Judge Sonia Sotomayor, a wise Latina woman, made the headlines for several days – if not a few weeks – as she was slandered and labeled a dubious character because of a comment she made a while back about a wise Latina woman making better decisions than a white male. Regardless of what anyone thinks of the comment one should look beneath the surface to reach the source of the comment:
Power.

The fact is that women, regardless of their age, race, or class, have been subjected to various forms of the sin of sexism. Women, for the sheer fact that they are women, have been and are abused, stereotyped, taken advantage of, etc., and as we see in the brave and courageous faces of the women of Iran, silenced and subjected to abuse, violence, all because of an age old myth that the God of heaven and earth has ordained that female be less than and subject to male. (Incidentally, this myth has made its mark in many religious traditions). This sinful lie has made its home in our hearts causing all of us to give in and to live in ways that are not reflective of the kingdom which Jesus spoke of.

So, when Sotomayor made this comment she was – may I conjecture – speaking of her experience as a Latina woman who has had to struggle harder to find power in this world than most white males. As a result, her experience as a Latina woman would be different than that of a white male who would have power by the sheer fact that he is a white male. The experience and insight of a person who has had to struggle more for power always has something unique and powerful to offer those of us who have not had to struggle as much to gain power. Therefore, some might be appalled and perplexed by the statement, but we must realize that what we say and what we do always has context; experience will always inform how we think (even those who are interpreting and making and enforcing law).

All that being said, we see the tragic and at the same time inspiring events unfold in Iran as we see the faces of women who are legally 2nd class citizens in that country courageously stand up to the sinful forces that have so cruelly and violently enforced the myth. We see the face of men and women who want to have power for and with one another and not over and against each other. Now more than ever the voices, the stories and the EXPERIENCES of these women are finding their way into our homes and soon, if not already, we will begin – only begin – to realize how some of us are simply given more power than others for the sheer fact that we are male, or that we are American, or this or that, and there is no reason to be defensive, but instead to humble ourselves, especially as people of faith, and ask how we might live in ways that our more reflective and proactive in  destroying the various myths we’ve internalized about women, about Muslims and so on, and cherish one another seeking to have power WITH and FOR each other and not OVER and AGAINST one another.

Finally, in these challenging times President Obama is being urged to take more action as the oppression, suppression, and violence against the Iranian people increases. May we be hard pressed to think and pray for this situation because, as Martin Luther King Jr. has reminded us, “Violence begets violence.” What fruit would an attack on Iran produce? Would it help the survivors of the oppressed in this country?

May God grant the men and women of Iran God’s peace, comfort and continued courage.  Amen.

Recently, Obama has taken a lot of “heat” from various sectors because he said that the United States does not consider itself a “Christian nation, a Jewish nation, or a Muslim nation…” Obama made this speech in Turkey earlier this week suggesting that the U.S. and Turkey could forge a friendship, which he asserted might send a powerful message to the global community. Some retorted, insisting that this nation is in fact a Christian nation. Many cited the assertion that the founding forbears of this country were Christian. Such arguments are important for all of us as Christians and as citizens of a very religiously diverse nation to ponder. Yet, the question inevitably will lead us to a discussion of what exactly being a Christian nation might mean:

So, founded on Christian principles by Christian forbears? Sure. Yet, are not many of these same principles also principles found in many of the other religious traditions in the United States?

Even more, is the fact that a majority of the population cites Christianity as its religion enough to argue that a nation is Christian or Muslim, or Jewish, etc.? If so, then we all must ask ourselves what this might mean; for Christians in a supposedly Christian nation it may mean that if we say we are a Christian nation that we might believe that we need to be the dominant population, the dominant ideology, etc., yet, is this a Christian perspective? Also, if we say we are a Christian nation, then does that mean that our government is Christian and that we then consider our legislative policies, such as our past or even our current policies on torture, to be Christian?Doesn’t and hasn’t the claim that we are a Christian nation meant that we have somehow allowed ourselves to believe that we are entitled to a certain status in this world? Doesn’t and hasn’t the notion that we are a Christian nation allowed ourselves to believe that we are granted a special blessing from God? Isn’t that in many ways idolatrous?

Or, is being a Christian nation acting and living according to the so-called Christian principles we were founded by? Lest we forget that many who said we were a Christian nation also claimed slavery and segregation were “Christian” and that Martin Luther King, Jr., during the Civil Rights era, noted that while the United States espoused certain principles, it certainly did not live up to these principles.

So, what exactly makes a nation a “Christian” nation?

Regardless of our answer, the fact is that as Christians the questions that surround this issue are complex; as Christians do we desire our religion to be the religion of the “empire”? Or, do we maintain a distinct identity that is not tied to the empire? The issues may be complex, but as Christians we can and we must, at the very least, recall the sin of nationalism and what Scripture has to say to us about this particular sin.

