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A Few Words From Pastor Bryan
When the date January 6th is mentioned, what event comes first to your mind?
Understandably, most of us probably think first of the Insurrection in Washington, D.C. in 2021. If you told me to remember the events of January 6th, that's what I would assume you were referring to.
But January 6th is also the day of Epiphany--the day in the Church calendar year when we remember the "magi from the East"--often referred to as the "3 Wise Men"--who were led by a star to "pay homage" and bring gifts to the baby Jesus.
We'll be focusing on Epiphany in church this Sunday, so I won't say too much about it here. But I find myself this year wanting to combine both of these January 6th events. In other words, I'm asking myself how we can look at January 6, 2021 in the Light (pun intended) of the biblical Epiphany. When I do that, 2 primary things become clear to me.
First, the Light of God in and among humanity that the magi came to honor quickly leads them into a confrontation with forces in the world that oppose the Love of God. The Story of the Epiphany involves King Herod being threatened by the coming of a "new King." Herod's insecurity and lust for power causes him to call for the unspeakable act of violence by which thousands of innocent children were killed. My point here is simply that this part of Epiphany reminds us that there are forces in this world that are lost in the insatiable desire for power, privilege, and control, and who are led by these instincts to do horrible things. In fact, it is undeniable that this illness--the lust for power--was certainly at the heart of the events of January 6, 2021. And as we've studied recently in our exploration of the dangers of so-called "Christian Nationalism," many who stormed the capital that day believed they were doing so in the name of Jesus Christ (see the photos below).
At some point the biblical mandate to do justice (Micah 6:8) requires that we take a stand against violence and injustice. My friends Shane Claiborne and Doug Pagit and other prominent Christian leaders composed a powerful statement condemning the Christian Nationalism that was invoked on January 6, 2021. I agree with the statement completely, and I encourage you to take a few minutes to read it or listen to it.
Here is a link to the statement
Here's a link to Doug and Shane reading the statement on YouTube.
But here's the second thing that comes to my mind. Epiphany is about the Love of God that includes everyone on every side of every issue. Always. It's about a love for all people, nations, tribes, and world views. It brings people together. It crosses lines of separation and impasse. That doesn't mean accommodating wrongdoing or not holding people accountable for heinous actions. Love is not about a lack of accountability. But the babe that the wise ones from the East were led by the star to honor grew up to be a man who prayed for God to forgive even those who nailed him to the cross. THAT is the kind of Love and Light that we are celebrating when we think of Epiphany and of the life of Jesus and what it means to call ourselves his followers.
More and more I think one of our most important tasks as Christians at this point in history is relentlessly refusing to allow the divisions of and in this world to have the final word in how we approach issues and live our lives. Our calling is to learn how to BOTH take a stand for justice AND to refuse the temptation to reduce the world to "good people and bad people," or the right and the wrong, or the right and the left, or any dualistic we/they category. How do we do this? We follow Jesus and seek the wisdom and guidance of God and refuse to be seduced by fear, anger, and resentment.
And this is why I am drawn again and again to Jesus, and to the kind of Love revealed on the deepest event of January 6th--the Epiphany. This Love is for everyone and everything. Including Herod if we can deal with that. In Christ there is no "in" and "out." That Star leads everyone Home to Love.
I hope to see you Sunday,
Pastor Bryan
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