pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: inclusion


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What God Has Done

Reading: Psalm 22:19-31

Psalm 22:22 – “I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters; I will praise you in the very center of the congregation.”

Photo credit: Robert Linder

Returning to Psalm 22 today we pick up on the desperate tone that dominated yesterday’s verses. David invites God, his strength, to come quickly and to help and deliver him. He pleas for rescue from the dogs, lion, and wild oxen that surrounded and threatened him. At the end of verse 21, though, there is a shift: “you have answered me!”

In verses 22-31 David offers a hymn of praise. In verse 22 David writes, “I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters; I will praise you in the very center of the congregation.” God’s rescue and restoration are worthy of his praise and worship. In the New Testament, in Hebrews 2:12, the author claims these words for Jesus. Jesus’ life and ministry declared who and what God was and is. His “work” was done in Israel, then center of God’s people.

David also sees a widening of the circle in verse 29. Here he declares that both the rich and powerful and the lowly and downtrodden will worship and kneel together before God. The inclusion of all peoples is a theme begun by Jesus and expands as the church moves out into the world. As the Psalm concludes, David looks to the future. He foresees a time when future generations will learn of the Lord. From Jesus’ life and example people will declare God’s righteousness, “telling them what God has done.” This is the sharing of the good news. As it was for the disciples and apostles, may it be for you and for me as we share our faith.

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for the rescue from those things that surround and assail us too. Thank you for your answers to our pleas. Lead us to declare what you have done. Guide us to speak of the rescues and transformations that you have worked in our lives again and again. Each day use us to witness to your love and grace. Amen.


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A Regular Practice

Reading: Isaiah 56:1, 3-5, 7-8

Isaiah 56:1 – “Act justly and do what is righteous because my salvation is coming soon.”

The opening of Isaiah 56 is about keeping the Sabbath. The idea of Sabbath originates in the creation story. After creating the heavens, the earth, and everything in and on them, God rested. When God began to formalize who and what God’s people would be, the practice of Sabbath was included in the Ten Commandments. During the time in exile and the period that followed, the keeping of the Sabbath was especially important. It set the Jews apart from the rest of the world. To be Sabbath-keepers remains counter-cultural.

In today’s reading Isaiah is reminding Israel that Sabbath is not just for the Jews. The idea of including immigrants and servants has been a part of Sabbath ever since Moses received what we identify as Exodus 20:8-11. Animals and the earth itself are part of Sabbath rest. Isaiah includes the eunuchs and other outcasts in his words that declare that God’s family and home are places of welcome and inclusion for all people who honor the covenant, who live according to God’s will and ways.

As I reflect on these words today I am struck by how wide open God’s heart is for all who seek to walk as a child of God. I’m also becoming aware that Sabbath is aimed at creating a just world. Rest is part of God’s design for all things – people and all of creation. This concept of rest and shalom, of blessing and renewal also reveals the wideness of God’s love for all people and for all of creation. It is in these times of not doing that we can foster our relationships with God and with one another. This investment of time builds connection and it builds community. May Sabbath be a regular practice for you and for me as we seek to build God’s kingdom here and now.

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for the gift of Sabbath. This time set apart has the power to deepen our love for you and our love for each other. Open us to the wideness of your heart and your love as we practice this discipline. Lead and guide us in this regular practice, O God, so that holiness and justice, and peace and righteousness abound in our lives and in our world. Amen.


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Life or Death?

Reading: Romans 8:1-11

Verse 6: “The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.”

Photo credit: James A. Molnar

Turning to our Epistle reading today and tomorrow, Paul writes about “Life in the Spirit.” He begins with an important truth: there is no condemnation for those who believe in Jesus Christ. Yes, we still sin. But – thanks be to God – our sin does not have the final word. Christ’s love and grace and mercy has the final word. And it has already been spoken. Because of his death and resurrection, one day Jesus will “give life to your mortal bodies” as all who believe in Jesus will join him eternally.

