Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Progressive Christian
Religion News
Hey America, Can I Be Your Pastor For a Moment?

Hey America, Can I Be Your Pastor For a Moment?

Last updated on: July 16, 2016 at 10:10 am by Tim Suttle

Hey America, Can I Be Your Pastor For a Moment? 2016-07-16T10:10:55-06:00 Tim Suttle

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The big lie of every government is this: we can make you safe and happy. Governments should stop promising this, because they can’t deliver.

America, powerful as it is, cannot keep its promises to make us safe and happy. Only God can do that. The primary means through which God has chosen to do that is through each other.

You want to know how to secure the future?

Try this:

Love with sincerity.

Hate what is evil and cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor other people above yourselves. Don’t lack in your most basic commitment to be good news to the people around you. Let your passion for serving the Lord burn bright through your life.

Be joyful in hope. Be patient in affliction. Be faithful in prayer. Share your wealth and material possessions with the people who are struggling with poverty or lack. Show hospitality by welcoming those who are not like you into your home.

Bless those who persecute you; bless them and do not curse them. Rejoice with anyone who is willing to rejoice with you no matter how different they are; mourn with those who are in mourning, nobody should have to cry alone.

Live in harmony with your neighbors. Do not be proud. Your ego is toxic. Be ready at all times to associate with people of low position. In other words, do not be so conceited that you can’t be a friend to the poor.

In your relationships with other people you are going to get rogered every now and then. But do not repay evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. As far as it depends upon you and is in your control, live at peace with everyone.

DO NOT TAKE REVENGE, dear friends. Let God to the revenging… God has already told you that’s his territory, not yours.

If your enemy is hungry, feed him.

If your enemy is thirsty, give him something to drink.

If he won’t love you back, then his anger will burn him alive and it’s not your problem anymore.

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

That’s my own paraphrase of Romans 12:9-21 (the Bible will do it almost every time). I can’t help thinking that if Christians in our society would give half as much attention to the above directive from our founding document as we do to the culture wars and politics, the world would be a very different place, and a whole lot safer.

America, powerful as it is, cannot make us safe, and it cannot make us happy. Every great teacher, including Jesus and Paul, said that the path to safety and happiness is, well, unconventional… humility, patience, and enemy love.

So here’s my pastoral advice: Bless those who persecute you, America. Bless them and do not curse them. Feed your enemies. Do not take revenge. Be patient in affliction. Be joyful in hope. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good…

Yeah, it sounds crazy, I know. But our current approach is not working. Maybe it’s time for a change.

One last thing… over the coming months, while pundits & politicians try and tear or society apart, the most powerful thing you could do is to print the above passage out & stick it to your bathroom mirror, your car’s dashboard, your computer screen, your kitchen window, or anyplace where you’ll see it everyday. Read it over and over.

Remember that the way up is down…

Remember that hate is strong, but love is stronger.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

July 15, 2016

The Free Market v. Big Government Argument is a Scam: America is Getting Played by Wall Street

Next Post

July 20, 2016 Ten Great Quotes About Grace From Some of My Favorite Writers

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category abortion corruption Donald Trump elections Empire Entertainment Ezra Klein ideology Justice Lacan politics race Sports Ta-Nehisi Coates Uncategorized

Select a Month September 2026 March 2026 September 2025 March 2025 June 2024 January 2024 December 2023 May 2023 February 2023 October 2022 April 2022 March 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 September 2020 July 2020 June 2020 March 2020 September 2019 July 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 August 2010 July 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

At Jesus' crucifixion what did the soldiers place on His head?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Crown of Jewels Crown of Nettles Crown of Thorns Crown of Thistles