The Reign of God as 'all y'all'. If you have any comments - adebelak@redeemerluth.com . The Reign of God as 'all y'all' has no qualifiers. There is to be no 'yeah - but' within this domain of forgiveness and new life. There is to be a 'welcome' with a love that transforms all who are greeted. The Reign of God as 'all y'all' is the power of the love of God that addresses us as though we are expected to be at the table - even if we do not think we belong. Quite often, it is not only other folks who don't want to include us - it is also our own stuff that keeps us away from God's living Reign. It is never the work of the church to hold up signs that say 'keep out.' Our sign is eternally one that says 'welcome' - our sign is 'you belong here' - our sign is 'blessed are you.' The Reign of God as 'all y'all' is the power that helps each one of us step out of the ways in which we think we need to control access to the life of the church. That controlling way is not our business. We are a part of the power that has been swept up in the notion that God shows no partiality and - in fact - seems to wipe away all the distinctions and qualifiers we like to put onto God's Reign. It is quite funny to think that folks will work so hard to turn God's Reign into an exclusive group that is always eager to point out who does not belong among us. It is even more funny (though very sad) that some even create a Jesus who upholds dividing lines and limits to God's love and criteria for real participation. That is not the Jesus of Scripture nor the Jesus who is God in the flesh. The Jesus of Scripture never stops opening up the doors of God's Reign - even on the cross when one would expect him to stop being the love of God for all - meaning even his executioners. O God of love and new life, the doors are open and yet so many people keep living within the lie that says you have to have the key to get in. The key -by the way - is that the door is open - always open. That is an amazing position to hold. Amen. |
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