The Lutheran Zephyr

Why I Don't Like The National Day of Prayer

My blogging friend Eric, who blogs over at The Heart of a Pastor, disagreed with - took offense at? - my characterization of the National Day of Prayer as "an ill-advised blend of patriotism and religion" and an event "merging patriotism with the practice of faith" in last Thursday's post, National Day of Prayer, or Ascension Day?   He writes, "having a day when people across denominational lines can gather together to pray is a good thing . . . The NDOP is a time to pray...plain and simple."

I do not disagree that having a day when people across denominational lines can gather together to pray is a good thing.  Yet one of the reasons I do not like the National Day of Prayer is the political dynamic that takes place, particularly at celebrations of the National Day of Prayer in state capitals and in Washington.  It often becomes a pious photo-op for politicians, a chance for political and religious leaders alike to claim some faith-based agenda for our nation, and to speak of the "Judeo-Christian heritage" of our nation. 

[Question: how often do Jewish leaders speak of the "Judeo-Christian heritage"?  "Judeo-Christian heritage" seems like a phrase that Christians use to sound inclusive while really attempting to claim a religious, moral, and historical priority in the retelling of the American Story.  But I digress . . .]

As I mentioned in a past post (see #5), I support setting aside special times to pray for our nation.  Prayer is good.  Pious political posturing?  Not so good.  (Don't ask me - ask Jesus).  Perhaps my friend Eric and others who participated in National Day of Prayer events did so with faith, integrity, and humility.  Perhaps such events took place without the political posturing of elected officials.  I certainly hope so.  But plenty of such events are tainted by politics and blurred by a civic piety that unites God and country in an unholy alliance.

Beyond the political posturing that takes place, the whole ethos surrounding the National Day of Prayer is troublesome to me.  Check out their website.  It has a banner that changes graphics, one of which reads:

Prayer!  America's strength and shield.  The Lord is my strength and shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped.  Psalm 28:7"

I disagree with the fundamental premise of this statement.  Prayer is the strength and shield of people of faith.  The strength of our nation lies in its Constitution, its laws, and its (socially, culturally, politically, and religiously diverse) people.  We are not a country based on a prayer or a shared religion, ethnicity, culture, or common heritage (in contrast to many "old world" countries which are/were much more monolithic).  We are a country where freedom and laws, not bloodlines and heritage, define our common purpose and identity.  When we try to inject explicitly Christian lingo into our national identity, we misrepresent what this country is about (and we risk diluting our Christian faith, as well).

This National Day of Prayer (1952), along with the National Prayer Breakfast (1953) and the insertion of "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance (1954), are all products of a political era in which America was locked in a Cold War with the "godless" communism of the Soviet Union.  As we defined ourselves over and against the Soviets, we wrapped ourselves in a civic-minded piety in which God was on "our side" against a "godless" enemy.  I described the problem with this kind of piety in a previous post, Christian Prayers in Government Chambers: Music to the Devil's Ears:

And so from the lips of government power brokers this God of Country is proclaimed, a God that loves freedom and democracy - and market economies? - and which loyally stands at the side of our government. It is a God that nary challenges the Powers-That-Be, much unlike the God active in the tradition of the Hebrew prophets, Jesus, the martyrs, or advocates of social change over the centuries.  No, this is the God of Guantanamo and Abu-Ghraib, and if belief in this God of Country gains currency in our society it poses a significant threat to the teachings of our churches and the consciouses of our citizens.

More to write, perhaps, but it's getting late and my mind is going to mush.  G'night.

A night at the ballpark with my daughter

Tonight was one of the best nights of my life - a night out with Tali, my 4 year-old daughter, at the ballpark.  It was my first ballgame of the year, and the first game Tali and I ever attended together without Mommy, grandparents, or other siblings.  Put simply - this was some serious Daddy and Tali quality time.

