The CRY of the Marginalized

The epiphany to the slumbering heart should awaken the deep humiliation of a tender heart for God. It is humanity’s glimpse into our requirement for a Savior to rescue us from our pride and reason. In light of the crucifixion it is no longer acceptable to say, “I’m okay and you’re okay.” The crucifixion of Christ is a divine thrusting of a glimmering sword deeply implanted into our planet to be seen as the Truth of God’s humility and fullfilment of the Way through perfect love towards eternal Life. One must consider what are the actions of true love? It is to lay one’s life down for another. Why? When real courage steps into the breach shielding violence from a possible victim, the fruit of one’s action is both a symbol and sign of true freedom. Freedom becomes dualistic as a mentor of fearlessness and sign of the miraculous gift of acting in step with true love. This was demonstrated at Club Q.

However, what is antithetical to love, is abounding in our cultural rhetoric today. An insidious intention lurks below political and religious speech. There is a blind acceptance to political the false-shepherd’s fear-based ideology who flees the opposite direction while his blind and misguided sheep bloodthirst storms the Capitol. Their low-hanging, rotting fruit manifests in a gallow as their enthusiasm crushes to death a police officer standing in the breach. Without shame, the power of this ideology holds back its followers to even pay respects towards this “boy in blue”. The irony of this is not lost but stands as a conviction against those arrogantly flying a new American flag shaded in blue insinuating support towards the suffocating blue knee pressed upon the neck of a citizen pleading to breathe. This is the new fearful and cowardly ‘Merica not the home of the brave and free. ‘Merica’s fascination with guns, even when strapped tightly to body armor hesitates for two excruciating minutes while children in Uvalde are executed. No laying down of one’s life here just shaking knees wet pants, and indecision. Yes, many prayers and thoughts from bishops to politicians were paraded before all media. Yet there seems to be a line in the sand, certainly not drawn by Jesus, that even bishops and politicians refuse to empathetically cross with thoughts and prayers when victims are part of the LGBTQIA+ community. Why is there no heartfelt anguish for this type of violence? The reason is because this lower class of citizen, as well as non-white populations, and those with physical and mental challenges is deemed unworthy of ‘Merica’s melting pot. Lower class proves to be a favorite historical scapegoat. A history that lawfully cannot be taught. Truth has no place in history – it should only be aggrandized by the winners that wrote it. Yet, the human heart, despite its hardened facade, is designed to recognize the scapegoat. The plea from the ultimate scapegoat crucified upon Golgotha, still echoes today, “Forgive them Father, for they know not what they are doing.” Although the body can be killed, the soul cannot – nor can generations of memories. Let’s take a moment to remember Elie Weisel the Romanian-born American writer, professor, political activist, Nobel laureate, and Holocaust survivor. It’s his words I prefer, not of the groomed, white-royalty elected through monstrous warchests. Consider some of his famous quotes:

“The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference.”

“Words can sometimes, in moments of grace, attain the quality of deeds.”

“Some stories are true that never happened.”

“Because of indifference, one dies before one actually dies.”

It also should be added that hate, in all of its capacities of indifference, breeds self-hate.

Back to today’s ever-growing ideology proving only in divisiveness, the words
written in Zechariah 10 and 11, lists five signs of a false shepherding.

  1. The false shepherd is signified by false doctrine (10:1-2a).
  2. The false shepherd is signified by self-exaltation  (10:2b, 3).

3.  The false shepherd is signified by blind acceptance…from his flock (10:2c).

4. The false shepherd is signified by uncaring devastation (11:15-17).

5. The false shepherd is signified by divine judgment  (10:4; 11:1-3).
False shepherds should be corrected and avoided from being placed in leadership at all costs. 

