ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
January 19, 2025
Today in worship, we are going to be looking at transactional relationships, specifically how our relationship with God and the church can too easily slip into what is an unhealthy relationship of expectations. Life is full of relationships where a transaction is expected or required. When you check out at the grocery store, there is a basic assumption that you will give them some money. Otherwise, it usually causes a rather tense moment as you attempt to run out the door pushing your cart full of items. Transactional relationships help our economy, but they are not a good model for marriages. In the ancient world, it was transactional. There was a dowry, a payment from the bride’s family to the groom or the groom’s father. And the language of “giving the bride away” implied a transaction. Things were different when people in the Bible got married. Although we’ve moved away from the expectation of a dowry, and many clergy (including myself) have long since chosen language other than ‘giving away,’ which implies property, we must be aware of the undercurrents of an implied quid pro quo in some of our most intimate relationships. Sadly, I believe this has been influenced by some who have presented a relationship with God as having certain expectations of what God requires in advance of loving us. I firmly believe that the opposite is true. God’s unmerited and unconditional love inspires us to choose specific actions or behaviors. However, even when we fail to live up to the incredible ideals revealed in Jesus, God’s love remains unwavering.
Thank you for your boundless love and goodness, O God of the Universe. Your love is not contingent upon our good choices or behavior, but simply because you are love. Amen.
