We Have Forsaken You...
I was having a conversation with a friend a few weeks ago. It consisted of a dialogue about how the Eucharist makes room at the table for illegal immigrants. I stated my case that we are all equal under Christ and we all have been invited to share in that grace, the holy table being one facet. That even through breaking the laws of this country, as the church, we see beyond borders and nationalistic laws and extend hospitality to all created by God. A very broad theology and understanding of ecclesiology I know, but one I feel is faithful (which is not always necessarily "right" or "lawful").
The rebuttal was fierce, as I was then questioned upon and charged with (in my friends opinion) a very faulty understanding of American politics. "This country was founded on Christian principles, and there are certain things that must be done that are lawful that also could be mandated in a biblical manner." If you can tell, this man was arguing from the point of a very concerned and very passionate nationalist, who also is a christian and is very generous to the church in many many ways. I do not want to paint this man as bad, just coming from an extremely different perspective.
My response: As a Christ-follower, we are called to live as Christ lived, modeling our life after him as our primary objective...scratch objective, as our primary way of living. We come from very different perspectives, with very different convictions, who both claim the same God, arguing from different world-views. We are all reconciled under Christ through him and the work of the Spirit, therefore, we work out our heresies together in faith that God will deliver us and have mercy on us. We have forsaken God by our idolatry to country and pleasure, may God have mercy on us.
This story to me is a reflection of church, of the history of Christianity really. Different cultures, races, perspectives and convictions, yet united under the banner of Christ. This is frustrating, but also humbling, never allowing us to claim "rightness," but always acknowledging our sinfulness that is in need of redemption, and that from a Savior, Christ Jesus our Lord.
Peace Friends.
The rebuttal was fierce, as I was then questioned upon and charged with (in my friends opinion) a very faulty understanding of American politics. "This country was founded on Christian principles, and there are certain things that must be done that are lawful that also could be mandated in a biblical manner." If you can tell, this man was arguing from the point of a very concerned and very passionate nationalist, who also is a christian and is very generous to the church in many many ways. I do not want to paint this man as bad, just coming from an extremely different perspective.
My response: As a Christ-follower, we are called to live as Christ lived, modeling our life after him as our primary objective...scratch objective, as our primary way of living. We come from very different perspectives, with very different convictions, who both claim the same God, arguing from different world-views. We are all reconciled under Christ through him and the work of the Spirit, therefore, we work out our heresies together in faith that God will deliver us and have mercy on us. We have forsaken God by our idolatry to country and pleasure, may God have mercy on us.
This story to me is a reflection of church, of the history of Christianity really. Different cultures, races, perspectives and convictions, yet united under the banner of Christ. This is frustrating, but also humbling, never allowing us to claim "rightness," but always acknowledging our sinfulness that is in need of redemption, and that from a Savior, Christ Jesus our Lord.
Peace Friends.
posted by Levi at
2:14 PM
1 Comments
