Beyond Religion by The Dalai Lama - A Review

The Dalai Lama, Tibet's Exiled Spiritual Leader, a Nobel Peace Prize Winner, and Buddhist Monk wrote Beyond Religion: Ethics for a Whole World in an attempt to find an ethic by which all the people of the world can live.  He calls for a "secular ethic."  According to the Dalai Lama, a "secular" does not mean "without religion," but rather he defines "secular" as "any religion OR no religion." In other words, his attempt was to seek an ethic for all religions and for all people who profess no religion.

As I began reading this book, I was very skeptical.  Yes, there are certain standards which I do believe that all rational people can agree - murder is wrong, generosity is good, living in peace is better than living in war. The problem is that rational people don't live by these standards even though most probably believe them.

From the beginning, these were the ethics that the Dalai Lama presented.  In my mind, I had a vision that he wanted the whole world to gather around a camp fire, hold hands, and sing "Kum Ba Ya."  It brought me back to the time that I played in a pit orchestra for the musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and the cast sang "The Brotherhood of Man."  People of a younger generation may remember the Disney Channel's Movie High School Musical and the song "We're All in this Together."  Those essentially were the beginning points the Dalai Lama were trying to make.  All humans despite religion or non-religion live on one planet and have to live in peace or in war, and living in peace is the best option.

From there, he goes on to propose certain "non-religious" practices and beliefs that he believes everyone can accept to create an Ethic for the Whole World.  While he denies it from the very beginning, what he presents is essentially a "watered down" version of Buddhism.  While I am not a Buddhist, I could tell this is what he does because he says things like "In Tibet we call this _____," or "The Buddhist term for this is _____."

In one sense, he is promoting what is a Secular Ethic.  Buddhism is a Non-Theistic Religion.  Buddhism does not believe in a god.  Some may argue that Buddhism is more of a Philosophy and set of Practices of Enlightenment and Awareness, though that argument is beyond the scope of this review.

The Dalai Lama, through his Buddhist lens tackles issues such as Justice, Emotion, Responsibility, War, Generosity, and so forth.  While all the world's major religions take a stance on these issues, he attempts to address them through logic and reason, though his logic and reason is based in Buddhism.

At first, I thought this book would be a total failure, and that disappointed me because the Dalai Lama is an inspiration to the world when it comes to Compassion and Peace.  I do not think that an Ethic apart from religion was possible - though it is possible for a non-religious person to be ethical, though in that case, each non-religious person's ethic would be unique to that person.  Only through religions and philosophies can we have standardized and systematic Ethics, and even then, it is a tedious task subject to numerous variations (Take Christianity for example - While it may seem that there is one Ethic - "Love God and Love your Neighbor," we then get into issues such as war, abortion, politics, and so on - and Christians are in no way united as a whole).

Where the Dalai Lama did succeed is pointing out certain virtues and practices that all rational people can agree.  The problem is that we can agree, but we choose not to agree.  He gives us some methods to practice and come to unity, but my question is, Will people choose to use these methods and come to unity?

At the very moment I was going to say that this book was an epic failure, I was struck with the thought that my review was an epic failure.  What I didn't take into account was that the Dalai Lama tried.  He tried to take EVERYONE into account and give worth and value to ALL PEOPLE.  He shamed me.

As a Christian, when is the last time, I thought, that I saw a book by another Christian that tried to do the same?  Of course, every religion is going to have books mainly directed at their own practitioners.  But, if Christians truly believe that God is God and Christ is Savior, then isn't that for EVERYONE?  Fine, obviously everyone isn't Christian, obviously everyone doesn't share our beliefs, but our God, our Christ, and our Holy Spirit are available to EVERYONE.

All too often, Christian books are about how to keep everyone else out, or they're about how to get those who are like us in.  I've yet to find more than a handful (and I'm being generous saying "handful" though I can't think of any off the top of my head) that address how Christians relate to the rest of the world.  When I do see books saying how we relate to the rest of the world, they usually say that we're right, and they go to hell.  Is that Christian hope?  Is that the Christian message?  Did Jesus tell us to sit back and watch the world go to hell?  Did Jesus tell us to hurt sinners or those who disagree with us, whether it is emotionally or physically?

Christian Hope tells us that God reaches down to the son who was in the pig pit and calls him to come home despite how he shunned the Father.  The Christian Message is one of God sending his only Son to die a brutal death for the sins of the entire world.  Jesus told us to spread that message so that others will believe and live in hope and eternal life.  Jesus never hurt a sinner - he ate with them.  He didn't accept their sin, but he accepted them as a person uniquely and perfectly created by God worthy of the same salvation available to ALL PEOPLE.

