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On Faith Vaughn Beckman |
Pastor finds tolerance
celebrated by many
well beyond the scope
of his congregationIn the midst of the many responses from the community, the diverse faith communities, many peace and justice groups, the GLBT organizations and members, one message keeps ringing out loud and clear. The message of equality and justice for all people that is firmly believed at First Christian Church is celebrated by many beyond this church.
Matthew 25:31-46 truly does clarify what a person of genuine faith should be and do. In it Jesus says: "Just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me." I love the phrase within this text which reads: "When it was that we saw you a stranger, we welcomed you."
That is what our church is all about. That is why the open and affirming movement exists. Any congregation or faith community or group affirming all people should be in the business of welcoming strangers.
One of my favorite sources, the great liberation theologian Gustavo Gutierrez, a Roman Catholic leader in Latin America, saw a new way of using the Bible. Instead of depending solely on study in seminaries and academia, he believed that people should be allowed to read the Scripture and see it through their own eyes and understand it within the context of their own worldview.
In reflecting on this, we must move forward and see with clearer eyes what needs to be the words and vision for us today, for our time, for our church, for our community, for our world.
Let us envision a church that values diversity -- a church that can appreciate all people no matter what race, religion, ethnicity, ability, sexual orientation, nor how rich or how poor. Let's value all people.
Let us envision a church that no longer promotes and creates victims. The church has a disturbing perpetual habit of creating victims. It is amazing that there are so many churches that believe the only way they can feel supreme is by victimizing others. We love to promote dogma and law when we should be focusing on relationships and people.
Let us envision a church committed to serving others, especially the most marginalized, the poor, the misunderstood, the stranger in our midst. When we have a hard time understanding others, let us listen, let us learn, let us grow stronger as people who truly care and appreciate one another.
Let us envision a church that respects all faiths, not trying to proselytize, but finding the common good in all traditions and in all people. We are living in such a diverse world. It is very inappropriate and ugly not to listen and not to try to understand diverse ideologies and peoples.
Let us envision a church that breaks free from double-speak regarding sexuality. Some people seemed so disturbed when the Episcopal Church approved an openly gay bishop. Most of us know that a tremendously large number of gay and lesbian people are members in our churches and that there are quite a few clergy, some closeted, some not. The church needs to be truthful about this by teaching a message of love and affirmation for all people.
Let us envision a city, a community that believes that all people should be part of the events in the public square of life, where everyone should be included and no group is discriminated against. Let us envision a world where peace and hope, love and compassion, equality, justice and forgiveness and reconciliation can stand, hand in hand, person to person, nation to nation -- where all people can live together in great understanding amidst the wonderful diversity that makes up our planet.
The Rev. Vaughn Beckman is the pastor of First Christian Church. These remarks are taken from his sermon Sunday, five days after the church was damaged in a fire that was deliberately set.
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