Wednesday, September 13, 2023

“Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that’s your job, to bless. You’ll be a blessing and also get a blessing. Whoever wants to embrace life and see the day fill up with good. Here’s what you do: Say nothing evil or hurtful; Snub evil and cultivate good; run after peace for all you’re worth. God looks on all this with approval, listening and responding well to what he’s asked; but he turns his back on those who do evil things.”  (1 Peter 3:8, The Message Bible)

                I really miss having a dog around the house. There is always something life-affirming about a cold nose and furry belly and those big eyes. Now is not the time for another dog in our lives, but life is always better with a dog.  (If you’re a cat person, well, I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt but I’m sure it’s the same.)

                One of my favourite daily comic strips is Pearls Before Swine. One of last week’s strips connects with my thoughts about dogs. The ever-optimistic, idealistic Pig is asked what his set of beliefs were. Pig responds: “Don’t judge. Don’t brag. And greet everyone you know like it’s the first time you’ve seen them in ten years.” When asked where did he learn all that, he responds, “My dog.” Then he adds, “If she founds a church, I’ll join it.”

                Amusing, for sure. But the unconditional love from a dog is a lesson for us, especially if we follow Jesus Christ. He did found a community of believers who were and are commanded to love one another as he has loved us.

                I am baffled that this community of believers which we call Church cannot get this right, not just some of the time, but all of the time. Our standard of conduct, the New Testament in particular, overflows with the sort of counsel we read in our text from 1 Peter. Our faithful heroes be they Jesus, Paul, Peter, John exhort and insist on love-based behaviour, words and attitudes. “That goes for all of you, no exceptions.”

                Yet, sadly, some Christians limit their love, narrow  their love, prevent others from accessing their love.  They barely define who are lovable. Some Christians are hostile toward people who are different.  But there should be no room in our lives for anything but the standard of Jesus’ Love, affirmation, inclusion and blessing toward those whom we encounter. Even enemies merit this Love.

                And again, it bears repeating from Peter.  “That goes for all of you, no exceptions.”

                We don’t get to choose whom we love. “Instead, bless—that’s your job, to bless. You’ll be a blessing and also get a blessing.”

                Just this week, a truck driver cut me off and I stopped just in time. I was not, shall we say, very charitable toward him as I honked and then rolled down my window to give him a piece of my mind. Afterwards, the thought dawned on me what if I, someday, met this man coming into church, and he recognized me, what would he think of my behaviour and words?

                No exceptions! Loving everyone is not easy; takes effort; takes discipline; takes mindfulness; takes practice. Which is probably why there is so much in the Bible which addresses the need for making such an intentional effort. Otherwise, we might forget, or try to rationalize our behaviour, or become lazy and ineffectual or worse, hypocritical. Even our pets have to be trained for their best behaviour. So too, we Christians seem to need constant reinforcement of the Golden Rule: “Do to others as you would like them to do to you.” (Luke 6:31, New Living Translation)

                No exceptions! Ever!

Dale