What kind of God do we have?

We hear the stories

drifting out of the place of strife

of black garbed men

waving flags of war and hate

persecuting

killing

all in the name of their religion

and we are horrified

that “those muslims” could behave that way

killing Christians

killing each other

we are horrified

and righteously share our outrage

and yet how much violence

have people wrought in the name of God?

in Iraq, yes

and Iran and Afghanistan

but let it us not forget the centuries

of violence and death

in Israel

in Ireland

in Europe

In America

my Mennonite ancestors were driven from place to place

their lands stolen

their lives taken

by other Christians

can we forget the inquisition?

can we forget how Christians in America treated the first people

in America?

can we ignore the gay person in Africa

killed by Christians who consider them evil?

there is something wrong with our idea of God

if it leads us to violence and hate

we violate the very nature of the Sacred when we

exclude and destroy

I know that through the ages

people have framed God as an angry tribal King

who blesses those who are loved, and included in the tribe

and curses all other

in this world and the next

but if our God is for us

and not them

If our idea of the sacred puts a limit on

sacred love

if our idea of the divine

moves us to hate and violence

there is something wrong

with our idea of God

I believe in the Sacred One

who made the majestic peaks I love

who created the tapestry of flowers that bless the earth

who moves the birds to sing

a causes the fawn to dance through the grass

I believe in the God manifest

in a new born child

in lovers holding hands

in acts of compassion

and in forgiveness

can the God who made this world

the God who rejoices in children

the God who was most clearly present in this world

in the person of Jesus Christ

be the God of ISIS?

the God of those Christians who hate and exclude?

the God of those who preach hate, and live hate?

O Sacred one

reveal who you really are

in our hearts, in our lives

help us to be those

through whom your true nature

is revealed