Journey to the Cross - Lenten Reflection ~ Real Truth and Real Freedom

"As he was saying these things, many believed in him. So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." - John 8:30-32 ESV

            If there is one thing that I heard over and over in my 8 years of teaching in a private Christian school, it is that all truth is God’s Truth.  I also heard over and over that Truth (with a capital T) has nothing to fear from investigation.  Both of these axioms come from a quote from Augustine of Hippo, “A person who is a good and true Christian should realize that truth belongs to his Lord, wherever it is found, gathering and acknowledging it even in pagan literature, but rejecting superstitious vanities and deploring and avoiding those who 'though they knew God did not glorify him as God.”  So I get that God’s is seen in everything that is true, but how is that going to set me free?  The Greek word here that has been translated as truth is ἀλήθεια (alētheia) which has several meanings both for subjective and objective truth.  I believe that the word is meant to mean the truth as taught in the Christian religion, respecting God and the execution of his purposes through Christ, and respecting the duties of man, opposing alike to the superstitions of the Gentiles and the inventions of the Jews, and the corrupt opinions and precepts of false teachers even among Christians.  All of that to say that what Christ came to earth to accomplish is the Truth (with a capital T.)  His atoning work, which we reflect on in this season of Lent, is that which will set us free from the separation and bondage of sin, and opens us up to the give of eternal life through Christ.  

Journey to the Cross: Lenten Reflections ~ Hebews 3:1-11

Today’s Lectionary Reading includes the following reading from the Book of Hebrews.

Hebrews 3:1-11 ESV – Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God's house. For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses--as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.) Now Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, but Christ is faithful over God's house as a son. And we are his house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope. Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness, where your fathers put me to the test and saw my works for forty years. Therefore I was provoked with that generation, and said, 'They always go astray in their heart; they have not known my ways.' As I swore in my wrath, 'They shall not enter my rest.'"

            In the past several months, I have been pondering what it means to be called by God.  I know that all people have a threefold calling:

1.      Each person is called to accept the salvation by grace given to us through the atoning act of Christ’s incarnation, life, crucifixion, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension. 

2.      Each person is called to a vocation (not a career) that God specifically prepares them to do.  This is not a job, but an act of service to God.

3.      Everyone is called to something in the immediate present – your, church, family, circle of influence.  What does God have for you right now?

As much as I am sure that God has called me to be a minister, I am not sure what mode it will take.  I think I am supposed to be a chaplain, but is that because I like the idea of the chaplaincy, or is it really God’s call.  I guess that God will open the doors for me, and if I am supposed to be in the Navy, I will make it into the program, pass the medical, get endorsed, and every other of the seemingly endless things that have to be filled out before I get commissioned.  I do know, however, that if the chaplaincy is not my calling, I will be a minister.  It is my vocational calling. 

            I find the contrast between Moses and Jesus to be expected.  Jesus was greater than Moses? No way!!  But then I have to remember, that the people to whom this book was written were Hebrews, and Moses and the Mosaic Covenant were pretty much the gold standard for religious excellent.  So now, the Apostle Paul, or whomever you believe to be the writer to the Hebrews, has to remind the people that, “Yeah, Moses did a pretty good job as the mouthpiece of God, but Jesus was God incarnate. 

            Do we boast in our Hope?    A. R. Fausset says that “boasting in our hope” is believing that which we hope for (eternal union with God) has already come to pass.  When I doubt my calling, or when I don’t know what to do, I am supposed to rejoice that I have the gift of everlasting life, and be confident in the promises of God.  Not that everything will be easy, but that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love him, and are called according to his purpose.