Arguments rage in dividing religion and nation not in unifying. Unifying is the task of the Blessed Spirit while dividing is the onus of politics. An oldie but a goodie is found in Ephesians 6:12: “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Why do you think we wrestle? In my humble opinion, we wrestle because our heart is designed towards empathy and in particular, the scapegoat. We forget God’s reasoning may not agree even with our biblical knowledge. Recall that Christ, the Son of God, often confronted the Pharisees understanding of what was written with what was intended. Jesus often asked questions, told parables, instead of giving opinions and answers. Why? To allow the listener’s heart a chance at the table.
America was founded upon Judeo-Christian principals allowing unforeseen equity in amendments for this nation’s heart to wrestle with.

My only question:

If Christianity still believes the Holy Spirit is still at work what is it convicting us of and what is It trying to unify?

By Chris Clody 11/28/22

The CRY of the Marginalized

The epiphany to the slumbering heart should awaken the deep humiliation of a tender heart for God. It is humanity’s glimpse into our requirement for a Savior to rescue us from our pride and reason. In light of the crucifixion it is no longer acceptable to say, “I’m okay and you’re okay.” The crucifixion of Christ is a divine thrusting of a glimmering sword deeply implanted into our planet to be seen as the Truth of God’s humility and fullfilment of the Way through perfect love towards eternal Life. One must consider what are the actions of true love? It is to lay one’s life down for another. Why? When real courage steps into the breach shielding violence from a possible victim, the fruit of one’s action is both a symbol and sign of true freedom. Freedom becomes dualistic as a mentor of fearlessness and sign of the miraculous gift of acting in step with true love. This was demonstrated at Club Q.

However, what is antithetical to love, is abounding in our cultural rhetoric today. An insidious intention lurks below political and religious speech. There is a blind acceptance to political the false-shepherd’s fear-based ideology who flees the opposite direction while his blind and misguided sheep bloodthirst storms the Capitol. Their low-hanging, rotting fruit manifests in a gallow as their enthusiasm crushes to death a police officer standing in the breach. Without shame, the power of this ideology holds back its followers to even pay respects towards this “boy in blue”. The irony of this is not lost but stands as a conviction against those arrogantly flying a new American flag shaded in blue insinuating support towards the suffocating blue knee pressed upon the neck of a citizen pleading to breathe. This is the new fearful and cowardly ‘Merica not the home of the brave and free. ‘Merica’s fascination with guns, even when strapped tightly to body armor hesitates for two excruciating minutes while children in Uvalde are executed. No laying down of one’s life here just shaking knees wet pants, and indecision. Yes, many prayers and thoughts from bishops to politicians were paraded before all media. Yet there seems to be a line in the sand, certainly not drawn by Jesus, that even bishops and politicians refuse to empathetically cross with thoughts and prayers when victims are part of the LGBTQIA+ community. Why is there no heartfelt anguish for this type of violence? The reason is because this lower class of citizen, as well as non-white populations, and those with physical and mental challenges is deemed unworthy of ‘Merica’s melting pot. Lower class proves to be a favorite historical scapegoat. A history that lawfully cannot be taught. Truth has no place in history – it should only be aggrandized by the winners that wrote it. Yet, the human heart, despite its hardened facade, is designed to recognize the scapegoat. The plea from the ultimate scapegoat crucified upon Golgotha, still echoes today, “Forgive them Father, for they know not what they are doing.” Although the body can be killed, the soul cannot – nor can generations of memories. Let’s take a moment to remember Elie Weisel the Romanian-born American writer, professor, political activist, Nobel laureate, and Holocaust survivor. It’s his words I prefer, not of the groomed, white-royalty elected through monstrous warchests. Consider some of his famous quotes:

“The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference.”

“Words can sometimes, in moments of grace, attain the quality of deeds.”

“Some stories are true that never happened.”

“Because of indifference, one dies before one actually dies.”

It also should be added that hate, in all of its capacities of indifference, breeds self-hate.

Back to today’s ever-growing ideology proving only in divisiveness, the words
written in Zechariah 10 and 11, lists five signs of a false shepherding.

  1. The false shepherd is signified by false doctrine (10:1-2a).
  2. The false shepherd is signified by self-exaltation  (10:2b, 3).