Salvation is not an issue in Buddhism.  Peace and Enlightenment are.  The Dalai Lama presented concrete ways for everyone to receive those gifts.  Can Christians do the same?  Can Christians be people of peace and love to everyone rather than people of division?  Can we Christians sit at a table with Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Sikhs, Jains, Atheists, and so on and share a common and peaceful meal?  Can we Christians share this world in love and peace and let God do the job of salvation?  Can we Christians sow the seeds and let God be the one who reaps the harvest?  Can we take concrete Christian actions to ALL PEOPLE in love and peace to present an Ethic for the Whole World?

Taboo - Sermon from August 19, 2012

John 6:51-58

⁵¹I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” ⁵²The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” ⁵³So Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. ⁵⁴Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; ⁵⁵for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. ⁵⁶Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. ⁵⁷Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. ⁵⁸This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever.”

Taboo

Every culture has something that it considers "Taboo."  Something you don't talk about.  Something you don't do.  Something you don't eat.

If you go to an Arab country, it's considered Taboo to show the bottom of your feet.  Several years ago when President Bush was giving a press conference in Iraq, a person threw his shoes at the President.  Not only was this rude because he threw something at the President, but it was rude because he threw what many Arab people consider to be dirty and vile at another person.  

In some African countries, it is Taboo to stand over someone of higher social rank - like a chief, mayor, or leader.  In those places, the Leader should physically be higher than the person of lower rank as a sign of respect.

In many cultures around the world, it is Taboo to eat with your Left Hand.  Even people who are left handed will eat with their right hand.  The left hand is used for cleaning and hygiene purposes while the right hand is used for greeting and eating.

Here in the United States, we have our own Taboos.  We have words that are Taboo.  We call them cuss words or swear words.  Some of them are words that are freely used in other English speaking countries and have no vulgar connotation to them.  

To some people Tattoos are Taboo.  Many people will judge a heavily tattooed person on sight without knowing their personality or anything about that person.  That person could be the nicest person in the world, but because he or she is heavily tattooed, that person is judged to be "rough," or "weird," or "dangerous."  

When I first became a Pastor, someone told me that I would have to keep my tattoo hidden.  My tattoo is a small Cross and Dove - a Christian Tattoo.  But, nonetheless, I was told that it would offend too many people.  Well, I was not about to have it removed, and I am not one who is going to change much about my appearance to please others.  In my first chance to meet the majority of the congregation, it happened to be a work night to get ready for our annual homecoming.  Everyone comes to the church in their work clothes and does whatever work is needed around the church to "pretty it up."  In a calculated move, I decided to wear a T-Shirt and Gym Shorts.  Yes, I heard whispering - "He has a tattoo." So, I'd go to those people pretending not to hear what they said and introduce myself and try to learn names.  Soon, after they realized that a pastor could have a tattoo, some of the "hardliners" began pulling me aside and making sure no one was around (I'm sure it looked like we were engaging in some illegal deal or something), and they asked, "Did it hurt?"  - Chalk 1 Win for the Preacher.

In today's scripture, Jesus brought up a HUGE Taboo that sounded offensive to those who heard him.  He said that his followers had to eat his flesh and drink his blood.  We have to remember that was coming out of the mouth of a Jewish person to other Jewish people.  

Jewish Law does not allow for the consumption of blood.  Blood is life.  Even when eating meat, Observant Jewish People will soak their meat in salt water to get the blood out before cooking it.  So, what Jesus said was very Taboo.

But, in another way, it was very Jewish.  We need to remember that the Jewish People in that day lived mostly in Israel, and Israel translates to something like "Struggling with God."  Jesus brought the people into a debate that caused them to struggle with God.  A struggle that didn't have an easy answer. 

So, what did Jesus mean when he said, "Eat my flesh and drink my blood?"  Did he mean that we are to take Holy Communion?  I wouldn't rule that out - In fact that may have something to do with it, but there's probably more to it.  Did Jesus mean full out cannibalism?  Probably not literally.  Jesus probably meant something between Holy Communion and Cannibalism.  

We live in a Consumer Culture.  Despite how much we consume, how often are we not satisfied?  Think of your own house.  Most of us have a bunch of stuff that we don't need and don't want that we got to impress people that we really don't like.  We consume, but we're not satisfied.

We shop and buy clothes but always want more.  We buy vehicles and then plan what we want the next one to be like.  We buy houses but we're always trying to buy something to make them better.  We buy, buy, buy, but we're not satisfied.

We work until we drop because we think our work will satisfy us, but it never does.  We put our self-worth in our work at the expense of our families and friends, but all we do is stress ourselves out.  We work all day and think about work all night.  It seems that Child Sacrifice is still legal - except we don't actually kill our children - we just ignore them because of work.  Will work take care of us when we're old?  Will work sit with us on our death bed?  Will work hold our hand when we are terminal?  Yes, we need to work. Yes, there are times when we have to work more than we want.  Yes, sometimes our families and friends will have to take 2nd place to work, but does that have to be the norm?

