I made a mistake

I took a peek at some conservative church blogs today to see if the Seabury news had been posted. It was a very foolish thing for me to do. I gave up reading those things months ago because of how much they were raising my blood pressure. I wish I hadn't read them today. It reminded me of the people in other parts of the world who rejoiced on 9/11 when the towers came down. It's hard for me to understand fellow Christians rejoicing in the misfortunes of my seminary. Though I probably disagree theologically and politically with many folks at Trinity and Nashotah House, I do not wish for them not to exist anymore. I do not call them "godforsaken." I can't imagine God forsaking any of God's people, not even those who write vitriolic messages of hate on blogs.

Apparently we are all heretics here at Seabury. Some of the chief complaints included the idea that we "live into our baptismal covenant" and someone's concern that we don't use "The Song of Moses" in our worship. Obviously that person is misinformed since we sang it quite a bit last year during Easter. If being a heretic means that I'm concerned about the mission of the church and about the poor in our country and around the world, if being a heretic means that I believe in respecting the dignity of every human being and loving my neighbors and my enemies, if being a heretic means that I'm quicker to judge myself than other people (because I know the board in my own eye prevents me from seeing clearly the speck in my neighbor's eye) and open to hearing opinions that differ from my own, if being a heretic means that I care passionately about proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ and reconciling the world to God, well then I'm proud to be a heretic.

If being orthodox means that I have to hate my neighbors as well as my enemies, and that I write about it with with obscene language, proving to the world that though I understand some minor points of Levitical law, I have clearly not understood any of Jesus' teaching, then I am glad not to be orthodox.

A friend of mine has a bumper sticker that says, "Jesus didn't teach me to hate."

Jesus said, "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."

And so, to that end,
Dear God, help me not to judge those who are judging me. Help me to have patience with my brothers and sisters in Christ who disagree with me. Soften my heart, Lord, and soften theirs too, that we might see that we all share in the love of Christ and that we are all here to take part in your reconciling work. Help us all to see that rejoicing in someone else's sorrow does not further your kingdom. Grant us compassion and understanding as we encounter those who differ with us. Forgive them, Lord, for their hateful words, and forgive me for judging them and not letting it go. Send your Spirit to all of our hearts and help us to remember that while we bicker on our blogs, people with real needs are awaiting our help. In Jesus' name, Amen.