"Make sure no outsider who now follows
God ever has occasion to say, ‘God put me in second-class. I don’t really
belong.’ … And as for those outsiders who now follow me, working for me, loving
my name and wanting to be my servants – I’ll bring them to my holy mountain and
give them joy in my house of prayer. They’ll be welcome to worship the same as
the ‘insiders.’ Oh yes, my house of worship will be known as a house of prayer
for all people.” The Decree of the Master, God himself, who gathers in the
exiles of Israel.” Isaiah 56:3, 6-8 (MSG)
Why
some insist on picking and choosing scripture that excludes, rejects, condemns
and promotes intolerance, I don’t understand. My personal experience of the
Good Book is mostly messages of Love, Forgiveness, Acceptance…
Especially
if we call ourselves Christians, proclaiming to follow Jesus – who himself said
the most important commandments were Love God with everything in you and Love
People, too (See Matt. 22:34-40), not to mention he constantly broke religious
laws, healed people on the Sabbath, threw a fit and turned over tables in the
temple, hung out with the dregs of society and railed against the Pharisees and
Sadducees who were so rigid in their rules and traditions, intolerant and
unaccepting of those who didn’t think like them (See Matthew, Mark, Luke, John)
– it seems we send a conflicting message when we pluck certain condemning scriptures
and judge others by them.
As a
greater part of my church is in conflict and we strive to discern God’s will
nationally, regionally and as parishes and individuals, my constant prayer is
for Jesus to be present, that we remember to keep Christ in Christianity.
I
praise and give thanks for my own church family, especially as I see those in
leadership working hard to keep us moving in the right direction, following God’s
will, remaining as bearers of the Good News with our doors, arms and hearts
open to all.
“As for me and my family, we’ll worship
God.” Josh. 24:15 (MSG)
If
you feel rejected, excluded, unloved, or if you’ve turned away from God,
Christianity or religion because you feel it has turned away from you, come to
my house. Come see God’s love alive and present in my church.* We will welcome
you and love you as the Child of God you are.
And
if you can’t come to my church, I pray God will lead you to one like it. I’ve
been blessed to experience many churches like my own in my travels – I know
they exist and are waiting for you. Just ask God to take you there.
Today
and all days, I lift up my greater church, all of us who find a home in it, and
for Christians everywhere – I pray we keep Christ in Christianity and let his
message, God’s message of Love, be that which takes priority above all others.
Amen!
=D
*If
you are in the greater Charleston, SC area and looking for a church home, feel
free to contact me.
