Knock, Knock…

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” (Matt 7:7)

Brothers and sisters, I am afraid that when the world hears those words and comes knocking on the doors of the faith – of Christianity, of the church -to find out just what Jesus has to offer, the church closes the doors that God has promised shall be opened. And in so doing, we are fighting against the will of God. We are disobeying. We are standing in God’s way. We are closing ourselves to God’s will, God’s call, and God’s love.

• No one has closed the door on you because you have not followed Jesus command to sell everything you own, give to the poor and follow Christ.
• No one has closed the door on you because you are struggling to forgive someone in spite of Jesus’ command to forgive seventy times seven – that is, forgive perfectly.
• No one has closed the door on you because you don’t live a lifestyle that follows the beatitudes – that is, you are not poor, meek, merciful, pure, or a peacemaker.
• No one has closed the door on you because in their eyes you for violated some law within scripture.

But I wonder how you and I (or the church or society) might be doing so today? How have we closed a door? How have we closed our hearts? How have we stood in God’s way as God seeks to open the doors of Christianity to all His children?

Here is what I’ve learned in my 40 years: I don’t agree with everyone, but I am called to open my heart to everyone through love, grace, and service. Somethings we all do agree on…big things, like violence, murder, rape, theft. Those are things we never see Jesus promote, but we hear him often speak against. Other things are biological or cultural or lifestyle things – what people eat, how people express themselves, customs that people share, what people eat or drink, what they sing, how they dance, how they pray, who they love…and so much more.

And I’ve learned that when you allow someone into your life as a friend, you will find commonalities and learn to accept and appreciate differences. You might even find that you become a better person, a better follower of Christ by opening yourself to someone who is different. You might even discover that that difference isn’t really so different because in reality it’s just another beautiful part of the body of Christ.

Miss Sunday’s sermon?  Read it here…The Door Will Be Opened: Don’t Stand in the Way

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This Week:

Tuesday, May 21, 6:15 pm – Small Group
Wednesday, May 22, 9:00 – 11:00 am – Community Garden Workday
Wednesday, May 22, 1:30 pm – Prayer & Inspiration
Wednesday, May 22, no choir practice
Thursday, May 23, 1:00 – 3:00 pm – Jason be at The Cellar (108 N Wilson Ave) for office hours
Thursday, May 23, 3:00 pm – Ladles of Love, Meal preparation & delivery
Sunday, May 26, 11:00 am – Worship

Upcoming Events:
June 4, 9:00 -11:00 am Community Garden Workday
June 7, 7:30 pm First Movie Night of the Summer, Location TBA
June 16-17, all day, 301 Yard Sale, Start collecting items to donate for our yard sale, we are also renting spaces if you know someone who would like to bring a table to sell their own things.
June 25, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm, Volunteer Opportunity at the DUMA Food Pantry; Children (ages 5 and up) are invited to come at 9:30 and work until 11:30 am.   Parents are asked to accompany any child under the age of 8. The children will go to lunch together afterwards.