"Whoever says, 'I am in the light,' while hating a brother or sister, is still in the darkness. Whoever loves a brother or sister lives in the light, and in such a person there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates another believer is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and does not know the way to go, because the darkness has brought on blindness." (1 John 2:9-11)
Presbyteries, the regional governing bodies of the PC(USA), are nearing the ends of votes on whether the ratify a change to our constitution that would remove an ordination requirement that church officers be either chaste in singleness or faithful within a marriage between a man and woman. While the current rule obviously bans from office singles who are sexually active, the real intent of the requirement is to keep out gays and lesbians who are in relationships.
This question of who may be ordained has raged in our denomination for years now, and it can be terribly contentious. There are people of deep and committed faith on both sides of the issue, and it can be all too easy, not only to disagree, but also to feel a deep loathing for those who cannot see what is so obvious to me. People on both sides of the issue can fall into a downright nastiness toward their opponents, which begs the question of how the reading from 1 John applies. And I don't think an easy out can be found by claiming that my opponents have so badly misunderstood scripture that they shouldn't be categorized as "believers."
Love is easy when we all agree, but what about when we don't, and especially when our disagreements are about things that are very important to us? And for that matter, what about loving our enemies as Jesus calls us to do?
Lord, show me how to love.
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