We are consumers of our addictions.  People turn to the bottle for a source of relief.  It only works for a while until it destroys their lives and relationships.  People turn to pills to help them sleep because they can't turn off their brain.  People take illegal substances to numb the pain in their lives.  As Christians we should be compassionate and understanding - not condemning.  Instead, we should wonder what makes life so painful that people turn to these things and then try to ease the pain and introduce them to the only One who can satisfy.

Jesus said in our scripture that we must consume Him - Flesh and Blood.  I don't think Jesus is calling us to cannibalism, and even if he were, we're 2000 years too late.  He may be talking about Holy Communion, but there's more.  He's talking about total consumption - Flesh and Blood Consumption.  

Only by consuming Jesus can we be totally satisfied.  Maybe we won't be satisfied in material ways - Jesus didn't come to satisfy us with money or fame or power.  Jesus came to satisfy us with holiness and as a byproduct with community with other Christians.  Most importantly, Jesus came to satisfy us with unity with God.  

So, how do we consume Jesus?  Obviously, we must live in the world.  Obviously we must take part in worldly things.  That does not mean that we have to leave Jesus out of any part of our lives.  Jesus can come to work with us.  We can pray any time we want.  We can talk to Jesus wherever we are.  Prayer can be short or long - Just like conversations with friends.  We can spend time in God's Word in the Bible.  We can read the Gospels - The stories of Jesus - and see how his teachings apply to us today.  We can look at every situation in our life and see where Jesus fits in and then let Jesus in.  We must make Jesus part of our everyday lives - to the point of being Taboo.

Church Visioning Model

This is an adapted version of a model I adapted for my church for Visioning into the Future.  Visioning should be an ongoing process for every church.  Often, it is important to begin with a formal procedure such as this to "get the ball moving," but after that, it can be much less formal.

Keep this in mind when visioning:

1. There will be fear and apprehension.  People will be afraid that the goal is to change everything.  The Goal is NOT to change everything (and maybe not anything).  The Goal is to assess where the church is and to see how effective it is and how it can be more effective.

2.  Consensus is important.  This is different from voting.  Voting has "winners" and "losers."  Consensus means that everyone is in agreement.  If there is even 1 person holding out on a proposed change, then it's not time to change.  Of course, people need to discern if this person truly is sincere or is being "hard headed." If that person is just being difficult, then he/she must be overridden.

3. All involved must agree to be Christian in all things.  Factions cannot be formed.  Gossiping cannot be allowed. Pouting is not acceptable.  Enforcing this is not just the Pastor's job - it is EVERYONE'S job!

4. All who attend the church should be involved and have their voices heard - from the youngest to the oldest.  Children have valid input.  Even non-members who are regular attendees should be allowed to participate.

5. Open minds must be kept by everyone.  If there is a change made, it must be given time to succeed or fail.  Decisions cannot be made "on the fly."  There WILL be bumps on the road.  Remember the purpose is to Glorify God.  God can handle a few "rough starts."  

This version is a generic version of the specific plan I made for my church.  Please contact me in the comment section below if you have questions and I will be in touch with you!  Include your e mail if you are comfortable, or we can converse in the comment section.

 Visioning into the Future

Where is God Calling Us

Reasons for Visioning:

1.    In the Great Commission, Jesus calls us to make disciples of the world (Matthew 28:19).  In ALL things we do as a church, it should be to bring people closer to Christ.  Having a plan will make this more efficient.

2.     As we vision, we can find how to best serve those who attend our church.

3.     As we vision, we can find how we can best serve the community as a church.

4.     As we vision, we can find how we can bring new members to our church.

5.     Churches should look at ways to become more “vital” (vital – meaning life giving to their community and to themselves).  Congregations are being asked to keep what works, change what doesn’t work, and to try new ways of reaching others for Christ.

6.     Pastors often come and go for reasons beyond their control (assigned by the denomination, called into a new ministry, etc).    Because of this, the congregation must be strong to keep the ministry alive.  If there is a plan in place, people will know how to do this.

Caution:

Visioning and Dreaming almost always causes conflict when it is done seriously.  This is something that should be stated upfront to everyone involved.  Conflict does not have to be unhealthy if people can remember to handle it in a Christian manner. 

Obviously in conflict, sometimes there will be “winners” and “losers.”  That, however, does not always have to be the case.  If we are truly seeking God’s will, conflict may be a sign that things are moving too fast, OR conflict may also be a sign that someone or a group may be being stubborn and inflexible.

Before beginning, it may be helpful to take a lesson from the Quakers.  In most Quaker Meetings, they do not vote.  They wait for consensus.  When the leader of the meeting feels everyone is on board, they then trust they are following God’s will.  If someone is against the proposed change, he or she will state a concern.  Ideally, this is done peacefully and without argument. 

