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October 3 is World Communion Sunday. It is a day in which Christians all around the world note that we are one in the Spirit and we are one in God's love. Christians are reminded of God's presence when we take and eat the bread and when we receive the cup. If we truly understand God is with us and God loves us then we are apt to reflect that love to everyone we encounter. We will have open minds, open hearts, and open doors. We will include everyone in our fellowship if we understand God loves us.
It is interesting that in this very same month on the eve of All Saints Day, October 31, we recognize Reformation Sunday. In 1517, Martin Luther published his Ninety-five Theses on the wooden door of Castle Church in Wittenberg. He saw a need for reform in the Catholic Church. He merely intended to debate the issues in a scholarly arena. He never intended that there should be the great division into denominations as we see now.
Luther understood communion was of crucial importance for the people to remember God's presence and love. So, Martin Luther took a chance and stood up for those who were excluded: the least, the last, and the lost. He was considered an impertinent upstart friar by his leaders. Pope Leo and Emperor Maximilian both wanted Luther silenced. Luther wanted the church to be more open and inclusive as he understood Christ Jesus' message to require.
In the 1730's, John Wesley saw a need for reform in the Anglican Church of England. He never desired a new denomination to emerge. He remained an Anglican priest his entire life. He wanted to bring the sacraments to the disenfranchised. He wanted all of God's children to be included in God's church. He understood the Gospel was to include everyone and not just a privileged few. Martin Luther and John Wesley sound much like the great reformer Christ Jesus who preached in the meadows in Israel long ago. Christ Jesus lived and died as a faithful Jewish person. Christ Jesus reached out to all people and the religious leaders rejected his good news. In Luke 4:18-19, Jesus says "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." These are powerful words. We must heed this call.
If we take Scriptures seriously then we must act accordingly. This is why I preach about Social Justice. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me too. I take the Scriptures seriously for all of our sake. We are looking at a new time of discord in the Church. People are being excluded once again or should I say still. Our national slogan says that the people of the United Methodist Church have "Open minds, Open hearts, Open doors." Is this true for us today?
If this is true as I hope and pray it is then we need to have open conversations so that all people may be included. One point that I thought was wonderful about the church is that in the "United Methodist Book of Discipline" there is written that the United Methodist Church is an inclusive church. I may have been naive to take that statement at face value. Are most people aware of what we say in the "United Methodist Book of Discipline" in our "Social Principles?"
Are we an inclusive church?
Do we have "Open minds, Open hearts, and Open Doors?"
Let it be so.
Shalom,
Susan
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