“TheBenjamin E. Lippincott Award is presented annually by the American Political Science Association (APSA), recognizes a work of exceptional quality by a living political theorist that is still considered significant after a time span of at least 15 years since the original date of publication.
Charles W. Mills is a Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at the Graduate Center, CUNY (City University of New York). He works in the general area of social and political philosophy, particularly in oppositional political theory as centered on class, gender, and race. He is the author of over a hundred journal articles, book chapters, comments and replies, and six books. His first book, The Racial Contract (Cornell University Press, 1997), won a Myers Outstanding Book Award for the study of bigotry and human rights in America. It has been adopted widely in hundreds of courses across the United States, not just in philosophy, but also political science, sociology, anthropology, literature, education, African American, American Studies, and other subjects. It has been translated into Korean and Turkish, with a French translation forthcoming soon. Cornell University Press will be issuing a 25th-anniversary edition in 2022, with a new foreword by Mills and an afterword by Tommie Shelby, that will also mark its attainment of sales of over 50, 000 copies. “
The extract above, and video cameo, describing, in part , the life of someone who went to school with me, entered Jamaica College in the same year, is what struck me about what my newspapers told me what men were doing. And like many 21st century individuals, I saw it first on Twitter. Posted by the Gleaner online, and then sent to me as a direct message, by another giant of that era, Professor of Anthropology Don Robotham. With whom, along with another stalwart of that age, though slightly younger, Civil Society head Carol Narcisse, I was engaged in a serious, beyond the headlines, discussion about the state of our nation. I had no idea, at that time, that my former classmate had gone on to become, one of the leading intellectuals of this age. Compared with another individual , known for his outstanding scholarship – H Orlando Patterson, Professor of Sociology at Harvard University
“Charles and self used to joke we were the JA posse in New York academia. David and I remain close. Charles would meet up regularly in the faculty dining room and have a good chat and laugh. Very popular and deeply respected. Probably the most eminent JA academic in the US, more than Orlando” – Professor Don Robotham.
And so my comments in the conversation, in one sense, was almost trite in comparison to what others had to say about this outstanding former classmate. But yet, in my mind on reflection, no doubt, opened the door to ultimately the most important evaluation of the life of Charles Mills. And for that matter, Barack Obama, Nelson Mandela and Bob Marley!
“One of a set of brilliant students at #JamaicaCollege: Mills, Mathurin and Webley. Lost touch with him after school. Met him a couple of times in sundry places – outside Megamart. Wrote an essay on going to the movies in First Form. Got full marks, 10/10 from a very demanding English teacher. Showed remarkable intellect from the early days. Brian Meeks Michael Martin Burke I hope he had a relationship with his Creator at the end.”
Thoughts which sent me down memory lane this week, as I pondered on the reality of how far we, as a nation, have, not strayed, but departed from that golden era. In the quality and message of our music! In social intercourse, how we live with one another, in public and at home; the most profound commentary of the latter, being the epidemic of intimate partner violence and abuse of our children by relatives and people close to them. An of course the pandemic of murder and murder most foul that has gripped this nation for years. The vision or lack thereof of the leaders in every sphere of national life; and so the people perish. The level of injustice, common assault, meted out to the poor and the vulnerable and the marginalized. With impunity. Almost qualifying for the term “ the banality of evil”.
The question, the million dollar question, is where did we go wrong. And when! And then, how do we rescue this nation? Questions which can only ultimately be answered by what I read in the Bible that men ought to do.
The most important message being this:
“Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to those he loves.”
Psalms 127:1-2 NIV
And these messages sent to my church:
SUNDAY MORNING BEFORE, AND AFTER THE WORSHIP SERVICE
“but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross.”
