Ash Wednesday and the Tyranny of Approval
by Jesse Steven Wheeler
Some religious leaders and social activists flock to power and influence like moths to a flame. You find them at Oval Office photo ops and national prayer breakfasts, on talk-radio shows and satellite television, or standing beside various world dictators. These are often the champions of imperial religion, of which Christian Nationalism and Christian Zionism are prime examples. For others, the primary temptation is approval or professional respect. These can be found in seminary or university halls and writing for erudite periodicals, or recording their latest podcast and virtue signaling on social media. Each, however, runs the serious risk of “institutional capture,” of perpetuating or becoming tools of the powers and systems that they perhaps once sought to influence. And, it can seriously impact their ability to stand up for justice and truth, especially if their "own side" happens to be in power.
Enter the cross.
Today is Ash Wednesday and marks, in accordance with western tradition, the first day of Lent. So much more than just a month of material deprivation, the Lenten season represents an intentional attempt to refocus our energies, ambitions, and attention upon the cross of Christ. It is a recognition that Jesus lived his whole life in light of the cross and an invitation for us to do the same. So, in this season of introspection and sacrifice, we recognize that the cross is indicative not of a one-and-done transaction but of an embodied, cruciform way of life—enacted over the next 40 days via “the three pillars” of the Lent: almsgiving, prayer, and fasting.
As it happens, the lectionary readings for today are from Matthew 6:1-6;16-18:
“Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues [or churches, by implication] and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
"When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
[. . .]
“And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you."
Many of us live and die for the approval or respect of others. As we obsess over how we look through the eyes of others, we forget to see ourselves through the eyes of God. And in response, our public lives begin to resemble a performance. In seeking status or saving face, thousands of decisions are made each day in the service of crafting a public persona, from the clothes we wear and the cars we drive to the careers we pursue and the causes we champion. Politics is all about performance. Even our spiritual life becomes a performance. Consequently, a schism develops between our inner, private selves and our publicly cultivated personas. While some seek adoration and the social power that comes with it, others live with the pain of failing to live up to the illusory projections of others.
Meanwhile, there are those who would manipulate our insecurities for their own personal, social, financial, or political gain. This is done through the promotion of conspicuous consumption; cultish notions of identity, purpose, and belonging; xenophobic militarism; dehumanizing institutional and corporate cultures; ideological loyalty tests; or even promises of spiritual power and divine blessing. Recently, our friends at Voices from the Holy Land [VFHL] hosted a screening of the film “Till Kingdom Come,” powerfully highlighting this dynamic and the deeply manipulative practices and ideologies through which Christian Zionist charities raise funds for settler-colonial expansion. I was also privileged to see a screening of the remarkable upcoming film “Israelism,” exploring similar dynamics from within the American Jewish community. Both films come highly recommended.
However, finding rest within God’s approving gaze and the blessed assurance of Christ’s unending love and unmerited grace provides for us the psychosocial security required to live as whole, integral persons. And, as persons of integrity, we can resist the tyranny of approval and the corrupting influences of those powers and systems that would seek to capture or silence us for their own destructive ends.
This is where social change and social justice require personal integrity, and often why our leaders so often fail us. Are we willing to stand for what’s right, at the possible cost of friends, family, career opportunities, funding, or even our very freedom? Are we able to withstand spurious accusations of disloyalty, radicalism, or even antisemitism in our commitment to truth and justice? The high-profile examples of Kenneth Roth, James Cavallaro, Stephen Sizer, and even Ilhan Omar come to mind, but so too do those brave souls who everyday refuse to abide by anti-boycott laws at great personal cost, as does the remarkable example of Muhammad Halabi. (I can only hope to ever be so brave.)
Like the prophets before him, it was Jesus’ commitment to truth that would ultimately cost him his life at the hands of a corrupt religio-political establishment eager not to rock the imperial Roman boat. During this Lenten season, we look toward the cross of Christ and the cruciform way of life he embodied. God, grant us the courage and integrity to follow his example.
Adapted from: Wheeler, Jesse Steven. Serving a Crucified King: Meditations on Faith, Politics, and the Unyielding Pursuit of God’s Reign. Resource Publications. 2021.
FOSNA News
Visit To Ramon Prison and Mohammed el-Halabi
Today I visited Mohammed El-Halabi at his prison in the Negev desert. The prison is near Matspe Ramon, in the wilderness where rams roam freely.
Halabi wants to thank all those who have supported him and believed his story from the very beginning. He asked me to assure all of you that not only is he totally innocent but that he has been involved in humanitarian work since his youth, when he worked with Youth for Peace. He continues to work against violence and believes he is being punished precisely because of this.
Halabi related to me that Israel offered him freedom, as well as a scholarship to study for his PhD abroad and a job with the UN, if only he would confess that World Vision is antisemitic or if he provided a secret testimony against OXFAM and Catholic Relief Services. But, he refused. It was clear to him that the Israeli interrogators wanted material to use against foreign NGO’s involved in humanitarian work among Palestinians, but he was unwilling to provide it as it would undermine their work in Gaza and Palestine entirely.
He determined to use his time in prison wisely and started to give the other prisoners courses in all subjects he was good at: Leadership, Strategic Planning, Management, and even Negotiating skills and strategies. He also used the knowledge of other prisoners to start an MA program in Political Science, manging over the years to help graduate (by working with other universities) the first group of 30 MA students from Abu Dis University. He is now working with a second cohort of 30 prisoners.
Halabi firmly believes in nonviolence and humanitarian work. His biggest worry is the support for his family and ensuring that they receive a good education, since World Vision suspended his salary after he was arrested for fear that they be accused of "supporting terrorism." This is a tragedy, since his whole imprisonment is the result of refusing to undermine their work by taking the easy way out and confessing falsely that their money was being diverted for illegal purposes (a charge disproven by their own audit and investigations.)