3.  The false shepherd is signified by blind acceptance…from his flock (10:2c).

4. The false shepherd is signified by uncaring devastation (11:15-17).

5. The false shepherd is signified by divine judgment  (10:4; 11:1-3).
False shepherds should be corrected and avoided from being placed in leadership at all costs. 

Arguments rage in dividing religion and nation not in unifying. Unifying is the task of the Blessed Spirit while dividing is the onus of politics. An oldie but a goodie is found in Ephesians 6:12: “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Why do you think we wrestle? In my humble opinion, we wrestle because our heart is designed towards empathy and in particular, the scapegoat. We forget God’s reasoning may not agree even with our biblical knowledge. Recall that Christ, the Son of God, often confronted the Pharisees understanding of what was written with what was intended. Jesus often asked questions, told parables, instead of giving opinions and answers. Why? To allow the listener’s heart a chance at the table.
America was founded upon Judeo-Christian principals allowing unforeseen equity in amendments for this nation’s heart to wrestle with.

My only question:

If Christianity still believes the Holy Spirit is still at work what is it convicting us of and what is It trying to unify?

By Chris Clody 11/28/22

From head to heart

Charity must begin in thought,
Just as God thought us into being,
Lest faith journeys from head to heart.
Lost are the religious
Choking scripture of meaning,
The intention of what God-breathed

“Repent!
For the Kingdom of God is at hand!”
The Christ of God walks the earth,
One voice cries into the wilderness,
At our crooked paths between head and heart.
Water of repentance awaits His fire,
To burn away our enmity,
that hardens our heart.
“Behold the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world!”
A dove splits the air whilst a voice pervades the forerunner’s being,
 “This is my Son, the Beloved,
with whom I am well pleased.”
The Holy One emerges,
Glistening.
Waters of repentance,
Transform,
Like water into wine,
The Dove finds its rest,
“…and his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord…With righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth.”

Resplendent is this new water,
Drawing uncountable thirsts,
“Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. The water I shall give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life”

A carrot of eternal life,
Draws weary minds,
To look up in gratitude,
And out in forgiveness.
Mercy, compassion, unbound love,
Toward YHWH through neighbor,
Yet, whipped is the hopeful beast of Christ’s burden,
Heavy are the tired legs that follow,
Shorter is the straightened path,
Narrowing from earthly attachment,
Dripping sweat like blood,
Agony defensless to a higher will.
Joy overshadows this matter of time,
Loving God to love neighbor,
Despite pious thorns of rebuke,
Aiming their arrows of judgment,
Unaware their aiming at themselves.
Prejudice, thick like fog,
Lays heavy upon the earth,
Blinding love from head to heart,
Seeping deep into culture’s mind,
“Passing Over” narrow paths,
The insidious midst,
Suddenly parts like a sea,
Allowing comfortable and safe passage,
Within a sweeping current of prideful priests, prophets, and kings,
Righteous in condemnation,
Scourging with scripture,
Unclean! Unclean!
Lepers shunned,
Cloaking their Image in shame,
Forcing them to wander,
Alone,
Into the fog.
Hanging,
Below the looming thickness,
Where ground and midst separate,
One can kneel and see,
As if looking through cracked glass.
Clear enough to make out,
A thin trail of crumbs,
Remnants of bread from before,
Left for the meek,
The poor,.
The weary,
The condemned,
The unworthy,
And the lonely.
The hateful labels,
etched upon them,
Find new skin
Stretching over inflections of hate,
Growing cell by cell,
Nourished in newfound viaticum.

Nourished and drawn,
Placing all hopes and fears,
In a rest to come,
When death,
The final torturous judgment,
Will have no sting.

Bit by bit,
Persevering in real food,
Conforming in slow digestion,
True mercy,
True love,
Towards True Life,
Willing to exchange,
Humiliation for pride,
Carrying a new burden,
Hewn of wood,
Their Savior carried.
The crooked road within head and heart,
becomes clearer,
Seen through a legacy,
Bowing now to follow,
Instead of later in judgment.

‘Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

His,
Chris