Ephesians 3:1-7
There is a commercial on the radio where a couple discusses planning for their retirement. The man, in an over dramatization, says he is putting nothing aside because a long lost uncle will surely leave them a tidy sum when he dies and all will be good. It really is a poor advertisement, I don't even know what they are promoting. However, they are doing a fine job for my purposes. I think we have all had day dreams or "what if" sessions with friends or family at one time or another. Power ball is 330 million dollars. What if we won? What if we discovered a secret bank account that went unclaimed and we really are due a million dollars! A seemingly pleasant little fantasy but if we have any brains, we still plan for retirement.
What of our eternal future? Do we plan for that? Jesus makes it quite clear we are all brothers and sisters. This passage reaffirms our being heirs to the kingdom of God with all the rights and joys therein. But you have to claim it, own it and live up to it.
Anyone who is gay is painfully aware of the way we are told by many people how sinful, worthless and deviant we are supposed to be. "God hates fags" the placards of the Westboro Baptist Church proclaim. How can I adequately and calmly say how many things are wrong with that statement. First, history is full of people who were supposedly excluded , unloved and unworthy of God's enormous love and compassion. Somehow, people swear to it in spite of what scripture says, in spite of the evidence of Jesus' lived existence. Jesus reached out to everyone. If you are so blind as to not see that, then realize that it was Paul that reached out to the gentiles. If not for Paul, you would in fact have to be Jewish to be saved. Did not Jesus come to save the lost sheep of Israel? Of course his actions and words speak louder than anything mere humans can record on paper, mistranslate, misinterpret and abuse for all time afterwards.
We are all welcomed, loved and cherished by God. Let no human tell you otherwise. Let no one or any church try to convince you by faulty logic or mere repetition that you are not worthy. Step up to the plate and accept your dignity, your honor and the love of your being an heir to God's good fortune and eternal happiness. Do not let anyone convince you otherwise, no matter who you are.
This is the reason that I Paul am a prisoner for Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— for surely you have already heard of the commission of God’s grace that was given to me for you, and how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I wrote above in a few words, a reading of which will enable you to perceive my understanding of the mystery of Christ. In former generations this mystery was not made known to humankind, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: that is, the Gentiles have become fellow-heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
Of this gospel I have become a servant according to the gift of God’s grace that was given to me by the working of his power.
No comments:
Post a Comment