Halabi also told me amazing things about his trial, which his own lawyer (Maher Hanna, from my Jerusalem law office) was prohibited from telling me, as it is secret. I will be writing about this separately. Suffice it to say, there is nothing about the trial that justifies secrecy other than fear of embarrassment that the evidence of the state is so thin as to be laughable. Halabi is truly a hero and humanitarian, and he wanted me to pass on to you his gratitude.
His appeal will be heard in May, but Amnesty International is about to mount a campaign for his release. I hope this stubborn humanitarian will be able to join his family and enjoy the freedom now seen by these rams.
Follow along with Jonathan's journey and his reflections on the current climate on the ground by reading his entries, starting from here.
Samia and Shadi Khoury
Today I met with Shadi Khouri and his grandmother Samia at his home in Beit Hanina, a suburb of Jerusalem.
They had just received the good news that the prosecutor dropped her opposition to his returning to school, receiving his permit to do so. On Feb. 20, the court had permitted all defendants to go back to school, but the prosecutor objected to this in the case of Shadi alone and appealed the decision. Today, she dropped her appeal and gave permission to allow Shadi to return to school. He needs to be accompanied by one of his guarantors, to and from school, and return directly to his home where one of the guarantors is required to stay with him at all times until his trial.
His trial is set for March 1 and May 17.
According to Shadi, the entire case against him rests on the forced testimony of one of the other defendants, who said that Shadi participated in a demonstration and “drummed up” on a settlers’ car with his palms. No stone throwing or any other charges were even alleged, just participation in “disturbing the peace.” According to Shadi, the police and interrogators were particularly upset that he refused to confess, despite the beatings, and wanted to “throw the book at him.”
Shadi expressed his gratitude for all those who prayed for and worked on his behalf. He is hopeful that this nightmare may soon be over. He seemed to be in good spirits, if a bit subdued, and every bit as young as I expected him to be. Just a teenager.
Take Action!
Support Emergency Response Efforts for Earthquake Victims
(MERATH) Two powerful earthquakes struck near Turkey’s border with Syria on February 6, 2023. Many buildings have collapsed, thousands of people are dead or missing, and even more are left without shelter right during a winter storm. We have church partners in many cities across affected parts of Syria. They are devastated, but ready and willing to help. We are currently receiving donations to support their emergency response.
Tell Congress: Biden must end U.S. support for Israeli war crimes
(JVP Action) Washington sends Israel $3.8 billion in military funding every single year, with no oversight, and the Biden administration and Congress refuse to take even the most basic steps for transparency. The U.S. shields Israel from accountability internationally, undermining investigations and even criticism.
As we organize to build power, we must keep demanding an end to U.S. complicity in Israeli apartheid and war crimes. Email your Congress members today via this digital action from JVP Action.
Get Involved!
We invite you to join us in the following events and activities:
March 5: Online
Join our online book discussion of Protecting Human Rights in Occupied Palestine: Working Through the United Nations by UN Rapporteurs John Dugard, Michael Lynk, and Richard A. Falk, with a foreword by Francesca Albanese, on March 5th via Zoom.
Panelists include:
Francesca Albanese - International lawyer, academic, and current United Nations Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories since 2022
Richard A. Falk - Professor Emeritus of International Law at Princeton University and former UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the occupied Palestinian Territories
Jonathan Kuttab - Executive Director of FOSNA, international human rights attorney, co-founder of the Palestinian human rights group Al-Haq and co-founder of Nonviolence International
Michael Lynk - Author, Associate Professor of Law at Western University, former UN Special Rapporteur for Palestinian territories
March 18: Pittsburgh
Fasting for Peace and in Palestine: Valley View / ICP Event
This year, Lent and Ramadan overlap for two weeks. We are seeking a deeper unity among our faith communities in prayer and action and encourage others to do the same.
Our national organizer Pastor Chad Collins is working together with chair of the board at the Islamic Center of Pgh (ICP), brother Mizanoor Biswas, and former board member and friend to FOSNA brother Ahmed Arafat to get the Muslim and Christian communities together united in a time of fasting and prayer for our Palestinian sisters and brothers, as they face the reality of Israeli apartheid each day and the lack of religious freedom that comes with it.
As many of you know, Palestinian Christians and Muslims are given very limited access to their own holy places, for example Al Aqsa and The Church of the Holy Sepulchre / Church of the Resurrection. And as you can imagine, it is very difficult for them to fast, while living under constant threat of violence from Israel.
On Saturday, March 18th at 5:30pm, we will have a small discussion / dialogue at Valley View on the challenges Christians and Muslims face living under Israeli apartheid and we will feast and fellowship together.
Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center, Jerusalem:
Weekly
Sabeel Prayer Service. Join Sabeel every Thursday (6pm Jerusalem) for online Bible Study, discussion, and prayer. Examine scripture in light of the ongoing realities confronting the Palestinian Church and the pursuit of Palestinian liberation.
This week's topic will be “Ash Wednesday” and it will be conducted by the Rev. Dr. Stephen Sizer!
Wave of Prayer. Subscribe to receive Sabeel's Wave of Prayer, enabling friends of Sabeel around the world to pray over issues of critical concern to the Holy Land on a weekly basis.
Kumi Now! (Week 8) Settlements and Violence. This week, as Palestinians mark the date of the Ibrahimi Mosque massacre on February 25, the Kumi Now community is focusing on Israeli settlements. Palestinians in the occupied territory face loss of lands and resources, violence, discrimination, and other injustices due to the encroachment of these settlements that are illegal under international law. Here’s what you need to know and what you can do so that together we can rise up.