The purpose of our visioning is not to cause argument but to follow God’s Will for our church.  If we believe in a Living God, then we must trust that God wants us to go on living as a church.  This means we honor the past, but it also means that we look to the future. 

This particular Visioning Plan is designed in a way that there will not be winners and losers if all engage with a faithful heart.  We as a church will vote to begin this process.  After beginning, we will not vote on any part of this but rather agree by consensus. (The only time this will not be the case is when it is obvious that a person or faction is stalling the process by being stubborn and inflexible). Before moving on to each phase of visioning, there must be consensus.  All conflict should be handled in a Christian manner – directly, honestly, peacefully, and lovingly.  At no time should gossiping, “storming out,” pouting, yelling, or keeping your mouth shut be acceptable to yourself or others – if it happens, it must be stopped.  We are not doing this for ourselves – We are doing this for God, and no one has a monopoly on God. We will not all get what we want, but by consensus we will get what God wants.

Method:

Full Congregation Visioning Process using Short Term and Long Term Methods

·      In order to reach the Full Congregation we will have Focused Visioning Questions that will lead to optional Discussion Sessions

o   Visioning Questions will be added as inserts to the bulletin and placed in a place where people who miss a service can have access to them.  They will have 2-3 weeks to complete them

§  Full Congregation (Members and Non-Members) will be allowed to write responses to these questions anonymously or with names and turn them in 

·      This is for people who cannot come to the discussion sessions

·      This is also so that people who come to discussion sessions can be prepared as to what will be addressed

§  After having the questionnaire, a discussion session will be held at the church going over the questions and allowing for discussion.  This discussion will allow for some constructive deviation from the topic, but we will try to remain as close as possible to the topic at hand.  So that people do not get tired, we will ask that all speakers keep their points concise and we will keep all sessions to a maximum of 90 minutes.  If anyone has any more to say, he/she can put it in writing and turn it in

·      We will follow the “Plan, Do, Study, Act” Model (PDSA) – Make a plan – Start the plan and do it for 2-3 months – See the results – Change as needed

Time Frame: 

Visioning should be an ongoing process.  This is only the start of the process.  While this part is focused (meaning formal), as time goes on, visioning may not need to be so formal.  The “formal” visioning will take several months and up to a year (or slightly over a year).  There will be four Phases.  

After each Phase, the results will be published after they have been analyzed and made public as bulletin inserts and then placed in the entryway of the church for those who miss the Sunday that they were put in the bulletin.

Questions for Phase 1 

·      Phase 1 – Analyze the Past and the Present – What changes (if any) can (or should) we make now?

o   This Church was put in this place for a reason.  

§  What first brought you to this church? 

§  What keeps you at this church? 

§  Why would you encourage someone else to come to this church?

§  In what ways could this church improve to help meet your needs?

o   All churches have strengths and weaknesses.

§  What makes this church necessary to the community right now?

§  If this church disappeared, would the community miss us?

§  How would you like to see this church more active in the community at this time? (Answer this question as if there are no barriers such as time/money/etc.)

o   Initial Phase 1 Changes

§  Children’s Church

·      Children of all ages are important members of the Church.  The youngest children should not be expected to be quiet and still during the entire service.  We will have volunteers sign-up again to handle Children’s Church, but the “character” of Children’s Church will change.  Young Children will not be expected to go to the nursery, but rather it will be an option for parents.  A little noise will not hurt any of us.  The volunteers will go to the nursery after the greeting if parents want to bring their children. If none go, the volunteers will remain available during the service in case a child gets fussy and the parent wants to use the nursery.   This will be announced and put in the bulletin.

§  Hymns

·      One Sunday a month we will accompany the hymns from the hymnal with the pianist and acoustic instruments (and possibly electric bass).  This will keep our traditional hymns with an added element to bring another element of worship and another chance for congregational involvement into our worship service.

§  Committees

·      All Committees  should have a chair/contact person. – Over the course of the year, the pastor will meet with each committee to determine its role, goals, etc. 

·      “In House” (those not mandated by the denomination) committees will put into writing basic guidelines for running annual events.  This way, if someone new has to take over, he/she will have a working knowledge of how to start.

§  Prayer Requests

·      Since prayer is so important, prayer slips will be placed in the pews.  We will still take names during prayer request time, but people will be asked to write down names/situations they would like to be put on our prayer list to maintain accurate spelling, make sure no one is left out by accident, and keep things as accurate as possible.  The prayer slips will be put in the offering plate.

·      Phase 2 – The Near Future - Questions

o   Our Church has been trying to have Congregational Involvement in the Worship service.  We use Greeters, Readers, Ushers, Acolytes, Nursery Volunteers, and Musicians. 

§  How do you feel the congregational involvement is adding to or taking away from worship?  Please explain your answer.

o   Our Church also offers Sunday School on a weekly basis and Bible Study on a regular basis.

