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How is your faith?

by Carol Wolman, MD, March 19, 2004
and Reply to Carol from Larry Ross

Dear Friends,

The future looks bleak. Global warming, radiation dust swirling the globe from Iraq, Kosovo and Afghanistan, soaring oil prices, nuclear proliferation, a proto-fascist, dominionist government controlling the only superpower- do you believe we will make it? Do you believe that the human will to live, intelligence, and willingness to cooperate will prevail- over the suicide bombers and rapture cultists, over cunning manipulation and greed?

Do you believe that we were created in order to annihilate ourselves and most of the other living beings on our small planet? Or do you believe in a benevolent God who will somehow get us through all this?

Paul offers the story of Abraham's endless wait for an heir, after being promised that his descendants would people the earth, as an example of great faith. Well into old age, Abraham was visited by angels and his aged wife Sarah conceived Isaac. The message is: trust in God, He can do anything.

I believe that the Bible promises us survival. We are told that after great tribulation, Jesus will reign on earth for 1000 years. It seems plain to me that the values which He embodied, loving your neighbor and telling the truth, even unto death, are the values which we must draw upon in order to survive.

As people unite in peace marches around the world, and key individuals tell the truth at great personal risk, the tide is starting to turn. The Bush team is on the defensive, and the voices of sanity are getting louder. Let's all turn out on Saturday March 20th, and show ourselves for peace!

Rom 4:13, 16-18, 22
Brothers and sisters:
It was not through the law
that the promise was made to Abraham and his descendants
that he would inherit the world,
but through the righteousness that comes from faith.
For this reason, it depends on faith,
so that it may be a gift,
and the promise may be guaranteed to all his descendants,
not to those who only adhere to the law
but to those who follow the faith of Abraham,
who is the father of all of us, as it is written,
I have made you father of many nations.
He is our father in the sight of God,
in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead
and calls into being what does not exist.
He believed, hoping against hope,
that he would become the father of many nations,
according to what was said, Thus shall your descendants be.
That is why it was credited to him as righteousness.
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/031904.htm

Larry's Reply

Carol,

Your writing and insight are superb, and I have forwarded it to many people here in New Zealand, as well as listing many of the articles you sent on our web site below.
I also appreciate that you are a jewish Christian - a hard road to follow. Although I'm a Unitarian and an Atheist, I'm always willing to change if I encounter genuine proof that there is a god and he expressed himself through Jesus Christ whom we should follow.
You are tempting proof of the power of Christianity.
I read your quote from Rom 4:13, 166-18,22 and was disturbed by it.
I think it would give a lot of comfort and justification to the Israeli and Christian fundamentalists.
It seems to justify the jews claim to Palestine, and fundamentalist backing for this and for the war which may make
the descendents of Abraham "inherit the world and become the father of many nations" Mixing quotes like this with Revelations, as fundamentalists do, is powerful stuff to the believers. It certainly must give ammunition to right-wing fundamentalist preachers.
I havent read them lately, but I would like to know how they handle this kind ammunition with their believers.
Of course Abraham is also a key figure in the Muslim religion. So they could also use the quote as religious justification,
as do Israeli and Christian fundamentalists.
Quite a mix up and very dangerous. Let me know where you might disagree with any of this analysis.

I have just delivered a paper to the Christchurch Unitarian Fellowship here in New Zealand, and am working to revise,
add to and improve it:

THE DANGERS OF FUNDAMENTALIS BELIEFS ON GEORGE BUSH AND ON U.S. FOREIGN
POLICY. ISLAMIC & ISRAELI FUNDAMENTALISM AND HOW THEY INTERACT WITH EACH
OTHER AND WITH U.S. POLICY.

Some of the papers you have sent are very helpful on this subject. Thanks. Keep it up please.
Would you like a copy of my paper?

Larry Ross,  Secretary,
NZ Nuclear-Free Peacemaking