The things those Chirstians (should) believe

Hebrews 13:1-16

            My sounding board tells me that this blog entry is a bit longer and a bit more preachy that usual.  I have tosay it probably will take some time for me to discern why I react the way I do to today's scripture passage. Part of it I believe is that it starts out so nice, speaking of mutual love. After that it speaks to some issues that I find most troublesome today, in these times. So it may be a bumpy ride today, I hope you'll see it through, preachiness and all.        

          If you think about some of the most divisive issues of today, this passage seems to for tell some of the answers. Perhaps too we have always had a tendency to neglect to show hospitality or to empathise with prisoners; recognize that the next person to cross our path might be an angel to whom you could show hospitality or grace. What of materialism mentioned in this passage?  What of Christians and Catholics that bind and restrain the love Christ teaches? Oh,what the heck, lets go for it, what about marriage?  Some might think the world has only this one issue. All of these are mentioned in this one bitsy passage. How convenient. Let try to tackle some of them.

          In spite of the fact that I live in a primarily agricultural area, this is essentially an affluent region of the country. With this high living lifestyle comes a need for any array of jobs to be done that pay little and seem to be beneath most people or their young adult children. The jobs fall to a vast array of migrant workers, "illegal aliens" who frequent hiring halls and street corners. There are an incredible numbers of haters out there that seem to forget that this entire country, save the native Americans, is made from immigrants. In the past he 'legalities' of immigration and laws associated with immigration were not all that they were today and certainly not as strict, if they were obeyed at all. The term "WOP" which was often used as derogatory term means "without papers". Illegal immigration is not a new thing though our penchant for being scrupulous and extremely legal has grown.  Be that as it may, these people who come to the United States are here to contribute to society (which they do), they often pay taxes  (for which they will not derive benefits) and in case no one realizes, to ANY Christian or believer in God, they are our brothers and sisters one and all.   The notion of hospitality to strangers should have real meaning in spite of what haters say or try to rationalize. I don't think it is generally realized, but the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah is not homosexual sex.  If the passages are read in full there are two take away messages there. The first is that the inhabitants were no hospitable to strangers, in their case it was the Angelic guests of Lot. These inhospitable people did not want to have a romantic relationship with these foreign guests, the townsmen wanted to rape them. This is not an admonishment against a loving relationship of any kind, it is a sin of rape and being inhospitable. This is why Sodom and Gomorrah were punished. It is interesting as a side note that people who try to use this passage as a club against gays, fail to mention the part where Lot actually offers his two daughters (to be raped) to the townsmen in place of his guests. That too is wrong but we do not here any railing against heterosexual sex based on rape. Rape is rape. Rape has no part in any loving relationship. But that's an interesting note about that passage.

           In our country we have an incredible number of people in prison. I dare say, a disproportionate number of them are people of color. This is based on the society we live in, it is skewed towards the rich and against the poor.  There are so many prisoners in fact, that the government now is outsourcing their care to private entities, private prisons.  I am not silly enough to think that there are some very hardened and dangerous criminals in prison but there are many who really are good and decent people caught in a societal system that fosters prison for young black youth and hispanics. It is interesting to note the array of people that have been in prisons that we are aware of. Should we start with John the Baptist? How about Paul? How about Nelson Mandela? There are countless examples of good people we knew or know in prison.  Has God forsaken them? Are they no longer loved by their creator? Are they not deserving of decency and care as our brothers and sisters, if not simply because they are children of God? When we think of the two great commandments  do we realize torture is inhuman?     I mean, would we like to be tortured? Does God look smilingly down on such behavior? I think not. 

           Let's look at marriage.  Marriage has been an evolving institution since....forever. The form of vows and legalities of it are a relatively recent construct. The Church inserting itself into it not all that long ago in human history. Before that, it was a more of legal contract where women were chattel and pawns, objects of desire and servants to men. Of course there have always been relationships that existed and there are references to ancient relationships of both heterosexual and homosexual alike. Vows for each can be found, references of each can be found in scripture and in the stories of the some of the saints as well as historical data which can easily be researched and found. The admonition in this scripture passage today speaks against fornicators and adulterers.  If we do not recognize same sex relationships, this passage is simply speaking against premarital sex perhaps and certainly against relationships outside of a vow or contract.  It is interesting to note that homosexuality is not mentioned in any way. Of course that term is a really recent construct created in the 1800's.  But the idea of relationships is certainly not new, heterosexual or homosexual. Perhaps the passage today is speaking about fidelity in any relationship taking for granted the gamut of relationships that always existed.  As with the case of Lot, God is not so much against any decent relationship but certainly against rape (as well as  inhospitality in the case of Sodom and Gomorrah).

           What we are called to do from in this passage? We are called to love, love, love. Everyone, all our brothers and sisters. No matter if you are gay or straight, act a way that respects your bodies, others bodies and the relationship that you have entered into.

           

Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured. Let marriage be held in honour by all, and let the marriage bed be kept undefiled; for God will judge fornicators and adulterers. Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.’ So we can say with confidence,
‘The Lord is my helper;
   I will not be afraid.
What can anyone do to me?’

Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever.Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings; for it is well for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by regulations about food, which have not benefited those who observe them. We have an altar from which those who officiate in the tent have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. Therefore Jesus also suffered outside the city gate in order to sanctify the people by his own blood. Let us then go to him outside the camp and bear the abuse he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we are looking for the city that is to come. Through him, then, let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.