“When I think of the collective suffering of my ancestors, my heart breaks! When I allow myself to face the depth of their pain, sorrow, terror, despair, and even death, I have to be reminded of Jesus’ choice to relinquish his power as God and choose to identify with the oppressed and marginalized by facing an unjust persecution on the cross.”
Sermon by Brinell Anderson at All Saints Church, Pasadena, 7:30 a.m., on Trinity Sunday, June 16, 2019.
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“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our LORD Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” Amen
When I was first looking over the lectionary and praying for which passages of scripture spoke to me, this scripture jumped out to me. It jumped out to me because it has been a passage that I have always hated to love. What do I mean by that? Well, if you live long enough, you begin to learn that out of suffering comes the opportunity to grow deeper as a person. So, for that, I loved the passage. However, you also realize that passages such as this one can be used to glorify, justify, and even excuse the reasons for suffering and then we become as Christians, people who present a faith of masochism and encourage a journey reflecting people with a Messiah complex. Well, I come today to say, the God of the universe, the God who uses the most painful situations in our lives, does not glory in that pain; however, that same God can bring glory from that pain.
So, you may wonder, what does she mean that God can bring glory from the pain but God does not glory in that pain? The scripture says “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our LORD Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God” The peace that I believe the Apostle Paul is speaking to is the peace that comes when we know that there is nothing, absolutely nothing, we can do that can earn God’s love. God’s love demonstrated through the life and example of Jesus shows us what we have often forgotten–which is: we were created in, by, and through love. That creation did not come from us but from the Creator from whom all blessings flow. So, when we were made, we were destined for a life that would be grounded in and out of love.
Now, some of us come from horrific collective, cultural traumas and it can be hard to believe that our destiny is one of love. The deep shame, the incessant humiliating encounters in a world that says every day and in every way that we are not enough,bombards us with messages which are counter to love. However, by faith we believe we are loved by God. No declaration about our personal or collective works gives us the peace we have with God, but it is peace that has been given freely, straight from the heart of God and demonstrated in the life and person of Jesus. God desires to set us right with Godself. And how God can set us right is not by some intellectual assent but by bringing us into the truth of the wide open spaces of God’s grace and glory. Imago Dei, we are created in the likeness and image of God! So we, like Christ, have an opportunity in this lifetime to know deeply that God wants to express Godself in and through the material and in order to do that, a part of us must die. Somebody say, “DIE!”
We must die to the lies that we have to earn God’s love. Somebody say, “DIE!”
We must die to the belief that we must demonstrate control and master others. Somebody say, “DIE!”
We must die to the lies that as Black people we are inferior to White people. Somebody say, “DIE!”
We must die to the lie that Whiteness is what shores up significance through access, status, and power. Somebody say, “DIE!”
We must die to the lie that negates our Beloved Blackness. Somebody say, “DIE!”
We must die to the lie that encapsulates White fragility. Somebody say, “DIE!”
We must die to the lie of being the parents of civilization when we are actually the children. Somebody say, “DIE!”
We must die to the lie of domination as the only way to be in relationship with others. Somebody say. “DIE!”
We must die to the lie that if we are neither Black nor White, we are exempt from the impact of White supremacy and anti-Blackness. Somebody say, “DIE!”
“The access by faith into the grace in which we now stand,” is access that says death must occur before grace can come forth. Like Jesus, we gotta face the cross. The cross for my people may look different than the cross for your people; but, as a collective and as persons, we all have a cross to bear.
Now, another reason I hated to love this passage is I often heard it exegeted without any cultural application nor an understanding of systemic oppression. When this passage says “And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings,” I have some strong feelings about it. My people, people of African-descent have suffered tremendously. Dr. Marimba Ani uses the Kiswahili word, the “Maafa” meaning a great disaster and destruction beyond human convention and comprehension, referring to the kidnapping, torture, and deaths of millions of African people for enslavement. Now, I can hold on to boasting in the hope of the glory of God because my people have always believed that God is the source of all of existence and our spiritual essence connects us with all of creation AND that’s worthy of “standing tall and shouting our praise!”
However, when Paul says we “also glory in our sufferings” I’m giving him the side eye! What in the world would lead Paul to say we are to glory in our suffering when our sufferings include kidnapping, rapes, subjugating treatment, whippings, branding, lynchings, mutilations, and many other physical, psychological and spiritual violations…)?
Terrie M. Williams in her book, Black Pain: It Just Looks Like We’re Not Hurting, says, “When I think of great leaders like Malcolm X, Harriett Tubman, WEB DuBois, and Sojourner Truth, I see men and women who grappled at times with feelings that look an awful lot like what we now call depression. These folks suffered, but that suffering enabled them to feel injustice acutely, to advocate for the defenseless, and to inspire others. Although I don’t believe in the mystique of the tortured artist—no one should have to suffer needlessly when there are alternatives—I think that suffering is one of life’s great equalizers. Suffering makes us human, tests our faith, strengthens our belief, and in an ironic twist, can give us the powerful will to hope and burning desire to give life meaning.”
When I think of the collective suffering of my ancestors, my heart breaks! When I allow myself to face the depth of their pain, sorrow, terror, despair, and even death, I have to be reminded of Jesus’ choice to relinquish his power as God and choose to identify with the oppressed and marginalized by facing an unjust persecution on the cross. Jesus’ choice to enter into and endure suffering by allowing something to happen to him that should not have happened, gives us a model for developing perseverance. It also gives us hope that we are not alone in facing the suffering that is inherent within the collective historical harms that have been committed and experienced in this known world. It is in the journey with one another where perseverance or endurance is developed, not because of answers we give, but because of loving and patient presence. As we are vulnerable with one another, we are reminded that we have an all-vulnerable God who is the Great Allower. As painful as it is when God allows tragedy and trauma to take place, we have the grace of God’s presence as God situates Godself in whatever the affliction entails…that’s what fellowshipping in our suffering means.