§  If you do attend one or both, please specify which you attend and what benefits you see and what improvements you would like to see. (If you have a child/children, talk to him/her and also give their responses).  Be as specific as possible.

§  If you do not attend one or both, please specify which you do not attend and why you do not attend.  Could we do something different so you would attend?  Be as specific as possible.

o   Churches honor the past by making disciples for the future.

§  We have recently seen growth at our church.  How can we keep this pattern of growth continuing?

§  Aside from “word of mouth,” how can we let the community know about Our Church?

§  It doesn’t make sense to “steal” people from another church unless they are looking for a different church (then it’s not stealing).  How can we reach people who currently don’t go to church? How can we reach people who are members here but rarely come?

o   Our Church is a very generous church when it comes to giving.  We are always a top donator to the Local Missions Group and we pay our denominational apportionments every year. 

§  Ministry involves more than giving money and items.  It involves giving of self.  Think of the people we currently have in our church and our abilities.  Remember that ministry can happen in small teams or large groups.  In what areas do you see that our members could give of ourselves to the community?  Where could we serve? (This could involve visiting, tutoring, clean-ups, building, repairing, etc.).  Be creative and specific.

o   Phase 2 Changes

§  Assess Phase 1 Changes and adapt as needed

§  To be determined as time gets closer

·      Phase 3 – The Distant Future - Questions

o   Our Church was built to be around for a long time to come.  That means that we need to always be a welcoming and inviting congregation.

§  Rather than waiting for people to come to us, how can we find people and ask them to give us a try?  Be creative.

§  How can we make visitors feel like “one of us” from the minute they walk in the door rather than feeling like outsiders? We are already very welcoming.  How can we improve on something we already do well?

o   Strong churches use the strength of the people to carry on the ministries.

§  Are your strengths being used?  If not, does the pastor know?  Are you willing to share what strengths you have?

§  How can we best learn the strengths of the people of Our Church?  How can we best use the strengths of people without taking advantage or over-working people?

o   Remember:  Jesus calls us to make disciples of the world (Matthew 28:19).  In Phase 2 we came up with several ways that we could help the community.  LIST THE OPTIONS HERE

§  What are any obstacles to these ministries?

§  If we are to begin any of these ministries, it is important that we do our best.  It is also important that the burden doesn’t fall on 1 or 2 people to do all of the work.  Do we have enough people to be effective at these ministries? 

§  Not all people can participate in the same ways, but all people can participate in some way.  What role do you see yourself playing in these ministries?

§  Are any of these ministries too ambitious at this time – Are the intentions good, but we don’t have the means to do the work?  If so, can we narrow the focus but keep the idea?

o   Phase 3 Changes

§  Assess Any changes made and adapt as needed

§  After possible ministries are determined, form focus groups to work out details (recruit people, determine needs, time commitment, etc.).

§  Other changes to be determined as time gets closer.

·      Phase 4 – Enact

o   Enact Vision Plan for internal and external ministries

This Handout is Given to the Congregation to Introduce the Visioning Process

I allowed voting to begin the Process

Reasons for Visioning:

1.     In the Great Commission, Jesus calls us to make disciples of the world (Matthew 28:19).  In ALL things we do as a church, it should be to bring people closer to Christ.  Having a plan will make this more efficient.

2.     As we vision, we can find how to best serve those who attend Our Church.

3.     As we vision, we can find how we can best serve the community as a church.

4.     As we vision, we can find how we can bring new members to our church.

5.     The United Methodist Church is asking congregations to look at ways to become more “vital” (vital – meaning life giving to their community and to themselves).  Congregations are being asked to keep what works, change what doesn’t work, and to try new ways of reaching others for Christ.

6.     There is never a promise that the same pastor will be appointed for another year.  Because of this, the congregation must be strong to keep the ministry alive.  If there is a plan in place, people will know how to do this.

How Visioning Will Work

1.     We will do all parts of visioning by consensus instead of voting – If you have a concern, speak up – We must have honest and open discussion – We must also agree not to gossip, form factions, or act in an Un-Christian manner.  (The purpose is NOT to change everything but to look at what we do and see what works and what should change – if anything)

2.     There will be 4 Phases over the course of approximately a year (1. Looking at the Past and Present, 2. The Near Future, 3. The Distant Future, 4. Enacting a Plan) – This is not limited to this process – this should go on forever!

3.     Each Phase will involve questions printed in the bulletin – EVERYONE who attends this church can answer these questions (official members and those who attend and are not members – it would also be nice to have input from children).  Extra question sheets will be placed at the entryway if you miss the Sunday when they are in the bulletin. 

4.     There are 2 ways to answer the questions:

a.     Written answers from everyone are preferred (with name or anonymous). – This is preferred because everyone can’t be at discussion sessions.

b.     After committee review, we will hold 60-90 minute discussion sessions.

5.     The committee will analyze the responses (written and discussed) and make a report back to the congregation. – This can lead to more discussion/action.