Philippians 2:7-8 NRSV
https://bible.com/bible/2016/php.2.7-8.NRSV
The passage above came to mind as I read the Gospel for today in preparation for worship. And this also, starting a couple days ago! That the Bible is essentially a book that chronicles two stories. And among those two stories there are many subsets of those two stories. One main story, is about how God revealed Himself to his chosen people. Chosen not because they were special, or that he loved them more than anyone else in the world, but because he chose to do so. The other is how God in Jesus Christ, revealed himself, Father Son and Holy Spirit, co-substantial, co-eternal, and present from the beginning of creation, and before, to the entire world. And not just revealed himself, but redeemed humanity created in his image and likeness, imageo dei, from what took place at the Fall – separation from God, resulting in Sin, Death and Evil. Hence the purpose and mandate of the church in Christ Jesus and empowered by the Holy Spirit – Reconciliation. Available to all who believe in the Atonement wrought by Christ on Calvary. Which leads us back to the passage above, and forward to the Gospel story. For at the heart of the both stories is the God in Christ, who humbled himself, even to death on a cross, for suffering mankind. Held in bondage to Sin and death and evil, by Satan!
For until we brood and ponder and spend quality time listening to what God is saying to us about Calvary, we will forever by like the disciples, who did not understand who Jesus was, nor what he came to do. And thus fall into the trap of wanting to become first in the kingdom, elevating self, like the disciples. And if not first in the kingdom, special in the yes of the world. Doing all kinds of things in the name of Jesus, but having no power to effect real and lasting change to the glory fo God.
As we read again the Gospel for today below, spend time, I would recommend, thinking about the reality, the subtext of the story about God revealing himself to the world in Christ, that Jesus had to die before the disciples made sense of who he was and what he came to do. And that realization came only when “ power from on high “ came on them. At Pentecost! This subset of the story of revelation of Jesus came to mind:
Hard pressed on all sides but not crushed. Perplexed but not in despair. Persecuted but not abandoned. Struck down but not destroyed. From the famous passage in 2. Cor. 4. For we really have to “ carry around in our bodies the death of Christ, so that the life of Christ can be revealed us”. And in order to that, we must pass though all kinds of suffering.
Not like Christ! We can’t go there. But in the fashion of Christ. And in humility. So that we can truly, with power, and to the glory of God, and not self, serve suffering humanity. Wherever they are to found on earth. Whether at home or abroad !
Peace and in obedience.
LWJ
The Gospel
Mark 9:30-37
Jesus and his disciples passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again.” But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him.
Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest. He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.”
I pray God that he may renew the church beginning with those who look not for greatness but humble themselves in obedience to the suffering Son of God, even Christ Jesus; I pray to this God that he may renew the church with power from on high, so that the church may renew the nation(s) where humanity made in his image and likeness is suffering so much. In a pandemic and because of murder, and murder most foul. And injustice. And ….
SUNDAY AFTERNOON
Two more things. Further revelation as I drove to church. One, in the eyes and minds of some, it might have appeared that I left out the important issue of God’s love for mankind, which is the heart of the gospel. It was corrected in two other mail outs, and placed in the caption: The story of God’s love in Jesus Christ.
Two, it might also have appeared to some that God’s revelation about eternal life in heaven, merits the introduction of a third story. But the reality is that eternal life in Christ Jesus is a continuum, which begins right here on earth, and not something which only awaits us in heaven. All of which makes the importance of what happened on Calvary so critical to our understanding of who is this Triune God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Peace and in obedience to a reminder of the additional revelation which came on this Sunday. On a lockdown day when folks long to return to church to celebrate God’s goodness and mercy. Sad that we are all not allowed to especially at a time when we really need as a church to be in prayer for our nation. And Yes! I appreciate that we can pray outside the church, but what a joy to be in the house of the Lord, just praising his holy name.
LWJ
TUESDAY MORNING
The Gospel
Mark 9:38-50
John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. Whoever is not against us is for us. For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.
“If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell, where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched.
“For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
I spent some time trying to understand the essence of the message in the gospel reading for Sunday. Even went back to last week, and it is of importance, and looked ahead too. Sighed even, in a silent prayer to the Lord! The key, here after much logging to know, is to avoid being a stumbling block and causing others to stumble over you. As Christ has no special love for us in the Anglican Church, or in any church for that matter, who he has called to follow him, over anyone else. A mistaken thought which infiltrated the minds of the Jews, and provoked the disciples to enter into a discussion about who was the greatest! And the danger is that such thoughts are alive and present in the church today. A spirit of entitlement and exceptionalism! Very dangerous thoughts which the words of the famous hymn, “ saved a wretch like me”, ought to remove very quickly from our minds. And not only to follow him, but as Paul wrote with so much passion, “ that Christ may be formed in you”. Galatians 4:19 ! As this Christ being formed in you “ let this mind which was in Christ Jesus be also in you”, died for us, “ while we were still sinners”. His enemies!
