Friends,
We got between 24 and 30 inches of snow. It's beautiful and I loved spending the more shoveling out my neighbors.
However, I'm supposed to be in Denver for the Episcopal gathering of church educators: Forma. Hopefully my flight will head out tomorrow morning!
-Liz
Who shall dwell on God's Holy Hill?
I'm pretty good at finding the way that the lectionary fits with what is happening in the world. However, the February first texts seem to be have been designed by the spirit to match easily. We use the texts to plan our liturgy, but Micah (6:1-8) is quite direct in suggesting that God is watching our actions more than our worship. What does God require? Do justice, love kindness, walk humbly with God.
Still I believe worship is important for us: it provides the grounding, the support, and the hope for the actions the rest of the week. Exactly what is the justice, kindness, and humility required in the the days ahead? We have Matthew's beatitudes (5:1-12). Obviously these can provide a year of sermons--I have a chapter in my new book just on the poor in spirit.
But I am fixed on Psalm 15.
O Lord, who may abide in your tent?
Who may dwell on your holy hill?
Those who walk blamelessly and do what is right
and speak the truth from their heart;
who do not slander with their tongue
and do no evil to their friends
nor heap shame upon their neighbors;
in whose eyes the wicked are despised
but who honor those who fear the Lord;
who stand by their oath even to their hurt;
who do not lend money at interest
and do not take a bribe against the innocent.
Those who do these things shall never be moved.
I memorized these words while in college, an unexpected requirement for joining a sorority. I'm not a good memorizer, and cannot recite it today, but I feel the text in my bones. This is the question on our hearts: Who may abide in God's tent?
Note that when times are "fine" I find this psalm to be judgy, even unkind. I mean, no one is blameless, right? It is interesting seeing the violence around me (or waking up to violence that has been around others all along) makes the psalm seem suddenly relevant, and not unreasonably judgmental. It feels like now is the time to ask who shall dwell on God's holy hill. Not to ask this about others, but about myself. My church. My community.
The call to blamelessness is difficult, and yet fits nicely with Matthew's focus on perfection. It is not what we accomplish, it is an ideal to strive for. The question of doing what is right is exactly the challenge, and the debate, of this time.
For some this is about following the law; I struggle with a tendency for legalism myself. The fact is if our immigration enforcement was deporting immigrants that are here illegally and had committed dangerous crimes, there would be no protests. This was the policy of the previous administration. I don't know if it fits our Christian faith to deport anyone, but we don't rise up in those immigrants' defense.
Instead we are faced with extreme examples of law enforcement that follows no reasonable procedures, no laws, and certainly not the constitution. It is ironic that the people of Minneapolis are depending on police to protect them from the border patrol and ICE, and the left and the NRA are shouting that Minnesota is an open carry state.
Assuming, as we must, that psalms are poetry, not rules, the examples given within this text are meant to recall for us all the law and the prophets. The focus on slander, shaming neighbors, standing by our oaths, avoiding bribes and interest on loans are samples of the many rules for everyday living in community. Christians have Jesus' convenient summary: love the Lord your God, and love your neighbor as yourself.
The Psalm calls for hating those who are wicked; in today's understanding we are called to hate the wicked actions. This reminds us to not identify a whole class of people, by race, class, gender, immigration status, or by role, as wicked. We must find the narrow path of standing for justice without hating the bad actors. I can believe that ICE should be eliminated, and the border patrol belongs only on the border, without assuming anything about every individual in that job.
Next the psalm takes us to speaking the truth from our hearts. It is easy to use this line as a critique of the conspiracy theories and outright lies that are coming at us repeatedly. It is so important not to lose our ability to make sure that we are always telling the truth. Our biggest risk at this point is passing on unvetted memes (please do not do this!) and exaggeration.
In my experience, I make the story worse when I'm afraid that others will not understand how bad it is. The fact is right now that the truth is bad enough. It does not need our added emphasis. I don't need to make the story more and more dramatic to make the point. Some people will refuse to believe it, but I cannot respond to that by exaggerating the story.
The psalmist suggest that those who do these things shall never be moved. I don't really trust that to be true. I make a lot of mistakes in my efforts to remain in Christian love in the face of those who are so hateful. Perhaps I am not yet dwelling on God's holy hill, perhaps I am making the climb. It feels quite steep but I am confident it is worth the effort.
What do you imagine is God's holy hill? How is your congregation handling these difficult times? Reply to this email to let me know.
Ashley McBride giving the intro and singing Gospel Night at the Strip Club. Almost six minutes, the song starts around 1:50.
My Soul Among Lions singing Your Holy Hill. Acoustic. (4:31)
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