Journey to the Cross: Lenten Reflection ~ Parental Sacrifice

          The Lenten season was designed to help Christians prepare for the coming Easter season.  One of the vehicles for that preparation is a reflection of the sacrifices that Christ gave during the Passion Week.  An obvious one is the gift of his own, human life.  That God incarnate would come to earth, and suffer the most horrible torture that the Roman Empire could devise is cause for us not only to be grateful, but for us to prepare ourselves to make sacrifices in the service of our God.  However, Christ was not the only one who sacrificed.  God the Father, also gave is only son so that whoever would believe in him would not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)  Parents are the ultimate model for sacrifice.  Starting when a child is first conceived, the mother’s body begins to sacrifice nutrients and its own needs in order to provide for the growing fetus.  After not too long, the mother’s body begins to develop morning sickness and many mothers have to sacrifice their breakfasts, lunch, and dinners to the porcelain god to keep the fetus safe.  Once the baby is born, parent’s worlds change forever.  They must give up sleep, time, money, and any sense of a social life that they used to have, in order that their child is cared for and protected.  We think that once a child reaches the age of adulthood, that they can care for themselves, and that the parents work of sacrificing for the child is finished.  That is just not so.  Once a parent becomes a grandparent they are often called upon to babysit and do many other things that are necessary for their children and grandchildren.

            Once a parent goes through all that hard work, the idea that they could ever give up their own child is almost unbelievable   Yet, of you believe in Covenant Theology, it was the agreement that the Father had with Christ from before the beginning of the earth.  Jesus would be the redeemer of the lost.  Human relationships are imperfect and corrupt.  The relationship between the Trinity is perfect and divine.  Imagine the feeling of giving up someone whom you have lived in perfect unity with for all of eternity, and for what???  So that we, a sinful, deprived people could be brought back into union with them, for eternity.  What a sacrifice!

          


 I am so thankful for the sacrifices of both my parents and my in-laws.  During this difficult transitional journey that Emily and I have been on, they have been nothing but supportive, financially, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  I am forever in your debt, and I hope that I can honor your sacrifices with the future work I do.  All four of you are my heros.  You exemplify the essence of Father God as you let your actions scream louder than your words.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Journey to the Cross: Lenten Reflections ~Christ as our Model for Fighting Temptation

During Lent, the season for self-denial, we often reflect of Christ’s sacrifice for us.  The story of Christ’s temptation in the desert is an excellent example of how Christ forego the use of his Godly attributes in order to complete his journey to the Cross.  In Luke 4 we read the narrative.

[After his baptism] Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished.  The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread."  Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'One does not live by bread alone.'"  Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world.  And the devil said to him, "To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please.  If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours."  Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.'"  Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, 'He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you,' and 'On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.'" Jesus answered him, "It is said, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.

            First, it is interesting to realize that Christ was my age when he began his earthly ministry.  He was baptized by his cousin, John, and before he began calling his disciples, healing the sick, and proclaiming that the kingdom of the LORD was as hand, he went into the desert where he fasted for 40 days before Satan came to tempt him..  The text says that he was led by the Holy Spirit to this temptation.  There are so many questions I have about this passage:

• What would have happened if Christ would have given in? 

I understand that he would have been committing a sin, and therefore tarnishing the whole plan for the covenant of redemption dating back before the creation of the world.  Demetrios Bathellos, in his essay “The Sinlessness of Christ” (Metzger, Paul Louis. Trinitarian Soundings in Systematic Theology. T & T Clark International, 2005) makes a pretty convincing argument that Christ was not capable of sinning while on earth.  “His unwavering stability in the good is an indispensable characteristic of his moral perfection – the possibility of opting for evil is a sign of moral weakness, to say the least.  However, in Christ there is no moral weakness whatsoever. Christ is free from both actual and potential sin."

I do not hold to this, primarily because of Hebrews 4:15 “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin.”  If it were impossible for Christ to sin, his temptation would have been meaningless and he could not have known what it is like to be tempted when the possibility of sinning is off the table. 

I feel that Christ models the way we should face temptation.  From him we see two key actions.

1.      Christ resists.  Having gone for 40 day without food must have been excruciating.  I personally have fasted for one week, and while after a couple of days you get really hungry, by day 5 or 6 you stop having stomach aches and hunger pains.  The real danger is that all you can think about it food.  Christ even at his weakest resisted the devil. 

2.      Christ combats the temptation by claiming the promises of scripture.  We to when faced with trials need to hold fast to the promises of the word of God.  That is why I think it is very important to teach our children the scripture, and have them memorize as much as they can.  Even King David knew the importance of biblical memorization.  Psalm 119:11 says Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.”