If Changes are Made

1.     If a change is made, it does not have to be permanent

2.     Almost any change will have bumps along the way and most will not be smooth right away – Please keep an open mind and give it time to work.

3.     We will give any changes a little bit of time to work themselves out.  After they have had a chance to work, we will discuss them.  Then we can 1. Tweak the change, 2. Eliminate the change, or 3. Keep the change.

Lisbeth Salander - A Sad View of Society

It’s very rare that I go along with trends.  I hardly ever go see popular movies.  I can’t say I own any current popular music.  I can’t even name 5 of the most current popular bands or musicians on the Top 40 radio stations right now…even if my life depended on it.  That’s why I surprised myself that I jumped into Stieg Larsson’s Millennium Trilogy of books. 

The reason I finally did make the plunge had nothing to do with their popularity.  Sometime well after The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo had been made into an American Movie, I found out that these books were actually translations of Swedish books.  I found out that these books took place mostly within Sweden.  That is what hooked me.  My ancestors on one side of my family came from Sweden, and that is the side I know the least about, and probably in some way to “connect,” I decided to read the first book – The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo – and since then, I had to keep reading until I finished the other 2 books – The Girl Who Played with Fire, and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest.

To be honest, these books are standard issue modern popular crime novels.  The plots are not too deep beyond the crimes at hand, though there are many twists and turns keeping the action fast paced.  The characters are not multi-dimensional, and they are often predictable.  In order to fit with “modernity,” there are often sex-scenes that are completely unnecessary to the plot and only slightly advance the subplots of the love lives of the characters. 

Where the books do succeed extremely well is in the portrayal of the protagonist – Lisbeth Salander.  Yes, Salander is still a type-casted character, but whether intentional or not, she is a symbol of much deeper societal issues.

Some may say I’m overanalyzing Salander, and that is probably the truth.  On the other hand, Salander is a character that represents much more than just a person in a crime novel.  She represents a sizable segment of the population that goes unnoticed, ignored, despised, shunned, and hated. 

It’s impossible for me or anyone else to analyze anything from a completely neutral point of view.  I therefore can only analyze Salander from my own point of view that is shaped by my own experiences and biases.  If you’ve read anything that I’ve written on this blog, you’ll know that I’m writing from an unapologetic Christian standpoint.  That said, I also write from a sympathetic point of view that not all people are afforded the same opportunities to make the same choices as others, and therefore, in some way, though I don’t completely understand how it will work, I believe we are responsible only for what we know.  With that, those of us in privileged positions, rather than flaunting them, should reach out to in a spirit of genuine friendship and caring to those whom we can reach in hopes of providing them the opportunity to do the same for others. 

SPOILER ALERT:  Lisbeth Salander, the unlikely protagonist, is the victim of a complicated string of crimes involving national security stemming from a political refugee abusing her mother when Lisbeth was a teenager causing brain damage to her mother leading to her death in years to come.  Lisbeth set fire to this political refugee (who was also her biological father) setting off a series of events which caused her to be put in a psychiatric ward in the name of “national security,” and the political refugee allowed to be cleared of all crimes.  Only in the end of the trilogy is all of this exposed and justice is done.

Salandar is a caricature of many things that are wrong with our society, however, rather than deserving our condemnation, the Salanders of our world deserve our sympathy and our assistance.  While they may have chosen some unwise and unhealthy paths, the first path of destruction was chosen for them by us – society.

12 Year Old Salander had no choice when she was sent to the Psychiatric Unit because no one would listen to her.  How many children today live in sheer terror because no one will listen to them?  They are abused.  They are forced into prostitution.  They are witnesses to serious crimes.  They go home to houses with no adult supervision.  They go home to houses with no food.  They have no homes.  These children are voiceless.  No one will listen. 

I was a teacher for 10 years.  A student who I knew had very serious issues came to me after developing trust in me and shared information.  I called social services and had to wait until 6 PM at the school for one particular person to call me back.  I was told there was nothing they could do.  This student – this child – had no voice.  This student was essentially condemned to the streets.  More than 10 years later, I did a “Google Search,” and I was right.  This student is in prison.  As hard as I tried, no one listened.

After being released from the Psychiatric Unit, Salander became a socially awkward, and engaged in self-harmful behaviors, though she lived by a code of self-protection and self-preservation.  Those may seem to be contradictory behaviors, and they are, but in reality, those behaviors usually work hand in hand.  Salandar was sexually promiscuous, refused to become friendly with anyone, engaged in heavy drinking too often, remained a loner who trusted no one, and used people only to achieve her own ends without worrying about their needs or feelings.  These same behaviors also protected her – she didn’t have to worry about anyone breaking into her life again as she did in her childhood.  She could keep relationships at a distance and only worry about herself.  Her fears and worries were numbed by her promiscuity and drinking.

