07-21-24

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
July 21, 2024
Like many of you, I can remember when we only received three channels at home (for some reason, we were not able to get ABC early in my childhood). Friends started getting cable, and I can remember my first evening of watching MTV at Chris’ house. For the longest time, except when renting a movie from Blockbuster or watching PBS, everything had commercials. Today, I stream so much of what I watch, streaming on services without commercials, that I am sometimes caught off guard when watching TV with commercials. It appears as if I am becoming more impatient with the interruptions. 

Maybe it’s because I’m getting old and a bit cantankerous, but there are certain interruptions that seem to get under my skin more and more. And though I used TV as an example, it really isn’t TV. Where I feel interrupted these days is by the nonsense that is presented as good Christian ideals. People are allowed to have diverse opinions, and I am not opposed to that. But there are those who are using religion for purposes not only unrelated to most faith traditions, but in fact, undermine them. For that reason, I am spending more and more time trying to explain why hatred, misogyny, racism, xenophobia, homophobia, and ageism are not Christian values. We have some really important work to do, yet it feels like I am being interrupted on a daily basis by the ridiculous wrapped in religiosity. And more importantly, there appear to be more and more people accepting the nonsense as God-given and God-blessed truth. I may not like the interruptions, but maybe we have deal with what’s really behind these interruptions.

Have mercy on us, Gracious God, and then allow our words, and even more importantly, our actions, to present a clear picture of Jesus, who was full of mercy, demonstrated compassion, and loved those society and religion had classified as unworthy of love. Hear our prayer! Amen