This post is brought to you by the letter “D”.
I’ve been contemplating two specific “D” words: Discipleship and Discernment. My general comprehension of these words’ meanings is that discipleship refers to one who is engaged in accepting (having studied and sought understanding) and spreading the doctrines of another, and discernment refers to detecting with one’s senses in order to recognize or identify truth from untruth, right from wrong, etc.; it’s a skill that helps us fill in the blanks to make good choices and exercise wise and just judgement.
Then, having watched an old 2003 documentary about Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and a third “D” word (ok- “Dietrich” is a name, so I am not counting it.) -- “divided” came to mind—in relationship to the Christian church in his time, as it is now.
I have observed that, if the manifestation of the first two words, discipleship and discernment, are not encouraged in one’s house of worship, such a house of worship’s congregants render themselves vulnerable to their pulpit being infiltrated and commandeered by a political operative who will ally themselves, for the sake of self-preservation (of position) and political and financial expedience, to self-serving actors—a situation which would thereby compromise the true message of Word of God preached in that house.
The Word of God is often referred to as “the bread of life”. If it is used to promote an authoritarian, pharisaical agenda, its yeast is compromised—poisoned, and this recipe will produce spiritually sick individuals with souls drunken on that sweet, sweet brew of tribalistic self-righteous nationalism and all manner of fearful conspiracy theories. Ask Brother Bonhoeffer if humanity hasn’t suffered the heartbreak of having been there already.
Which brings me to my last “D” word. I hope, along with--I believe-- Brother Bonhoeffer, somewhere above in that cloud of witnesses, we are ultimately DONE with that. Sadly, however, I am observing otherwise.
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