I have an interesting search history. Most of what passes by my feed is made up of electric guitars, million-dollar boats (once can dream, can’t one), and articles about the best recipes imaginable. And then there’s the stories about religion. Now I am seeing articles about how the Harris campaign has brought a Christian minister on board in some way to talk about White Supremacy hijacking American Christianity, which is, I believe, true. But that’s not the point of today’s thought. Today’s thought is about the faith I love being used for people’s selfish purposes, and how I am really tired of it.
We in the church get used by parents showing up with their baby to git ‘er done (baptism) or couples needing a pretty backdrop for their elaborately beautiful wedding. We get used by politicians trying to prove just how faithful they are (even if they’ve never darkened the door of a place of worship except to campaign). We get used as a tool of the state for signing marriage licenses; we get used by special interest groups who want us on their side to support their righteous campaigns. And when we speak out against a moral injustice, we get accused of being political by those who disagree with us. Yes – all of these things have been foisted on me during my ministry, and I’m pretty small stuff, name-recognition wise.
I love what I do and feel honored every day to be able to serve the God I love and people I see as my siblings in faith, regardless of their particular denominational flavor. I am humbled by the times I am included in community programs and visions that make us all better. I’m just tired of seeing Jesus dragged to every picnic, political convention, and public gathering. Jesus didn’t come to earth so we could put His face on a banner and commit treason. Jesus didn’t live and die so we could use His name to justify our wars. He was never about earthly kingdoms; He was about the kingdom of heaven. He was about changing the way we see and treat each other; not as enemies, but as beautiful creations of God.
So please – sell your chicken, just stop using Jesus as an excuse to support homophobia. Read your Bible, just stop pretending it supports your political ideology. Pray all you want – just stop thinking God is only on your side. All of these things break the 3rd Commandment – Do not take God’s name in vain. That isn’t about profanity, at least the way we commonly understand it; it is about using God for personal gain, or for worthless endeavors. Let’s use God for what matters – to help people in the midst of their need. We should never get tired of that.
hPrayer – Holy God, thank You for the gift of compassion, and forgive us if we have misused You to get what we want. We will do better. Amen.