FOR THE LOVE OF GOD

Sermon by Trip Reynolds

I find myself preaching today’s sermon because my father, Rev. Dr. Everett S. Reynolds, recently had a dream about me doing so. Outside of my immediate family very few people know me, and given that I don’t socialize with anyone, or attend any church on a regular basis, and that I’m not a minister like my father, younger brother, grandfather, grand-uncle, great-grandfather, or great-great grandfather, or great-great-great grandfather this event of “preaching” probably comes as a surprise to you – and me. Plus, this event comes as a major surprise to my immediate family because, as they know, my religious beliefs are not aligned with the majority of people. To put it directly, I’ve spent most of my life as an agnostic – meaning that I don’t necessarily agree or disagree in the existence of God. Given the aforementioned, it clearly makes sense for me to tell you what it means to live your life FOR THE LOVE OF GOD.

Many years ago my Dad told me, “Trip, it’s not that you don’t believe or disbelieve in God, your problem is that you don’t accept what “man” is telling you about God. You believe in God, you just don’t accept the thousands of conflicting and inconsistent religious interpretations that almighty “man” is telling you about God.” My Dad, who’s the wisest man I know, was and is 100% correct. I cannot accept what I consider to be religious, political and sexual rhetoric generated by the Abrahamic religions such as Christianity (with includes Catholics, Quakers, Mormons, Baptists, Methodists, Protestants, Lutherans, Church of God In Christ, Jehovah Witnesses, etc.) and other Abrahamic religions such as Islam, Judaism, Bahai Faith; and let’s not forget Indian religions (such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism), and Japanese religions (Shinto, Tenrikyo, Church of World Messianity, Seicho-no-le), Cao Dai (Vietnamese), Cheondoism (Korean), Wicca, Rastafari, Unitarian and the countless thousands or millions of Folk religions from around the world that do not consistently act FOR THE LOVE OF GOD.

From my perspective, instead of embracing the simplicity of God’s message, which at it’s core simply means that we should LOVE ONE ANOTHER, man in his ultimate wisdom decided to dissect and reinterpret and fight over God’s intent for us. Both the Quran and the Bible state that we are all equal in God’s eyes. Therefore, if we are to be compliant with God’s message, then why have and do people who say they believe in God actively enslave, oppress, rape, and kill each other? I don’t get it?? I’ve never, ever done well with inconsistency. I’ve spent most of my life as an agnostic because I don’t trust - man. Period. I can’t trust people – or any religious belief that champion people who intentionally lie, steal, rape and kill FOR THE LOVE OF GOD.

It’s seems to me that God, who clearly must know everything, understands my dilemma: at no point in my life was I raised to hate anyone, and I see absolutely no value in hating or killing anyone, but throughout my life I’ve consistently been encouraged, nurtured, and if drafted, I would be forced to do things that are completely against my “non-religious” principles. Yes, if I have to, I’ll protect myself, and members of my family, and even innocent strangers - but why should I have to? Oh, I’m told, we’re told, if you don’t kill them, they will kill you. People that I don’t know or hate want to kill me FOR THE LOVE OF GOD? What have they been reading? Oh yeah, the Bible, the Quran? Good books, yes. So, why are people doing so many atrocious things FOR THE LOVE OF GOD? Am I missing something? And no, I’m not sitting on a highly exalted horse judging anyone. What ever happened to unequivocal common sense??

Let me put it more directly, if you’re discriminating against women and minorities, if you’re preventing poor people from supporting themselves, if you’re denying health care to people because they don’t have the money to pay for overtly inflated medical insurance, if you’re oppressing the intellect and potential of people just so that you can retain your pious position of authority, if you’re destroying the natural habitat of innocent animals just to make room for the stupidity of human overpopulation - then you’re not acting FOR THE LOVE OF GOD. Get a clue, God doesn’t care how many houses you own, or how many cars you drive, or how much money you’ve got. You’d think, or we’d hope, we humans would learn from our history, but we don’t. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, why don’t we learn from our own mistakes?

Prior to watching White people beating Black people on nationally broadcast evening new programs I really didn't know that White people hated Black people so much, and I never understood why White people hated Black people so much. Back in 1963, I routinely watched the evening news with Walter Cronkite, Chet Huntley, and David Brinkley show video footage of Black people being beaten by police, Black people attacked by police dogs, Black homes being burned, Black churches being burned, Black people lynched. Why? Why? Why? What did we do???

