Reflections

We have lived in Butler, Pennsylvania for almost a year now.  The time has passed quickly.  This year has been full of wonder, joy, sadness, loneliness, anticipation, love, patience, and acceptance.  Wow, what a plethora of emotions. Part of the emotions stem from what has happened in the ELCA in the last couple of years. 

I am a Christian first and a Lutheran second.  Our church split this year due to a decision that the ELCA made in 2009.  In making this decision, our church split.  There is now the NALC and the ELCA.  The split came because of a vote to allow gay and lesbian pastors be in committed relationships.  I will be honest, I am not sure how I feel about that.  I am not sure how I feel about using the bible as a book of condemnation either.  That is not what God is about.  God is about bringing people together.  He is about love and forgiveness.  His children are not always as accepting or forgiving.   

Luke 6:27, 30, and 31.  I say to you listen, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, "bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.  Give to everyone who begs from you.  Do to others as you would have them do to you. 

Luke 6:35.  Love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return.  Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most high; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.  Be merciful, just as your father is merciful.

Luke 6:37:  Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned.  Forgive and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. 

I like these verses, they speak to me, especially for today.  There is much fear, anger, and hopeless in our world.  Fear of the unknown, anger because of the fear and a loss of control, hopeless over wondering where our world is going and what will happen to us.  Many are without jobs, homes, even family.  How can we as Christians stop the tide?  Do we look to ourselves or do we look to God our Father?  What do you suppose God is trying to convey to us?  He certainly is not a vengeful God as so many people try to make him out to be.  He is our Father, a loving and forgiving God who only wants the best for us.

One of my favorite psalms if Psalm 23, which is appropriate for this Sunday as it is about the Good Shepherd.  John 10:1-8.

Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit.  The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.  the gatekeeper opens the gate for him and the sheep hear his voice.  He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.  When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.

According to the Lutheran thinking, this means that Jesus' own are able to recognize his voice.  The man born blind responds to Jesus' voice and is healed.  Lazarus was dead four days, but responded to Jesus' voice when he heard him and raised from the dead.  Mary Magdalene heard Jesus call her name as she was mourning his death, and recognized his voice.  "Are we as Christians able to recognize Jesus' voice in our lives?"

The Good Shepherd lends itself back to Psalm 23.  The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want.  He makes me to lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul.  He leads me in the right paths for his name sake.

I think I do hear God's voice in my everyday life.  Sometimes it is hard to always do what he wants of me, but I listen and I hear.  I hear God in the birds.  I hear and see God in my church community.  I see God in the children in my neighborhood.  And even though I am not close to my family, I see God there at work.  When life gets tough and there are many worries, I look to God and give him back those things that I cannot do anything about.  By giving to God everyday my worries and fears, I live my life that much more joyously.  God is great and let us all rejoice! 

As far as the issue of allowing people to be in committed relationships who are not straight, I will not judge.  God is judge.  I will not think for God and pretend to know what he is thinking or why he does things.  I will not use the bible as a weapon either to prove or disprove. I will not use the bible to say one religion is wrong and another right.  We ultimately all believe in the same God.  God is in charge.  We are all his children, all of us, not just a segment of us, not just Christians, but everyone period.  Thanks be to God! 
Written by Anna