December 17, 2024 – Stuff That Needs To Be Said: Essential Words on Life, Death, Faith, Politics, Love, and Giving a Damn

“I believe we should protect the planet. I believe everyone deserves healthcare. I believe all religions are equally valid. I believe the world is much bigger than America. I believe to be “pro-life” means to treasure its entire spectrum. I believe whiteness isn’t superior—that it is not the baseline of humanity. I believe we are all one interdependent community. I believe people and places are made better by diversity.” (Pavlovitz, John. Stuff That Needs To Be Said: Essential Words on Life, Death, Faith, Politics, Love, and Giving a Damn (pp. 76-77). John Pavlovitz. Kindle Edition.)

“About noon the next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while it was being prepared he fell into a trance. He saw the heaven opened and something like a large sheet coming down, being lowered to the ground by its four corners. In it were all kinds of four-footed creatures and reptiles and birds of the air. Then he heard a voice saying, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat.” But Peter said, “By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything that is profane or unclean.” The voice said to him again, a second time, “What God has made clean, you must not call profane.” Acts 10:9-15

“What God has made clean you must not call profane.”

In Hebrew, “clean” is translated as “ṭahor” — and “unclean” is translated as “ṭame”. These words are particularly relevant in Jewish tradition, where specific laws regarding “clean” and “unclean” foods and practices existed and still exist today.  This teaching and understanding is so important and relevant for us today – in a world where we hear so many religious folks and politicians and others who want to draw a distinction between people. We dehumanize people so much because of the way they look, talk, and worship – especially when they do not look, talk or worship like us. Politicians tell us we have to keep “those people” out of our country – really making a distinction between a 21^st century idea of clean and unclean.

John Pavlovitz says in his book Stuff That Needs To Be Said that he believes that people and places are made better by diversity, not worse. I believe this is what Jesus teaches. He was always reaching out to people their society called unclean. He touched and healed lepers, dined with Simon the leper, healed a woman with a bleeding disorder, interacted with women and ate with tax collectors. All of these people were considered “Tame” (unclean) in their society. Jesus did not say that their society was better without the “Tame” – he welcomed them and made them whole. Why shouldn’t we do the same?

Why shouldn’t we do the same…..

Pastor Dave