Prior to 1964, the majority of states throughout the United States of America prohibited Black people from attending schools located in predominately White neighborhoods (where the “Christians” lived). I vividly remember seeing those "WHITE ONLY" bathrooms, "WHITE ONLY" water drinking fountains, "WHITE ONLY" hotels, etc. We were also prohibited from leasing apartments (which happened to me in Chicago) or purchasing homes, attending colleges (I was prohited from attending graduate school at Northern Illinois University because of my race), applying for certain kinds of employment and even using public toilets - which were owned, controlled, and managed by "Christians." In 1964 the U.S. Congress passed the Civil Rights Act that made it illegal to discriminate against Black people - or any person - because of their race. I wrote the following poem as I prepared as one of a handful of Black students to attend a previously all White school, Murdock Elementary, in Wichita, Kansas. I was nine-(9) years old.

I ASK YOU WHY?

Why in this world of today
Must men fight and kill for play?
Why in this time and place,
Must men hate and destroy grace?
Why do Black and White men fight,
Knowing that its just not right?
Man, who is said to be superior
Compared to animals he's inferior!
Animals of different colors get along,
So why can't man - who's said to be strong?
Is this world such a bad place
That men hate their own race?
Why do teenagers rebel and hate,
Take pot and put their lives at stake?
Why is there a thirst for power...
Black, White, equality shower!
What's the use of cursing names,
Nigger, pecker, they're all the same!
When did the world start this turmoil,
Replacing love with lusts of hate?
Why is sex a desire of play
Practiced by the youth of today?
When will the world get back on its feet,
And replace the hate with a righteous beat?
I ask you...why?

© 1963 Trip Reynolds  

It wasn't until decades later, well after my father was "strategically" re-assigned from Lincoln, Nebraska to Wichita, Kansas that I became aware of my father's work in civil rights in Nebraska, which was a key reason the White-owned, White-controlled United Methodist Church re-assigned my father from Nebraska to Kansas. Note the following photo.

Even after being relocated to Kansas, my father continued his commitment to civil rights and equality for all people FOR THE LOVE OF GOD. Fifty-six-(56) years later I don't have to search for answers to my poem, "I ASK YOU WHY," because I've acquired an adult understanding to the dynamics of humanity. With this understanding I sincerely believe we have a greater potential to achieve fantastic benefits to humanity than to succumb to the atrocities of terrorists and fanatics. My father and mother have always guided me, and instructed me, and my brothers, to do good things. We don’t see any reason to intentionally hurt people.

Everett, my older brother, will give-up all of his money to anybody (which he's done many time at his own peril). Yes, he is just that nice. Oh, he’s a little crazy sometimes, but he’s a do-gooder of the first order. Wayne, Dr. Reynolds, my younger brother, is so wonderfully gregarious and willing to meet and talk and minister with anyone. And me, yeah, I’m the introvert. Most importantly, the three of us, at any time, no matter where we are, will do anything our parents ask. We love and respect our parents’ as should all children. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD Shirley and Everett raised three sons, giving us their unconditional love and respect. We have three distinct personalities, but the three of us know, that FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, we must do what’s right, and despite our human frailties, we must avoid doing what’s wrong.

There was a sign on my mother’s credenza when we lived in Lincoln, Nebraska (from 1956 to 1963), and at our houses in Wichita, Kansas (from 1963 to 1971). It is a very simple message, which I’ve never forgotten, and neither have my brothers:

God is first.

Others are second.

I am third.

He was a slave. He was a slave. Get it?	Even after the Civil War ended in 1865, his two brothers were sold into slavery and he NEVER saw him again. Consequently, he hated White people, but loved the Lord.	White people in Shreveport, Louisiana felt he was making too much money as a pastor and undertaker who also drove a new car, so they broke his leg, and ran him out of town. He moved north, and later sent for his family.	In the early 1930s, he awoke his family in the middle of the night because White people were burning all Black people out of their homes in Carthage, Missouri	Awaked by his father in the middle of the night because White people were burning the homes of Black people, so his family left Carthage, Missouri. Later, at seven-(7) years of age, in St. Louis, Missouri he was refused medical treatment from a "WHITE ONLY" hospital for a severely damaged out-of-socket left eye. He was blind in his left eye for the remainder of his life.

