It’s one of my favorite Bible verses and I return to it often, especially when I need perspective on what the church should look like—not the building we sometimes call the church, but the real church: all of you who are reading this.
Then Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.”—Acts 10:34-35
Peter, the leader of Jesus’ disciples, had been struggling with what the church should look like. Should it just be the Jews, or the people who just ate certain foods, or followed certain rules? Is that what the Bible says?
Peter loved his Bible and he thought he knew his Bible, and bless his heart for it. But he didn’t truly understand his Bible yet. He thought his Bible said that only one kind of people is acceptable to God. He had forgotten that passage from Deuteronomy that says,
For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who is not partial and takes no bribe, who executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and who loves the strangers, providing them food and clothing. — Deuteronomy 10:17-18
During our Lenten program, Our Lenten Table, we are going to explore what the church looks like. Our Open and Affirming statement announces that our church embraces differences in age, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, ethnicity, nationality, socio-economic status, and physical, emotional, and mental capability. Throughout Lent we will explore that diversity. We will host programs on disabilities, aging, mental health, sexual identity, and embracing people of other faiths. The programs will be either on Sundays or Wednesdays and will usually include sharing a meal. I hope you will join your church at Our Lenten Table.
Then Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.”—Acts 10:34-35
Peter, the leader of Jesus’ disciples, had been struggling with what the church should look like. Should it just be the Jews, or the people who just ate certain foods, or followed certain rules? Is that what the Bible says?
Peter loved his Bible and he thought he knew his Bible, and bless his heart for it. But he didn’t truly understand his Bible yet. He thought his Bible said that only one kind of people is acceptable to God. He had forgotten that passage from Deuteronomy that says,
For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who is not partial and takes no bribe, who executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and who loves the strangers, providing them food and clothing. — Deuteronomy 10:17-18
During our Lenten program, Our Lenten Table, we are going to explore what the church looks like. Our Open and Affirming statement announces that our church embraces differences in age, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, ethnicity, nationality, socio-economic status, and physical, emotional, and mental capability. Throughout Lent we will explore that diversity. We will host programs on disabilities, aging, mental health, sexual identity, and embracing people of other faiths. The programs will be either on Sundays or Wednesdays and will usually include sharing a meal. I hope you will join your church at Our Lenten Table.
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