Tag Archives: Globalization

Being Gate Openers

Eastertide

May 2, 2020

Scripture Reading: John 10:1-10

‘Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.’ Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. –John 10:1-6

Jesus opened the gate so that all could come in. There is much talk in our world today about the integrity of globalism.  Watching the spread of the COVID 19 virus assures us that globalism is a necessity whether we like it or not. The impact of climate change has illustrated that reality for some time but perhaps not in severe enough terms to get our attention.  Followers of Christ have known it for 2000 years when we were instructed to go into all the world sharing the good news of Jesus Christ*.

There are no borders in the Kingdom of God. When I heard on the news that some want China to pay for our COVID 19 expenses, I wondered how quickly the USA would pick up the tab for other nations trying to recover from a pandemic outbreak that started here.

The greatest good that could result from this pandemic is that we take seriously our need to open the gate and recognize that we need to share God’s love for and with our neighbors near and far.

Prayer: God of all Creation, help us become gate openers toward welcoming all your children to your table. Amen.

*See Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19 All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Christ Globalized

riostatue-e1358907936579Epiphany
January 9, 2017

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 49:1-7

And now the Lord says,
   who formed me in the womb to be his servant,
to bring Jacob back to him,
   and that Israel might be gathered to him,
for I am honored in the sight of the Lord,
   and my God has become my strength—
he says,
‘It is too light a thing that you should be my servant
   to raise up the tribes of Jacob
   and to restore the survivors of Israel;
I will give you as a light to the nations,
   that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.’ –Isaiah 49:5-6

For some in our culture today the word “Globalization” is at least to be feared at worst a dirty word. Our call as God’s people serving the entire world is ancient. We were called to be trendsetters in sharing the love of God with all people from early times. Isaiah reminds us of that in our scripture today. It is too light a thing for our work to be limited to our tribe, our nation.

At least a small thread of the church universal has woven the call to reach the ends of the earth with Jesus’ message since its inception. The apostle Thomas took Jesus seriously when he said Go into all the world and carried Christ’s love to India. Jesuit priest carried the love of Christ to the Americas at times in defiance of the desires of their hierarchy. Methodist missionaries served the tribes removed by our government to what is now Oklahoma from their native spaces.

I doubt there are many places on this earth that do not know the name Jesus or the group Christian. Our purpose today is helping all understand our call is love, not power or greed or forcing our culture on others in the name of Christ. To be successful, we must take on the whole garment* of Christ and let his live shine through us.

Prayer: Lord, become our strength as we deal with our unfounded fears. Let your strength infuse our whole beings when we do face danger in your service. Help us lift our drooping hands and strengthen our weak knees**. Amen.

*Relates to Galatians 3:27
**Relates to Hebrews 12:12

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized 
Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council 
of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.