Inclusivity
What does it mean to be inclusive? How do you determine the difference between “inclusiveness” and a lack of standards? Can you be inclusive and still have standards? What type? On what do you base those standards?
Well, I’m waiting. . . . . .
Oh, I guess you’re reading this so I best put something down. My thoughts:
The apostle Paul stated it best when he wrote to the Galatians and said that "In Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male or female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus."
There becomes no distinction between people when there is unity in Christ. This is the essence of the church. The essence of the faith is the forgiveness of sins through the acceptance of the sacrifice paid by another. The responsibility is to follow the teachings Jesus gave us. As Paul identified it to the church at Galatia, Jesus said it himself when, “One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"
"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.” There is no commandment greater than these."
In this sense, the word “neighbor” is used to describe all people – humankind. So, how can we to spend our days fighting among ourselves and with others and still hope to express the faith as stated in these two simple verses?
But it goes back even further. The Torah states in the Levitical laws, “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD”
I do not want to get into the political implications of this or its relationship to the letter from the President of Iran. I will let others talk about that. This is personal. This is real. It’s about where we live and what we do. My point is simply this – as long as we all stay focused on the differences between us how can we hope to make any progress together? There are over 6.6 billion people on the planet. If we allow, there is enough hate to go around the planet and poison it several times over. Faith is about society. It is how God wishes us to relate – to Him and to one another. And, it’s about love and compassion. There are enough laws and rules for us to throw at each other. How about some warmth, compassion and understanding?
Well, I’m waiting. . . . . .
Oh, I guess you’re reading this so I best put something down. My thoughts:
The apostle Paul stated it best when he wrote to the Galatians and said that "In Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male or female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus."
There becomes no distinction between people when there is unity in Christ. This is the essence of the church. The essence of the faith is the forgiveness of sins through the acceptance of the sacrifice paid by another. The responsibility is to follow the teachings Jesus gave us. As Paul identified it to the church at Galatia, Jesus said it himself when, “One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"
"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.” There is no commandment greater than these."
In this sense, the word “neighbor” is used to describe all people – humankind. So, how can we to spend our days fighting among ourselves and with others and still hope to express the faith as stated in these two simple verses?
But it goes back even further. The Torah states in the Levitical laws, “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD”
I do not want to get into the political implications of this or its relationship to the letter from the President of Iran. I will let others talk about that. This is personal. This is real. It’s about where we live and what we do. My point is simply this – as long as we all stay focused on the differences between us how can we hope to make any progress together? There are over 6.6 billion people on the planet. If we allow, there is enough hate to go around the planet and poison it several times over. Faith is about society. It is how God wishes us to relate – to Him and to one another. And, it’s about love and compassion. There are enough laws and rules for us to throw at each other. How about some warmth, compassion and understanding?
posted by genebko at 7:55 PM
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