When Love Grows Cold

The lectionary readings for September 28 include a familiar text: 1 Corinthians 12:12-31, where Paul reminds us that the body of Christ is inherently, necessarily diverse. With uncompromising language, Paul emphasizes that Christian unity is not based on uniformity, but in fact is healthy because differences are recognized as necessary for a community’s wholeness. No one can be excluded from the Body. In fact, those who may have more power, prestige or privilege need to note that in God’s realm, the focus radically shifts:

“But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.” (1 Corinthians 12: 24-26)

I think this scripture ought to be read and meditated on by every delegate to General Conference. Actually, it should be read by every United Methodist as we approach the special General Conference.

There are voices who are seeking to limit who is in and who is out of the Body of Christ. There are some who would rather leave the denomination if we follow the lead of all mainline denominations in the United States and include lgbtq persons in the life and ministry of the church. John Wesley had stern words for those seeking to break relationship (and thereby the body of Christ) with others: 

“It is evil in itself. To separate ourselves from a body of living Christian, with whom we were before united, is a grievous breach of the law of love. It is the nature of love to unite us together; and the greater the love, the stricter the union. And while this continues in its strength, nothing can divide those whom love has united. It is only when our love grows cold, that we can think of separating from our brethren. And this is certainly the case with any who willingly separate from their Christian brethren.” John Wesley On Schism

Has our love grown cold, church?

In a world that is torn by divisions of race, class, ethnicity, political persuasions, sexual orientations, gender identities, and more, the Church of Jesus Christ ought to provide a vital and living witness that diversity need not divide but can and should be celebrated. We ought to bring hope in these fractured times, as we reach across our differences in love.

I am praying for not only for our denomination, but every local church where there is brokenness. May the fire of the Holy Spirit burn in our churches, lighting the flame of Love in each of us. May it open our eyes and hearts to recognize the image of God in others, even in those we disagree with. We each are created as a beautiful and blessed child of God. Where there is tension because of differences, may we lean more fully in love toward one another.

May we be surprised by what God does through Love.

Reflections During a Government Shut-Down

I have been reflecting on the early church and its commitment to generosity. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit enabled walls of division to fall between people. Folks were so amazed and wanted to know what was happening. Peter tells them about Jesus and his saving work and thousands were baptized into the faith.

The new converts learned of the ways of Jesus from the apostles and joined together in the “breaking of bread and prayers.” They grew as the body of Christ, with a sense of family and community that was so strong that “they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people.” (Acts 2: 45-47)

It is time, dear church, for us to reclaim our heritage and this early zeal for the welfare of all people. The United State government shut down is in its 29th day. One quarter of the federal government is closed, and 800,000 individuals are furloughed or working without pay. These are fathers and mothers, primary providers of their family. These are young people, struggling to make ends meet as they begin their careers. These are people who don’t know how they are going to pay their rent or mortgage this month, who might have to choose between putting food on the table or keeping a roof over their heads.

These are our neighbors. These are God’s children and therefore our siblings.

What is God calling us to do?

This is a moment for you and me to remember the life to which we are called as disciples of Jesus: our love of God should be made plain as we love and care for our neighbors. It is time for us to step up and check in on people who have been impacted by the shutdown. It is time for us to gather our riches and share what we have with those who are suffering. It is time for us to prepare a banquet in our fellowship halls and invite our neighbors in.

The founder of Methodism, John Wesley, invites us to a generous expression of faith: “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”

May each of our 378 churches throughout the Mountain Sky Conference take John Wesley’s counsel to heart, as we reach out into our communities in life-giving, life-saving ways.

Remember Your Baptism and Be Thankful

I love the Gospel story of Jesus’ baptism—that time when he came before John at the Jordan River. John lowered Jesus into the murky waters and when Jesus broke the water’s surface, the Holy Spirit came down and the voice of God was heard, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Through God’s love and affirmation, Jesus began his earthly ministry, teaching, healing, calling people to a life grounded in love. 

We, too, are met at the font with love, claimed as God’s beloved children. We spend our whole lives growing into who God sees us as. 

This is not always comfortable or comforting. While baptism reminds us that there is nothing, nothing we need to do to earn God’s love, it is offered to us freely and abundantly because we are God’s heirs, the tough part is living out this baptismal truth. 

It is hard remembering who, and whose we are.

You have been claimed as God’s beloved. You can choose to remember, remember who you are and live out this truth in every moment, in every breath, or you can forget, forget who and whose you are.

Remember your baptism--remember when God chose you;

Remember your baptism--remember when you chose God;

Remember your baptism--when the transforming, transfiguring power of God was manifest in your life;

Remember your baptism--when Christ claimed you and personally introduced you to God as if for the first time: "This is my sibling... I am well-pleased with them and am sending them out with a mission in the world."

Remember your baptism and be thankful,

Be thankful that you are now connected to one another through Christ, not friendships or community but through the life, death and resurrection of Christ.

Be thankful--even when you forget the promises you make to God, God remembers God's promise to you,

Be thankful--through baptism you have been given the greatest power of all--the power of the Holy Spirit.

Be thankful--there is nothing you can do to have God break relationship with you.

Remember your baptism and be thankful. 

Hope of The World

Epiphany is the day we celebrate the Magi, bringing gifts to the baby Jesus, recognizing that God’s gift in Christ was meant for everyone.

It is a day of celebration and joy. I like that it always occurs in the very beginning of a new year. It helps me ground myself in hope as I face the unknown possibilities and challenges offered in the days, weeks and months to come.

Are you hopeful as we face the new year?

In his book Agents of Hope: A Pastoral Psychology, Donald Capps says that the primary task of the pastor is to offer hope. For Capps, the threats to hope are despair, apathy and shame. These burdens we carry dash hope and cause the lights within us to dim.

How will you help those around you face into their despair to see glimmers of possibilities? How will you help people shake off apathy and move to engagement? How can you help others heal from whatever shame they carry so they can claim their self-worth?

Hope is an essential element of a human being fully human. Through hope, we see that the past doesn’t have to dictate our future. Through hope, we know that another’s damaging judgement about our worthiness cannot dim the light of God that shines within us. Through hope, we can face whatever challenges us.

This is one reason why I love Epiphany. As John’s Gospel reminds us, the true light, which enlightens everyone, has come into the world. The Hope of the World is with us! May we, like the Magi, find this One who brings us Hope.