Faithfulness

I was glancing at blogs today -- I haven't really been reading them while I'm on vacation -- and I stopped to read the Smallest Angel's post. She was writing about intolerance.

• What does it say about us that we applaud the denial of membership to a gay man to one of our churches?
• What does it say about us that we turn away a pregnant woman from the City Mission?
• What does it say about us that we turn away a man from the Mission because of the way he is dressed?
• What does it say about us that we fail to show love and acceptance to those who most need a witness to the accepting love of Christ?

I think it says that which we already know -- that the man rejected by his church, that the pregnant woman, that the "poorly dressed" man are not the only ones who need the forgiveness and grace of Christ. We all do.

It says to me that we can't forget that the church is a gathering of sinners. We need to reach out to those who are marginalized, but we also need to remember to reach out in love to each other. Apparently God is not finished with any of us yet.

What does that have to do with faithfulness?

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1)
Faithfulness -- the ability to be certain that God can work through you and me -- even though we are broken and sinful. Faithfulness -- the hope that while trying to show love and tolerance to those who are unlike us that we will be able to find healing for ourselves as well.

Image: The view from the Sea Captain's House at breakfast yesterday.