Daily Prayer - 01/10/2011

Poured Out for All

(Even You)

44 Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message.45 The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles, too.46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter asked,47 “Can anyone object to their being baptized, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?”48 So he gave orders for them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Afterward Cornelius asked him to stay with them for several days.

Acts 10:44-48 (NLT)

 In this day and time much has been written about the life of “hospitality” in our churches, and the importance of it in welcoming visitors of all kinds into our congregations. This “hospitality” has become the fervent issue of many of our church studies and efforts today. And rightly so, I believe; for the church can be, and still is in many ways, a very exclusive gathering of folks who, despite all the talk, really want things to remain the way they always have been, for only God knows how long. Too many of us certainly like to see newcomers into our places of worship; but, really only if they are like us.

Of course such is not new. This passage from the Book of Acts appears to show that this whole exclusionary thing may have had its roots even in the very earliest church. It seems the ink on the incorporation papers had not even dried yet and the first mass of disciples were already at odds with each other about who could, or could not, socialize with this freshly minted crowd of Christ-followers. The tax collectors were certainly “out”, as were probably the prostitutes, pimps and the rest of the deadbeats of society.  In fact, all non-card carrying Jewish folks – the dreaded, “what-do-they-know” Gentiles – didn’t stand a chance in hell of signing up with this ragged band of the first followers of the resurrected Jesus. In short, this fledgling resemblance of the first church was a pretty outright exclusionary crew of congregants; at least at first, until God decided to enter the picture and to stir the pot a bit.

Poor Peter (remember, he gave up everything to follow Jesus; family, friends, career, and a promising position in fish futures) was up on his soapbox doing his best to get the locals to comprehend this Jesus story which he had witnessed. Not sure how it was going for him, but, God decided to add some icing to Peter’s efforts by sending the Holy Spirit to fire up the crowd a bit. No reports of dancing flames here, but still enough excitement to show that Peter was on the right track with his message that day. If Peter’s homily wasn’t enough to arouse the throng of listeners, then God’s side-display being poured out on everyone present sure got their attention. So much so, that … “The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles, too.”

On those GENTILES, too. What kind of God was this that even they were included in this fold of folks whom Jesus came for, and loved, and died for? This was hospitality at its finest; a welcoming of anyone into the congregation of faithful. All were to be included in God’s yearnings for creation. The invitation to come back next Sunday wasn’t just for those first-disciple wannabes, or to just those who contributed to the offering plates, but was extended to any and all who would accept the invite to be a part of God’s evolving Kingdom here on earth.

That outpouring should be a sign of how we should approach the strangers that grace our church doors, too. It doesn’t matter that they are not just like us, do not have the same political leanings as we do, or have not been a part of our church for several generations or more. It doesn’t matter that their Sunday attire is not like ours (I have a preference for jeans, myself), or that they can’t fill the church coffers as we can. None of that matters. They all (we all) have had the Holy Spirit poured out on us (if only we would open our eyes and ears, and sit up and take notice), and they should be received with our open arms of Christian love. So much so, that we would be tripping over ourselves to baptize them into this ever diverse family of Christ; to rub elbows with them as we drop to our knees in prayer together; to literally embrace them, and their differences. Just as Jesus embraced each of us, with all our faults, as he opened wide his arms to accept the fate of the cross.

Ahhhhh. Hospitality at its finest.

Almighty God, Eternal Christ – fill me with your Spirit; that I may be open to all around me. Open my eyes that I may see my neighbor for who they are – a precious child of yours – and treat them all as my precious sisters/brothers. Shape my life, I humbly, and urgently pray, that I may be a vessel of your hospitality always; to everyone, everywhere.

Amen.

Rev. Michael Kirchhoff