Today's Scripture Reading (July 23, 2022): Psalm 122 & 123
Gay activist Marty Rubin (1930, 1994) argued, "You
can spit on a rose, but it's still a rose."
Rubin knew about what he was talking. He had watched contempt poured out on
himself and his friends, often disguised as love, from those around him. He had
likely quite literally been spit on, and yet he still saw value in his
community. How you feel about the LGBTQ+ community aside, there is something
that we can all learn from people like Marty Rubin, especially when it comes to
those who seem to eye us with nothing but contempt.
There have been several times within the last year where people
have decided that there is no reason to have a conversation with me. Sometimes
it is because I am a Christian, and sometimes it is because my brand of
Christianity doesn't fit the message that they are trying to send. I have been
told that a Christianity based on God's love is not worthy of the church they
are trying to build and that a Christianity that accepts friends on both ends
of the political spectrum sends a confusing message. I know what it is to
suffer under the contempt of the proud.
Maybe it is not surprising that I disagree. I see it as
something that Jesus modeled for us. John's Gospel relates to us the story of
the Pharisee Nicodemus's nighttime visits with Jesus to learn from him. Jesus
may have had a public rivalry with some Pharisees, but others were attracted to
his message. After the death of Jesus, Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member
of the Jewish Council, the Sanhedrin, went and asked for the Body of Jesus
(Mark 15:43). Joseph, like Nicodemus, was a secret follower of Jesus. But Jesus
also called Tax collectors and sinners to follow him. Both groups occupied the
two extreme ends of Jewish society. Jesus did not seem to be bothered by those
who poured contempt over him because of the friends with whom he chose to
associate.
The disciples in the years after the crucifixion and
resurrection of Jesus seem to have followed Jesus's example. In Acts 5, the
disciples make a speech in front of the Jewish council. In reply, Gamaliel, a
respected Jewish teacher, makes his response.
His
[Gamaliel's] speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them
flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let
them go.
The
apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted
worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple
courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and
proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah (Acts 5:40-42).
The disciples celebrated that they had been shown the contempt
of the proud. They counted that contempt an honor rather than a disgrace. We
all have had times when people have shown us ridicule instead of kindness and hatred
instead of admiration. But that is just part of life. In those moments, we
should also receive scorn and contempt as a badge of honor, understanding that
we too are suffering for Christ.
Tomorrow's Scripture Reading:
Psalm 124 & 125
No comments:
Post a Comment