Short term memory

1 Corinthians 5:9-6:8

           What an interesting transformation in the church. Jesus spoke with, broke bread with and befriended the marginal, the sinner and the outcasts of society. Yet in this passage we are told to not associate with such people, either by your own personal judgement of them or by the judgement of some other  'more informed' persons. I suppose that means some leaders of the church. In any event the church is already straying from the roots that Jesus planted. Is this the human condition? Is this invariably what happens when humans set themselves to form a church or set themselves as above the rest

            One of the challenges of equality for the LGBTQI community is marriage equality. Not so long ago my now husband and I marched on our state capital in front of cameras to tell everyone we demanded equal rights. We never dreamed the conversion of hearts would be so quick. We were married a year later. That achievement was a God send. However there are so many more issues and conversions of heart and law to be achieved for the rest of our community. Once marriage equality was achieved though, much of the air escaped in the revelry. Many of our brothers and sisters were left out in the cold so to speak. Friends of ours that fought along side us for equality baulked at expending more energy on some of our other brothers and sisters to help them also achieve the equality in law and justice. How soon we forget when we get what we want. I suppose it is not unlike how some the Apostles forgot about what Jesus was preaching (and how he lived). It's interesting in building a church or honestly sharing the Good News, they were willing to cast aside those that Jesus went out of his way to welcome and include. What gives?

          Being self righteous and forgetting our roots and foibles seems easy for us as humans. Perhaps that is why Jesus did not exclude. Jesus made two rules, the two great commandments. We can forget everything but if we love and treat others the way we would like to be treated, all would be well.

          The followers of Ignatian spirituality have the examination of conscience that is done to help with spiritual growth and our daily journey. If we could be more attentive to how imperfect we are without beating ourselves up over it, that is, simply moving forward in faith - oh how the world would shine forth with love. Rules and rubrics would fade away in the light of love. Who are we to judge?  

I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral persons— not at all meaning the immoral of this world, or the greedy and robbers, or idolaters, since you would then need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother or sister who is sexually immoral or greedy, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or robber. Do not even eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging those outside? Is it not those who are inside that you are to judge? God will judge those outside. ‘Drive out the wicked person from among you.’ 

When any of you has a grievance against another, do you dare to take it to court before the unrighteous, instead of taking it before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases?Do you not know that we are to judge angels—to say nothing of ordinary matters? If you have ordinary cases, then, do you appoint as judges those who have no standing in the church? I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to decide between one believer and another, but a believer goes to court against a believer—and before unbelievers at that?

In fact, to have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded? ⁸But you yourselves wrong and defraud—and believers at that.