Ephesians 4:32-5:2
If I heard it correctly, the comic book character Archie died in an issue that came out yesterday. Quite a shock for those in the cartoon world. There are several over 'arching' themes in the episode involving his death. Gay rights and gun control are chief among them. It isn't so much gay rights except that Archie takes a bullet intended for another character, Archie's friend, who is gay, a Senator and who is in favor of gun controls. Like I said many things going on there. But there is a really big theme that I don't think will get much attention and will frankly be glossed over by most of society. Sadly, it may be the most important, one that trumps being gay or where you stand on gun control.
Archie stepped up to save his friend. Archie willingly sacrificed his life for a friend. Is there any greater love, as they say, than to lay down your life for a friend? We all know Jesus died on the cross for us, that too is often glossed over by the multitudes. In Archie's case, I presume the intended target was a great guy, a true friend and wouldn't think of hurting Archie or anyone else. In the case of Jesus, we actually killed him. We were not his best buds. To this very day we spit in God's face by the way we act, both in our personal lives, nationally and globally. Jesus knew the extent of our sins and yet he willingly forgives us and laid down his life for us so that we would be free.
Whether you are speaking of personal betrayals, turning our backs on children at our borders or people lobbing missile after missile at each other we certainly are not imitators of Christ as this passage asks us to. I am not sure how much we can influence Mr. Putin to put down his weapons or his maniacal ways. I am not sure who if anyone can convince the people of the Middle East to sit listen and love. I try to write about, speak about and FaceBook about our moral duty as a "nation under God" to help people, perhaps especially when it is literally children begging us at our borders.
One thing I do know is that we can act locally and be effective globally. What can I do to emulate Christ? What can I do to show that my true citizenship is as an heir to the kingdom of God? Doubtless it will put us at odds with a great number of people. I would note we will be at odds with many who claim that they are God fearing Christians. We have to raise our voices.
As a gay man it would be easy to sink into the societal perpetuated trap that living "in love" is some sexual perversion. While the fact that the gay community may be more in touch with sexual pleasure, sexual freedom and the God given joys of sex, it would be wrong to define the gay community that way. The gay community has to raise it's faithful voices to speak in favor of love and how Jesus would have us live as gay men and women. In the end it is no different than the love filled lives all people live but we must in fact love. We must not shy away from lives emulating Christ and we must be examples for our community, locally and globally.
Archie stepped up to save his friend. Archie willingly sacrificed his life for a friend. Is there any greater love, as they say, than to lay down your life for a friend? We all know Jesus died on the cross for us, that too is often glossed over by the multitudes. In Archie's case, I presume the intended target was a great guy, a true friend and wouldn't think of hurting Archie or anyone else. In the case of Jesus, we actually killed him. We were not his best buds. To this very day we spit in God's face by the way we act, both in our personal lives, nationally and globally. Jesus knew the extent of our sins and yet he willingly forgives us and laid down his life for us so that we would be free.
Whether you are speaking of personal betrayals, turning our backs on children at our borders or people lobbing missile after missile at each other we certainly are not imitators of Christ as this passage asks us to. I am not sure how much we can influence Mr. Putin to put down his weapons or his maniacal ways. I am not sure who if anyone can convince the people of the Middle East to sit listen and love. I try to write about, speak about and FaceBook about our moral duty as a "nation under God" to help people, perhaps especially when it is literally children begging us at our borders.
One thing I do know is that we can act locally and be effective globally. What can I do to emulate Christ? What can I do to show that my true citizenship is as an heir to the kingdom of God? Doubtless it will put us at odds with a great number of people. I would note we will be at odds with many who claim that they are God fearing Christians. We have to raise our voices.
As a gay man it would be easy to sink into the societal perpetuated trap that living "in love" is some sexual perversion. While the fact that the gay community may be more in touch with sexual pleasure, sexual freedom and the God given joys of sex, it would be wrong to define the gay community that way. The gay community has to raise it's faithful voices to speak in favor of love and how Jesus would have us live as gay men and women. In the end it is no different than the love filled lives all people live but we must in fact love. We must not shy away from lives emulating Christ and we must be examples for our community, locally and globally.
and be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
No comments:
Post a Comment