I was privileged to be raised by, in addition to my parents, our church family. So tight as a family that, when a teenager, I was acting, well, like a teenager, several of the older ladies wouldn’t hesitate to remind me that, as one-time nursery workers, they had changed my diaper (could they have been any more embarrassing?). I learned many good and important things from Scripture in that church. We were a strictly conservative congregation with conservative ideals – no smoking, no alcohol, no dancing, no going to the movies, and of course, no pre-marital sex. We were also strong in our theological beliefs, so strong, in fact, that anyone not adhering to them, was looked on as ignorant, in serious error. Certain ‘non-adhering’ church groups were off-limits, even dangerous (they had unflattering nicknames that were snickered at, too). I didn’t recognize it growing up, but later I came to see we were seriously judgmental of so many people, so many Christians, so many Christian churches. The ‘us’ and ’them,’ both at home and at church, were clearly defined.
Nuclear families everywhere share their ideas concerning people and people groups of all types, whether distinguished by language or origin or tribe or religion or any other characteristic that permits the forming of ‘us’ and ‘them’ (friend or foe) opinions. Many of these are communicated subtly, non-verbally, but nonetheless effectively. And these opinions are, more starkly put, prejudices, means of excluding or shunning others. Little children innocently parrot what they hear (at times to the chagrin of their parents), often with no comprehension of the meaning or potential offensiveness of the ‘opinion.’
It was the same in Jesus’ day, and it made his teachings controversial as they boldly laid bare the contrast between society’s values and those of the Kingdom of Heaven. No one was spared from his pronouncements when he saw injustice, cruelty, hatred. He taught that enemies were to be blessed, prayed for, cared for. Loved! Everyone was instructed not to judge! Those in places of spiritual authority, too, were skewered by Jesus’ words for their misuse of Scripture, their abuse of the poor, their neglect of the commandments of Moses, their overweening pride of position.
The group thrilled to hear Jesus teach? The poor, the sick, the lonely, the underprivileged. For them his words were healing. They brought hope. His words were a bright light in their darkness. They were emancipating, thrilling, brand new. His words, indeed, were Good News.
We have been anointed as Ambassadors of that ‘Good News’ in our day. As we live by faith in the Son of God, submitted to and empowered by his Spirit, we own the glorious privilege of being the bringers of hope and healing to those around us. We’ve received the message that there is only ‘us’ in Jesus’ eyes and we get to share that countercultural message to whomever he sends us. The wall of hostility has been broken down in Jesus! Looking forward to seeing you determined Light Bearers tomorrow, 10 AM, 4 PM, FR. PD
Don graduated from Regent University in 1988 and moved to France for seven years, coming back to the US briefly to marry Sue in 1990. The work in France included working in a Christian School and helping plant a church before returning in 1995. He’s been pastor of Peninsula Vineyard since 1999. He enjoys counseling, especially married couples, traveling back to France (with Sue), reading, doing Sudoku puzzles and sleuthing out good, dark chocolate. Don serves as the senior pastor of the Vineyard Church Peninsula, in Newport News, Virginia.