Daily Bread

Paul writes...

I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.

As you know I'm a pastor — a minister, priest, or whatever you want to call it — and I have a deep faith in God. And you probably also know that I have an online ministry to those living in the alt-lifestyle community or subculture — reaching them with God's love.

Part of this ministry is to never be judgmental, even when I encounter things most would consider sinful or at least dubious in a Christian context. My job is simply to let people know that there is a God who loves them, and that yes, God is present, even in the sex and relationships subculture in which they find themselves — one that is often considered 'God-less'.

When ministering into any culture, the nature of sin is the same, and I tend not to use the word sin as it comes with a lot of unhelpful baggage — especially in communities where people have been 'Bible-bashed' and told they are 'sinners' because of their sexual orientation, gender, or lifestyle choices.

But this does not mean there are no standards or lines that we should not cross. I abide and promote the golden rule of not putting our own needs and wants first, at the expense of someone else or the world around us. i.e. are my words, actions, or behaviours hurting someone, either face-to-face or behind their back?

That is the line drawn in the sand.

Of course we all, from time-to-time (either by our own volition or by mistake) cross the line. We are all human. We all mess up. And forgiveness and reconciliation are always pathways available to us — certainly where God is concerned. However, I worry that adopting a lifestyle where we constantly live in a dynamic of crossing the line — of one where someone else is being consciously or unconsciously abused is unhealthy, not just for them, but for us.

I wonder if living in such a way rewires our way of thinking. Whenever we justify our actions based on our own needs and wants, well, that's when a red flag should go up and we need to ask the question — is this dishonouring someone? Is this hurting someone?

To be a Christian — in whatever culture or subculture we find ourselves — means to put others and the world around us first, to forgive ourselves when we mess up, and to seek forgiveness where it may be found. To be a Christian is to love.

Holy God
Help me to lead a life worthy of the calling
to which I have been called.
Help me to be humble, gentle, and patient.
Help me to bear with others in love,
and strive for unity and peace,
remembering we are all children of the same God
who is Mother and Father to us all.