On Saturday, I enjoyed the opportunity, a first in my life, to join with a Methodist pastor and a Jewish Rabbi to conduct a wedding! Rabbi Josh is an amazing man, reaching far out the norm and beyond his comfort zone to help a Jewish dad and mom deal with the emotions surrounding their daughter’s choices; first to be baptized as a Christian and them, to marry a Christian man. At their wedding which we celebrated on Saturday, peace and joy reigned during the God-honoring ceremony. And, best of all, I am certain I sensed the smile of my Heavenly Father!
In earlier communications, Rabbi Josh mentioned that many within his tradition are very disparaging of his willingness to reach out in this way. I’m certain that not a few of my own colleagues may consider me misguided in my willingness to do this wedding, too. But, integrity was paramount on Saturday. Instead of each of us diluting his own tradition to try to find some ‘common’ ground, as is so often done in well-intentioned searches for unity; we each held our faith high. I prayed in Jesus’ Name, not be to insensitive, but to remain true to my convictions. Rabbi Josh prayed in Hebrew and read from the Song of Songs, as he wore his prayer shawl. And, yes, I am certain that the Lord smiled!
Might we have found a little way to practice what God speaks of in Psalm 133? There we read,
“How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!
It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron’s beard, down upon the collar of his robes.
It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion.
For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore." (Psalm 133, NIV)
The key is peace – be it in religion or family – is ACCEPTANCE, which is not the same as APPROVAL! Do I approve of every tradition of Judaism? Of course not, for I am a Christian. Does Rabbi Josh approve of everything that I believe? Of course not, for he is Jewish. But, we share a common love of humanity and a desire for peace, which allows us to be different and yet to work together to bring joy to a family that is wrestling with change. I don’t have all the answers to the questions raised by this effort, but I know what I felt in that Methodist church was the work of the Spirit of the Lord!
Jesus said that peace-makers would be blessed for they would be called the children of God! (Matthew 5:9) In The Message it reads: “You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family."
Mark Batterson, in his new book, Primal, Multnomah, 2009, writes that “Christianity has a perception problem. … The simple fact is that Christians are more known for what we’re against than what we are for. … We’re quick to point out what’s wrong with our culture.” If we are constantly in a combative position, we will find ourselves walled in, unable to reach out to our friends and family with the Great News about the love of Jesus Christ. Are you building walls or bridges?
This Christmas Season, as your extended family gathers, when the goofy uncle shows up, or the parent who stresses you calls to announce her arrival, pray for the gift of making peace, the ability to get past your personal desires, to be a builder of bridges between people. When you feel the urge to criticize or correct, think twice; pray three times, before opening your mouth once! It may be what is needed is a great deal of ACCEPTANCE, that affirms the worth of the person before you attempt to correct what you believe is wrong about them.
Make peace-making a priority: and, if you do this, I believe you will sense the smile of God! Here’s a word from the Word that is our holy calling.
"So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. (made us peace-makers!)
We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God." (2 Corinthians 5:16-20, NIV)
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