Romans 2:5-11
You’re not getting by with anything. Every refusal and avoidance of God adds fuel to the fire. The day is coming when it’s going to blaze hot and high, God’s fiery and righteous judgment. Make no mistake: In the end you get what’s coming to you—Real Life for those who work on God’s side, but to those who insist on getting their own way and take the path of least resistance, Fire!
If you go against the grain, you get splinters, regardless of which neighborhood you’re from, what your parents taught you, what schools you attended. But if you embrace the way God does things, there are wonderful payoffs, again without regard to where you are from or how you were brought up. Being a Jew won’t give you an automatic stamp of approval. God pays no attention to what others say (or what you think) about you. He makes up his own mind.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
The news media is reporting that Peter Stefan, a funeral director for Graham Putnam & Mahoney Funeral Parlors in Worcester, Massachusetts, cannot find a cemetery that will permit the burial of Boston bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev. Stefan’s funeral home has prepared Tsarnaev’s body for a Muslim burial (the tenets of Islam forbid cremation), but no one will help them find a plot for interment. According to Josh Slocum, executive director of the Funeral Consumers Alliance, Stefan is known for giving a proper sendoff to those who are downtrodden or scourged by society. Slocum said, “"He was the only one who would bury gay men dead of AIDS back in the 80s. He did funerals for slain prostitutes that everyone else treated like some sort of subhuman trash.” And now, Stefan wants someone to come forward and help him bury an alleged terrorist.
We have to ask ourselves, “What would Jesus do?” And if we are Disciples of Christ, what should we do? “But this man was involved in the killing of three people and the wounding of more than 200,” you are probably saying. “He doesn’t deserve a ‘decent burial’.” I heard someone say that they lost any sense of compassion for this man when they saw the photos of him apparently placing a deadly bomb next to 8-year-old Martin Richard, knowing that little Martin’s life would be taken. “Who does that?!” this person asked me. And I agree… this is incomprehensible. But how many of us have looked the other way as young children went hungry or were mistreated… perhaps even abused? How many of us have looked at a court system overflowing with foster children in need of services and walked away, saying, “That’s not my problem!”?
Do you see that this is not about whether someone is Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Atheist, Hindu or any other non-Christian religion? Do you see that it’s not even about the horrific crime of setting off a bomb in a crowd of onlookers at a major event? Jesus didn’t say, “Only love other Christians and treat them as you would wish to be treated.” He told us to love.one.another and do.unto.others.as.you.would.have.them.do.unto.you! Most of us would bury a stray animal we found in our yard… so why would we not bury a known terrorist? I totally understand that the burial of this young man will likely spark at least the potential for a media circus... as well as protests and vandalism at the cemetery where his body is laid to rest. And I would not wish that on the cemeteries where my loved ones are buried. So I do understand that there is a "public dilemma" here. But there has to be a way to handle this with human dignity and Christian compassion. How do you look the other way when you see someone who is hungry, cold, frightened, sick, hurting, or otherwise in need? How do you square that with God on Judgment Day?
This is really not about the Boston bombing and its principals… nor do I mean to spark an argument about who and what are right in this particular situation. My bigger argument is that we cannot pick and choose. We can’t make excuses based on our parentage, where and how we grew up, or what our socio-economic status was – or is today. We can’t claim, “Do you know who I am?” or even “Do you know what I’ve been through and where I came from?” and then live as we please. We can’t pick and choose who to help in the name of Jesus. It is not up to us to decide who is important or deserving… or when it is comfortable and convenient for us to serve. What we are called to decide is to get up off our duffs and minister wherever and however God calls us!
I believe God can take even the most heinous situation and use it for His glory. So let’s take this tragic bombing and the subsequent fallout and examine our own lives and Discipleship. Let’s ask ourselves, am I a “selective Christian” who only serves those who appeal to me – and only when it’s convenient? Or am I so focused on serving God that no opportunity to do so seems too great or small… too ugly or distasteful… too annoying or bothersome? Clearly, Peter Stefan understands that God has called him to serve others at the end of their lives. He can do nothing for the young bomber who has died… but his acts of love, grace and mercy might be the very example that brings others to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. And we cannot discount the potential for victory in this!
When I was teaching Jr. High Sunday school, my students used to get upset with me because I said that all who invite Jesus into their hearts will be with Him for Eternity. “Oh, surely you don’t mean tyrants like Hitler and Saddam Hussein!” they would say. My response was… “Remember the thief on the cross. If those men gave their hearts to Jesus before they died, I believe that you will see them someday in heaven!” The students were mortified! And I think we will be surprised at a few of the people we see (and don’t see) in heaven!
We will also be surprised at some of the questions God asks us about how we served in this earthly life! Excuses will not be tolerated. We will have none that are acceptable. It is up to us to make the choice now to listen closely to what God is telling us…and to serve Him exactly as He directs. And that includes showing love, grace and mercy to all whom He has created, regardless of their faith and/or “station” in life. When you stand before God and answer for your Discipleship, what will you have to say for yourself? What will God have to say to you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
No comments:
Post a Comment