Did you read the story about the young men beat up in
their church parking lot…by church members? They didn’t even get through the
front door before they were accosted, verbally and physically, by deacons –
those charged to care for God’s children.
What sort of church is this? A church where the pastor
yells “sic ‘em” and instructs deacons to beat young men up?
Does it change your view of the story if I tell you that
one of the young men was the pastor’s son? Does it change your view of the
story if I tell you that the young men were a couple? You can read more about this story here.
What a heartbreaking world we live in. Read Philippians 4:1-9 and Matthew 22:1-14.
Sometimes the kingdom of heaven here and now seems…not
here and not now. It seems so far out of reach that there is nothing we could
do. Paul commands us, as followers of Christ, to “whatever is true, whatever is
honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever
is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of
praise, think about these things.” None of those words describe the behavior of
this pastor and his church leaders.
Matthew writes the kingdom of heaven is like a fabulous wedding
party, filled with unexpected guests. Those who were supposed to show up didn’t,
so the least of these, the ones not worthy enough to grace the original guest
list, get all the honors and food and drink and good times at this wedding
party. What an odd wedding party.
So who is at the table in the kingdom of heaven here and
now? Who has RSVPed YES! to our King of Kings who calls us again and again to
come to the party?
Jerry Pittman Jr. has been invited. So have many others
who have been victimized, bullied, oppressed, exploited, pushed aside, and
rejected. Those who have been broken down, homeless, friendless, and excluded. We know this from the life and ministry of Jesus the Christ.
But the surprising part is that the invitation is also extended
to Pastor Jerry Pittman Sr. The invitation has also been extended to the
deacons and the bystanders of the congregation. And to Fred Phelps and to Rick
Perry. We know this from the death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ. For if any of those people are beyond redemption, beyond the reach of
God’s love – then so are you and me. We are offered wedding robes of grace and redemption, which mean we cannot remain the same in the kingdom of heaven as we are in the kingdom of earth.
The kingdom of heaven here and now is filled with surprising
guests – all here by special invitation by our King. Our king – who is unlike
earthly kings – will not reject someone for lack of special clothes, or burn
down cities when the king is rejected. And thanks be to God for the gracious
gift of the invitation, the inclusion, and the redemption.
Love,
Pastor Kate
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