Romans
5: 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still
sinners, Christ died for us.
Truly, I am not a good Christian. And this is not false humility, as far as I
can muster real humility, it is an understanding of a life of faith, or at
least my life of faith. In reconciling
my fallen nature, the glory of God, my family, my work, my obligations to my
community, and my participation in the body of Christ I will always come up
short. And perhaps the complacency of
recognizing this is in and of itself a sin.
Personally I know my sins. I eat too much, I lust after women, I am
greedy, and lazy. I am often cranky and
rude, often vulgar, and really not a poster child for the redeemed. I tend to repent of those sins of anger and
violence; I would include fantasies of smacking someone across the back of the
head as being violent. I am less
repentant of my sins of gluttony, lustfulness and laziness.
I also know my righteousness. Let me pause by saying that as I talk of
knowing, I mean to the best of my ability.
I also tend to agree with Martin Luther, that “every good work is a
sin.” It is not that I am without grace
and Fruits of the Spirit, but as St. Paul points out even my faith is a gift
from God.
It is this nature of my faith, my
uncertainty, that does not allow me to close the church doors to my queer
brother or sister or anyone else. In
fact, it is this aspect of my faith that insists that the doors be kept
open. It is not up to me to decide who
comes in and who doesn't. And if I decide that this person can't come in, who is next?
Those verses where homosexuality is discussed always includes other sins. Always. I believe the point of this is to remind us that none of us belong to the Church based on our own merit. That we all fall short of the Glory of God.
I also believe that we called to have a new world view, not one of seeing what is broken, what is wrong, and what should change. I believe we are called to see what each other has to offer the world. That we are called to see whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.
An acquaintance of mine could be considered
greedy. He earns the kinds of money that
we talk about when we talk about winning the lottery. Yet, in his wealth he is also one of the more
wonderful people I know, who is generous, kind and truly interested in those
around him – compassionate.
The church gossip, the one who makes the
coffee and sets the chairs, not in the church I go to these days, is one of
those that helps others feel welcome in the church. Could it be that his gossip is nothing more
than his sharing his concerns regarding others?
And even I manage to make a contribution to
the church and the community around me.
So what do I believe?
Galatians
5:14 & 15 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command:
“Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out
or you will be destroyed by each other.
That we should stop advertizing that
certain people are not welcome in the body of Christ before they even show up.
That our church should have open doors and
no other agenda than to help each other walk closer to God. That in our time together that we support
each other to allow God to realize his glory in each of us as he sees fit. That we carry on the conversation of how do I
live out a life of faith in my fallen nature.
I believe that I should be mindful of those
around me and to take my freedom cautiously, so as not to cause others to
stumble.
I think I need to give up the idea that
your expression of faith needs to look like my expression of faith.
I believe that we are all doing our best.
Philippians
1:6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it
on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
I believe that I should trust in God that
he will complete his good work in you as he will in me.
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