Isaac reopened the wells that had been dug in the time of his father Abraham, which the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham died, and he gave them the same names his father had given them. – Genesis 26:8

Today’s Scripture Reading (April 25, 2012): Genesis 26

Last weekend I re-watched one of Steven Anderson’s YouTube videos. Let me say that I strongly suspect that Anderson says some of the things he does so that he can gain some kind of notoriety through Social media. And, unfortunately, it has worked. This pastor of a small Arizona church has reached an audience far beyond what most of us will ever reach. However, his strategy has also cost him. There are very few of the people that watch his messages that will actually consider what it is that he says. He has become part of the lunatic fringe of Christianity. But there are probably a few - and that is the scary part.

Anderson preaches a gospel of hate – and he seems to hate everybody. (And if he ever read this blog, I would probably join those that he believes God needs to wipe from the face of the earth.) The video that a friend of mine reminded me of was one where Anderson graphically described his hate for President Obama. He even wishes for the Presidents death and explains the scriptural reason for the hate. I really wish that the Andersons of this life stood alone. But I know that they don’t. Every race and creed has their version – and they don’t seem to be going away.

As a Christian, what I believe that my faith group so easily forgets is that we are, from the very beginning, not a people that hate, but a people that restores. It started with God’s words that the Abraham and his descendants would be the way that God would choose to bless the nations. Far from being a story of hate, it is the followers of God that are charged with the task of the restoration of, and in, the world.

And that restoration even carries into the ecological issues of the world. We are to be the recyclers. Isaac moves back into the area that his father had resided in. And those that had followed dad had filled in the wells that dad had dug. But Isaac just accepts the situation – and unstops the well. It is a simple act of restoration.

We need to embrace our role in an increasingly diverse culture as peace makers and as restorers of what is broken. The gospel of hate that continues to be preached by some is not a productive gospel in our culture – and it is not God`s gospel. In every act – both large and small – we need to fulfill the task that God has called us to – we need to be the restorers of the nations, and of the world.

      

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Genesis 27