Tuesday 16 February 2010

Well, on this Fat Tuesday, I'm taking a break from Michael Battle and Desmond Tutu but not from the spirit of their work.

In a video course a few weeks ago, one of the presenters spoke briefly about that which is natural and unnatural and how we use those words to restrict full inclusion in the Church. This was particularly pertaining to GLBT saints...but it is most powerful in its original sense. When we talk about what is natural and what is unnatural we need only look at one very powerful image of the body of Christ. It is the image of branches grafted onto another tree or vine. The church becomes one body through an unnatural means. The original plant and the branch are bound together. It is not something that happens in nature. Rather, we are enriched by a "hybrid" plant because that which was not the same becomes the same - one body. There is no talk of rejection here. The graft takes...that is the storyline. All are grafted onto the vine...all. It is quite unnatural for any of us to be a part of the body of Christ. It is a complete gift that often brings about a wonderful display of new growth and production of fine fruit. Ha! And yet, many clang their pots and pans in utter disgust when we call for full inclusion. Such a movement is considered heresy by some in our church. Good grief, are we going to enter another Lent with many unwilling to trust that God makes of us what God makes of us. The waters of baptism determine our place within the body of Christ. I think it is quite unnatural that the church welcomes me and allows me to be a called and ordained pastor in our church. And yet, even me - knothead as I was and still can be - has been invited to share in the full ministry and mission of the church. The dividing lines have been and continue to be nothing more than a way to knock us all off course and limit the power of God's unnatural way of making a holy people at whom the world will look with wonder and - possibly even disgust. I add disgust because each time the church tries to include "those" of different stripes, we hear words of disgust that burn "like hell." For within our own natural ways of calling the shots, we too often cannot and will not accept anything but our own hell that we have created so well - even against the will of our God.

Connection: Never stop welcoming and bring on board all of God's Beloved...all of us.

In the midst of your people raise up a vision of your Reign that will not fall for the weak promises of special interests and unfounded fears. We need your Spirit, O God. amen.