One of the things I had noted in reading through the Hebrew Scriptures is how many times the Israelites strayed, doubted and worshiped false Gods only to be taken back by God, again, and again and again. We don't always seem to get it through our heads as 'stiff necked people' that we are saved and that we are to love one another. Dont get caught up in the whirlwind of worldly distractions.
This is highlighted not only in individual lives but in Churches as well. There is a need for constant renewal, a calling back into reflection on the basics of humanity and of our faiths. It was a glorious time when the Second Vatican council convened. There was hope, renewal and reflection on what that Church intended to be as called by Christ.
We too need to reflect. That is a large part of what Lent was. But have we forgotten what we learned if we have learned anything? It is not a focus on all the rules, the smells and bells, the rubrics and some inane desire to make 'us' better by demeaning others. But judge seems to be what we do.
The message that I believe we are called to in Lent, in life and right now, is one of fundamentalism to the life of Christ. It is not a fundamentalism born of oft quotes scriptural snippets, mistranslated and self serving lines of Scripture. Anyone can do that and often do.
The fundamentalism we are called to is to be exactly who we are are as a person and guided by the life actions of Christ. The words of Scripture as transcribed by man are quite often tainted by that all too human process. What has not been tainted is the actual life of Christ. The purity and expansiveness of His love is the fundamentalism I feel called to.
When you look at the actual life of Christ as witnessed by Scriptural accounts, we see an all embracing, all loving man who showed us how to live. Be the best person you can be and share that with everyone without judgment or some errant thought that your gifts are better than someone else's.
In this Pride month, I feel called to step back, reflect and be the best gay man I can be. Just how God made me. What gifts did God grace me with in addition to being Gay that will allow me to further His call of love for the world? Helping others, loving my husband passionately? What talents have I been given to advance the love of God in this world?
For talents, gifts, loving and fundamental Christian lives, I pray
Hebrews 6:1-12
Therefore let us go on towards perfection, leaving behind the basic teaching about Christ, and not laying again the foundation: repentance from dead works and faith towards God, instruction about baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgement. And we will do this, if God permits. For it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have once been enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, since on their own they are crucifying again the Son of God and are holding him up to contempt. Ground that drinks up the rain falling on it repeatedly, and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is worthless and on the verge of being cursed; its end is to be burned over.
Even though we speak in this way, beloved, we are confident of better things in your case, things that belong to salvation. For God is not unjust; he will not overlook your work and the love that you showed for his sakein serving the saints, as you still do. And we want each one of you to show the same diligence, so as to realize the full assurance of hope to the very end, so that you may not become sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
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