For those of us in the struggle for social justice and in standing against the many forms of White supremacy domination, how many times do we have to remind ourselves and fellow comrades that “passionate patience” can actually come from the suffering we are enduring? One way that perseverance is developed is by honestly sharing with others our confusions, our exhaustion, our doubts, our rage, and our despair. But perseverance also develops, as well as,by growing our capacity to hold space to listen more fully to others; to diminish our judgmentalism; to learn to connect with and bear witness to the aches in the hearts of others and to do so without forcing them out of the pain but, like Christ, entering into the pain and being in solidarity with one another’s pain.
Now, another reason this was a passage that I hated to love,it was often taught from an individualistic, Eurocentric lens. When I think of perseverance developing character, a quote from African-centered psychologist and scholar, Dr. Wade Nobles comes to mind. He says, “Character is the mark of something; it is that which signifies its distinctive quality…Character represents the complex of mental and ethical traits which mark a people.” Well, because of the Maafa, we have been intentionally disconnected from the rich history, heritage, and cultural traditions of people of African descent, the parents of humanity and civilization. So, when Dr. Nobles says, “Character represents the complex of mental and ethical traits which mark a people” we have to ask, “What is our mark as a people?” Now, for some who come from a people who are marked by greed, domination, subordination, excessive control, and a survival of the fittest worldview, your collective mark of character can generate much shame and humiliation. For some who come from a people marked by indignities, internalized oppression, and inferiority, your collective mark may also generate much shame and humiliation. HOWEVER, if we develop passionate patience, we will take the time to uncover some truth from within our suffering and that truth can develop character worthy of distinction.
In order to build character, we have to reclaim what has been hidden by the suffering. So, let’s take it back in history to an Ancient African worldview. Dr. Wade Nobles states that an Ancient African value was knowing that to be human was to have virtue. One’s virtue and personhood were inextricably tied. Within this worldview, one was expected to utilize that intrinsic value by making choices in alignment with the cardinal virtues of Ma’at. However, these choices were made within the context of a collective. Our ancestors in the ancient Nile Valley believed the goal of living was to outwardly manifest those seven cardinal virtues of Ma’at—truth, justice, righteousness/propriety, reciprocity, balance, order, and harmony. Our African ancestors knew how character was to be represented and that one could grow and transform into living a collective life where justice, righteousness, harmony, balance, propriety, and order were cultivated. From those seven cardinal virtues, our ancient Nile Valley ancestors wrote the 42 laws of Ma’at out of which the Ten Commandments were derived. Many of you may be stunned that the Ten Commandments were based on Ancient Kemetic spiritual beliefs. Well, they were! When I think of this African-centered belief that our collective personhood was not developed out of acquisition or control but from intrinsic virtue, I am reminded of those old sayings from our MaDears and elders which mark our people by being grounded in African cultural wisdom and virtue.
Sayings like:
“What’s done in the dark, will come to the light.”
“If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.”
“The fruit don’t fall too far from the tree.”
“If you ain’t part of the solution, you part of the problem.”
“I have eyes in the back of my head.”
“All that glitters ain’t gold.”
‘Beauty is only skin deep.”
“Blind in one eye and can’t see out the other.”
“Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.”
“Trying to be big; but, little gotcho behind.”
Now those sayings truly reflect: truth, justice, righteousness/propriety, reciprocity, balance, order, and harmony.
Earlier I emphasized that in bearing one anothers’ suffering, we can develop hope, or become “alert for whatever God will do next.” The Apostle Paul states, “And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” Now, recall that I said some of us have collective “marks” which may elicit shame. This scripture is an encouragement because as Eugene Peterson writes, “In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit.” I don’t know about you, but I want that kind of hope!
Hope that as we face the impact of suffering, not just within our personal lives but also within our community, the cross won’t have the final word.
Hope in a resurrected life that embodies justice.
Hope in a resurrected life that has deepened faith.
Hope in a resurrected life that lives into the seven cardinal virtues of Ma’at.
Hope in recognizing the essence of who we are in Spirit.
Hope in remembering that we are interconnected by Spirit.
Hope that the transformation and ascension of spirit that we are invited into even before we were born, will take place.
Hope that the love of God and the Ancestors who sent us here to do our work will bring that work to completion.
Hope that we can reach the truth of what the parents of humanity and civilization believed, “When you stand in the blessings of your mother and God, it matters not who stands against you (Yoruba proverb).”
As the Apostle Paul states, “We boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God”: God’s truth that we are created in God’s image—we are created by and in love and each of us personally and collectively are made to reflect God’s glory to one another.
Because of that hope, we will trust in God.
As the elders in my church used to declare in song, “I WILL TRUST IN THE LORD”
I will trust in the Lord (repeat 3x)
Until I die
I will trust in the Lord (repeat 3x)
REPEAT the VERSE
We will trust in God because:
God feels the infirmities of God’s Children.
God is close to the broken-hearted.
God fellowships in our suffering.
In our weakness, God’s strength is made perfect.
We can trust God, because God won’t forsake us.
We can trust God, because God loves us.
We can and we will trust God.
I’m going to treat everybody right (repeat 3x)
