Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat; therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have people call them rabbi. But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students. And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father-the one in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.The words Jesus is speaking sound a lot like he is talking about those who must make a decision to choose the mission of the Gospel or power and prestige. Jesus is making a distinction here. There are those who seek to do ministry for the sake of being noticed and there are others who just wish to share the mission of the Gospel for the benefit of those who need what it offers. As in the time of Jesus those today who need to hear the Gospel are those who are marginalized by society and even the Church. However, standing between them and the mission of the Gospel are those who take their power and prestige as a priority. Could this be the case with the Anglican Communion? Could this also be what is going on with the religious right?
Some people want to package the Gospel and it's mission within institutions and doctrines at the expense of ministry and mission. While the Archbishop of Canterbury decides whether or not the Presiding Bishop should wear her miter or carry her crosier, there are those who are women and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered that wish to know of God's inclusive love and salvation. Many LGBT people have heard that the only way we can approach Jesus Christ and be saved is to "surrender" our sexual orientation and/or gender expression/identity to make other Christians happier with us. The pain that many LGBT people of faith have experienced trying to change something that is naturally a part of who we are, is something that LGBT people can not explain to people who are blinded by their greed for money and power over. The religious right cannot see beyond the ideology of Biblical literalism to understand that the Bible really does not condemn homosexuality, bisexuality and transgendered people. Rather than listen to the Holy Spirit calling us to a conversion of heart to allow women to be ordained in the Church of England, and LGBT people to be ordained as Bishops, Priests and Deacons, many would rather suppress the Advocate's call and hold on to their positions of power and prestige. The religious conservatives want to call us to conversion, without being open to the work of the Holy Spirit to convert their hearts and minds to a new understanding of Scripture, Tradition and Reason. And so LGBT people as well as women and those who are low on the list of priorities for the Anglican Communion and the religious right, must decide that the mission of the Gospel is more important to us than power and prestige.
All of this means being true to who God has made us. We can choose the religious right's prestige and suppress the Holy Spirit and therefore live a lie, or we can be honestly out and love our partners and/or significant others (use whatever word here works for you) and challenge power and prestige to accept the mission of the Gospel as being more important. There are way too many people who think the Gospel does not apply to them. There are way too many LGBT people who accept the idea that God must not love or accept them because they are LGBT to not care about it. Or they just choose to not believe in any god or participate in any organized religion. Given the hateful language of the religious right, can we blame them? As LGBT Christians and women who have a relationship with God we have an opportunity through our faithfulness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ to live as individuals who understand that love is the litmus test of what is and is not of God, not Biblical literalism. When love seeks the common good of other people as they are, so as to help them know that God is madly in love with each of us regardless of our sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression, gender, color, class, nationality, religion, challenge, the ministry of the Gospel is being shared and lived.
How are we living out the mission of the Gospel? How does the mission of the Gospel become a living story in our relationships, difficulties, jobs and behaviors? Do we desire to share the Gospel or is defending an institution or it's dogma's more important because of power and prestige? Do we concern ourselves with those who are on the margins of society or the Church?
Perhaps as we move through this week, we might pray about how we can place the mission of the Gospel before power and prestige. Let's be clear that this does not mean that God does not love for us to enjoy a little recognition for good work or a living wage. However, when those things become more important than being missionaries with a life changing Gospel message God ceases to be, and our god could be prestige and power. When LGBT people live in the closet, it becomes a place of death for us and our relationship with God. Only when we submit to the Holy Spirit and allow her to use us as we are, can God accomplish great and wonderful things as we commit ourselves to the work of the Gospel. The Gospel ceases to be a dead story, and becomes a living breathing person as God lives and loves through all of God's people, including women and LGBT people.
O God, you have taught us to keep all your commandments by loving you and our neighbor: Grant us the grace of your Holy Spirit, that we may be devoted to you with our whole heart, and united to one another with pure affection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Proper 9, Book of Common Prayer, Page 230, 231).
Lord God Almighty, in whose Name the founders of this country won liberty for themselves and for us, and lit the torch of freedom for nations then unborn: Grant, we pray, that we and all the peoples of this land may have grace to maintain these liberties in righteousness and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Prayer for Independence Day, Book of Common Prayer, Page 242).
O God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Savior, the Prince of Peace: Give us grace seriously to lay to heart the great dangers we are in by our unhappy divisions; take away all hatred and prejudice, and whatever else may hinder us from godly union and concord; that, as there is but one Body and one Spirit, one hope of our calling, one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, so we may be all of one heart and of one soul, united in one holy bond of truth and peace, of faith and charity, and may with one mind and one mouth glorify you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the Unity of the Church, Book of Common Prayer, Page 818).
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