08-21-24

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
August 21, 2024
Yesterday, here at Chautauqua, Sherman Jackson, the Chair of Islamic Thought and Culture at the University of California, offered a wonderful lecture. One of the many fascinating things he talked about was how some people of faith believe it is their job to either redeem others or condemn others. Those are the two options, yet those options sort of leave out what was and is the primary purpose of those who follow the way of Jesus, which is to love others. I do not believe people trust the power of love. Love, for many, is not strong enough. For that reason, people reach for something else. Instead of focusing on love and doubling down on it when things get tough, it has become easier to use a little fear in hopes of getting a conversion. And when that doesn’t work, the easy way out is to suggest that they are condemned. Write them off! Of course, Jesus countered that kind of thinking by taking redeeming and condemning off our to-do list. Replacing it with a very short list with a single task: love. Leave to God what belongs to God.

Good God, there are plenty of things I might try to take on and claim as my Christian responsibility, but today I pray for help to remain focused on the one thing you called me to do—to love as Jesus taught me to love. It is in his name that I pray. Amen.