Pastor's Corner: The Golden Rule

As Christians we have the opportunity, the right, and the responsibility to live a life pleasing to God. But so many times what we call pleasing to God is really about pleasing the status quo, our friends and family, our boss, our community, or ourselves. How do we know what God wants of you, or me?

The Bible helps us out; here are just two selections, one from Micah 6:8 “What does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.”

Or from Amos 5:14-15: “Seek good and not evil, that you may live; and so the Lord, the God of hosts will be with you. Hate evil and love good, and establish justice in the gate.”

What do you think good and evil, justice and kindness mean in God’s parlance? Think about the world we live in today.

In Montana and Wyoming same sex marriage is now legal. Churches have been talking about this topic for many years. God’s church is always asked to consider justice issues, and to live lives of kindness, with respect for all people.

How can we talk about this issue as the family members that we are in Christ? How can we look into the future, with discernment and wisdom, to decide what policies we should adopt? Moreover, how am I, or any pastor, to respond when a church member, or your children or your grand-children come for a same-sex wedding? Have you noticed that the issue is one thing, but practice is another thing altogether?

Some people say a church may lose members over a decision to perform these ceremonies. Others say a church will lose members if it doesn’t agree. This is another opportunity to find common ground, to deliberate respectfully and thoughtfully with an eye to all the members of the body of Christ. After all, we are not to judge who God’s children are.

I think the bottom line for us is this: how can we discuss this issue as children of God, saying only what we would be brave enough to say to someone’s face? After all, this isn’t just an abstract concept — it means a great deal, perhaps everything, to the people involved. It’s about more than marriage or love — it’s about God’s family. Consider how we can have this conversation.

Remember, it may be you or one of your relatives who will ask to be married. What shall we tell them? Will you agree to pray with me, asking God, not to show us if the attitude we already have is right, but to lead us into God’s will for ALL the people of God?

God is always at work around us doing new things through His age-old authority as Creator of the Universe. Remember the Golden Rule, Luke 6:31.

(Linda Rose is interim pastor of First Lutheran Church of Havre.)