DELIBERATELY DIVERSE | Rev. Terry Pierce
“Deliberately Diverse” represents the individual opinions of Taylor friends who never completely agree about anything but enjoy diverse discussions.
As Jesus followers, we say God came into our midst to teach us how to love God and one another. But we know this story because of individuals and communities across the centuries who heard themselves as “sent.”
I was “sent” to Taylor to share the story of God’s love for all of God’s creation and to help create a space where all people could live as neighbors.
In Paul’s letter to the Romans, chapter 10, he says:
• 12: “For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.”
• 13: “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
• 14: “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?
And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?
And how shall they hear without a preacher?” • 15: “And how shall they preach, except they be sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!’” Some of my favorite stories are about Jesus sending people. In one story, Jesus has gone off to pray leaving the disciples in a boat on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus returns and when the disciples see him walking on the sea, they are terrified.
“But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, ‘Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.’ Peter answered him, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’ He said, ‘Come.’
So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him.”
We know Christ as God because Christ did what only God can do – like walking on water.
But we have also a story about what it is to follow Christ, to allow oneself to be sent.
And we have in the story a promise.
When Jesus sent people, it was to share the good news — “The gospel of peace, and … glad tidings of good things!”
We live in a tumultuous world. Certainly, now more than ever, we are battered by storms from every direction.
Jesus calls us to get out of the boat and face the tumult. When Peter noticed the strong wind, he became frightened and began to sink. Like Peter, we become scared and falter in the face of tumult.
And the promise is that Jesus is there in the tumult … he does not abandon us in the storm but is ever reaching his hand towards us.
Pierce is the retired pastor of St. James’ Episcopal Church in Taylor and can be reached at [email protected].
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