The Gospel lesson for my morning prayer today was Luke 6:1-11, which reads in part,

On another Sabbath, Jesus entered the  synagogue and was teaching, and a  man was there whose right hand was withered.  And the scribes and the  Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, so that they might find a reason to accuse him.  But he knew their thoughts, and he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come and stand here.”

Jesus knew the thoughts of those around him.  He knew that healing this man on the Sabbath – an act that was right and just – would ignite accusations against him, causing division among the chosen people of God leading ultimately to his crucifixion.   Healing on the Sabbath flew in the  face of the conservative Jews, those who knew and followed their Scriptures better than most.

And yet Jesus said to the man, “Come and stand here.”   Stand with me.  And he healed him.

This passage flew in my face, too.  It seems that Jesus had two choices before him.  He could

1. Acquiesce  to the traditional, “churchly” code of his day and just wait until sundown to heal the man.   This would have made everyone happy.  The man still gets healed, just a few hours later, and the Torah-abiding worshippers don’t get all upset.   It’s a win-win.    Or,

2.  Take a stand and heal the man in order to make an important point, regardless of the consequences brought on by the old guard.

Jesus’ choice is obvious.    The cross is a constant reminder that Jesus never shied away from taking the road less traveled.

As I  continue to read the fall-out from Sojourners choice to not run an ad that welcomes (and if you dig enough, even affirms) gay people, I find the most common defense of Jim Wallis and his organization is one of pragmatism.    They would love to affirm gay people, we are told, but this would upset their base.  It would alienate the conservatives in their camp.  It would cause people to accuse them.  It would cause division and disruption.

And Jesus said, “Come and stand here.”

It’s a shame that Sojourners did not take this opportunity to make a stand for something that people with the best intentions among us want to believe they believe.   That is, we want to believe that the powers that be at Sojo actually DO affirm gay people in every respect but believe today is just not the day for that.   It’s the Sabbath, we are told.   Come back at sundown.

And Jesus said, “Come and stand here.”

But this reaches far beyond Sojourners.   Jesus’ word today is for all of us who lead churches, bible studies, faith based organizations, universities, youth camps, justice leagues, etc.   There are far too many who remain silent.   You know the thoughts of those in your congregations and classrooms and know they are waiting to accuse you.  And yet you also believe that the old guard is wrong when they call two people of the same sex in love an abomination.   You know deep in your soul that this is not the Gospel.  You have studied the texts and know that they are missing the spirit of the law in favor of the letter.

It’s the Sabbath. They are watching.  What are you going to do?   Continue to wait for a sundown that never comes?

I know all too well the  backlash that comes when you say, “Come, stand with me”  to the “abomination” of our day.   As was reported, my release from the church as pastor was not just because I dared to believe against hell.   That was the last straw. The straw before that was my  vocal affirmation of gay people.

Yes, speaking up may very well cost you your job (it cost Jesus his life, so a job isn’t a bad trade-off).   But I can say from experience that you will not be left alone.   As  Tony Jones said in his latest blog,

If you publicly affirm GLBT persons and their full inclusion in the life of the church and in the marriage laws of our country, you will be amazed at the support that you will receive.

You will find freedom you never knew could  be possible.   Jesus was right:  The truth really does set you free.

But even more than that, you will be giving voice to people who need one.   It is no longer acceptable to allow injustice to roll on for the sake of honoring the Sabbath and the judgments of the old guard.   Stop waiting for sundown and take a stand.

The liturgical refrain for today’s morning prayer reads,

Shine the light of your justice, God: in our hearts and in our world.

Amen.