We all know this, those of us who serve in public ministry. But we also struggle with the very human desire to be liked and admired. I want this, too. But with the passage of time and the blowing of the Holy Spirit through my life, I also hope to proclaim the gospel boldly enough to provoke those who are firmly mired in self-serving beliefs that oppose the gospel.
Lest I sound self-righteous, let me be very clear that I, too, live and act in ways that are self-serving. But I don’t believe that my self-serving attitudes are admirable or desirable. Each day I struggle with the sin of self-preservation that comes at the expense of others. And I do not seek to pass judgment on others who are also struggling with these attitudes.
What IS unsettling, however, is being confronted with hostility from a member of my congregation because I dared to preach the truth- that Jesus expects us to protect and care for the most vulnerable and the poorest in our midst.
The current budget wranglings going on in our federal legislature are going beyond making cuts to balance the budget to the extreme of targeting programs that serve the poorest and most vulnerable in our country and our world, while increasing military spending and continuing to provide tax shelters and protection to help the wealthiest among us to hold on to as much of their wealth as possible.
See Jim Wallis’ post at Sojourners
Or David Beckman’s blog at:
Fast, Pray, and Protect Programs for the Poor
I preached about this on Sunday. I told my congregation that we have a responsibility as followers of Jesus to tell our congress how we want OUR money spent, and that cutting programs to care for the poorest and most vulnerable is unacceptable.
And one of my members (with cowardly anonymity) placed a note in the offering plate denouncing me for promoting my political views (was I running for re-election? this person asked), observed that it was no wonder we were losing members (personal note: has this person noticed how many funerals I have done in the past 3 years?) and ended with “God bless America!”
I grieve most that this person chose to not reveal their identity, so there is no place to begin a dialogue. But I rejoice that I have preached boldly enough to provoke a reaction. I can hope that others were discomfited enough to raise questions and hear my own discomfort at the personal realization that I fall far short of walking the way of Jesus, too.
I left the pulpit this week with my popularity, such as it is, in shreds. But there is a part of me that rejoices that this is so, for I believe I preached the truth and that is far more important.