We will all face trials and temptations, probably nothing as difficult as Christ did, but in a digital age of excess and availability, there is a whole different amount of sin traps waiting to ensnare us.  My prayer for you is that you will stand firm, resist the devil, and be prepared to answer the false claims of evil with the promises found in scripture.  

Journey to the Cross: Lenten Reflections ~ Like Lambs in the midst of Wolves – Luke 10:1-9

              I have to be honest; I had never heard or read this passage of the Bible until about 2 weeks ago.  I was reading the Gospel of Luke in its entirety as research for a paper I was writing on the Theology of Chaplain ministry.  The Gospel of Luke records the most about Jesus’ ministry while he was on earth, and as I was reading, I had no recollection of ever hearing this story in Sunday school, taught from the pulpit, or reading it on my own.  Several things stuck out to me on which I thought I could reflect.

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. And he said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace be to this house!' And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you. And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick in it and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.' Luke 10:1-9 ESV

            First off all, this must have taken some planning on Jesus’ part.  I know that he is omniscient and omnipotent, but while on earth, he chose to deny himself use of those attributes, so I think he had to make a plan just like you or I would.  Who were these 72 people.  If 12 of them were the apostles, that leaves 60 other people who were vital to Christ’s ministry who have gone down in history as being unnamed.  Principle: Serving Christ does not always get you remembered, but we do it anyway. I wonder if he has specific duo’s in mind, if he numbered them off gym class style “1,2,1,2,1,2,1,2……” of his they got to choose.  It says that they went to all the cities that he was planning to minister in, so this shows that Jesus put forethought into his earthly ministry.  Principle: Have a plan, random ministry is rarely effective ministry.  Jesus sends them out saying “There is a lot of work to do, and not a lot of people to do it, oh yeah, you are going out as sheep with the wolves.”  I don’t know about you, but when I minister for Christ, I want to think that with Christ on my side, who can stand against me!!  But Jesus himself said, you are pretty much going to be helpless and vulnerable.  This reminds me of a quote from Henri Nouwen’s book In the Name of Christ.  In it he says of his ministry to the disabled people of Daybreak, one of the L’Arche Communities, “These broken, wounded, and completely unpretentious people forced me to let go of my relevant self and forced me to reclaim the unadorned in which I am completely vulnerable, open to receive and give love, regardless of any accomplishments.”  Ministry is not about what I can do, it is not about me at all, it is about the people to whom you minister, and ultimately about God.  Christ sent these 72 people out for the benefit of the people they were going to come in contact with.  I think it was also to stir up excitement for when Jesus did come to that town, people would want to see Jesus.  Take nothing with you – Translation: God will provide for your needs.  Speak to no one on the road – Translation: Go with a sense of purpose, and do not get distracted before you get to where HE has sent you.  Where ever the disciples went, they were to be peaceful.  Don’t stir up trouble, remember blessed are the peacemakers.  Eat what they give you – Be gracious and thankful. Heal the sick and proclaim the coming kingdom.  Christ gave them the gift of healing and they were to use it.  We are to use whatever gifts we have been given for his glory.  We are also to proclaim that Christ is coming back, and that he is coming soon.  

Go ye an do likewise - have a great weekend, and happy lentening.  

Journey to the Cross: Lenten Reflections - Atonement and Courage

I know that Lenten reflections are supposed to be somber, but I got a 94% on my Christian Theology exam today, so I am in a good mood.  One of the elements of the test was the doctrine of the atonement.  Differing theories and interpretations all trying to get the class to decide exactly what happened on the cross, and in turn, what we need to do about it.  It is interesting that one of the Lectionary readings for Ash Wednesday is 2^nd Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 which has a lot of ramifications on the atonement.

5:20b We entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

St. Paul is calling the people of Corinth to be reunited with God.  This reunion refers to the separation the happened in the Garden of Eden, and is only possible because of the atoning work of Christ. 

5:21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

The work of Christ on the cross is only possible because Jesus lived a sinless life.  All of humanity sins, and that is why we are separated from God (David recognized his depravity even in the womb – Psalm 51:5.)  Christ’s blamelessness made him the perfect sacrifice for to replace the punishment for our sin.  (I know this is steeped in Penal Substitution theory, and while I do not think it is the be all of atonement theories, it is the one that I have been brought up in, and I still don’t understand the rest.)

