you to embrace the BE Campaign and live it out here in our community. Pledge to live according to Micah 6:6-8 in your dealings with your family, your co-workers, and your friends. Imagine the difference this might make in your own personal life. And think about how it might change the culture surrounding you if this way of behaving became widespread. We might create what the first President George Bush referred to as a “kinder, gentler America.” Being just, being kind, and being humble are not signs of weakness, but of incredible inner strength and faith. We might learn a lot from a man who lived 2800 years ago. What does the Lord require of us? To do justice, be kind, and be humble. It’s that simple. It’s that hard.
