With all the chatter about gay marriage and those for and against it, I thought it was time I stated my purpose as a child of God and how I might address such issues.
For me first and foremost I am a "Disciple of Jesus Christ" who is called to be a "Minister of Reconciliation." To that end I take the words of Jesus to heart which says that He did not come into the world to condemn it. He came to seek and save the lost, to heal the sick, to free the captive, to bind up the brokenhearted and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. His life on earth demonstrated God's love for sinners. Granted He didn't say continue sinning, but Christ came sharing about the Kingdom of God to those who the religious leaders had rejected. These leaders had turned faith in to a laborious task in keeping all the minutia of The Law. These men demanded things of people that God had not intended. Jesus hung out with tax collectors drunkards, the unclean and even prostitutes. He didn't do it to say they should stay that way, but he came to call them back to God. The people who didn't like Christ were the super religious who thought they had the answer to all the world's ills and didn't approve of Jesus methods.
Yes I know that Jesus, like John before him, preached "Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand." I think that this is meant for all those who knew they were sinning and just needed a push to admit it and turn from it. But others are trapped in their sin. They may be deceived into thinking what they are doing is not all that wrong; that is really isn't sin. Or they believe that they cannot give up their way of life, for reasons such as addiction, brokenness or fear of a life without their sin.
Jesus hung out with sinners, isn't that what I should do? Not to take up their habits, but to show them that God still loves them. To demonstrate that they are not hopeless, but if fact it is God's desire to forgive them, heal them and bring them into the Kingdom of God/Heaven. I am further encouraged by the words of the Apostle Paul who said that he became all things to all men that he might save a few. I don't think he meant he should enter into the sin of those he was reaching out to, but he worked to understand the culture that they came from and found common ground to talk about the things of God. So if I am going to speak to people, like Republicans, Democrats, Tea Party members, conservatives, liberals and moderates, then I have to work to find some common ground; to find out where they are coming from. I don't agree with all the positions of any of these people, but I am willing to talk to them about God's love for them. I will even talk to atheists and homosexuals - not to beat them over the head with my rhetoric, but to demonstrate the reality of God's love that is at work in me.
When the Apostle Paul talked on Mars Hill he didn't attack the Greeks for their obvious idolatry and sexual sins (temple prostitutes and such), rather he found common ground to talk about his love for the God of the Universe. Not everyone agreed with him, but that was okay, he made inroads into the culture. Like Paul we need to find ways to talk to (not down to) materialists, liberals, conservatives, tattooed and pierced folks in such a way that shows that God is alive and at work in us. They don't need our finger waving in their faces. I believe there is a place for correction, but I believe it should be mainly confined to the church, but even still done out of love and not out of anger, hatred or self-righteousness.
When I received my call to serve God it was from 2 Timothy 4 staring in the 2nd verse. Part of the calling deals with correcting, rebuking and encouraging people with careful instruction because the time is coming (and I believe it is already here) when people will not listen to sound doctrine but will gather around them people who tell them what they want to hear. They are not interested in the truth, they only want to hear that they are right. So I am cautious to try to not just tell people what they want to hear, but I really try to exercise my gifts tempered by God's love (1 Cor. 13). My temperament is such that I work hard to give the other person the benefit of the doubt where possible. I know the human heart is darkened by all kinds of wrong desires, like the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life. Some people are not easily dissuaded from their chosen paths. They know what they want and they are just so sure of themselves. Sometimes you just have to shake off the dust and move on. But I believe God has given me this outlet here in my blog to touch peoples heart with bit of God's love.
I am a realist and I don't expect everyone to agree with me, but I am also pragmatic in that I am willing to enter into a conversation with anyone who is willing to share and willing to listen. I know what I believe and I don't see myself giving up what I know to be true. But I am willing to enter into a discussion with someone who may not agree with me. Some people just want to label me as a religious nut or a homophobe, but really do you think I will listen to you and give you any credit if all you do is attack my belief system. I have already done the "I don't trust religious people or God" thing. I think I might actually understand some of your reasons for being an atheist, agnostic doubter.
I see my job as someone who encourages Christians to work on their relationship with God, to cultivate fruit of the Spirit (Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Generosity, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-control NRSV) and to demonstrate the tangible love of God - in other words become a good disciple of Christ. I realize that the body calls for all kinds of gifts and talents so some of you may not have the same approach as me. I take the words of Jesus to heart where is says "Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God." I am here to help reconcile people to God. and God has not given me a big stick to do so but rather a merciful temperament. I see my self reaching out to both Christians and those who don't like Christians working to bring peace, reconciliation and love.
So regardless of which side of the fence you are on, I will continue to both reach out and to share my insights. I have a calling to answer to so I will not always say what you want to hear, but I will say what I believe that the Spirit of God is revealing to me.
Blessings,
Preacher Al
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