10-26-25

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
October 26, 2025
Yesterday, I had some of the most meaningful conversations I’ve had in recent memory. Cypress Creek Christian Church had a booth at the Pride Event in the Woodlands. Because of the weather, it was moved indoors. The Marriott opened its convention center, and it made for a wonderful setting when an outdoor event could have been a complete washout. I know churches have all kinds of opinions and beliefs on a range of subjects, and I am not about the business of judging other churches when their convictions don’t do harm. Yet yesterday, I had at least ten conversations with people who are carrying deep wounds from a church. In one case, a parent had been told that their child would burn in hell because of who the child loved. I feel extraordinarily confident in the capacity of God’s love to do more than any of us could imagine. At the same time, I find it difficult to understand how someone, after reading the Jesus story, could feel so extraordinarily confident as to tell a parent that her child would burn in hell for eternity. Remember, Jesus only mentioned the rich and religious leaders as the people he believed would go to hell. Since I believe his use of the word “hell” didn’t refer to an afterlife of flames and torment, I point out that Jesus also told those same people they would be entering the Kingdom of God right behind certain marginalized groups… but they’d still be entering. How different would the world be if we all could show such confidence in the power of love, as compared to the power to judge and condemn and cause hurt? 

Help me keep my eyes upon Jesus and his love. Holy God, when the world is leading with judgement and overly confident condemnation, give me the capacity to speak love and to make real your radically redemptive love. Amen.