You Have Loved Enough (by Leonard Cohen)

I said I’d be your lover.
You laughed at what I said.
I lost my job forever.
I was counted with the dead.

I swept the marble chambers,
But you sent me down below.
You kept me from believing
Until you let me know:

That I am not the one who loves –
It’s love that seizes me.
When hatred with his package comes,
You forbid delivery.

And when the hunger for your touch
Rises from the hunger,
You whisper, “You have loved enough,
Now let me be the Lover.”

Cornel West on American Christianity and Democracy Matters

This past week I have been reading Cornel West’s Democracy Matters, which for the most part has been an insightful read on the contemporary situation of American democracy. In one chapter, West looks at the face of American Christianity and declares that as Christians we have often capitulated to imperialism and nihilism, opting for power and wealth when we were really called to be humble and just. West calls this Constantinian Christianity, in reference to the wedding of empire and Christianity in the fourth century A.D. I have included below a direct quote from this author that I think offers some hard truths that we need to recognize about ourselves (as Christians):

“Power, might, size, status, and material possessions- all paraphernalia of the nihilism of the American empire- became major themes of American Christianity. It now sometimes seems that all Christians speak in one voice when in fact it is only that the loudness of the Constantinian element of American Christianity has so totally drowned out the prophetic voices. Imperial Christianity, market spirituality, money-obsessed churches, gospels of prosperity, prayers of let’s-make-a-deal with God or help me turn my wheel of fortune have become the prevailing voice of American Christianity. In this version of Christianity the precious blood at the foot of the cross becomes mere Kool-Aid to refresh eager upwardly mobile aspirants in the nihilistic American game of power and might. And there is hardly a word about social justice, resistance to institutional evil, or courage to confront the powers that be- with the glaring exception of abortion.” (pg. 167)

West also includes a brief sketch of contemporary views on how the church should engage in public discourse. In opposition to theologians like Stanley Hauerwas and John Milbank, whose position is that the church should generally stay out of the discourse and be prophetic by being a counterculture, West believes that Christians should contribute and guide the discourse by taking a stance of being-in but not-of the secular world. West points directly to Martin Luther King, JR. as someone who positioned himself in the public world but did not compromise his prophetic identity. Some really good points here, but sometimes West gets disjointed in presenting his points. Overall a good read though.

Where has Atticus Finch gone?

This past week I have been rereading To Kill a Mockingbird, probably one of my favorite books of all time. It is a classic story told from the perspective of Scout Finch of Maycomb, Alabama. She is daughter of lawyer Atticus Finch, one of the most respected figures of the small town but also the most controversial. If you are familiar with the story, you know that Atticus takes on a case that is hotly debated in his time, choosing to defend an African American man accused of raping a young white woman.

Throughout the book we get small glimpses into the life of Atticus. He is relatively simple, conveying wisdom to his children concerning things such as decency and not retaliating in response to wrongdoing, imploring them to be peaceful to other people and to “walk in their skin” instead of judging them. He is quiet-natured, a true gentleman, and asks simply for people to respect each other. He never yells at his children, nor does he become indignant when they are clearly defying him. He gently corrects them, and tries to hear them out before taking action. With his peers, he is always polite but not indifferent, he challenges the perceptions of those around him but never condescends them. He speaks about trying to have a clear conscience, about choosing what is right over what is comfortable. Atticus is a rare character, he is not without his flaws, and yet he is a witness to the fact that humans can truly transcend the natures that often pull them down into mediocrity and sluggishness. He is the mockingbird that sings a beautiful song to the rest of us listening.

I remember first watching the film starring Gregory Peck and being in awe of Atticus. He was such a mystery, and at the same time there was nothing intimidating about him. He simply chose to do the right thing, to live with a free conscience and be an example to his children and to his town. Often when I think about the figure of Christ, I am reminded of Atticus andof his conduct, of his gentleness equaled with his ability to transform. Our culture is void of these characters, both in fiction and in nonfiction, on print and in reality. Where has Atticus Finch gone in our culture? Where have the gentlemen gone? How do we begin to reclaim that character in this culture?