Such are the consequences when society shuns or forgets people.  All day, we can argue that people just have to pull themselves up by the bootstraps to make it in life, but if you have no boots, that is impossible.  Yes, there are exceptions to every case, and someone can find many counter examples where someone defeated the odds and “made it” in life.  There are tens of millions of more examples of those who couldn’t.  Yes, I said, “couldn’t,” not, “wouldn’t.” 

Salander never stood a chance to know how to live in society.  She lived in an institution for much of her teenage years, and then was turned out on her own.  How was she expected to know how to function like a “productive” adult?  How do we expect people who are raised in urban housing projects overrun by gangs to know how to get out when they are adults?  How do we expect someone raised in homeless shelters to know how to buy a home?  How do we expect someone abused throughout childhood to know how to show appropriate love and affection if they are not taught? 

Why does society blame the Salanders of today?  Let me narrow the question.  Why do Christians blame the Salanders of today?  Shouldn’t Christians be the LAST to place blame?  Isn’t it the call of EVERY Christian to reach out to the Salanders of today? 

I believe that somewhere along the way, Jesus’ message was misunderstood.  Good Christian people started to misunderstand.  Jesus never said we have to accept what the Salanders do.  We never have to approve of their lifestyles.  We never have to approve of anything.  We do have to approve of EVERYONE.  Salander was once an innocent little child.  She was damaged by watching her father literally beat the life out of her mother.  She was destroyed by the system that was there to protect her. 

Today’s outsiders are tomorrow’s potential insiders OR they can be the breeders of more outsiders.  The choice is ours, not theirs.  Salander didn’t have the choice, but everyone else did.  

On the Death of a Child

The other day, I preached a funeral for the tragic death of a child.  Any death of a child is tragic.  I've debated posting this, but in the end, I decided to post the Scripture readings with the Sermon with some changes to protect the privacy of the family.  I hope that this can help anyone stumbles across this who may have to deal with the loss of a child.  If you read this and know someone struggling with such a loss, please feel free to share this.

2 Samuel 12:15b-23

The Lord struck the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and it became very ill. ¹⁶David therefore pleaded with God for the child; David fasted, and went in and lay all night on the ground. ¹⁷The elders of his house stood beside him, urging him to rise from the ground; but he would not, nor did he eat food with them. ¹⁸On the seventh day the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead; for they said, “While the child was still alive, we spoke to him, and he did not listen to us; how then can we tell him the child is dead? He may do himself some harm.” ¹⁹But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, he perceived that the child was dead; and David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?” They said, “He is dead.” ²⁰Then David rose from the ground, washed, anointed himself, and changed his clothes. He went into the house of the Lord, and worshiped; he then went to his own house; and when he asked, they set food before him and he ate. ²¹Then his servants said to him, “What is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while it was alive; but when the child died, you rose and ate food.” ²²He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who knows? The Lord may be gracious to me, and the child may live.’ ²³But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.”

John 14:1-4, 18-19, 25-27

‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. ²In my Father’s house there are many dwelling-places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? ³And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. ⁴And you know the way to the place where I am going.’

18 ‘I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. ¹⁹In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live.

25 ‘I have said these things to you while I am still with you. ²⁶But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. ²⁷Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.

Matthew 19:13-15

¹³Then little children were being brought to him in order that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples spoke sternly to those who brought them; ¹⁴but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.” ¹⁵And he laid his hands on them and went on his way.

Sermon

The first question everyone asks when such a tragedy as this happens is “why?” Why did this happen?  Why did God let this happen?  Why didn’t God stop this?  Why would God take a little innocent child when there are so many evil people in the world? 

These are fair questions.  These are honest questions.  These are real questions.  But, these are questions I cannot answer.  In Romans 8:28, the Apostle Paul writes, “all things work together for good for those who love God,” but let’s be honest…right here, and right now, it’s hard to see how this tragedy is going to work out for the good of anyone here, and a lot of us here love God!

Maybe the problem doesn’t lie in Paul’s words – that “all things work together for those who love God,” – but in the way that we tend to use Paul’s words.  We take them out of context.  You see, this little isolated quote is not something we can just toss around in every situation, but we need to look at how it is used, and then we see that it absolutely applies to all of us in this situation!  If we go back to Romans 8:15, we see that Paul is writing to the Romans about becoming believers in Christ. So, taken in context, “all things working together” is a statement about salvation, not a statement about everyday circumstances. Paul confirms that in verse 17 where he talks about suffering with Christ – Is that not what we are doing today?  Is that not what we will do for some time to come? 

Of course, the child is in the arms of God right now.  Of course God is pure love and pure joy.  But, because God created humans in his image, I have no doubt that God also in some way is suffering with us.  Christ in some way feels our pain.