6:1 As we work together with him, we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain.

Because we have been given the gift that we don’t deserve, we cannot only accept it, but we must propagate the Truth to the world. 

6:2 For he says, "At an acceptable time I have listened to you, and on a day of salvation I have helped you." See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation!

What are you waiting for, today is the day you can be redeemed!!

6:3 We are putting no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry,

Paul says that we are not to be offensive in our ministry, because it can be discredited by people who are offended.  We are to be the image-bearers of Christ.  Along those lines, dare I say “What would Jesus do?”  Oftentimes, Jesus did the unpopular thing, but I don’t think his motives were ever to put obstacles in the way of those who were trying to reach communion with the Father.

6:4-7 but as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute.

Being the image-bearer of Christ is not going to be easy, in fact it is probably going to cost you a lot.  Christ came to earth to be a servant.  Servants do not have an easy life.  They are at the beck and call of their lord or lady, and when something goes wrong, they are usually the person to take the heat for it.  We as Christians need to prepare ourselves for this list of hardship in order to endure the long haul of ministry.  We also need to be smart, prepared, and ready to engage relationally with the people in our circle of influence so that we can be a light to others. 

6:8-10 We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet are well known; as dying, and see--we are alive; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

How many times do you feel like you are the only one who believe that things you believe?  Has the same convictions and faith that you do.  Just like the first century, the people of God will always be the minority until Christ’s return.  Take courage, your reward will be great.  When we have nothing that is when God can give us all we need.  When we cling to our own devices and possessions  we do not allow God to work in our lives.

Journey to the Cross: Lenten Reflections

Finding little inspiration for blogging today, and while I really should be studying for my Christian Theology II exam, I will make some reflections on the Lectionary reading from Matthew for Ash Wednesday. 

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
6:1 "Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.  [The whole point of this Lenten reflection blog is not  for people to read it and see how smart I am, but to engage with my journey to the cross]
6:2 "So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward.[In Scripture, there is nothing worse than a hypocrite.  Remember they are the ones who walk around with the logs in their own eyes]
6:3 But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
6:4 so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.[A little hyperbolic right, but the message is consistent.  Don’t let everyone know when you are helping someone out, you don’t need approval from them, God has got your back]
6:5 "And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward.[For the longest time, I never liked to pray in public, but associate pastor, I pray the invocation every Sunday.  I oftentimes am afraid of saying something dumb, or stumbling over my words, I am not doing it for a reward.]
6:6 But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
6:16 "And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward.
6:17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, [I remember I fasted for a week once, and I kept telling everyone about it.  That was a bad move I think on my part.  I should fast more.  We read about it in Spiritual Formation class, but I still have not got onboard with regular fasting]
6:18 so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
6:19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal;
6:20 but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal.
6:21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  [Earthly treasures pass away.  I am so concerned with our finances and provisions right now, it is almost unbearable.  I need to live into the reality that when I am concerned with money and “treasures” I am out of tune with the service of God.  I need to be listening more to the Holy Spirit and worrying less about temporal things.]

Lord, help me to focus my efforts on you.  Help me not to draw attention to myself, be allow me the grace and humility to be disciplined enough to allow your Spirit to work through me in these days of lent, and beyond.

Who's Cake Would Jesus Bake?

So, if you are not from Portland, it may be possible that you haven't heard about Wedding Cake-Gate 2013.    In case you need more details, you can read about the story here - http://www.oregonlive.com/gresham/index.ssf/2013/02/same-sex_couple_files_complain.html

The long and the short of it is that a bakery owner, who claims to be a Christian has refused to make a cake for a lesbian couples’ commitment ceremony.  I have been following this story pretty closely, and I have had to wrestle with my own convictions about what is going on and I have come to a couple of conclusions.  If you are interested, please, read on, but first a couple of disclaimers:

1. I am not going to comment on whether or not what the business owner did was legal.  I am not a lawyer or a judge, and I have no background in the law.
2. I am not arguing whether or not homosexuality is a sin.  I think that if you believe the Bible to be the inspired, inerrant word of God, you can make your own decision about it.
3. I am not arguing for or against standing up for what you believe in.  Believe me; I know all too well what trouble our convictions can get you in. (I may even get some push back about this very blog post.)

