What is Holy and Clean?

Jesus’ message about the expanding neighborhood was challenging even in his time.  On the day of his ‘inaugural speech,’ in his own hometown, he almost immediately got into trouble.

At first it was going well.  ‘Isn’t this Jesus?  Joseph and Mary’s son?  Look how he’s grown, how well-spoken he is.’ . . . .

And then Jesus had to go and spoil a good thing.  ‘Oh, you thought this message was for you?’ he asked. ‘God has a record of reaching beyond us to people we don’t even like. . . .  This message goes way beyond just us.’ . . . .

God’s love is for all God’s children.  Those who got the message first, who have the privilege of experiencing God’s love early, now have the opportunity to love God back by loving God’s other children.  These early adopters discover their true humanity as children of God as they reach out in self-giving love even to strangers, as they expand the ‘neighborhood,’ extending the community of care.  True, such expressions of God’s love change the original community, often challenging the community with unwanted transformation.

Such transformation can also be life itself.

—Sharon Watkins, Whole: A Call to Unity in Our Fragmented World
God continually challenges our preconceived notions about what is holy and clean, acceptable and blessed.  The reality is that God is at work in ways—and with people—we might never imagine.  Our work is to trust it.  To watch for it.  To live into it.  To find ways to “expand the neighborhood.”  We have no business calling into question the complex and multifarious beauty of God’s creation.  Our work is to respond to it.  To nurture it.  To love it.     

And this is also the ongoing work of the Church.  We are called to trust, watch for, and live into a radically alternative, inclusive social vision that values the beauty and worth of every human being and all of creation.  This is the vision Jesus proclaimed.  He boldly called us toward community characterized by authentic compassion, mercy, and grace for everyone.
   
As we talked about last Sunday, what God makes clean, we must not consider anything else.  This is the heart of the good news.  We are each good and acceptable to God.  We are each loved, prized, and adored, despite our shortcomings, our backgrounds, our beliefs, our life circumstances.  And we must, in turn, extend that love, acceptance, and blessing to others.  Whatever someone’s sexuality, politics, religion, income, we are all beloved children of God.  It serves no one to relegate ourselves or others to “in” or “out,” saved or not, clean or unclean, with or against.  We are all on this journey together. 

And despite my temptation to exclude someone because of a perceived—or actual—difference, the reality is that my wellbeing is dependent upon your wellbeing.  Period. 
   
God truly is at work in ways—and with people—we might never imagine.  We are called to trust, watch for, and live into a radically alternative, inclusive social vision that values the beauty and worth of every human being and all of creation.

See you in church,
Christy