Rick Land & Russ Tapp: Blog

Today, nearly every sermon I have ever heard - about the meaning of Christmas is running through my head. We love to recount the "mystical " aspects and details surrounding the virgin birth, prophesies and events leading up to the actual birth of Jesus. Those practically pale in comparison to his life on earth.  It is a great irony that current fundamentalist teaching and belief emphasizes the prophetic aspects of Jesus' life and ignores that fact that he was a revolutionary.  I cannot imagine how he might handle the legalists of our time. 

Recently our new Bishop for theDiocese of Northwest Texas  made an astonishing and remarkable statement in his homily at the Diocesan Convention.  He commented that we live in a predominantly "left brain" part of the country.  No truer words have been spoken.  The enormous implications of left brain legalistic thinking, influence and effect can be seen down through history. People and races worldwide are continually under the rule of dictators, power mongers, control freaks, egomaniacs, spiritual fanatics, and religious zealots - it is a fact of life.

These individuals could not thrive and exist without the support of like minded individuals. I believe that Jesus had zero tolerance for the Pharisees - and it got him into loads of trouble.

I have watched the rise of religious fundamentalism since the late 70's - it begins slowly by reversing the common terminology, name-calling, intolerance, judgementalism, hatred and eventually zealotry.

It is very difficult to confront a zealot.  Our most intelligent, thoughtful and ponderous words will never move or change their minds. Compassion and kindness are a  meaningless waste of time.

I believe that Jesus was born to confront the zealots for all time and  to assure humanity that we need not fear them.

To me, Christmas stands for spiritual liberation. Liberation from legalism, tyranny, ignorance, apathy and intolerance.

"Then Jesus returned to Galilee, filled with the Holy Spirit's power. Soon he became well known throughout the surrounding country. He taught in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. When he came to the village of Nazareth, his boyhood home, he went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read the Scriptures.  The scroll containing the messages of Isaiah the prophet was handed to him, and he unrolled the scroll to the place where it says:

THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME,
HE HAS APPOINTED ME TO PREACH GOOD NEWS TO THE POOR.
HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM THAT CAPTIVES WILL BE RELEASED,
THAT THE BLIND WILL SEE,
THAT THE DOWNTRODDEN WILL BE FREED FROM THEIR OPPRESSORS,
AND THAT THE TIME OF THE LORD'S FAVOR HAS COME.   Luke 4:14-19 NLT