Today’s Readings: Psalm 21; Daniel 4:28-37; Mark 9:38-50; 2 Timothy 2:14-26; Psalm 19
Featured Reading: Mark 9:38-50
At our Sacred Grounds conversation group last night, we talked about our primary lectionary passage for next Sunday. That piece of Scripture (John 10:11-18) lifts up the notion that one of Jesus’ goals was to establish “one flock” with “one shepherd”. As we explored this idea, we wondered if it really would be possible to establish one flock these days given there is such division and polarization within the Christian community. Could we envision a world where James Dobson and gay Episcopalian Bishop Eugene Robinson could exist within the same flock?! I was reminded of this conversation when I read today’s words from the Gospel of Mark – for in that passage Jesus chastised the disciples for stopping a man who was doing Jesus’ work simply because he didn’t belong to their group. So often we modern disciples – who have grown used to living in a polarized world – spend a great deal of time trying to criticize the ministries of other Christians because they aren’t a part of our in group. What a sad state of affairs. The challenge for us modern disciples is to mature in our spiritual walks to the point where we can celebrate – and not be threatened by - the ministries of those who reach individuals who would otherwise be outside the reach of our own ministries: to live in a world, for instance, where progressive Christians aren’t threatened by evangelical Christians and where charismatic Christians aren’t threatened by liturgical Christians. If we ever achieved such a goal perhaps people in the world might start looking at us and see not an institution but expressions of the living, breathing body of Christ. I pray for the arrival of such a time. Til next time…
Featured Reading: Mark 9:38-50
At our Sacred Grounds conversation group last night, we talked about our primary lectionary passage for next Sunday. That piece of Scripture (John 10:11-18) lifts up the notion that one of Jesus’ goals was to establish “one flock” with “one shepherd”. As we explored this idea, we wondered if it really would be possible to establish one flock these days given there is such division and polarization within the Christian community. Could we envision a world where James Dobson and gay Episcopalian Bishop Eugene Robinson could exist within the same flock?! I was reminded of this conversation when I read today’s words from the Gospel of Mark – for in that passage Jesus chastised the disciples for stopping a man who was doing Jesus’ work simply because he didn’t belong to their group. So often we modern disciples – who have grown used to living in a polarized world – spend a great deal of time trying to criticize the ministries of other Christians because they aren’t a part of our in group. What a sad state of affairs. The challenge for us modern disciples is to mature in our spiritual walks to the point where we can celebrate – and not be threatened by - the ministries of those who reach individuals who would otherwise be outside the reach of our own ministries: to live in a world, for instance, where progressive Christians aren’t threatened by evangelical Christians and where charismatic Christians aren’t threatened by liturgical Christians. If we ever achieved such a goal perhaps people in the world might start looking at us and see not an institution but expressions of the living, breathing body of Christ. I pray for the arrival of such a time. Til next time…
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