Also, we have to ask ourselves what is at stake behind any desire to be called a Christian nation. Is there any desire for a special blessing from God behind this claim? After all, the fact remains that we can never claim that we are “blessed” in a particular way that suggests that this blessing is beyond that which any other nation might be blessed by God. To suggest we as a nation have a particular blessing because of certain principles we espouse or a certain population we are composed of would be to suggest, for example, that that the people in African nations are suffering from drought, famine, endless murder, rape, and genocide, because they are not particularly “Christian” enough. Not very Christian, is it?

May God have mercy on our claims to blessing and our notions of what it means to be a “Christian nation.”

Often, when one hears a good sermon, they go away pondering many things in their heart.  Perhaps the sermon has left them with challenging or convicting thoughts and/or a desire to do something – to put faith into action.  Similarly, our newly appointed Attorney General, Eric Holder, has done nothing less than offered us as a nation and a community a prophetic call to change the status quo.  His recent speech has provoked a great deal of much needed discussion in our nation.  Tonight, a segment on CNN revealed the comments of many viewers from across the nation who felt that his words were harsh, divisive, and counterintuitive.  It is unfortunate, I think, that his words could not be received as a convicting word.  Perhaps, however, in the coming days, weeks, months, etc., the nation can find itself in a continuing dialogue which may result in some change.

Holder spoke the truth; though there are many facets of our society and culture that appear to embrace racial and cultural diversity and harmony, there are many that are not a far cry from the days of slavery and segregation.  Our society is filled with instances of modern-day slavery, as people from various immigrant communities are forced to do work they might not otherwise, had they the opportunities that others have had, and as minority groups still continue to struggle to have the same access and opportunity to quality education, health care, etc.  Also, one cannot help but recognize the way our cities and towns are structured – always segregated.  Take for example Austin, Texas.  It is an extremely diverse city which is filled with beautiful people from various countries and different faith traditions.  Nevertheless, it is very segregated.  East Austin is overwhelmingly populated by Latino and African American communities, while the rest of the city almost seems worlds away, divided by the 1-35 that few, from either side, rarely cross.  I am certain that this cultural landscape is not unique to Austin, Texas.  It is, in part, what Holder is referencing.  Perhaps we go on, patting ourselves on the back, reassured that we are doing so much better, turning a blind eye to the ways in which are cities, our schools, our circles of friends, and so on, are not so diverse.

Why is it so hard for us to take in Holder’s words?  Why is it so hard for us to admit that we do in fact live in a time and place where modern-day slavery and modern-day segregation exist?  Is  it because we have an aversion to admitting our own complicity?  Is it because we are an ahistorical people who are unaware of the sad and shameful history which has laid the foundation for our current circumstances?  I think it is, at best, a little of all of these.

Therefore, it is – without a doubt  - the call and the responsibility of the Church to speak prophetically about our racial prejudices and divisions, and to humble ourselves and heed prophetic words when we hear them.

On January 29th 2009, President Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act into law.  The bill addresses issues of discirmination against women in the workplace, most prominently with respect to the issue of equal pay.  The fact remains, however, that while this bill has everything to do with pay, it also has nothing to do with pay, especially if we are looking at this from a theological perspective.

The Ledbetter bill is, in many respects, great progress for the Women’s movement and feminists everywhere.  As a feminist, I ask myself, “Could it be that women may really come to be seen as equals – as real, full-fledged human beings?”  Some may think that my question may sound like exaggeration, or hypersensitivity, but our global history and current context beg the question.  Studies conitnue to show that women and children make up the majority of the world’s poor, and this epidemic is most certainly connected to the systemic sin of patriarchy.  For centuries now, men have impregnated women, leaving them alone to face the joys and challenges of parenting, forcing women to allow their bodies to be objectified and/or used in order to put food in their children’s bellies. 

  Women have not only been viewed and treated as things – mere objects – they have been seen as inferior beings whose supposed roles have been restricted to the arena of domesticity.  The struggle for women to ask, plead, and demand to be seen as fully fledged human beings – as equals – has spanned the centuries and continues to this day.  Our shameful global history testifies to this fact.  This bill, perhaps, signals a paradigm shift, from the days where the signs and signals of our culture and our religous institutions tell women that they are not equal, to time and a place where the culture will begin to internalize new signs and  new symbols. 

This bill has everything to do with equal pay, but, it clearly has to do with so much more, especially, as noted earlier, from a theological perspective.  As a Christian community, we must prophetically speak against systemic sins, such as patriarchy, which negatively impact both men and women.  Even more, we must loudly voice the vision of God’s kingdom, in which there is no hierarchy; in which our differences are appreciated and understood, instead of used as a means to dominate one another.  We must do so, because, as much progress and excitement that this new bill generates, laws and bills cannot change hearts.  Thus, we must continue to testify to a vision of God’s kingdom, where all are loved and cherished as equals. 

 On that note, however, on behalf of all feminists, thank you, president Obama!