Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." No, "if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
The Church and society would certainly be very different if we would rush to live out the words of Paul in his letter to the Romans here. Christians still have not understood that seeking the common good of all people is at the heart of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We spend so much time arguing, complaining and looking for ways to cut each other down. We also look for reasons to keep certain types of people out of our churches and/or out of ordained ministry. This reading from Paul makes it very clear what our goals as followers of Christ should be. Yet, how many excuses do Christians find for treating other people with disdain and contempt.
Those who practice Biblical literalism would prefer to spend the majority of their time using the Bible as a missile of destruction rather than uphold the compassion, mercy and inclusive love of God. Such behaviors indeed speak volumes of what is important and what is left behind. In the words of Bishop Gene Robinson in his book "In the Eye of the Storm" when Christians place the words of Scripture above the Word of God, Jesus Christ, we are committing idolatry. (See page 22). Yet many would rather place the words of Scripture above God's perfect revelation in Jesus to keep lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered and questioning/queer people away from God and the Church, until or unless they are willing to come on the terms of conservative Christians. Exactly how is that allowing "love to be genuine"?
The kind of love, affection, honor and hope that is spoken of in Paul's letter to the Romans is one that sees in all people, including LGBTQ individuals, couples and families the presence of Christ himself. The brand of love, affection and honor that Paul is describing is one that does not leave us comfortable with our prejudices, and insistence that people must live up to my expectations, or be what I think they should be, or do only what I think they should do. This is why the work of the National Organization for Marriage is so damaging to the country and to the Church. They are seeking to keep marriage as understood according to their terms, and they are willing to trample upon every opportunity for Christian charity to keep discrimination alive and well. This is also why that crazy study by the Department of Defense to end the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy is so absurd. The questions are asked in such a way in the study that they are clearly designed to further denigrate openly gay and lesbian members of society who wish to serve in the Military. In the name of Biblical literalism, Christians are willing to use the Bible to denigrate LGBTQ people, subordinate women, enact discriminatory immigration laws such as Arizona, or the Tea Party justifies the most cruel racism. Christians will go at lengths to seek places in the Bible to condemn anything that is not in line with their view point, but they will not rush to: "Let love be genuine, hate what is evil and do what is good." Many Christians would rather hang on to a false love that justifies discrimination, violence and division.
Such attitudes based on ignorance, leave a bad taste in the mouths of LGBTQ people. It can be so difficult for us to love our enemies which is also part of today's Bible reading. However, most of the time when we think of loving our enemies, it somehow means that we must accept their less than loving behavior. That is definitely not the case. Loving an enemy or a persecutor in this context means caring enough to try desperately to tell them the truth, whether or not they care to hear it. It is an act of kindness to remind conservative Christians who suffer from the sin of heterosexism that it really is a sin, and the homophobia that is a result of heterosexism is a very real egregious sin. When behaviors are destructive to the reputation of the Church that is suppose to be the Body of Christ, demonstrating and acting to help people know God's inclusive love, yet seeks to do violence, it is our business and duty to be actively working to change the Church. It is our business to remind President Obama that he campaigned on the further work of the liberation of LGBTQ people, and has yet to really make those promises a reality. It is our business to speak out about the injustice of the DADT Survey, and to demand the passage of an inclusive Employment, Non-Discrimination Act. We should hope and pray that the Obama Department of Justice does not appeal the DOMA ruling in the Massachusetts Federal Court last week.
Mostly, we should be praying to God to help all Christians everywhere to really rush to be a people who "love genuinely". Let our love for God, others and ourselves be a love that is real, and is shown in our acceptance of every human person. Let there be a radical conversion within the Christian Church to see the goodness of God in LGBTQ people, so that ex-gay ministries will be put out of business, and organizations like Focus on the Family, the National Organization for Marriage, the Family Research Council and the American Family Association, can close up shop and stop using their bully media machines. When Christians come together to do some really great things in the name of genuine love, it is amazing what we can accomplish. But we have to first be willing to take this hint from Paul to "love genuinely."
O Lord, mercifully receive the prayers of your people who call upon you, and grant that they may know and understand what things they ought to do, and may also have grace and power faithfully to accomplish them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Proper 10, Book of Common Prayer, Page 231).
O God, the Father of all, whose Son commanded us to love our enemies: Lead them and us from prejudice to truth; deliver them and us from hatred, cruelty, and revenge; and in your good time enable us all to stand reconciled before you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for our Enemies, Book of Common Prayer, Page 816).
Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen. (A Prayer Attributed to St. Francis, Book of Common Prayer, Page 833).
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