With that said, here we go!!

If you are a Bible believing Christian, it is hard to overlook the many passages in scripture that condemn homosexual acts. 

• ·         Leviticus 18:22 - "Do not practice homosexuality, having sex with another man as with a woman. It is a detestable sin." (NLT)
• ·         Leviticus 20:13 - "If a man practices homosexuality, having sex with another man as with a woman, both men have committed a detestable act. They must both be put to death, for they are guilty of a capital offense." (NLT)
• ·         1 Timothy 1:8-10 - Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine (ESV)
• ·         Jude 7 - And don't forget Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring towns, which were filled with immorality and every kind of sexual perversion. Those cities were destroyed by fire and serve as a warning of the eternal fire of God's judgment. (NIV)

There are more, but I think we get the point.  So, I understand where Mr. Aaron Klein is coming from when he says that same-sex marriage is against his Christian beliefs.  However, I wonder if he has contemplated how his actions reflect of other Christians, and God himself.  Is God giving Klein a standing ovation for sticking to his convictions?  It is very cliché to pose this question, but What Would Jesus Do? (WWJD?)  This question harkens back to middle school in the early ‘90’s when all the “Christian kids” would wear the bracelets that were meant to be a reminder that our actions and words were a reflection of the person who had redeemed us.  So I ask again.  If He were the owner of a bakery, would Jesus make a cake for a lesbian couple’s commitment ceremony?  I think the answer is YES.

I know I may have shocked some of you, considering my conservative evangelical background, but I think Jesus would have whipped out some milk, eggs, and flour, and made the best cake anyone has ever eaten.  Am I off my rocker?  Do I have biblical evidence?  Yep, Luke 19.  Please refresh your memory of you are not familiar with the story of Zacchaeus.

He entered Jericho and was passing through. And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today." So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all grumbled, "He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner." And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold." And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." - Luke 19:1-10 ESV

So, what does Zacchaeus have to do with same-sex wedding cakes?  It is the principle that Jesus did not look down on Zacchaeus because he was a tax collector.  In fact, He invited himself over to Zacchaeus’ house for dinner.  The text says that the crowds were ticked that the person they thought was the Messiah was eating, drinking, and spending time with a “sinner.”  Jesus didn’t say “Zacchaeus, stay in that tree. You are an abomination!!”(And he was – tax collectors were considered to be vile cheaters, and they were hated by everyone.)  Jesus said, “I am coming to your house today”.  He wanted to be near him, and spend time with him.  He wanted to see past the “evil” of being a tax collector to see the real person.  By the way, the real person was a really good guy, who promised to pay back four fold what he had stolen from his neighbors. 

Tax collectors and sinners – That is who Jesus willfully associated with, and when I say sinners, I freely add myself to the category.  Romans 3:21-25 clearly states, “But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it-- the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.”

Dr. Ron Frost, in an essay from the volume Trinitarian Soundings in Systematic Theology (ed. Paul Louis Meztger, t&t clark, 2005) says, “The question of how life is to be lived in grace, then, must center on our love: whether or not we have become lovers of God or remain autonomous agents.  It is only in the restoration of relationship with God through his initiative of bonding love in the Spirit that ‘grace’ exists.  A single Bible text, Rom. 5:5, was used repeatedly by Augustine to make this point, and to establish the framework for an affective solution: ‘For the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.’”

We are called to love our neighbor as ourselves.  I think that Aaron Klein, while perfectly “justified” in his biblical conviction against same sex marriage, totally failed in extending the love and grace of Jesus Christ, the same love and grace Jesus gave to Zacchaues, Mary Magdeline, and Daniel A. Burnett.  We all sin; “red, yellow, black and white” to quote a fairly politically incorrect Sunday school song.  Gay, straight, bi-, trans-, and even a-sexual - each of us needs the gift of grace that was offered on Calvary.  Everyone needs the redeeming blood of Christ’s atonement.  So I would pose the question one more way – Why Wouldn’t Jesus make the cake?  He already died for you, even if you are a sinner; the cake is His gift of grace.