In our passage Paul juxtaposes the will of the flesh and the will of the Spirit. In Paul’s actual words and in his way of thinking, “flesh” is our fallen human condition. It is our proclivity to sin. It is our tendency to idolatry – both to the things of this world and to self. It is not the physical body. These words and others like them have been misused to judge and enslave and marginalize those who were not white males. Sadly this continues to be some people’s reality today. Prayers for us to all see all people as equally beloved by God.

To help us move away from this harmful, destructive, distorted viewpoint, let us turn to verse 6. Here we read, “The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.” This verse places the battle between sin and life squarely in our minds. It removes the physical and emotional and places the battle solely in the spiritual realm. The mind controls our words, thoughts, actions, and inactions. We make choices. Sin or God? Love or hate? Welcome or exclusion? Life or death?

Prayer: Lord God, raise up and give strength to the will of the Spirit in my life. In your love, help me to die to self and to the sin it so easily leads to. Day by day, occupy more and more of my mind, more of my heart. Amen.


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Loved, Welcomed, Chosen

Reading: Ephesians 2: 11-22

Verse 22: “In Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by the Spirit”.

All of the early builders of the church had to work through age-old divisions and lines. The Jews, the chosen people of God, looked at all others as not chosen. It was like all other people were like that last kid that always gets picked last for any and all pick-up games. The Jews’ understanding of themselves as the chosen people led to a pretty isolated mindset. They did not intermarry, they did not adopt anything from another culture. ‘Just stay in our own little group’ was the thought. For any of us who were routinely picked last or who often found ourselves on the outside of the “in” crowd, we can relate to those who lived outside of the Jewish faith.

Saul was a Jew. He was proud of his position as a Pharisee. He was an ardent follower of the Law. He would have been seen as aloof and arrogant by most people. But then he met Jesus. Then he became Paul. Instead of saying you are not one of us, Paul preached that all are welcome. Instead of saying one must know and follow all of these laws, Paul preached that one must know Jesus. Paul was a radical shift from the norm. When he preached the message that, “In Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by the Spirit”. It was like saying to the one always picked last or to the outsider always looking in, you are invited, you are worthy, you are a part of us – we love you.

It was a message of love and inclusion and acceptance. But to those hearing it, there was hesitation. Is this for real? Is this some trick? Am I really wanted, really acceptable? Could God really love me? Some today see Christians as snobby, hypocritical, judgmental, hateful, isolated. We too may encounter doubting and questioning. We too may encoubter people who question our motivation. We too may encounter people who question their worthiness. For one and all, may our message be just like Paul’s: in Jesus Christ, you are loved. In Jesus Christ, you too are welcome. In Jesus Christ, you too are chosen. May we persist through the barriers, loving all as Jesus loves them. Amen.


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Living His Life

Reading: Luke 14: 1 and 7-14

Today’s passage is about welcome, inclusion, and openness.  It is about these things for us and for those we invite to the table.  God’s table is a place for conversation, compromise, and acceptance.  It is a place for all to come and experience God’s love, grace, and presence.

For all, being welcome is key.  In love we need to create tables and spaces where all people feel welcome.  Each must be able to come as they are and to be comfortable in that.  We need to be comfortable with any that come too.  We cannot limit who is welcome in any way.  To do so is to remove God’s love.  We cannot do this.  All, through God’s love, are welcome.

Once each feels welcome, they gain voice and place at the table.  The sense of being included brings the freedom to be open and honest and transparent.  This can be scary because it makes the table a place for frank and often difficult conversations.  It can open our eyes to needs we never knew existed.  It can place upon our hearts convictions about the need for change and to corrects injustices.

Once the conversation has started, we begin to see each other as the same and as brothers and sisters in Christ.  The openness of the experience will lead us to compromise and to a willingness to give of self.  As God works in our hearts, we are led to be more accepting.  We see less and less our differences and grow to see more and more that we are much the same.  As we come to see God in others, we see their true value.  In humility we gain an understanding that we are not the most important thing in the world.

Once we understand that all are beloved children of God, we are forever changed.  We live life with an open heart and mind.  We are willing to enter into a conversation and relationship with any and all.  We are willing to walk with those who suffer so that we can bring relief.  We are willing to give of ourselves in service to others.  This approach to life may sound familiar.  It is how Jesus lived and how He calls us to live.  May it be so.