Years ago, when I was younger, foolish and perhaps a bit more capable, I took on the task or renovating my kitchen. This was a top to bottom job, ripping out the floors to the ceiling rafters. As it neared completion, my friend and I looked at the newly sheet rocked walls and reviewed cabinet placement. He noted that the places for the electrical sockets were 4 inches off in several places. "So what" I said, what is four inches? The more he explained how it actually did make a difference, the more upset I got. This was a new wall! What were we going to do, rip it down?? Yes my friend said, now is the time and it should be done correct from the start. I got more and more angry the more I realized he was correct. There are so many lessons here but one of which is that we often don't like to upset our own view of things, perhaps more so when we realize we are wrong.
Yesterday, in an amusing twist, I mentioned today's passage from Luke. This is the story of the prodigal son. I noted how God loves us and always welcomes us back with open arms - no matter what. Always loved, always welcome. There are other interpretations and messages there as well. Are we willing to hear them or are we set in that one exegesis?
I am not going to review the different interpretations of the prodigal father passage, yes father. I'll let you think about that. What I do note is that we really like to hear things the way we are comfy with. If you have a left bent you might listen to / watch MSNBC; a right slant? You watch Fox news. Gosh that has such a fowl taste just saying it. Oxymoronic, Fox news.
In the early church, that is before Rome and schisms, there were heresies. The early church leaders confronted many false beliefs and really, they searched for what they actually did believe and to codify them. When it came to heresies though, many church leaders, Doctors of the Church as some were called, they found it helpful to delve fully into the beliefs of their opponents. That is, they truly wanted to understand the opposing view. In this way, they could debunk the falsity from within so to speak. Perhaps also, they might learn a thing or two in the process.
How much better would the world be if we opened ourselves up to learning the opposing view? What about simply saying to ourselves, I do not know all that there is to know. I could be wrong. Oh, heaven forbid we admit we might be wrong. Does the 'other' that we demean perhaps have some truths to be told?
When I view a picture of a rabid white supremacist shouting and carrying is tikki torch, I have to note however distastefully, what truth might he have? How am I perhaps equally as rabid in my own views? I am still quite capable of getting angry when someone tells me an inconvenient truth.
I am not suggesting that we adopt the evils ways or beliefs of those that seek a fake Christian reality, one not even based on Jesus , his life or Scripture. There are those who would rub whole peoples from the face of the earth based on their own beliefs. I am suggesting that we at least have the courage and commitment to opening our eyes, hearts and minds to the 'others' in our lives, to other beliefs and others faiths as well.
Luke 15:1-2, 11-32
Now all the tax-collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him.And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, ‘This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.’
Then Jesus said, ‘There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, “Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.” So he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and travelled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, “How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.’ ” So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” But the father said to his slaves, “Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!” And they began to celebrate.
‘Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, “Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.” Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, “Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!” Then the father said to him, “Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.” ’
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