I went to REVOLUTIONARY BIBLE STUDY yesterday…which is so unlike me.  In fact, I haven’t gone to church regularly in years.  After 12 long and devout years of Catholic school, confirmation retreats, alter serving, and lectering I finally decided that church wasn’t for me.  I was 18 years old at the time and it was the first time that my family wasn’t FORCING me to go to mass, which was a relief because I could finally sleep in on Sundays.  When I started college and began to “see the world,” I realized that my faith traditions and my growing political beliefs were often in contradiction with each other.  I made a conscious effort not be part of an institution that I felt had a long history of oppressing poor folks, women, lgbtq folks, and other marginalized communities.

Eight years later I find myself lost in translation, and still looking for a higher purpose.  Sometimes, I find myself feeling numb and disconnected spiritually- while academically, professionally, politically, and socially i feel stronger than ever.  I think one reason I stepped away from the church is because I have family and friends who tell me that my political activities are a waist of time, that things will never change, and that the best we can do is “pray.”  I disagreed with this, and thus conflated “The Church” with conservatives and fundamentalists who are more likely to maintain the status quo- then actually follow the revolutionary teachings of Jesus.  But I think I was wrong…and that I have underestimated that there are progressive people- even among those who still keep the “faith.”

Though I don’t think I am going to be a “Church-goer” anytime soon, i do find value in the fundamental teachings of different churches.  I realize that my involvement in community-organizing, Anakbayan, and the movement were based off of things I learned in Catholic school.  They were based off of years of personal reflection and my real-life experiences learning the difference between what is “right” and what is “wrong.”  I don’t want to go to church just because its a tradition, or because I like that “tingly feeling” you get on the back of your neck when you kneel and pray.  I want to be spiritual because I truly believe that “faith” is synonymous with “justice.”  That as a Filipino progressive, an Anthropologist, and a community-organizer I still recognize that the Church and Revolution can go hand-in-hand.

The Pastor who led the Revolutionary bible study yesterday said to me that for centuries the Bible and Christianity has been co-opted by the ruling elite and the powerful in order to oppress people, convince them that they should accept their “fate,” and not  fight  back against an unjust system.  But when you read the “Gospel” you see that even Jesus fought against the ruling elite (Pharisees), integrated with the masses ( ate with prostitutes, tax collectors), criticized capitalism and exploitation (chastised the money-changers/vendors at the Temple), and even healed the sick (need for socialized & universal healthcare).  I doubt that I will be going around preaching the Gospel any time soon, but i want to reach out to my family and friends who are religious, yet resistant to my community work.  I want them to know that the Church and its teachings are still in line with my activism, and that my spirituality/morality is still my inspiration for serving the people.  Like the good ol’ Pastor said, “In the past, Faith has been used as a tool to subjugate the people, but Faith can also be used as a tool for liberating people as well.”  

Makibaka, Huwag Matakot!

-Kommunity X