CLENCHING FIST

OR

OPEN HAND

IDENTITIES ARE

FORMED BY Stories.

SOME promote violence.

SOME PROMOTE PEACE.

WHICH KIND DO WE LIVE BY?

We can discern at least 6 stories that seem to “rule the world”:DominationRevolutionPurification/ScapegoatingCompetitionIsolationVictimization/Self-preservation

They are evident in the Gospels:

-Domination - Romans, Sadducees, Herodians-Revolution - Zealots-Purification/Scapegoating - Pharisees* -Competition - Wealthy Judeans-Isolation - Essenes-Victimization/Self-preservation - Poor Galileans, sinners, lepers, outcasts

*as depicted in Gospels

CLENCHING-FIST NARRATIVES TYPICALLY DIRECT HUMAN SOCIETIES:

1.THE DOMINATION STORY: PEACE AND SECURITY THROUGH BEING IN CONTROL

“If only we were in charge!” (Empire)

2. THE REVOLUTION STORY: PEACE AND SECURITY THROUGH VIOLENT OVERTHROW OF OPPRESSORS.

“If only THEY weren’t in control!” (Revenge)

3. THE PURIFICATION STORY: PEACE AND SECURITY THROUGH NAMING, BLAMING, SHAMING, AND EXCLUDING A DANGEROUS MINORITY.

“If only THOSE PEOPLE would change - or disappear.”(If only a minority would change.) (Scapegoating/Genocide)

4. THE COMPETITION STORY: PEACE AND SECURITY THROUGH MONEY & POWER IN A COMPETITIVE ECONOMY.

“If only we could buy, enjoy, and stockpile what we desire.”

(Economic Advantage)

5. THE ISOLATION STORY: PEACE AND SECURITY THROUGH SEPARATING FROM THE CORRUPT, DOOMED MAJORITY.

“If only we could be left alone to be ourselves by ourselves.”

(Elite/elect remnant)

6. THE VICTIMIZATION/SELF-PRESERVATION STORY: PRESERVING OURSELVES BY PRESERVING THE MEMORY OF INJUSTICE & SUFFERING.

“If only our oppressors would be brought to justice.” (If only the majority would

change.)

We could call these “stories of the clenching fist...”

Conflict narrativesWarrior narrativesConflict narrativesSword narratives

Domination: Us over them

Revolution: Us versus them

Purification: Us versus some of us

Competition: Us competing with them.

Isolation: Us away from them

Victimization: Us in spite of them

DOMINATION PURIFICATION

COMPETITION

SELF-PRESERVATION

REVOLUTIONISOLATION

DOMINATION PURIFICATION

COMPETITION

SELF-PRESERVATION

REVOLUTIONISOLATION

CONFLICT!

Our religions can proclaim an alternate story - one Jesus called:

the good news

of the kingdom* of God.

[*reign, commonwealth, dream, dance, economy, ecosystem, movement, beloved

community, network, etc]

A story of the open hand ...

Gardener narrativePeacemaking narrativePlowshare/Pruning hook narrative

The good news of the kingdom of God

-called people to repentance (paradigm shift/ radical

rethinking),

- a new way of life,

-a new identity

Clenching Fist StoriesDomination: Us over them

Revolution: Us versus them

Purification: Us versus some of us

Self-preservation: Us in spite of them

Isolation: Us away from them

Competition: Us competing with them.

An Open-Hand Narrative of Creation/Liberation/Reconciliation

NOT Domination: Service, Neighborliness

NOT Revolution: Reconciliation

NOT Purification: Welcome/Hospitality/Inclusion

NOT Competition: Generosity, Self-Giving

NOT Self-preservation: Pursuit of common good

NOT Isolation: Incarnation ... Penetration ... Identification

DOMINATION PURIFICATION

COMPETITION

SELF-PRESERVATION

REVOLUTIONISOLATION

NEW CREATION/ RECONCILIATION LIBERATION

DOMINATION PURIFICATION

COMPETITION

SELF-PRESERVATION

REVOLUTIONISOLATION

NEW CREATION/ RECONCILIATION LIBERATION

Hypocrisy:Religions can intentionally or

accidentally baptize, support, legitimize, and camouflage the six clenched-fist stories.

They can cover up a wolf-ish message in sheep’s language.

Will we defect from the stories of the clenching fist?

Domination: Us over them.

Revolution: Us versus them.

Purification: Us versus some of us.

Self-preservation: Us in spite of them.

Isolation: Us away from them

Competition: Us competing with them.

Will we embody the story of the open hand:

Service: Some of us for all of us.

Reconciliation: Us reconciling with them.

Inclusion: Us welcoming them to the table

Empowerment: Us working for the common good with them.

Incarnation: Us as neighbors in solidarity with them

Sacrifice: Us risking and giving on behalf of them

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What doctrinal rethinking will be required?

What liturgical reformulation will be necessary?

What missional renewal will be essential?

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Ivan Illich (Austrian former priest,

philosopher, social critic, 1926-2002)

Neither revolution nor reformation can ultimately change a society, rather you must tell a new powerful tale, one so persuasive that it sweeps away the old myths and becomes the preferred story …

… one so inclusive that it gathers all the bits of our past and our present into a coherent whole, one that even shines some light into the future so that we can take the next step…. If you want to change a society, then you have to tell an alternative story.

- attributed to Ivan Illich (Austrian former priest, philosopher, social critic, 1926-2002)

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