Turn to the person in the pew nearby and say “I’m glad you are here!”
Pretty friendly bunch we have, eh?
But you know, in houses of worship all over the world, there are people who are not there.
Once again, we have seen the destruction of others by a self-appointed judge, jury, and executioner in a synagogue in California. Following the mandate in their head that Jews are bad, or in other cases, Muslims are bad, or Christians are bad, or Sikhs are bad (not realizing they are not Muslims), these terrorists choose to murder others, justified, they believe, by theologies or political manifestos or a personal sets of grievances that set them apart as the one to do what needs to be done.
They decide, on their own, and are for the moment, their own God.
Sometimes they have help. Sometimes there is a community of aggrieved fellow followers who wish them well, but in all cases what they do is maim and destroy God’s beloved children.
One of the challenges of following Jesus, for those of us who have chosen to do so, is this crazy idea that we are to think less of ourselves and more of others. That thinking stands directly in the way of taking other people’s lives.
We are now in a series of sermons that invite us to Love Boldly.
Filled with God’s love revealed to us in Jesus’ resurrection, we now live resurrection every day. And because of it, we love others with the kind of love Jesus did. Not just our friends and family and folks that all look like us, but we are actively engaged in loving others who don’t look at all like us!
Thinking less of ourselves and more of others is a natural consequence of being empowered by the Spirit, because God has invited us to care for and love all of God’s children.
We can and do live in a way that evidences our sure knowledge that death has been defeated in the empty tomb, and that God is working through us to change the world, to invite other to come follow him, and that together we can “make a difference”.
But… it does run counter to what is basic in human nature, the need, the desire to put ourselves first!
And one of the ways we do that is by judging others.
We judge their behavior, their look, their lifestyle, their worship, where they grew up, how much money they have, even sometimes whether Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts, or if they are really blue collar, maybe Tim Horton's. Just saying!
And judgmental-ism, to be clear, is a disease of the spirit! It is a clear indicator that something is deeply wrong with our understand of Jesus love and acceptance.
Pretty friendly bunch we have, eh?
But you know, in houses of worship all over the world, there are people who are not there.
Once again, we have seen the destruction of others by a self-appointed judge, jury, and executioner in a synagogue in California. Following the mandate in their head that Jews are bad, or in other cases, Muslims are bad, or Christians are bad, or Sikhs are bad (not realizing they are not Muslims), these terrorists choose to murder others, justified, they believe, by theologies or political manifestos or a personal sets of grievances that set them apart as the one to do what needs to be done.
They decide, on their own, and are for the moment, their own God.
Sometimes they have help. Sometimes there is a community of aggrieved fellow followers who wish them well, but in all cases what they do is maim and destroy God’s beloved children.
One of the challenges of following Jesus, for those of us who have chosen to do so, is this crazy idea that we are to think less of ourselves and more of others. That thinking stands directly in the way of taking other people’s lives.
We are now in a series of sermons that invite us to Love Boldly.
Filled with God’s love revealed to us in Jesus’ resurrection, we now live resurrection every day. And because of it, we love others with the kind of love Jesus did. Not just our friends and family and folks that all look like us, but we are actively engaged in loving others who don’t look at all like us!
Thinking less of ourselves and more of others is a natural consequence of being empowered by the Spirit, because God has invited us to care for and love all of God’s children.
We can and do live in a way that evidences our sure knowledge that death has been defeated in the empty tomb, and that God is working through us to change the world, to invite other to come follow him, and that together we can “make a difference”.
But… it does run counter to what is basic in human nature, the need, the desire to put ourselves first!
And one of the ways we do that is by judging others.
We judge their behavior, their look, their lifestyle, their worship, where they grew up, how much money they have, even sometimes whether Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts, or if they are really blue collar, maybe Tim Horton's. Just saying!
And judgmental-ism, to be clear, is a disease of the spirit! It is a clear indicator that something is deeply wrong with our understand of Jesus love and acceptance.
It happens when we assume a superiority that allows us to assess the failures, the mistakes, the inability of others!
I am right; therefore, you must be wrong. I am smart; therefore, you must be dumb. I am rich; therefore, you are poor. I am beloved by God; therefore, you cannot be unless you become more like me!
And it is only when we understand and apply the amazing mercy of God shown to us in relationship to our own lives - that God in his infinite mercy has loved us in spite of the fact that we are complete screw-ups - that we can let go of our desire to judge others and start caring boldly.
We are not better or more acceptable to God than our brothers and sisters, no matter how lost or confused or crazy they are.
I just spent time with my two crazy sisters last weekend. They are crazy! But I know that not only did Mom & Dad love them, and that I love them, but I know with absolute certainty that God’s loves them too.
The reality is we are not fit to judge others, we are incapable, unqualified, and not given that responsibility or even that option. What we are to do is care boldly!
We are to be discerning for sure.
We are not to join others in places and activities we know we should not as the followers of Christ, but remember, Jesus ate with tax collectors and sinners and was accused of being their (gasp) friends.
We should be found everywhere, bringing joy and love and the presence of God all over the place, a God who loved the world so much, that he sent his only son, so that everyone who puts their faith in him can and will have eternal life and never really die.
Judge not, lest you be judged. Just saying!
Amen.
I am right; therefore, you must be wrong. I am smart; therefore, you must be dumb. I am rich; therefore, you are poor. I am beloved by God; therefore, you cannot be unless you become more like me!
And it is only when we understand and apply the amazing mercy of God shown to us in relationship to our own lives - that God in his infinite mercy has loved us in spite of the fact that we are complete screw-ups - that we can let go of our desire to judge others and start caring boldly.
We are not better or more acceptable to God than our brothers and sisters, no matter how lost or confused or crazy they are.
I just spent time with my two crazy sisters last weekend. They are crazy! But I know that not only did Mom & Dad love them, and that I love them, but I know with absolute certainty that God’s loves them too.
The reality is we are not fit to judge others, we are incapable, unqualified, and not given that responsibility or even that option. What we are to do is care boldly!
We are to be discerning for sure.
We are not to join others in places and activities we know we should not as the followers of Christ, but remember, Jesus ate with tax collectors and sinners and was accused of being their (gasp) friends.
We should be found everywhere, bringing joy and love and the presence of God all over the place, a God who loved the world so much, that he sent his only son, so that everyone who puts their faith in him can and will have eternal life and never really die.
Judge not, lest you be judged. Just saying!
Amen.
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