The Real Word of God

My congregation is very fortunate. Last year we lost our long-time pastor and shortly after, our associate pastor, but in their place, we acquired an interim pastor who is a Biblical scholar.

I have taken advantage of his knowledge to ask a few very tough questions. Some were expected answers and others were quite provocative. Some answers, he suggested, are better left to non-speculation because we really have no specific direction. I'm okay with that. Someday, I'll know.

But one thing stood out for me in one of his recent sermons - the word of God. Many people believe  it's the Bible, but our Biblical scholar supports that it is Jesus Christ himself. So much of the Old Testament was contradicted by Jesus (no animal sacrifices, no profound rituals, no cursing of generations for the sins of the parent, etc.), and a new introduction to God was given - one of love and compassion.

Our previous pastor had mentioned there is one big difference between Christianity and other religions. It is relationship. Of the major religions in the world, only one offers a true relationship with God, and one which parallels that of child and parent. It's Christianity.

While all religions purport to teach love, Christianity resonates with me. I love the enlightenment of what Jesus brought to humanity. You won't find hate in the New Testament, and it drives me crazy when other Christians try to speak for God and cite the OT to support their tunnel views on various matters. Besides, I don't think being zealous and shouting words at people will gain the converts they hope to acquire. Examples of outward peace and light, however, "speaks" volumes.

Although I have read the Bible through several times, this will most likely be the last time for the OT which I'm currently reading. I think it's important to know what was taught when Jesus came into this world, but now I want to focus on what he brought with him in thought and deed. There are many good things in the OT (I know because I cited some of them in my book, Simple Things to Make This World a Better Place), but I want to now attend only to what I believe is the updated word of God.

I'm personally glad that there are different religions because we each need and seek something different on a path to finding and allowing God in our lives. For me, it's Christianity because Jesus introduced and provided a way to a God of love, and one to whom I can have a personal relationship. For non-Christians who also love God but seek another path, well that is one of those things about which our Biblical scholar has suggested might be best not to speculate. And I'm okay with that, too.

A Little Miracle

A miracle of sorts happened today. I call it a miracle because it was an unexpected break-through.

A homeless man, who often attended my church more than a year ago, returned to church today. As usual, he took residence in the front pew on the opposite side of where I sit. In the past, he never conversed or made eye contact with anyone other than the pastor. He always left before the passing of the peace and communion, and I suspect it might have had something to do with embarrassment when the offering occurs.

As I was reading the bulletin this morning, I didn’t notice his arrival until I heard a voice from across the aisle. He began asking about our new pastor and even shared that he just saw his four grandchildren for the first time – two boys and two girls who reside in Wisconsin. I also learned that, just like me, he was a Lawrence native. In our discourse, we exchanged last names and I told him that it was good to see him return to our church.

I noticed that friends who came to talk with me before the service completely ignored his presence. I think the only one who spoke with him was the pastor who always sits in the first pew for quiet preparation before the service begins.

There are probably many who did not witness the easy conversation between the homeless man and myself, but it brought home something that I’ve heard pastors preach about many times. Church should be the most welcoming place on earth, yet we often segregate ourselves.  We, like many congregations,  often have subtle derision by color, age, gender and even economic status. If we truly believe that we are all equal and the loved in God’s eyes, this is not acceptable.

Often, I wished to make eye contact with the homeless man when he attended in the past. I would have gone over to where he sat just to welcome him, but mobility issues prevented me from doing so. But today, God intervened and opened the mouth of this visitor, and I’m grateful.

I’m grateful that God chose me to show that all are valued in His sight. I admit that I’m often guilty of failure in that regard. But while others may have ignored the man, he at least knew that he was welcomed by me and by the pastor.

He did slip out as usual, but I hope he returns again. I plan to ask his first name and to be able to greet him as I do others with whom I am acquainted.  What a privilege it is to connect with others who are different and then discover that we are really more alike than we know. That discovery is also a little miracle.