On Reverence

I'm starting to write this blog in my backyard, before 7:00 am. It's nice and cool out. Cute little hummingbirds are hovering nearby. The noises of the city are few and more like white noise in the background. That's as good as it gets since our neighborhood is centrally located. Being out here is one of my favorite pastimes, and one I don't get to do frequently these days.

Another pastime of mine occurs solely in my head. I'll listen to pastors give great sermons and wonder if they would change the sermon if they were speaking to LGBT people. I was radio surfing on my drive home and stumbled on one guy speaking of Christians needing to have reverence for God when it came to all the matters we squabble about. He was saying we need to remember that God is in control no matter who is in office.

I wondered if he'd also promote reverence for God when discussing whether or not homosexuality is a sin. The current debate is so focused on trying to convince the other side that you're the one with the right biblical interpretation. People have made great logical arguments invoking historical context, experts on ancient languages, and personal experiences.   

What about God?

Neither side is actually letting God decide the issue.  The closest both sides seem to get is to ask the other side “to prayerfully consider” their interpretation.

That's not reverence. Reverence is knowing that our all-powerful God is control of this whole big messy situation. Reverence is knowing that God loves those we disagree with. Reverence is remembering that the Christians who disagree with us, even the ones who think we are committing a huge offense by showing love to the gay community, also attend a church and praise and worship God.

Reverence is trusting Him to meet people on an individual basis and show them His heart, in His timing, and as He sees fit.

Maybe that's why the debate keeps persisting - maybe God is waiting for us to remember He is in control of all of this.  Waiting for Christians to remember their own cliché - "let go and let God" - instead of going back and forth with arguments based on human logic.  

 

I think our reverence for God is displayed in how we show respect to those who disagree with us.

 

That's easy to say now. We don't currently have anyone damning us to hell on our Facebook page. Hopefully I'll remember this post in a few months when they show up again.