So the Works of God might be Displayed
Isn't it odd how much we concern ourselves with people we think of as "sinful" so that we can decide whether they deserve their bad situation or their rejection from society. I don't know why we don't see all people as opportunities for God's glory to be evidenced in his grace. Every situation is a chance for God's rule to come in such a way that people experience the good God had in mind. As long as we stay stuck in the questions of the disciples or the attitudes of the Pharisees, our Christianity won't seem credible and our God won't seem good. People who are looking at Christ followers from the outside want to know if we care about people and if we reject anyone. Maybe they especially wonder if we are going to act like someone is beyond God's grace. We may not be asked if a handicapped person is being punished by God (or then again we might be asked such a question.) But we are very likely to be asked what we think about gays. We may be asked by "Christians" or those who wouldn't want to be lumped in with most of what Christianity is. And the answer the two groups want will be very different. So what should we say? I think I might say that I know three things about gay people that influence what I think of them. I know they have pain (some bad stuff has happened to them), they have a story (that would be worth hearing), and they have great potential (God has granted them abilities and strengths). The reason I know those things about gay people is that it is true of every person. I would say the same thing about the wealthy or the poor, the greedy or the generous, the materialist or the spiritualist. Everyone on earth falls into the same category as the man born blind. We are all just an opportunity for the work of God to be displayed. that is what we see if we stand in the light of Jesus who is the light of the world. I wonder if we would ever get to the place that we would trust what Jesus would do with people and spend our energy introducing people to Him and see how things turn out. I think I'll give it a try. It seems like it might be a free way to live.
