THE PAINFUL LIBERATING PROCESS OF RE-THINKING EVERYTHING

I must admit that the past few years have been a very interesting/challenging/stretching time for me when it comes to being willing and even desirous of "hearing" the viewpoints of others. My thoughts on history have changed drastically in many ways. One being that in most cases the writers and framers of the historical account that make it into the accepted history books of a culture are the ones that happened to win the battle. I've learned that in this world we find ourselves, that often, just because someone has won the battle doesn't always mean they were right. And when it comes to the message I care most about and it being lived out, it most often doesn't come out on top in a world that function's by power and domination driven by fear and hatred, attributes that are diametrically opposed to the gospel.

I'm not one that puts any hope in there being a political solution to the world's problems but I also at times still find myself wanting to believe that a nation can strike a tone of humility and tolerance and demonstrate a willingness to own up to her mistakes in judgement that have cost others dearly and at the same time people not react to such an admonition as being a denial of the help we have at times been to other peoples of the world. The Nation I live in is a mixed bag of caring for others and at the same time harming others. It is what it is. Which is the reason I so desire for we who proclaim to be followers of Jesus and heralds of his message to drop the slogan and give up the fight to proclaim that America is a Christian Nation. It's not a representative of Jesus throughout the world and has never been. And all that slogan does is fans the already raging fire and it keeps people from seeing Jesus for who he is and hearing his liberating message of love and grace and forgiveness and reconciliation.