Walter Brueggemann notes that Isaiah 56 suggests five accent points that we may consider in our thinking about the future of the church. We reflected on two of them. Now we look at #3.
It has struck me that as we ponder the church that gathers the others, we must pay attention to the conditions of inclusion, for this is not unconditional love. There is a realistic, hard-nosed requirement of what it takes to maintain a community that is genuinely alternative.
Brueggemann then turns to Isaiah 56:4 and 56:6 and notes:
The first and surely principal condition is that those to be included - foreigners and eunuchs - are to hold fast to covenant. That is, to be included one must be singularly committed to the covenant. This uninflected expectation is perhaps illuminated by other phrases in this invitation.
+ "Choose the things that please me."
Those to be included are to bring their lives into coherence with the inclination of YHWH;
+ "To love the name of the Lord,"
which in context refers to the first commandment of exclusive loyalty.
+ "To minister to him."
That phrase means to exercise worship leadership, or perhaps as laypersons to bring offerings to be publicly seen in YHWH's presence.
Brueggeman says this doesn't give us much in regards to specifics and he will say more later. But we are able here to step back and realize that the inclusive and gathering community is one that must carry expectations of all who come to take part in the wideness of God's merciful reign. That may sound odd. Then again, I think of the people who took part in the many non-violent demonstrations during the years of the active civil rights struggles. Those who joined (and anyone could join) had to adhere to a very disciplined life of non-violence. In the face of those threatening mobs that rule like the powers of the world, the protester were not merely resisting the threat, they were there as an alternate reality. They would not and could not act out of their fear and our of their hatred. They were told to love their enemy. That was a necessary part of this contrary life. this would be the "light of mine" what would shine in the midst of the dark days of oppression and hatred.
So too, we are now being told of such a need to be an alternative community. To establish and sustain such a gathering, our vision must be such that we keep ourselves focused on that which will shape our lives and make all who come one people. Yes, the doors have been thrown open and God gathers God's people. For those who come to such light and grace and love, there is the expectation that as one of God's own, we will become that light and grace and love. We are pulled by love and that love creates in us a new heart and a new life. In all of that, we obviously need guidelines and direction that keep us focused on the one who gathers us all together.
Connection: A covenant is a relationship. Loving homes exist within a covenant in which everyone has a place and everyone helps to shape the ongoing loving context of that home. We all will walk in the midst of covenant relationship this day. We all are expected to take one our part in that covenant.
Lord of All, by your grace you hold us and gather us and then, by your love, you hand us a vision for life that makes is possible for your love to become our love and our graciousness to those around us. Keep us steadfast in this covenantal relationship we have with you and one another. Amen.
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