God Don't Like Stupid
What's the dumbest thing you've ever done? If you're like me, a number of dumb choices come to mind. There was the time a neighbor boy and I decided to shave his golden retriever to look like a lion. He actually did kind of look like a lion...but my friend's mother was none too pleased!
There was the time I left an Easter Basket on the doorstep of a boy I liked--only to find out he wanted to date my best friend.
There was the time I chose to travel from Colorado to Oregon for Christmas in my tiny little car--only to find myself stuck for 3 days in a VERY small town, waiting for the snow plows to open the highway.
And then there are the really BIG dumb things--like choosing to get involved with a family with so many problems I almost lost myself--or staying too long in a place where I was not fully welcomed.
I've been following a couple of stories about actions so dumb it's hard to wrap my mind around it. Two church pastors have been in the news--one in Florida and one in Louisiana. Both have been holding church services with WAY more people in attendance than the "no more than 10 people" rule. Both claim that the government can't tell them what to do. And both are convinced that what people need right now is to worship together, pray and sing and dance together--including the laying on of hands for healing. And one of these pastors is claiming that God will take care of the people who come to worship and keep them safe from disease.
At the most recent worship service, on Tuesday night, a protester stood at the entrance to the parking lot holding a cardboard sign: "God don't like stupid." 😋
This kind of religion makes me crazy!!! As a pastor, I've always felt that my first priority is to provide spiritual sustenance...in ways that keep people safe. Faith really does sustain us in difficult times, and we believe we are connected in God's Spirit even when we are apart from one another. While it is unsafe to meet and to touch--we'll lean on the Spirit to unite us.
As United Methodists, we are encouraged to use the brain that God gave us. We are not a "check your brain at the door" kind of church. We believe we are supposed to think carefully about the world around us. We believe facts are important AND that people--all people--are blessed and valuable. So while we really do miss being able to see and hug each other--let's continue to use the brain God gave us to listen to the news reports, the recommendations of government and health professionals, and the wisdom of our faith--expressed in the hymn "And Are We Yet Alive" written by Charles Wesley:
And are we yet alive, and see each other's face? Glory and thanks to Jesus give for his almighty grace!
What troubles have we seen, what mighty conflicts past? Fightings without, and fears within, since we assembled last.
Yet out of all the Lord hath brought us by his love. And still he doth his help afford, and hides our life above.
For many years, this hymn opened the Clergy Session at Annual Conference. It is a reminder of the joy we will feel when we finally get to gather together! And it is the promise that while we do what is right and reasonable and safe, we are closely held by the One who is our Peace, our Hope and our Salvation.
Eternal God, in this period of separation--help us to feel our spiritual connection to you and to each other. May we choose to act in ways that demonstrate compassion and grace--especially our actions that keep ourselves and others safe. Remind us, God, that we are each your precious creation, and that you love us beyond measure. Amen.
Peace and all good,
Pastor Jean
There was the time I left an Easter Basket on the doorstep of a boy I liked--only to find out he wanted to date my best friend.
There was the time I chose to travel from Colorado to Oregon for Christmas in my tiny little car--only to find myself stuck for 3 days in a VERY small town, waiting for the snow plows to open the highway.
And then there are the really BIG dumb things--like choosing to get involved with a family with so many problems I almost lost myself--or staying too long in a place where I was not fully welcomed.
I've been following a couple of stories about actions so dumb it's hard to wrap my mind around it. Two church pastors have been in the news--one in Florida and one in Louisiana. Both have been holding church services with WAY more people in attendance than the "no more than 10 people" rule. Both claim that the government can't tell them what to do. And both are convinced that what people need right now is to worship together, pray and sing and dance together--including the laying on of hands for healing. And one of these pastors is claiming that God will take care of the people who come to worship and keep them safe from disease.
At the most recent worship service, on Tuesday night, a protester stood at the entrance to the parking lot holding a cardboard sign: "God don't like stupid." 😋
This kind of religion makes me crazy!!! As a pastor, I've always felt that my first priority is to provide spiritual sustenance...in ways that keep people safe. Faith really does sustain us in difficult times, and we believe we are connected in God's Spirit even when we are apart from one another. While it is unsafe to meet and to touch--we'll lean on the Spirit to unite us.
As United Methodists, we are encouraged to use the brain that God gave us. We are not a "check your brain at the door" kind of church. We believe we are supposed to think carefully about the world around us. We believe facts are important AND that people--all people--are blessed and valuable. So while we really do miss being able to see and hug each other--let's continue to use the brain God gave us to listen to the news reports, the recommendations of government and health professionals, and the wisdom of our faith--expressed in the hymn "And Are We Yet Alive" written by Charles Wesley:
And are we yet alive, and see each other's face? Glory and thanks to Jesus give for his almighty grace!
What troubles have we seen, what mighty conflicts past? Fightings without, and fears within, since we assembled last.
Yet out of all the Lord hath brought us by his love. And still he doth his help afford, and hides our life above.
For many years, this hymn opened the Clergy Session at Annual Conference. It is a reminder of the joy we will feel when we finally get to gather together! And it is the promise that while we do what is right and reasonable and safe, we are closely held by the One who is our Peace, our Hope and our Salvation.
Eternal God, in this period of separation--help us to feel our spiritual connection to you and to each other. May we choose to act in ways that demonstrate compassion and grace--especially our actions that keep ourselves and others safe. Remind us, God, that we are each your precious creation, and that you love us beyond measure. Amen.
Peace and all good,
Pastor Jean
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