Newsletters - Community Protestant Church

November 1 - Service with Communion

November 8 - Service with no Bible Study this week

November 15 - Service with Communion

(video taping of Advent parts will begin at 12:30)

November 17 - Session Meeting at 5:30 pm

November 22 - Service

(video taping of Advent parts will begin at 12:30)

November 29 - Service

(Praise Team rehearsal for Christmas Eve 2:00-3:30 pm)

As many of you know, at the end of October both Angie and I tested positive for coronavirus. Providentially, we have both experienced only minor symptoms. Angie is already off of her quarantine and I will be off mine soon. The experience has given me new appreciation for the lepers we read about in scripture who had to avoid people and shout “unclean” when people came near. It is an uncomfortable feeling to be isolated from others, but in our case understandably necessary.

An unfortunate outcome of our cultural response to Covid has been to stigmatize whole groups of people. Depending on which group we fall into, we cast aspersions on those who wear masks or those who don’t. Those who fear Covid or those who think it is an insignificant illness. It is human nature. We have a tendency to look down on, stigmatize, or demean those who aren’t in our group. Just look at the rhetoric of our political climate. Liberals despise conservatives and vice versa. The anger, outrage and belittling of those of differing views is astonishing and destructive.

The rules regarding lepers in the Jewish culture were part of legitimately protecting the community but they created a group of ostracized, feared and lonely people. One of the beautiful acts of Jesus was his willingness to touch and heal lepers (Mt 8). In fact, Jesus crossed over many of the cultural boundaries of his day. He dines with tax collectors. He forgives sinners. He lifts up and gives value to women. He praises the faith of gentiles. He lives out what it means to value each individual as created in the image of God and therefore valuable in God’s eyes.

Possibly more than anything else our society needs, is a deep need for the followers of Jesus to be like Jesus in this way. When the world around us seems to be demonizing people at every turn, we need to reach across the barriers and boundaries of our society and grant dignity, respect and love to the “unclean”. There is no one we are not to treat like Jesus. Love on another—your brothers and sister’s in Christ. Love your neighbor—Any other human created in the image of God with whom you interact. And just incase you think there is someone unworthy of this—Love your enemy. There is no other option.

Be careful with the way you talk to others, be careful with your social media posts. Be cautious and kind in your political conversations. Examine your heart—for out the heart a person speaks. If you have demeaned, shunned, or been unkind to anyone, ask for forgiveness and ask God to “create in you a clean heart”. Let’s be different, let’s be light to the world. The call to be like Jesus isn’t determined by which political party is in power. You know what? We are called to love them no matter whether we like their policies and personalities or not. Remember too, there are hurting, lonely, isolated people out there who need to be loved by Jesus through you. I know I have been on the wrong side of this so important issue for followers of Jesus, on an altogether too frequent number of times. Help me Jesus! Help us Jesus! Let’s go out and touch the unclean with Jesus!