Message from Pastor Keck, UMC in Illinois > 나눔과교제

Message from Pastor Keck, UMC in Illinois 

일리노이 제일감리교회 케크목사의 칼럼을 공유합니다 

원래 이글은 그 교회의 교인인 Vicky Ross 가 Facebook 에 공유하였는데 저의 아들 Mike Choi 가 다시 Facebook 에 공유하였습니다  우리 아들이 우리와 함께 교회 출석은 않지만 Peace Maker 가 되라고 가르친 그리스도를 믿는 믿음이 있음을 확인할수있어서 다행입니다. 

The message I posted below is from a local church in my area that I attend from time to time.  I think the message is relevant to all no matter your religious or non-religious beliefs.

Blessed are the Peacemakers

Brothers and Sisters,

I wanted to send out our weekly newsletter itemizing some of our upcoming events and this Sunday’s message. I cannot do that; for too much has happened in our country this week. I need to spend some time commenting on the violence and deaths that have occurred over the past four days.

When Jesus told the parable of the good Samaritan or spoke to the woman at the well, he was trying to warn us about labels and hatred. When he spoke to prostitutes, tax-collectors and sinners, he was trying to warn us about judging and dismissing people. When Paul writes that in Christ there is no male or female, Jew or Greek, slave or free, he is asserting an essential equality between us that transcends the lesser differences that define us.

Sadly, rather than hearing these stories and teachings, too many in our world and our country seem to be listening to the voices of hatred and division. Certain politicians label ethnic groups in the most disparaging manner possible. People of different religions are labeled and considered suspect. People who are gay are gunned down at social gatherings. African-American males are viewed as dangerous and shot with alarming regularity. Police officers are judged in mass and shot by a sniper as they seek to protect the public from harm. Meanwhile, the media too often is complicit in heightening these fears and divisions in the pursuit of higher ratings. Instead of loving each other, we are busy creating labels, filling them with our anger, fear, judgement and hatred. We then apply these labels to people, races, cultures, genders and communities around us; and we can see the results.

Jesus Christ warned us about labeling and judging people. Indeed, Jesus commands us to love our neighbor and pray for our enemies; yet we dehumanize those who are different and heap our enmity upon them. It is time to listen to his words and emulate his teachings. Don’t let this spirit of division take you. It is too easy to give into the labels and allow fear and anger to seep into your soul. Instead, as Christians, I ask you to fill yourself with love, empathy and compassion for the victims. Listen to all people and all sides in an attempt to bring a genuine peace and justice to our world. Let us approach each other with forgiveness and grace, ready to admit to our own sins and ask for forgiveness. This is the only way to achieve any real and lasting reconciliation and end the violence that plagues us.

Be a peacemaker.

Peace,

Pastor Keck

First United Methodist Church

123 N Plum Grove Road

Palatine, IL 60067