I've been reading Soong-Chan Rah's book, The New Evangelicalism, and I am struck by the insight of Dr. Rah concerning power and Western hegemony within U.S. Evangelicalism. In light of this I continue to advocate for a "New Mosaic" of Christianity that is inclusive and respective of the great diversity of Christians around the globe. What does this mean? It means taking the vision of Isaiah 11, the Peaceable Realm, seriously. I am praying that we can get the Lion and the Lamb to live together in the way that shows an equitable distribution of power and agency. If we are to be the Global Church Revelation 7:9 can not just be an eschatological vision but rather a missional imperative. This missional imperative reflects our willingness to see the "other" as our equal, as our sister and brother.
The New Evangelicalism says in the words of C. René Padilla, there is no citizenship test to belong to the Church. The Church is the great multitude of saints, independent of their language, race, or geography. May we press on to be the church, the whole church, for the sake of Christ and humanity. Every denomination, movement, and institution must continously wrestle with this mosaic in ways that challenges tribalism, and the privilege of the few.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Friday, June 5, 2009
Diplomacy: Re-visiting the Huntington Thesis
Much has been said about President Obama's speech to the Muslim world from Cairo, Egypt. As I heard it I reflected on the Obama administration's diplomacy meant in light of Samuel Huntington's book The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order. Clearly, one speech does not guarantee anything. Nevertheless, it may set the tone for a U.S. diplomacy that understands the consequences of Huntington's assertion that the world is on a collision course with the rise of fundamentalisms in different religions and civilizations.
The questions then become, "What is the role of diplomacy with the real threats of nuclear proliferation and oppressive dictators and governments?" Diplomacy, at its best, is not the abdication of standing for human dignity, freedom, and love of neighbor. Nor is it the refusal to speak with people or groups with whom you have fundamental disagreement. At the heart of diplomacy is the refusal to give in to the idea that differing cultures are always doomed to collide. This being said, there must be a place for standing against all those things that threaten human life and dignity anywhere in the world. This is where the Huntington thesis can be well served with the dialectal theological reflections of Reinhold Niebuhr. Niebuhr understood well that in a world where human power can manifest itself with world-destroying power, power must be reigned in. Diplomacy is not the abdication of power but the reigning in of power. Diplomacy does not mean that evil will not be confronted. Rather, diplomacy seeks to call on all means of communication and pressure before resulting to military power.
Does this mean that diplomacy will work with dictators, despots, and crazed rulers all over the world? Absolutely not. Even with the presence of another way, nations and rulers can choose the way of hatred, violence, and war. The history of humankind has shown that evil lurks and manifest itself in every generation. Still, the hope is that every generation would learn and pray so that in our day we can "beat our swords into plowshares and our spears into pruning hooks." Until this day comes we must preach and teach a Gospel that calls us to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly before our God.
I pray that the message of Jesus of loving our enemies and doing justice will make Dr. Huntington's thesis an unfulfilled reality.
Pastor Salguero
The questions then become, "What is the role of diplomacy with the real threats of nuclear proliferation and oppressive dictators and governments?" Diplomacy, at its best, is not the abdication of standing for human dignity, freedom, and love of neighbor. Nor is it the refusal to speak with people or groups with whom you have fundamental disagreement. At the heart of diplomacy is the refusal to give in to the idea that differing cultures are always doomed to collide. This being said, there must be a place for standing against all those things that threaten human life and dignity anywhere in the world. This is where the Huntington thesis can be well served with the dialectal theological reflections of Reinhold Niebuhr. Niebuhr understood well that in a world where human power can manifest itself with world-destroying power, power must be reigned in. Diplomacy is not the abdication of power but the reigning in of power. Diplomacy does not mean that evil will not be confronted. Rather, diplomacy seeks to call on all means of communication and pressure before resulting to military power.
Does this mean that diplomacy will work with dictators, despots, and crazed rulers all over the world? Absolutely not. Even with the presence of another way, nations and rulers can choose the way of hatred, violence, and war. The history of humankind has shown that evil lurks and manifest itself in every generation. Still, the hope is that every generation would learn and pray so that in our day we can "beat our swords into plowshares and our spears into pruning hooks." Until this day comes we must preach and teach a Gospel that calls us to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly before our God.
I pray that the message of Jesus of loving our enemies and doing justice will make Dr. Huntington's thesis an unfulfilled reality.
Pastor Salguero
Friday, May 29, 2009
Hispanic Evangelicals Rising
Recently, I wrote a reflection on 3 reasons why Hispanic Evangelicals are making an impact on public policy. The 3 reasons; a) Demographic explosion; b) Immigration Reform as a watershed moment; c) the emergence of bi-lingual and bi-cultural 2nd and 3rd generation leaders. Read the rest here; http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/panelists/gabriel_salguero/2009/04/hispanic_evangelical_rising.html
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Torture: Shortcuts to losing our Moral Compass
Recently, I posted reflections on why Jesus followers should not endorse Torture.
http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/panelists/gabriel_salguero/2009/05/torture_shortcuts_to_losing_our_moral_compass.html
Let me know your thoughts.
Pastor Gabriel
http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/panelists/gabriel_salguero/2009/05/torture_shortcuts_to_losing_our_moral_compass.html
Let me know your thoughts.
Pastor Gabriel
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