I was given two tickets to the Nationals vs. Pirates game tonight (yes, two of the worst teams in baseball right now).  Jessicah works late on Thursday nights, so I decided to take Tali with me to the game.  I left our other two children with a brave woman from church willing to take on Cana, our 1 year old, and Naaman, our 5 month old (she tells me the kids did great - either she's a great liar or the kids actually behaved!).

Tali and I first had to take a nearly one-hour Metro ride from our suburban enclave into the city.  We sang many rounds of "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" on the train (all apologies to those sitting around us), looked for people wearing Nationals' gear, and also pointed out anyone wearing Pirates' yellow and black.  She was slightly scared when the train went underground, but she got over it quickly.  We switched trains downtown, and she gleefully cheered, "We want Green!  We want Green!" as we waited for the green line train to arrive at our platform.

After the short ride on the green line, we rode a long escalator up to the street level at Navy Yard station.  As soon as we emerged from the station Tali looked left and saw the stadium.  "Whoa, that's awesome!" she said with her 4 year-old exaggerated expression.  As we walked down the road surrounded by Nats fans, she spontaneously started chanting in full voice, "Let's Go Nats!  Let's Go Nats!"  I'm so proud.

Well, my pride only grew when, at the top of the first inning, she started booing the Pirates.  What was great is that no one else was booing - after all this is Washington, not Philadelphia, and it was only the first inning! - but there is just something terribly cute about a 4 year-old girl alternating between booing and cheering.  She even inspired a fan sitting behind us to join us in cheering and booing.  Way to go!

We only watched about 2 1/2 innings of baseball - she's 4, after all.  We then walked around the stadium, I pointed out the Washington Monument and Capitol Building, and then we stumbled upon the playground.  Oh, the playground.  She LOVED the playground.  And I genuinely loved the playground, too, except for one thing - it might be the only part of the whole ballpark where I could neither see a video screen showing the game nor hear a play-by-play broadcast.  This design flaw is probably intentional - rather than pay attention to the game, we parents should be paying attention to our children who are in the play area.  But still . . . we're at a freaking ballgame!  Oh well.

As we were wrapping up at the play area, the Presidents and the Geico Gecko walked by.  For you who are confused, at every Nationals games mascots of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Teddy Roosevelt "compete" in a race (sponsored by Geico), and then make themselves available for photos and high fives with kids.  Tali and I went over, met the Presidents, and got our pictures taken (by one of their staff photographers - I need to go online Friday to see the photo).

After watching another inning of ball while we ate soft pretzels (at $4 each), we left after six innings and caught the Metro home.  Half way home on the Orange line, she fell asleep on my lap.  When we finally arrived at the Metro station we got into the van and turned on the radio - the Nationals won!  Tali said, "Yea, Nats!  Boo Pirates!"  And then she fell back to sleep.

What a great night.  Many thanks to the family from church who gave me the tickets.  Many thanks to the mom and her daughters who watched my little ones.  And many thanks to Tali for a great night.  I'll never forget it!

National Day of Prayer, or Ascenion Day?

Today is Ascension Day, when the church remembers Jesus' ascension into heaven.  I was hoping to write a reflection on Ascension Day - a day that I love in theory but have never celebrated liturgically - but my plate is too full, my desk too messy. 

Briefly, I think celebrating the Ascension is essential, because it is intimately connected with Jesus' death and resurrection, and - perhaps most importantly - to his promise to return to Earth (ie, the Second Coming).  Jesus' promised return will inaugurate the "resurrection of the dead" (which we confess in the creeds) and the Kingdom of God (for which we pray in the Lord's Prayer).  This promised Kingdom of God - described in countless parables and prophetic images - is our Christian hope, it is the future into which we are called to live today (see my post All Saints, All Souls, and the Return of Christ for more about my understanding of life, death, and the "after-life.").  It seems to me that our Christian life is largely shaped by what was (Jesus' death and resurrection) and what will be (his return and the promised Kingdom of God).

