Accepting the open embrace of love

Matthew 22:1-14

            I know that I am not alone when I say that God's love and generosity is open to everyone.  While there are so called religious people out there speaking about fire and brimstone, contorting the Scripture to say what is an abomination and who is worthy and who is not, I am still believe in the all embracing loving arms of God. But where do I get this stuff from? Can we simply believe anything and it will be ok?

            We simply can't believe just anything, I don't think that is quite right. But how do we decide? In no particular order now, I'd start with Scripture. While you know I am not a literalist, Scripture is the divinely inspired word of God. We just have to use (and here's a second thing), our God given brains. I don't think the message of Joshua mowing down and disabling Amalek and his people (EX 17:13) with the sword is justification for war, holy or otherwise. I have not studied this particular scripture in depth but I think I can easily say that at the very least the message is that Joshua wished God to be a part of his life. Joshua and his people recognized God is with them always. They may have decided that war was justified but I would argue that is taking things a bit to far. I might say simply that God is always with us, even when we make bad decisions, not that he likes those decisions. God is abiding and stand by us. Hence we have the line from psalm 23:4, 'though I walk through the shadow of the valley of death, I am not alone, God is with me'.

           Further is this passage right here today. Not a letter from Paul about his human reflections or opinions dealing with another  culture or philosophy but words attributed directly to Jesus.  In my own words, it would be this: ' I came to save the Jewish nation and they did not accept my invitation so I (God) welcome everyone and those that do not accept my invitation or message incur their own judgement and wrath.  This is a liberal literal translation but the message is really quite clear and it is on target. Jesus' own words.

           The most important way we  decide what we are to believe is this, does whatever we are deciding or thinking about, does it promote the love and message of Jesus Christ? Jesus was quite plain about that also. He welcomed everyone and loved them from children, to lepers, to tax collectors , to prostitutes, to Roman Centurions (and his male lover, pais), Jesus welcomed everyone. How Jesus tempered his example of love and inclusiveness were the two great commandments. 

            I don't want anyone to be surprised here, the message I am trying to deliver here is that the sinners, the marginalized and everyone is welcomed by God. That includes and maybe even most especially 'the gays'. In a funny twist, it may actually be those holy rollers, literalists and judgemental fools that may find themselves shutting themselves out of God's loving embrace.

          Lastly, know that although we are all welcomed, all embraced, an acceptance of God's embrace does call us to some serious thought, self examination and decision to act in a loving embracing manner.  You cannot yourself say, I am saved and they are not.  We are called to respond to an invitation to love and act accordingly. 

Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. Again he sent other slaves, saying, “Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.” But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his slaves, maltreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his slaves, “The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.” Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests.

‘But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, and he said to him, “Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?” And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, “Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” For many are called, but few are chosen.’