ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
October 7, 2026
In Sunday’s sermon, I spoke of drinking from the waters of inclusion. As we become a more fractured society, where more and more people are driven into silos that become echo chambers of a single idea, there is an opportunity for those who follow Jesus to offer a very different way of thinking. Interestingly, Jesus welcomed just about everyone, yet he did seem to offer a qualification when certain people’s beliefs dismissed the humanity of another. There were those who prioritized religious legalism over compassion. Rules eclipsed the God-reflected image in the person who was regarded as less than. It wasn’t that Jesus rejected those who had bought into legalistic dogma, yet as long as they lived in such a way as to diminish the value of another, it was impossible for Jesus to say, “All opinions are welcome.” It was in Matthew 23 that Jesus unleashed numerous woes, a deep and painful lament against those who refused to put love and mercy above legalism and cruelty. In the life of the church, there are always many opinions. And generally, I like it. Many people have shared an alternative view that was simply beyond my capacity to see in the moment, and their insight expanded my understanding of God, faith, or some other theological idea. Yet, what does it mean to be inclusive and a safe place for those who have felt excluded, scapegoated, and dismissed all their lives? Church is always a challenge. However, it is also capable of bringing amazing transformation to both individual lives and even the culture in which we live.
O God who is gentle and compassionate, while also fiercely defending the weakest among us, we seek to be a church that can navigate true inclusion, while also protecting those who have known injury… especially those who have known injury from the church. Amen.