So, I was a bit surprised to see a local Episcopal church advertise on their sign not an Ascension Day service but a service for the National Day of Prayer.  Since when did an ill-advised blend of patriotism and religion trump the liturgical calendar, especially for our otherwise liturgically astute Episcopalian friends?  I'm all for praying for our nation - heck, we do it every Sunday in the Prayers of the Church - but this dedicated National Day of Prayer goes too far in merging patriotism with the practice of faith.  (I blogged about the dangers of blending prayer and government in Christian Prayers in Government Chambers: Music to the Devil's Ears.  Two years ago I wrote a few pieces about faith and patriotism around Memorial Day.  Here are two of them: Praising God, Honoring Country, More Thoughts on God & Country).

For a good critique of the National Day of Prayer, check this post out from Don over at Blog from the Capital.

Well, that's all for now.  Have a blessed Ascension Day.

On Selecting "Alternate" Readings for Pentecost

Here's the lectionary lineup for Pentecost Sunday (May 11):

First Reading:
Acts 2:1–21
Numbers 11:24–30 (Alternate)

Psalm:
Psalm 104:24–34, 35b
R/ Send forth your Spirit and renew the face of the earth. (Ps. 104:30)

Second Reading:
1 Corinthians 12:3b–13
Acts 2:1–21 (Alternate)

Gospel:
John 20:19–23
John 7:37–39 (Alternate)

Note the alternate readings.  How do you go about deciding whether to use an alternate reading in place of the primary reading?  Both the primary and alternate are offered in the lectionary, though for each reading a priority is clearly given to certain readings (Acts, 1 Corinthians, and John 20 passages, respectively).  What criteria should govern my decision to choose the alternate reading?

(Perhaps some of you have few qualms about replacing the appointed lectionary readings for a given Sunday.  I err on the side of sticking with the lectionary, assuming it has an internal integrity and wisdom that I - working as a lone ranger - lack.)

For Pentecost Sunday, I'm inclined to choose the alternate texts for the First and Gospel readings.  Here's my reasoning.

I prefer the John 7 (alternate) Gospel text because the passage from John 20 (the primary text for the day) was included in the Gospel reading for the Second Sunday of Easter - the doubting Thomas story.  To repeat the text so soon just seems repetitive.  Plus, the John 7 text sets up a discussion of the gifts of the spirit and our grateful response - "out of the believer's heart shall flow rivers of living water" - to God's graciousness.  That "grateful response" is something that we Lutherans have a difficult time addressing . . . good ol' Third Use of the Law (of which I'm a fan, though I know many Lutherans do not believe in the Third Use).

We may also choose to read the alternate First Reading from Numbers.  We may tell the Acts 2 story - the giving of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost - through a youth skit to be shared as the opening rite to our Pentecost service.  Plus, I really like the Numbers reading - it gives some deeper context - a prequel, if you will - to the familiar story of Acts 2.

So, what do you think?

Rev. Wright at the National Press Club

I'm getting fed up with the racism that is flying over the airwaves and online in response to The Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright's sermons and comments in recent days.  I strongly, passionately, and vehemently encourage anyone who has questions about Rev. Wright to read this transcript (via Fox News) of his presentation and Q&A at the National Press Club.  I found very little in his remarks to be objectionable.

And as for Obama . . . nice move, bucko, throwing your pastor under the bus.  Whatever happened to your different kind of politics?  Argh.

Praying for our Children

In preparation for my internship congregation's annual Children's Sunday, I looked for a collect to use as a Prayer of the Day.  I admit to being a bit bothered by the prayers for "young persons" found in Evangelical Lutheran Worship:

Young persons
God of all good gifts, your Son gathered children into his arms and blessed them. Help us to understand our youth as they grow in years and in knowledge of your world. Give us compassion when they face temptations and experience failures. Teach us to encourage their search for truth and value in their lives. Help us to appreciate their ideals and sympathize with their frustrations; that with them we may look for a better world than either we or they have known; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Young persons
Lord God of our ancestors, we thank you for what you have done and will continue to do with our daughters and sons. Walk with them in life, and keep the evil one from obstructing their path. You see all; you know where the water is deep. Keep them from danger. Order their steps and guide their feet while they run the race of faith. May the good work that you have begun in them be brought to completion at the day of Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.

