01-23-25

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
January 23, 2025
From what I understand, today is National Pie Day—not to be confused with National Pi Day, which is March 14th. Since pies are not really on my list of foods I can eat, I am not a strong advocate for National Pie Day. I am not opposed to it, but there might be just a hint of underlying bitterness over my inability to enjoy a good piece of apple pie or cheesecake. There are many good replacements for those requiring gluten-free and dairy-free, but trust me when I say, in the arena of pie-making, I have yet to find a success. Brownies, cookies, and even cupcakes are quite good, but not pies… yet.  

I have been thinking about this pie dilemma as compared to other happenings in our world. What if I suddenly went on a campaign to keep others from enjoying pies simply because I could not enjoy a good piece of pecan pie? Is that fair? Probably not. And even though I referenced being bitter earlier, that was only in jest. I might be a tad envious, but not bitter. But what about situations when we have the right to do something, but doing so would bring harm to someone else? I’m not talking about coveting a good piece of strawberry cheesecake, but doing something that brings spiritual, emotional, or even physical injury to another person. The Apostle Paul struggled with these questions when writing about eating meat that had been sacrificed to idols. Paul was quick to dismiss any sort of religious wrongdoing because there are no other gods. Yet for Paul, there was an expectation of empathy and compassion toward others because following Christ seeks to meet people where they are. Oh sure, you might be able to save a little on a pound of ground goat meat because it came from a goat sacrificed at the Temple of Apollo, but what about those in the community who will find this difficult? Do we just tell them to get over it? 

This is the place where individual freedom and responsibility intersect, particularly when that responsibility transcends what we have determined as our best interests. We’ve frequently turned the Christian life into a marketplace, picking one that suits our interests or personal likes. But that’s backwards, because Jesus always seemed to be challenging his disciples with the underlying question, ‘What are your personal likes that keep you from doing what God needs you to do?’ I doubt it’s goat meat for any of us, but if I genuinely care about my neighbor’s health, spiritual well-being, and emotional security, then things that seemed important suddenly don’t hold the same weight. Why? Because I love my neighbor and I love the idea of God’s Kin(g)dom, which includes all humanity as God’s cherished children. 

Sometimes I convince myself that what I want is exactly what you want, God. Sorry for those moments when I have made the Gospel into a message about embracing what I want above what the world needs. Amen.