Nevertheless, despite horrendous treatment by people who alleged to be Christian, these Reverend Reynolds devoted their ministry FOR THE LOVE OF GOD. When you’re raised to act FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, frankly, you really don’t care to do things that are unfair or unjust to anybody - anybody, because it . . . well, it hurts. I mean it, it hurts emotionally and physically. As unemotional as I often appear to people, even I have disdain for unfair or unjust treatment to anyone, anywhere. Hey, it’s just not right, call it “Bad Karma.” We’ve got a little dog, our family dog, Cassey [a tiny, little eight-(8) pound poodle], and it would hurt me emotionally and physically if I or if anyone did anything to hurt her. Cassey is so . . . innocent. Why should, how could anyone hurt the innocent FOR THE LOVE OF GOD?

When I was growing-up in the turbulent 1960’s I encountered so many people and things that left a permanent impression on my inner core. People said so many powerful things that, when I think about them even now, I sometimes cry because of the intensity of the words, the intensity of the thoughts, such as the “I Have A Dream Speech” by Martin Luther King. In this regard, there’s another speech from 1968 that also made an indelible impression on me, and hopefully, it might inspire you to think outside of your “comfort zone” to act decisively FOR THE LOVE OF GOD. After the assassination of Robert Kennedy, his younger brother Edward Kennedy said:

Like it or not, we live in times of danger and uncertainty. That is the way he lived, that is what he leaves us. My brother need not be idealized, or enlarged in death beyond what he was in life, to be remembered simply as a good and decent man, who saw wrong and tried to right it, saw suffering and tried to heal it, saw war and tried to stop it.

Those of us who loved him, and who take him to his rest today, pray that what he was, to us, and what he wished for others, will some day come to pass for all the world.

As he said many times, in many parts of this nation, to those he touched, and who sought to touch him, "Some men see things as they are and say, "Why?" I dream things that never were, and way, "Why not?"

In tribute to Senator Robert F. Kennedy

by Senator Edward M. Kennedy
St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York City, 
June 8, 1968

I ASK YOU WHY: WHY CAN’T WE ALL LIVE TOGETHER IN PEACE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD?

There are good people, great people like you, that’s right - just like you - all around the world. People who love their parents and brothers and sisters and uncles and aunts and grandparents just like I do – just like you do. So, shouldn’t our love for each other dictate how we act FOR THE LOVE OF GOD? There are people, like you, who simply want to live in peace, be treated fairly, take care of their families, work hard and smart, and have some fun from time to time. That’s all. That’s all I want to do. Unfortunately, and it happens far too often, the good people get trampled on by those who do not act FOR THE LOVE OF GOD.

Some men see things as they are and say, "Why?"
I dream things that never were, and say, "Why Not?"

Those are Edward Kennedy’s words but, frankly, those words sound so much like something my father would say or has said. Like Robert Kennedy, my father thinks outside-of-the-box too, which is a strength I get from him. In order to conquer life’s challenges, in order to act FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, if necessary, sometimes you need to think outside of the box too. Or, you can stay inside the box by embracing the simplicity of God’s ultimate message - that we should LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

So, it should go without saying but I’ll say it anyway, that I married my ex-wife because of her unique personality but NOT because she’s White. Isn’t that very “Christian” of me, to simply accept someone, and to love someone solely because of whom they are? Again, what a novel Christian concept! Does this kind of acceptance apply to Lefler’s congregation? Absolutely! The entire Reynolds’ family has always felt accepted at Lefler United Methodist Church. Frankly, metro Omaha should take notice that, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, people worship at Lefler without pretense, without being uppity. As my Dad would say, “There are just some real good folk at Lefler, and that’s good!”

In 1971, in the aftermath of the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King, an unbelievably powerful and poignant recording was released by radio personality Tom Clay. Clay skillfully combined two outstanding songs, "What The World Needs Now Is Love" by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, and "Abraham, Martin and John" by Dick Holler into a single masterpiece. His song begins (again) simply enough with the following dialogue between Reverend Edward D. Wrobleski and two little girls, Jennifer Landis and Jill Weinberger.

