I have known this passage since I was a little girl. Memorized and imprinted on my heart and mind for all time. Or at least until the mind gives out. Some would argue that's already happened!
What struck me today was the phrase, "...if we do not give up." I have come close to giving up. No, I'm not talking about giving up on life. But I am talking about giving on what is supposed to bring the life of God into the world - "the household of faith". I have come close to giving up on "church" people. I'm tired of doing the same things over and over again with "church" people expecting the results to be different. I'm tired of walking on eggshells around those that are blaming me or my pastor-husband for their spiritual lethargy. I'm tired of "church" people equating the Republican Party to Christianity, and I'm really tired of Christian people allowing the voices of Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, and Sean Hannity to speak for them.
I'm tired of people slamming Ann Voskamp, Brian McLaren, Rob Bell, and Mark Driscoll without ever challenging a single word spoken by the evangelical power houses like James Dobson, Jerry Falwell, and Pat Robertson.
Honestly, I'm tired of "church" people being mostly oblivious to the world around them - so caught up in their own stuff, or pretending they dont' have stuff. It's not that I don't have stuff, or that I'm perfect. Actually, there are some people who believe that most of what's wrong in the church is the pastor's wife's fault. Great way to encourage or bear one another's burdens!
Tony Campolo said, "I have three things I'd like to say to you tonight. First, while you were sleeping last night, 30,000 kids died of starvation or diseases related to malnutrition. Second, most of you don't give a s--t. Third: what's worse is that you're more upset with the fact that I said s--t than the fact that 30,000 kids died last night."
And he's right! Most "church" people would be more upset with the fact that a "christian" would say the word "s--t" than the fact that so many children died. But then again, most politically conservative Christians would attribute Tony Campolo's finesse at cussing to his "liberal" political leanings.
It isn't that I think I'm better than anyone else, or that I haven't been selfish, greedy, self-sufficient, self-indulgent, or rude. I have been all those things and so much more. I'm just tired of the pretending, the slamming, the rudeness, the pulling away, the manipulation, the lack of initiative, the lack of encouragement, and most of all the lack of love. I had become so "weary in well doing" that I had nearly given up. Nearly.
A long ago friend preached at our church this morning, speaking of the One he loves. This obedient servant spoke words that brought tears to my eyes. Tears in my eyes in church is not a new thing, but these tears were not because someone walked away, or my hair wasn't "poofed" just right, or I didn't say the right thing to the right person at the right time. These tears were because I recognized the "scent' of Jesus in this man - hope and grace. He offered words of encouragement to a heart long battered by "the household of faith". This man offered encouragement.
Isn't it about time that the "household of faith" be known for the scents of Jesus - hope, grace, truth, love, justice, mercy, compassion instead of smelling like the rags of self-righteouseness - filthy menstrual rags.
I have not given up.
"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith." Galatians 6:9–10
Clinging to Jesus,
Yes, and Amen. Thank you.
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