- Mar 17, 2005
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This morning the preacher man said about how our serving others is as serving Christ.
It made me think about a thread over at WWMC that spoke of homophobia in the church.
It made me think about our conversations about the emergent church and "proper" doctrine/theology.
What becomes different when we look at others as being Christ and serving them as Christ wants us to-since we are His BODY?
Where would all the fighting (yeah, some threads get pretty nasty, especially when arguing over "right" doctrine beliefs) be if we would approach the other with love as though they are Christ--the least of these?
Reminds me of the parable of the two sons:
Matt 21:
28 But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.
29 He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.
30 And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.
31 Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.
I fear many of us in the church are like the second son. Yeah, we believe "rightly" and say "Yes I go sir" but never really do. All our "beliefs" are rubbish if they don't cause us to do something...and that something has to begin with service to others--the least of these.
So it don't really matter if the person is homosexual or transgendered or homeless or convict or whatever--they are still in the image of Christ and we must love and serve regardless. Christ said the rain falls on the just and the unjust--just as God's love must fall. And as His body we are to be that rain (so to speak).
It seems a lot of pieces are starting to fall into place.
It made me think about a thread over at WWMC that spoke of homophobia in the church.
It made me think about our conversations about the emergent church and "proper" doctrine/theology.
What becomes different when we look at others as being Christ and serving them as Christ wants us to-since we are His BODY?
Where would all the fighting (yeah, some threads get pretty nasty, especially when arguing over "right" doctrine beliefs) be if we would approach the other with love as though they are Christ--the least of these?
Reminds me of the parable of the two sons:
Matt 21:
28 But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.
29 He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.
30 And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.
31 Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.
I fear many of us in the church are like the second son. Yeah, we believe "rightly" and say "Yes I go sir" but never really do. All our "beliefs" are rubbish if they don't cause us to do something...and that something has to begin with service to others--the least of these.
So it don't really matter if the person is homosexual or transgendered or homeless or convict or whatever--they are still in the image of Christ and we must love and serve regardless. Christ said the rain falls on the just and the unjust--just as God's love must fall. And as His body we are to be that rain (so to speak).
It seems a lot of pieces are starting to fall into place.