It is in this context, of not being a stumbling block to anyone who has heard that Jesus saves, but has not yet become a disciple, not yet baptized, but deep in his or her heart, long to join the happy band, but is still living in sin, that we receive this message. That our lives ought to encourage and not condemn. That our lives ought set the right example of righteousness and humility, and be always be in pursuit of Justice, defending the poor and the vulnerable and the marginalized, lest if otherwise, we become “ traitors to Christ” and lead people to wonder what kind of Christianity we represent. That our lives ought to represent Christ and Him Crucified, willing to go the extra mile to bring back a sinner, according to the Epistle:
My brothers and sisters, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and is brought back by another, you should know that whoever brings back a sinner from wandering will save the sinner’s soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
And cause “ rejoicing in heaven”! In this context also, words from Ezekiel are a propos as they reveal to us something of the mind of Christ. From the beginning!
“The word of the Lord came to me: Mortal, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel: prophesy, and say to them—to the shepherds: Thus says the Lord God: Ah, you shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep? You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fatlings; but you do not feed the sheep. You have not strengthened the weak, you have not healed the sick, you have not bound up the injured, you have not brought back the strayed, you have not sought the lost, but with force and harshness you have ruled them. So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd; and scattered, they became food for all the wild animals. My sheep were scattered, they wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill; my sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth, with no one to search or seek for them. Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: As I live, says the Lord God, because my sheep have become a prey, and my sheep have become food for all the wild animals, since there was no shepherd; and because my shepherds have not searched for my sheep, but the shepherds have fed themselves, and have not fed my sheep; therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: Thus says the Lord God, I am against the shepherds; and I will demand my sheep at their hand, and put a stop to their feeding the sheep; no longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, so that they may not be food for them.”
Ezekiel 34:1-10 NRSV
A message for our leaders, in the wider church, no doubt, but also for anyone who is a disciple of Christ. A call for deep introspection on how we conduct ourselves as Christians, in a time of a Pandemic and at all times.
Peace and in obedience.
LWJ
Good Lord renew thy church beginning with those who have a humble and caring heart, for the lost and the wretched and the outcast; Lord renew thy church that the church may renew the nation(s) where people who are “ lost in sin” reside.
THURSDAY MORNING
“My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!”
Galatians 4:19-20 NIV
“Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to those he loves.”
Psalms 127:1-2 NIV
Yesterday, when I was led to spend some time in Psalm 127, and to reflect on the message for us as children of God in this time in the history of Jamaica, I was so convicted, that I called a friend. And in essence said this to him: We have to start over in this country, and the process has to be led by the church, and the process has to start in the church. For what is happening in Jamaica now, has not been built on the solid foundation – the chief cornerstone – of Christ Jesus. Perhaps you may wish to have a look at the Gleaner or the Observer this morning to understand what I was led to read and report on:
This is not the Jamaica that was built on the solid foundation of emancipation from slavery, the gift of free villages by the Baptist Church in the north, and the love and mercy of the Methodists in the south of the country. Thus creating the foundation for a society, comprised mostly of former slaves, being forever grateful to the God who not only set them free, but provided for them materially and socially. And so out that experience flowed the quest for justice and self government and caring for others, volunteerism, treating others with respect and love. The foundation for values and attitudes which characterized a once fairly peaceful nation. A kind of society that we can only dream about now, as upwards of 1000 murders are committed year after year. And our nation is populated with young people, most of whom would leave for another country in a heartbeat, if given an opportunity.
What the first Word above, to which I was led to contemplate on, repeatedly, over the past couple of weeks, reveals, is that the solution is spiritual, hence the need for the process of renewal to begin in the church, and to be led by the church.
