The quote from Gandhi

Yesterday, someone submitted this comment:

"I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ." Gandhi

Folks, this is posted from a friend I went to school with years ago.  We shared a religion class together and did a paper on this quotation.  She lives in upstate New York now, and she and her partner are collaborating on a book I am currently authoring.  Both of them are in collegiate education and are engaged with Soulforce. As I’ve fought discrimination in its various forms over the years, I’ve often referred to this Gandhi quote from the late '40s.  What a beautiful understanding this man had.  

The quotation tells us several things.  First is the amazing perfection and grace of Christ and how His influence shapes the lives of so many not necessarily affiliated with our faith.  The second speaks to the issue of how we as Christians so often miss this lesson and venture out in our own directions, away from His teachings.  Third, Gandhi so subtly admonishes us to be more Christlike in our lives.

The significance here, of course, is specific to our family’s current spiritual crisis.  The question is,  "What would Jesus do?" I believe that My Lord and Savior would welcome us all into his ministry in various ways.  For us to judge others is to violate one of his teachings.

I further feel that this is what our leadership would have us do here.  In leaving ELCA, we will be making a statement, and I do not believe that it is the statement we wish to make.  I view it as a statement of exclusion and discrimination, so much unlike our Christ.  I have been a part of the fight for human justice for many years.  This is not unlike so many situations I have seen before.  What we need is to learn how the scripture and Our Lord and Savior teach us about these issues, and listen to those who have opposing viewpoints to show us the possibilities of the Glory of the scripture. 

When all avenues have been explored and complete knowledge is available to us all, then we can choose the faith-based direction that best serves us all!  To date we have not enjoyed this knowledge, and before we race away from that which we know, into something not yet defined, we need to take a breath and trust our Lord and Savior to point each of us in the right direction.  A path without educated decision is a perilous path indeed.

Let's make our voices heard at the second congregational ballot.  Please remember to vote your conscience.  Yours in the service of Christ, Tom