God Knows We Are Not Perfect!

Tomorrow as people across the nation gather for worship, in most mainline churches, they will celebrate Christ The King Sunday.  The ending of the church year just before Advent (the four Sundays before Christmas) begins.  The readings for Christ the King Sunday are the Old Testament books of Ezekiel 34, and Psalm 95; And the New Testaments books of Ephesians 1 and Matthew 25.  All of these readings, in some way, bring together the importance of God’s reign embodied in Jesus the Christ.  

We move from Ezekiel’s pronouncement of God’s unlimited power and authority.  With a clear judgment of those who lead with no concern for their people.  Feeding themselves lavishly while their sheep go hungry.  To Psalm 95 which is a song of praise for God’s never failing presence and care. Then to Ephesians with an eloquent prayer of thanksgiving for those who, at the very least, attempt to live faithful lives in the hope of what comes with following Jesus.  Followed by the Gospel reading from Matthew that sums up what it means to attempt to be true followers.  Those who live with an awareness of the needs of their neighbors. 

I am praying that those, privilaged to preach God’s word from the pulpit tomorrow, honor God’s/Jesus’ call to follow.  By speaking both Law and Gospel!   That is, not only talking about the grace of God present to all believers.  But, the consequences of living against all that God/Jesus taught.  Because both Ezekiel and Matthew lay out the consequences of self-serving behavior in no uncertain terms.

First we have the  Old Testament prediction: 

16 I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with justice. 17 As for you, my flock, thus says the Lord God: I shall judge between sheep and sheep, between rams and goats: 18 Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture, but you must tread down with your feet the rest of your pasture? When you drink of clear water, must you foul the rest with your feet? 19 And must my sheep eat what you have trodden with your feet, and drink what you have fouled with your feet? 20 Therefore, thus says the Lord God to them: I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. 21 Because you pushed with flank and shoulder, and butted at all the weak animals with your horns until you scattered them far and wide, 22 I will save my flock, and they shall no longer be ravaged; and I will judge between sheep and sheep.(Ezek. 34) 

Now read how Jesus says it:

41 Then he will say to those at his left hand, "You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; 42 for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' 44 Then they also will answer, "Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?' 45 Then he will answer them, "Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”(Matt 25)

Both the Old Testament and the New Testament are clear!  No matter your status!  No matter your financial means!  No matter your position in the work place!  One’s heart must be in-tune with God’s will.  Because, when you are in-tune with God’s ways you just naturally tend to live being care-full with your neighbor.  You do not have the attitude that you always come first.  That is, you have within you a very different mode of moving through life in a world that tempts you to think of “me first.”

Now I know the kind of thoughts that might be moving around in your mind right now.  You might be thinking that you don’t share very well.  Or you don’t feel too loving towards so-in-so at work who irritates the hell out of you.  You might be thinking how rude you were to the lady at the store the other day. Or, when you honked at that stupid guy who cut you off on the highway yesterday. There are many instances in our lives when we fail to live up to God’s hopes for his human creations.

Thank God He knows we aren't perfect! 

However, there is a huge difference between the daily slips of the ordinary personality.  And the personality that live with the constant attitude of self absorbed thinking, attitudes and behavior.  That is those who: pushed with flank and shoulder, and butted at all the weak animals with your horns… Or those who give no thought to the needs of others. ‘… just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’

I often have used the, very real, example of a neighbor we had when my girls were young.  The family lived in the other half of the duplex we lived in.  The mother was a less than gentle person.  She did things that I judged as awful, rude and unkind. I watched her spit in the face of a little boy who her children didn’t like.  And loudly, so the whole neighborhood could hear, say words to him that I am sure must have embarrassed him to death.  God knew that I did not like the woman!  At the same time! If she was in destress, needed help, I would have helped her in a heart beat.  No questions asked!

We have within our human character opinions, desires, and the ability to be unkind.  That is just part of who we are! However, I would bet that when those who believe in Jesus/God do things that are not so loving there is this tiny voice of conscience that lets them know that they have done something, or said something, they should not have. Oh, maybe not at the moment!  But surely after sometime has past!  That little voice, of conscience, does not affect those who pushed with flank and shoulder, and butted at all the weak animals with your horns…

Do you see the distinction?