Church and Culture

As if we needed to be reminded or shown for the first time, the discussion over gun control after the tragedy at Sandy Hook and the fiasco in Washington over the holidays are just two examples of the fact that the American "church" has renounced its core values and succombed to the values of the culture around it. It is absolutely inconceivable to me that "religious" people can seriously defend the arming of the public, increasing access to semi-automatic weapons, and, with a straight face, say that this is the "Christian" thing to do.  It is inconceivable to me that so-called religious people can claim that this country was founded as a Christian nation, claiming to base their lives on the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, and elect and support leaders who would balance a budget on the backs of the sick, the poor, the marginalized, the stranger/immigrants while endorsing and favoring the wealthiest 1%
of our population. It is inconceivable to me that the Tea Party, the Republican Party, and over 60% of Americans are so stupid as to take the Bible literally, denying biological evolution, and run on platforms of anti-intellectualism and anti-feminism and flagrant militarism. And racism continues to fuel their hatred of Obama!
Where is the church? Where are those who claim to follow Jesus of Nazareth? Where are Jews, Muslims, and all others claiming alligiance to the Unknown grounded in love and compassion?
The Darkness is not coming----it is here. Silence is complicity.
People of good will, people of faith, whatever your tradition, be the light where you are. Speak for truth. As Mother Theresa said, we are not called to be successful; we are called to be faithful.
Peace