Why! It is not manifestly clear and spread abroad in the kind of Christianity that is being practiced today, that Christ is the solid foundation of our faith. And that “ all other ground is sinking sand”. It is not spoken sufficiently loudly, and repeatedly, in the sanctuary and in the prayer meetings and fasting services and from the pulpit, that the goal of our faith is for “ Christ to be formed in us”. Or “ Christ in you the hope of glory”. And so we spend lots of time discipling people and praying “ in the name of Jesus “, and doing good in the name of Jesus, but not placing sufficient emphasis, with the kind of passion that Paul had, “ that Christ may be formed in you”.
The revelation continued as I spoke with my friend. A Baptist minister. A good and faithful servant of God. And discerning! During the conversation he called the name of another Baptist minister, as we agreed to continue to stay close to God, and listen to him, and trust him to guide us. A name which brought back memories of an email I wrote to another friend after the funeral service of his father. And in which missive, this issue of faith featured. For if Christ is being formed in us, daily, then our faith ought not to be a “ fingertip faith”, but rather a faith that moves mountains, in a time of a Pandemic and murder most foul, and …… This being just one example, and no more than this was revealed by the Lord, but surely our minds can think of so many other benefits of having “ Christ formed in us”
THE EMAIL
My friend: I know very well the reason why the Lord reminded me of this Psalm this morning.
It was the one that Burchell Taylor used as the basis for his sermon at your father’s funeral.
So in obedience I went back and read it just now and found great comfort.
I hope that it will be for a source of comfort also in these trying times.
The one thing I can recall, until now, about the sermon was Burchell’s exhortation not to use our faith in God to ‘ hang on by our fingertips’.
But rather to be reassured by our faith in an Almighty God.
Peace.
Lucien
You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. I cling to you; your right hand upholds me. Those who want to kill me will be destroyed; they will go down to the depths of the earth. They will be given over to the sword and become food for jackals. But the king will rejoice in God; all who swear by God will glory in him, while the mouths of liars will be silenced.
Psalm 63:1-11 NIV
http://bible.com/111/psa.63.1-11.NIV
I close this email in obedience with a meditation which came into my mind as I wrote above about “ fingertip faith”. One from Peter Marshall ( 1902 – 1949) who was introduced to me by June Spence – by the book “ A man called Peter” many years ago. A former Chaplain of the United States Senate 1947 – 1949. Taken from my Classics Devotional Bible
BY GODS GRACE IN OUR HELPLESSNESS
Peter Marshall
Verse: Judges 7:2 “ The Lord said to Gideon, you have too many men for me to deliver Midian into their hands. In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her……….”
We know, our Father, that at this desperate hour in world affairs, we need thee. We need thy strength, thy guidance, thy wisdom.
There are problems far greater than any wisdom of man can solve. What shall our leaders do in such a an hour?
May thy wisdom and thy power come upon the President fo the these United States, the Senators and Congressmen, to whom have been entrusted leadership. May the responsibility lie heavily on their hearts, until they are ready to acknowledge their helplessness and turn to thee.
Give them the honesty, the courage, and the moral integrity to confess that they don’t know what to do. Only then can they lead us as a nation beyond human wisdom to thee, who alone hast the answer.
Lead us to this high adventure. Remind us that a “ mighty fortress is our God” – not a hiding place where we can escape for an easy life, but rather an arsenal of courage and strength – the mightiest of all, who will march right beside us into the battle for righteousness and world brotherhood.
O our God, may we never recover from our feeling of helplessness and our need of thee! In the strong name of Jesus, our Lord, we pray. Amen.
FINAL COMMENTS
As I write all kinds of temptations come into my mind. Including sending this email to the Prime Minister and his cabinet and the Opposition. They may well read it in due course, but the instruction is clear; that this process of renewal, to build our country on the firm of foundation of the solid rock who is Christ, and doing so by accepting first for ourselves and then teaching others, that “ Christ is to be formed in you, the hope of glory” ( the combination of two verses) is to start with us and to be led by the church.
May the God of Jacob who placed these revelations in my head, and in my soul, and caused me to share, ensure that this message does not return to him void but achieve the purpose for which it was sent. May this Ancient of Days, renew his church beginning with those whose faith is built on a sure foundation, Christ our Lord; may this God of Sam Sharpe renew the church that the church may renew the nation(s) in this desperate hour in the history of mankind.
danielgodsurelywilldeliver 