The Home of a Presbyterian Cat!
 
Picture
    In the beginning, there was love. The love was God and all people were held in that love. All of God's people rejoiced in God's love. No matter their differences, they rejoiced in God's love and they loved one another.

    But over time, human emotions replaced God's love. God declared love. Humans declared hate against those different from them. At first they declared hatred against people of other faiths. Then they declared hatred against people of other skin colors. Then they declared hatred against those whose sexualities differed from their sexuality. Humans used God's word as a proof text in an attempt to show how lifting scripture out of context could provide justification for human prejudice.

    In each case, God responded. Where humans showed hatred against other creatures of God because of their faith, God raised up witnesses to cry "shame and murder." When humans raised up hate of people of other skin colors, God created resistance in many forms. And now, while humans proof text Scripture to prove that God hates people of other sexualities, God creates witnesses like the Evangelical Church in America.

    During the deliberations of the ELCA church wide assembly last week, the Holy Spirit led the ELCA beyond proof texting. The Spirit led this denomination to recognize the example of inclusive love showed by Jesus overrules narrow views of scripture taken out of context. In their actions the ELCA recognized how God calls people of all sexualities to ministry; how God's call to ministry includes a call to ministry of committed gays and lesbians.  All are called. All are equal. All are loved.

    God bless the Evangelical Church in America!
1 Comment