Evangelical Lutheran Worship, pew edition, page 83

These prayers are so negative!  It's as if childhood is nothing but a path littered with snares and entrapments, "temptations" and "failures," "frustrations" and "danger," that require the condescending prayers and guidance of adults.  Don't get me wrong - these are good and fine things for which to pray - for all of life, not just childhood, has its perils - but the tone of these prayers is overly negative.

What about the blessing that children are?  What about what the (adult, "grown-up") church needs to learn from young people?  What about the vocation children have to grow into, learn about, and share the gifts God has given them?  What about children as the image of a God who came to us as a child?

Using some of the language of the second prayer listed above, I reworked the prayer to lift up a more positive image of childhood:

Lord God of our ancestors, we thank you for what you have done and will continue to do with our daughters and sons. Walk with them in life, and keep the evil one from obstructing their path. Grant parents and adults wisdom in caring for children, and respect for the gifts you give to the young. As Jesus welcomed children in his midst, may your holy church also welcome, bless, nurture and honor children. In the name of him who came to us as a child, Jesus Christ our Lord, we pray.  Amen.

I think we need to be careful not to be overly negative or condescending in how we pray for young people. 

What do you think?

 

I'm Blogging Less

This blogging dip may be a temporary situation - I hope so, for I do enjoy blogging.  But life has been pretty darn busy recently. 

As I detailed in a post last evening, our au pair suddenly left a month ago, leaving us in a childcare pinch.  We've been trying to balance life and work and care for three children shorthanded.  Time I used to spend blogging I'm now spending holding children or catching up on household chores.

On top of that, I'm approaching my Approval for Ordination interview.  In the past few months I have written my approval essay, attended part of a Candidacy retreat, and sat for a 90-minute interview with two members of the seminary faculty (I received a positive recommendation from them).  May 16 is fast approaching . . .

Two weeks ago my wife put the final push on to complete her PhD dissertation.  She'll have more edits yet to do, but getting the whole thing out on paper was a huge accomplishment. 

In addition to family and Candidacy, my internship is keeping me busy.  From teaching and preaching to fellowship events and pastoral care, I've had my hands full.  Our congregation is a vibrant place with lots going on . . .

So, that's it.  Family, candidacy, internship . . . that is, Life has been catching up to me.

The Non-English Exodus from Prince William County

"The resolution is clearly working," said Corey A. Stewart (R-At Large), chairman of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors. "It is driving down the non-English-speaking portion of the schools and saving us millions of dollars. They're going to other jurisdictions and costing them money."

From N.Va. Hit with Cost of School Migration: Pr. William Policies Drive Immigrants to Inner Suburbs, in today's Washington Post

Chairman Stewart has been leading the charge against illegal immigrants in Prince William County, claiming that their presence adds to the cost of county services, reduces property value, and leads to increased crime.  Under new the resolution, during routine traffic stops or investigations police officers now check the immigration status of anyone they suspect of being in the country illegally. 

(Since I am white and middle class, I doubt my immigration status would be checked during a traffic stop.  My dark-skin, dark-hair Ecuadorian neighbors, on the other hand, would be the target of such a check.  Can we say "racial profiling"?)

Yet Chairman Stewart's language in the above quote is telling.  "The resolution is clearly working . . . it is driving down the non-English-speaking [population]."  Note that he did not boast that the resolution is driving down the illegal immigrant population, or that crime is down due to enforcement of the new resolution.  No.  He is clearly pleased that the "non-English-speaking" population has left his county.

