From the dais rang words of condemnation and retribution!
From the pulpit words of hell fire and brimstone rained down on
our young heads!
We were:
Dammed to
hell,
Born
out of sin,
Forgotten
by God,
Destined for
eternal torment,
Unless we
repented that very moment!
Falling
on our knees and
praying
that our Lord forgive us our sinful nature!
Well you bet we all got up off our chairs, and ran to the
front crying for forgiveness - we ran out of fear of a God that was going to
strike us down that very minute because we were not like the blessed, whoever
they were.
Then when there was no holy fire, no lighting, no sudden assentation
either to heaven or to hell, we were left confused, embarrassed and angry. We had been tricked.
This experience as a child visiting in a distant relative’s
church, left us filled with concern, worry and mortal fear.
Instead of finding a faith that lifted us up, that called us
to sit at Christ’s feet in love and encouragement, we were left crying in our
bedrooms overwhelmed by rules, and religious dogma.
This memory was brought to consciousness in today’s service
where we were reminded that Christ walks with us each day in love through the people we
will meet.
That we are the works of God’s own hand and thus we always walk
within God’s love and mercy, sinner and saved alike.
As an adolescent it was only when I understood that God loved
my uniqueness that my spiritual desire to follow and serve in love was born.
When I understood that it was not my sameness with others or my blind following of religious dogmas that was
desired of me that a faith based fear melted and I knew the unconditional love of my God.
I was made alive by my God, created with unique gifts and
abilities, with the potential to love and give back as I meet Christ daily in
the face of a crying child, the worry of an elderly woman, in the request for
help from a homeless youth.
It is not about the rules and dogma it is about love, every
child knows this.
Grandma Snyder
©2013-2016 twosnydergirls
Lectionary readings Genesis
18:20-32, Psalm 138, Colossians 2:6-15, (16-19), Luke 11:1-3
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