Dear Centenary friends,

The tone of the rhetoric taking place at Ground Zero and around the nation should be of concern to every Christian.  Whatever your opinion is about a mosque being built in lower Manhattan, one cannot help but be disturbed, and even startled, by the decibel level of the voices.  This is not a healthy national conversation… it is a shouting match.  The reason I write about this matter is because it has to do with church, faith, mosque, anger, religion, community, living our faith, hope, and God.

Let’s take a step back for a moment and look at the big picture.  We are not at war against the Islamic faith.  If so, God help us.  Be reminded that there were scores of Muslims who died in the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, along with Jews, Christians, Sikhs, agnostics, atheists, Hindus, and Buddhists.  President George W. Bush called Islam a “religion of peace.”  He is right.

Here is what we are at war against:  Extremism.  Every religion is burdened by extremism.  Lest we think that Islam is the only religion to struggle with extremism, please be reminded that Christianity has a long rap sheet. Both Muslims and Christians were responsible for the slave trade (16^th century through 1865) that stripped more than 12 million men and women from their families in Africa, putting them in bondage and servitude in North and South America.  (Approximately 645,000 of these were brought to the United States.)  Muslims captured humans in Africa and transported them to the coast where “good, upstanding” Christian merchants and ship Captains transported the slaves in cargo holds.  No one knows how many died in route.  Christians in America bought the slaves off the ships.  Generations were affected and we still see and sense the lingering wounds.  

Other entries on the long rap sheet of Christianity:  1) In 1732, the Founders of the Georgia colony, which was founded as a religious haven, drew up a charter that explicitly banned Catholics from Georgia.  2) Christians killed and displaced Native Americans as immigrants landed and moved West.  Christians decided that those who practiced ancient Native American religious worship should serve 30 years in prison. Native Americans were annihilated by Christians.  3)  Jim Jones was a Christian… a crazy Christian, but a Christian by name, nonetheless.  Jim Jones was a Disciples of Christ (mainline Protestant) pastor who led 914 of his followers to suicide.  4)  Timothy McVeigh grew up Roman Catholic and was influenced by the Christian Identity movement, a racist and theocratic movement that took hold in the late 1970s.  While he moved toward agnosticism, the roots of his Oklahoma City bombing are wrapped up in faith issues.  168 people died at his hands. 

Extremists of any religion are no different from extremists of another religion.   History makes that clear.  Extremists believe that their understanding of God is the only legitimate answer for all.  Their mantra is essentially, “believe the way I do or be damned.”    Correct belief is non-negotiable to all extremists.  Extremists distort holy and sacred writings by lifting texts out of context. Muslim extremists do it with the Koran, justifying (in their minds) their evil actions.  Christian extremists do it with the Bible, justifying (in their minds) their evil actions. 

All this brings us to the mosque that is one-tenth of a mile from Ground Zero in lower Manhattan.   Thoughtful and good people can be divided on whether this is the perfect location.  But the angry rhetoric with signs denouncing Islam as a bloody religion, along with parodies of sacred Muslim beliefs goes directly against what General Petraeus believes is necessary in Afghanistan – “winning hearts and minds.”   The definition of “winning hearts and minds” is developing relationships with Afghans that encourage them toward values like community empowerment, livelihoods not based on growing poppy seeds (used for opium and heroin), and recognition of the value and worth of women.  The General believes that “winning the hearts and minds” is the ONLY way to defeat the Taliban.  The tone of this current conversation undermines military strategy.  If we alienate and indict all Muslims, America is less secure (according to the strategy outlined by General Patraeus) and the global strife increases.

It is ironic, to say the least, that the mosque that is the center of conflict in New York is being built by Sufi Muslims, known for their plurality.  Sufis are hated by the Taliban and Osama bin Laden’s Al Qaeda.  Sufi mosques in the Middle East are routinely attacked by the Muslim extremists.  The Sufis are our first line of defense against terrorism… here and in the Middle East.  The Taliban wins when the anti-Muslim rhetoric against pluralists Muslims rages unchecked in the United States.  An evangelical Christian Church in Florida has planned a public burning of the Koran on September 11.  Tell me… how far does this conversation go as the polarization continues unabated?  Is not the heart of God broken? 

Centenary Church seeks a new way of discussing these types of far-reaching issues. To see this conflict at Ground Zero as solely a political issue is to turn a blind eye to the frightening religious and faith consequences.  No doubt, members of the Centenary faith community do not all agree on whether or not the mosque should be built a couple of blocks from Ground Zero.  But is it possible for there to be some over-arching consensus among us about the incredible ungodliness of the tone of the conversation?  And can we see that the tone even undermines the strategy of the military to thwart terrorism?  In our own way, and in our small corner of the world may the Centenary faith community be a lighthouse seeking to offer a new way of understanding, communication, conversation, respect, and hope.  I am bold enough to believe that HOW we talk about these issues at Centenary can have an impact on the world!  We are entrusted by God to be carriers of Hope.  The Light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not and cannot overcome it.  People of faith, be molded by God!  Shine on, people of Centenary, shine on!   

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Lots of opportunities lie in store for our faith community.  Here are a few:

• Disciple Bible Study
• Opportunities Carnival on September 5 and 12
• The return of college students from Mercer, Wesleyan, and Macon State.
• Wonderful Wednesdays
• Some movie nights in the fall where we will watch a movie and discuss it
• The Centenary Community Garden
• The Bike Ministry
• Transitional Housing Conversations
• Conversations with the College Hill Alliance about the possibility of a grocery store/Co-op

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I will be preaching a sermon titled “Hope, Direction, and Cheering” this Sunday from the 11^th and 12^th chapters of Hebrews.  Plan to be in worship at 11 a.m. and bring a friend.

Grace and peace.

Tim Bagwell

Love God.  Love Others.  Love Yourself.  Serve.

www.centenarymacon.org