ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHING
March 3, 2022
I’m probably going to find myself knee deep in someone’s politics with today’s Etching, but as I said yesterday, I’m still a little fuzzy on where politics begin and end, and where exactly my faithfulness to the way of Jesus needs to be quiet. Cypress Creek Christian Church has a history of stepping into an arena where some might say, “You’re getting political,” yet those moments might be some of the most beautiful expressions of the Jesus-life. As you heard a few Sundays back, CCCC had a ministry in the early 90’s to those with HIV/AID’s and their families. There were some in the church and in the larger community who thought the church was being too political. Yet as far as I can tell, that ministry simply loved people who much of society misunderstood, feared and rejected. Could we find an example of such love in the Gospels? Probably more than one (probably more than a few dozen). Today, there are other groups misunderstood, feared and rejected by much of society. Those who are transgender and nonbinary suffer enormously and unnecessarily. I know for some people, my simple mention of those two words has made them uncomfortable. But did you know that in 2020, 52% of transgender and nonbinary young people in the U.S. seriously contemplated suicide. They experience the highest homeless rate of any group as they are kicked out of their homes and do not easily find acceptance elsewhere. Yet another study showed how that number dropped dramatically if a transgender or nonbinary youth had an organization or group where they felt loved and accepted. I believe there are young people who are alive today and living healthy, self-affirming lives because of our church, and specifically the work of your pastoral staff. There is a lot happening right now in State and Local Governments that only intensifies the pain and rejection felt by these young people. I hear others say, “I don’t understand why they are the way they are.” Well there are a lot of things I do not understand about certain groups of folk, but my lack of understanding in no way diminishes their value as a human being. My lack of understanding usually spurs a desire to learn, read, ask questions and actually get to know someone I did not previously know. And so far, every time I’ve done this, I have met amazing people. Some might say that I’m getting political, but I’m sort of on a mission to save lives. And if by chance Jesus has a problem with that, I’m sure he’ll make it clear. So far, I feel pretty affirmed in the work. And I am extraordinarily proud of our church’s willingness to prop open the door very wide and to say to every single person, including those who have known rejection at every other door, “Come on in! You are an amazing and beautiful gift from God. Your presence enriches the life of our community and helps us live more faithfully.” Toward the end of Matthew’s Gospel, we read the parable of the King who turned to one group and thanked them for showing welcome when he was a stranger, providing food when he was hungry, giving clothing when he was naked and visiting him while he was in prison…” And the group seemed confused, yet the King explained how in doing these very things for the least among society, they were doing them for the King. If Jesus was to retell the parable in today’s world, he would update it as Jesus always sought to be relevant. And I have a feeling he’d thank us for welcoming him as we have welcomed those who are transgender and nonbinary, alongside a list of people who, for whatever reason, have been tagged by society and even government as being of little or no value. When I stand before Jesus, I don’t believe he’s going to ask me how well I did in keeping the door of the church closed to one group or another. I think he’s going to ask whether or not I was willing to lay down my life to help prop open the door when others were trying to shut it. With that said, I think I can do better.
Lord God, wherever there are young people in our community feeling lost, confused and rejected, let it be our mission to provide a different vision of you. Though we’ll always be far from perfect, make us the best possible expression of your limitless love to those who have been left out by an extraordinarily stingy understanding of love. This is your Gospel to which we are called. Amen.
