They endorse mean-spirited and divisive politicians and engender mean-spirited attitudes toward those in need of the church’s love. Just as in the first century, today we have church leaders who are enamored with earthly political forces at odds with the church’s mission of love.
Jesus was seen as a rock-the-boat figure and a threat to their position of privilege. In the first century, the high priest was appointed by a Roman governor and the council was eager to appease their Roman overlords. What I venture to say is that we will not hear them say that when they think of the church, they think of how much we love one another or how much we love the world.
What is her message? What is her character?Ĭhances are solid that if they do have something good to say it will be because they perceive some secular cause with which they themselves are aligned. I would challenge you to ask your non-church-going friends to describe what they think of the church. This is such a great description of where many find themselves in the 21st century church. Because they “strain out a gnat and swallow a camel”. Because they washed the outside of the cup and left the inside dirty. Why? Because they got lost in the minutiae of the Law and neglected justice, mercy, and faith. In Matthew 23:23-25, Jesus chews out some religious leaders. This love that shows up in the little things (like footwashing in the first century), helping the needy like the Samaritan, and loving our brothers and sisters in Christ, is modeled on how God loves everyone!!! everyone in the WHOLE WORLD!!! “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” But it is easy to gloss over John 3:16 as just a sign that is held up at sports events or child’s memory verse. When we have such a visceral response to evils perpetrated around, it is easier to believe that there is a just God that will call those evils to account. It is easier to believe in the Creator-God, because the heavens and the earth declare God’s glory. The Good News that we, the church, are to share with the world is born of a verse that, if we give a moment’s reflection, is extraordinarily revolutionary. In addition to the mundane foot washing and the heroic self-sacrifice there is the parable of the Good Samaritan who saw a stranger in need and went out of his way (and gave out of his pocket) to meet that need. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you.” 13 No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. Later in the same gospel, John reports Jesus as saying, “ 12 ‘This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Before Jesus utters these words, he demonstrates them by taking a towel and bowl of water then brushing their dirty, smelly feet.ģ4 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. The Gospel reading for this coming Sunday is from John 13:34-35 (New Revised Common Lectionary).
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