Rev. Wrobleski: What is segregation? Girl: I don't know what seggeration is. Rev. Wrobleski: Ah, what is bigotry? Girl: I don't know what bigory is. Rev. Wrobleski: What does…ah…hatred mean? Girl: I don't know what it is. Rev. Wrobleski: Ah, what is…ah…prejudice? Girl: Um, I think it's when somebody's sick.

"What The World Needs Now Is Love/Abraham, Martin and John" (Single Version) by Tom Clay Music by Burt Bacharach, Lyrics by Hal David UMG/Motown; Warner Chappell, PEDL, ASCAP, BMG and other Music Rights Societies

God doesn’t want his people sick, does he?

"LOVE doesn't know color, but HATE sure does!"

Today’s sermon is not about what I dislike about religion, its not about me. Today’s sermon is about what it means to live your life FOR THE LOVE OF GOD. We can all become better people, and frankly, we should if we actually believe in doing things FOR THE LOVE OF GOD. Which brings me back to what my wise father told me, remember, he said that I actually believe in God. Of course, he’s right.

In the absolute best email I ever received from my Dad, on January 18, 2005 he told me:

Hello:

Well, let me tell you about my religious position, for as you have said, the church, including the United Methodist, Baptist, Catholic and all others are racist in practice though not in belief. Oh if we could all live by the teaching of scripture and treat each other as brothers and sisters. But as I read history, it has never been, so why believe. Well, I believe that there is a God who made the world and everything that is in it and that God gave humankind the right of free will of choice, thus we choose what we will. Some chose good and some chose evil, while other go back and forth from good to evil depending on the situation and circumstances. I accept the basic teaching of scripture as the best guide for living and try very hard to live it and teach it in both my word, acts and deeds.

I know that this is not always easy, but still I am committed to it. An integral part of this belief is rooted and grounded in myself. I really believe in ME, and that I have a personal relationship with GOD, through Jesus Christ. This is why when folk talk to me about religion I do NOT debate the issue, it is none of their business why I believe to the extent that I have to defend my beliefs. If they want to believe great, and if they do not, great for again, what I believe is my business.

Secondly, I believe that when one believes in themselves, supported by the belief in a higher power or a greater being or force than themselves, they have added strength and power to live buy. For me, that high power and strength is GOD, made known through Jesus Christ. It is out of this belief that I see most churches and so called Christians, politicians - republicans and demonocrates, which is based in a large part on the Christian teaching, as false and halfhearted. I see only a few that I respect that are really trying to live buy the teaching of scripture. The real fact of the matter is not what anybody else believes or how they live, but what I believe and what I do. I believe I am accountable for my life, what I say and what I do every moment of every day, in every way, where ever, to whom ever no matter what the circumstances.

Lastly, this belief give me personal strength to handle every situation I have faced in life. There are no disappointments, no regrets, and no apologies, for I have done my best in what every situation I find myself in. O sometimes I fall short of the mark and evil fail by other folks standards and even sometimes by my own standards, but when that occurs, I just pick my self up and keep going, for I believe I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me. I AM ME. I AM JUST WHAT GOD MEANT ME TO BE. MY LOOKS, MY HAIR, MY GIFTS AND GRACES ARE ALL DIRECTED BY THE GOD WHO IS THE BEGINNING AND THE END OF MY LIFE. I PREACH IT, I LIVE IT. Now these folk who are hung up on sexual pleasure with the same sex, radical beliefs and misguided concepts of group relationship called politics, have to answer for themselves, I just treat them all the same, and that is from the position of truth. No favorites, no specials and that is why I speak out clearly and distinctly for and/or against any person or position, based upon my understanding of the WORD.

Well, that's my sermon for tonight. A MEN

Talk to you later;

Love ye DAD

So, in summary, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, we should all try (shouldn't we?) to be more God-like . . . to do unto others as you would have them to do unto you. Hum, that really shouldn’t be all that difficult, should it? Especially, if you’re doing it FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!

POSTSCRIPT: I wrote this "sermon" a few weeks before my father's death in July 2011. One can only hope "things" might change for the better. One can only hope . . . right?