Of course, many of those non-English speakers are US citizens - children born in this country to immigrants (legal or illegal), and legal resident or citizen Latino families who find the cultural climate in Prince William County to be unwelcoming.  But Chairman Stewart is not concerned about driving tax-paying immigrants and citizens from his county.  No, his goal is to "drive down the non-English-speaking" population - no matter their legal status.

Can't we call this what it is - racism?  How does this guy get off saying such things while remaining in public office? 

I would love to see - and be part of - a mass civil disobedience demonstration in Prince William County in which a culturally diverse crowd of hundreds of people block intersections or access to the county government building and, upon arrest, all demand that their immigration status is checked.  Flood their systems.  Throw their racism right back at them.

In a nation of immigrants - where the freedoms of the Constitution, not the cultural hegemony of any one group, define our great nation - how can we do this? 

In Between Au Pairs

After the sudden and unexpected departure of our au pair late last month - who watched our baby full-time, our four year-old every afternoon, and helped out with the evening routine when either Jessicah or I were out of the house - we've had our hands full.  My work schedule has taken a beating - because I'm doing a lot more childcare, my days start later and end earlier than they had - but thanks to several moms and grandmoms from church, I've been able to put some time in at work while the kids are lovingly looked after.  Our new au pair - a 26 year-old young lady from Thailand - arrives next Friday.

Many folks don't understand the whole au pair thing.  An au pair "is a foreign-national domestic assistant working for, and living as part of, a host family" (from Wikipedia).  Structured as a cultural exchange program, the au pair provides childcare and child-related housekeeping for up to 45 hours/week.  In exchange, the au pair receives wages, room and board, six credit hours at a local university, and is included as part of the family for the year-long program.

Obviously, such an arrangement has its pluses and minuses.  But for us the pluses - childcare at a fraction of the cost of standard daycare and flexible scheduling (where else would you find someone to watch your children on Sunday morning or Christmas Eve?) - far outweigh the minuses (giving up a room in the house, losing some privacy, managing personal/cultural/childcare dynamics, etc.). 

My wife and I have three kids, we both work odd schedules outside the home, we live in a tiny townhouse, and we have very little money.  The au pair arrangement - far from perfect, far from ideal - is the best option we have for now.  Despite the challenges we had with our first au pair, we are cautiously optimistic about our new au pair.  I'll let you know . . .

Baseball Stadiums as Holy Ground

Why is the Pope saying Mass at Nationals Park and Yankee Stadium this week?  Surely in Washington and New York there are larger venues - RFK Stadium and the National Mall in DC, Giants Stadium and Central Park in New  York.  If it were size and numbers the Pope wanted, he could have chosen other venues.

But . . . but is there really anything more holy in the "secular" world than a baseball stadium, where men, women and children of all walks gather in a park to watch a game played, ritual music (national anthem, Take Me Out To The Ball Game) is sung, and miracles performed?

Some will say that Nationals Park and Yankee Stadium are now considered Holy Ground because the Pope said Mass there.  But I suggest that the Pope decided to say Mass in these hallowed places because he recognizes that baseball stadiums are holy places in and of themselves.

- - - - -

Things you may have (or have not) heard at today's Mass at Nationals Park:

Over the public address system: Let's go Cardinals!  Let's go Cardinals!

From a vendor with a large tray, descending the steps in the upper deck: Get your Body of Christ here!  Holy Water!  Rosaries! 

From the Catholic crowd: Lutherans suck!  Lutherans suck!

On the field: Larger-than-life mascots of John Paul II, John XXIII, Peter, and Jesus racing around the bases.

From the public address system, at the elevation of the host: Da da da da, da-da - CHARGE!

From a vendor at the gates as you enter the Mass: Get your scorecards!  You can't tell your clergy without a scorecard!

From the broadcast booth: You know, John, Benedict is batting 1.000 in daytime Masses this year.

From the crowd: The wave.