Last night we had a party with Ron’s friends from the Midway museum. They are all docents and in a band together. With ages ranging from 65-80 yrs. while still feeling like we are in our thirties. Well, perhaps in our heads, but our bodies tell us otherwise.
We all want to enjoy and make the most of our life now. Several couples play pickleball regularly. Others hike, some dance, swim, or bike. While everyone is very healthy, the conversation does turn to a hip replacement, arthritis, eyes that don’t see as well, or some other body part that needs tending. Yet, everyone has a positive attitude and is doing the best they can with what they have.
At one point, we talked about God, religion, and spirituality. Some people believe in God and Christ, while others do not. A few attend church but most are discouraged with it. One friend stated that church should be like a hospital. People come for healing. And yet they get judged.
This one person, who does not believe in Christ as God, but believes in what He did. He reached out to others, offering healing and compassion. This is how we should live.
Further comments were that church attendance for most religions is declining.
I shared that we serve an infinite God, who we will not fully know in this lifetime because we are limited. God is higher and beyond our thoughts and ways (Isaiah 55: 8-9). I can experience His presence, amazing love, healing, and strength, yet there is so much I do not know. Someday, I will when I move to Paradise. Or heaven.
I went on to say that Jesus did not create a church. He does want us to be in community. Long ago, the early Christians met in homes. Mostly since they were persecuted until Constantine declared Christianity the main religion in Rome around 300 AD. Man (and woman) want to define God. So, they put him and his teachings in a box. Then, the box becomes a religion, often centered around rules and definite-non-negotiable theology. If one doesn’t follow the rules or agree with one’s interpretation of scripture, then they are judged. When people try to define the infinite and end up in arguments, you get church splits with many different denominations. There is the attitude of “our way is the right way.”
No hospital here. More like quick outpatient surgery. But many leave with a gaping wound still bleeding.
Some scriptures are quite clear, such as “Do not murder.” Everyone at the table last night nodded in agreement. And then Jesus challenges the heart, “Do not hate.” This is not a righteous hatred or anger. I hate the evil done by these sex trafficking rings that abduct people, especially children, and subject them to despicable acts and suffering. Then there can be a personal hatred towards another. Perhaps this person hurt us. Or they are different from us (racism) or on the opposite side of the political fence. Or maybe trigger something we hate about ourselves.
This requires a heart surgeon. It might be painful to deal with the hatred. And yet, with careful precision, time, patience, and prayer…the heart will heal. And then love will be pumping through the veins.
There are many scriptures where God allows us to choose. For example, He said, “Honor the Sabbath.” My Sabbath might look different than yours. Most of us do not practice the same Sabbath or Shabbat that the Israelites practiced long ago and the Orthodox Jews today. We talked about the “Need for Greed” in our country or the “Need to be Busy.” Both falsely tell us that we are worthy if we have all this money or are so busy. Both pull us away from a restful Sabbath.
Not to mention, God created the world and then he rested. And He was God! He tells us to rest. And yet it can look different for each of us.
We get into trouble when we insist this on the right way or the only way. God gives us choices according to our unique personalities, talents, and desires. I hear, “Every Christian should be going to church.” “Shoulds” create judgment, not grace. God does not “should” us.
I felt grace at the table last night. With our different beliefs, we could listen to one another with no judgment. I wish more of our “church” communities would do the same.
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