Maybe King David made the most profound statement about the death of a child in our Old Testament Scripture today.  King David grieved while his child was still alive barely clinging to life.  He fasted, begged God, but yet the infant still died.  What King David did is almost unexplainable, and to say that anyone here should do the same is unrealistic – we must remember that Scripture doesn’t always tell us how much time passes between events.  The only word telling us how long it took from the time that David learned that his child had died until he decided to clean himself up and eat something is the word “then.”  We can’t be certain how much time passed in that simple word, “then.”  Maybe it was immediate - maybe there was some time - we simply don't know.  But, what I do want us to focus on is the statement that David made and the amount of certainty with which he made it.  When questioned why he was basically going on with his life, he said – and I paraphrase – “This child isn’t coming back to me here on this side of eternity, but one day, I will spend eternity with this child!”  

Right now, those may not be the most comforting words.  But, one day, if you choose, and getting right with God is a choice, any of us here can spend eternity with the child and with God. As the Gospel of John said, Jesus has prepared many dwelling places for us.  They are free for the taking.  Free if you believe that God sent his son Jesus, and that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and through that our sins are forgiven in God’s eyes. 

As our Scripture from the Gospel of Matthew said, the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who approach it like little children.  What does that even mean?  We adults have been so tainted by the world that our childish innocence has been lost.  Or, maybe it hasn’t been lost, but we’ve let it be hidden beneath our adult shell. Let me give you an example.  I was recently with a family who had a little child who had just woke from her nap.  She was going from person to person in her t-shirt, diaper and drinking from a sippy cup (And NO, just to be clear, I am NOT suggesting that ANY of you should walk around in a T-shirt, diaper, and carry a sippy cup!).  As I was getting ready to leave, she did one simple thing that I doubt most people hardly noticed.  In fact, I didn’t even think of it until much later.  As I was saying “goodbye,” she gave me a “high-5.”  Let me ask you all this – When was the last time you gave someone a “high-5?”  When was the last time that person wasn’t a child? 

Have you noticed how little children look at the world?  Their heads are always up.  They see God's creation with a child's eye.  They see God's majesty.  We adults usually have our heads down – or at least focused straight ahead of us (and no, I don’t think it’s always a vision problem issue).  Children are always slow, and I don’t think it’s because they have shorter legs – they take time to be amazed at God’s creation.  We adults rarely do that – we have a goal in mind, and we are often in a hurry.

Why am I pointing all this out?  Over the next few weeks and months, our “adult” thoughts are going to kick in.  We’ve seen too much of the things of the world that we’ll get angry.  If that happens, be angry, but don’t hold your anger in – talk to someone, and talk to God.  We’ve seen too many news stories that we’ll start blaming others or ourselves or saying things like, “If only he/she/they/I would have done this or that.”  The past cannot be undone.  And remember, we always make the best choices in the present based on the information we have.  Blaming others or yourself and “what ifs” are just a vicious circle and a tool of the devil.  Yes, your mind will go there, and it probably already has.  Don’t beat yourself up over it, but when it does, realize it for what it is. 

When you can, and when you are able – and don’t force yourself to do this until you are able.  Remember the child as he or she was – innocent.  Remember the child as he or she is now – still, innocent, only separated from us for a while.  Then, try to look at life as he or she would.  Look at the clouds and look for animals in their shapes.  Look at the animals and the birds and enjoy their sounds and watching them play.  Stick your tongue out at someone (please do it jokingly, and make sure that other person knows you are joking – and if they get mad – Do not tell them I told you to do it!). When it rains, go outside and get wet – don’t worry, you won’t melt.  Give someone a “high 5” – someone who is not a child.  Slow down and look up during the day.  And most importantly, come back to the story of Jesus again and again, and each time you do, come to it like a child - That's how we come to the Kingdom of Heaven like a child.  Ask questions – even if you ask them just to yourself – that a child would ask.  Most of all – Be amazed at the gifts that God has freely given to all of us just as a child would.

The healing process is a long road.  There will be many bumps along the way.  Your faith will be tested.    Your patience, and even your love will be tested.  I’d be a liar if I told you otherwise.  Remember some simple childish truths – It’s ok to cry.  It’s ok to ask for a hug.  It’s ok to pray – even out loud.  It’s ok to say, “I’m sorry” if your temper gets the best of you.  When you’re ready, it’s ok to have fun again.  It’s ok to enjoy life again.  It's ok to have fun again.  It's ok to smile again.  It's even ok to laugh again.  It’s ok to have some bad days.  It’s ok to have some good days.  It’s always ok to ask for help.

To friends of the family – Let me offer you one word of parting advice.  Please do not wait to be called upon.  While it’s perfectly acceptable to say, “Call me if I can do anything,” because we do want the family to know we are available, please also take the initiative to do something, make a call, send a card, and let them know you are thinking of them, praying for them, and that they are loved.  Do something!

         May God guide you and comfort you and help you keep your faith through this long journey of mourning and healing.