I personally think Christianity is a very inconvenient religion. To follow Christ's words faithfully, one must take on a challenge that few of us are equipped to do. Here's my personal score card on how well I am doing as a Christian:

First, I fail at loving my neighbor as I do myself.  If I really loved others as much as I want to believe I do, I would be doing more than sitting on the sidelines shaking my head at the situation in Charlottesville.  I would be in the front lines fighting for justice for all.  And if I loved those wretched white supremacists with a holy love, I would be deeply concerned with their welfare as well.  After all, even in their error, they are children of God.  Christ doesn't give us a free pass on this.  We are to love everyone as we love ourselves, not just those who love us back. And right now I feel like physically knocking sense into some people's heads.  

Secondly, I do not pray for my enemies like Christ said to do.  Why in the world would Christ command us to do this?  Yeah, I can pray for racists and white supremacists to stay away from me, but that's NOT praying for them.  In order to do that I have to remember that these people are not cartoon villains.  They are flesh and bone people made in God's image and something terrible has warped them into embracing hate. What in this world could cause these men and women to believe that they are victims?  Why do they not see the oppression of others yet feel slighted at every turn by the success of other races in our nation?  I deplore this attitude, but I do not think I've been praying for the healing of these people's hearts, for the extinguishing of hate, for the realization of kindness and justice in their lives.  I simply pray for them to stop what they are doing.  

Thirdly, Christ called for forgiveness upon all who crucified him.  I can barely forgive the garbage man for letting trash fall out of his truck and onto the road in front of my house.  How can I be forgiving to those who despise this country and make a mockery of all that is good and kind?  How can I forgive these people for spitting on the heritage of my family members who fought AGAINST Nazis in World War II? How can I be like the average African American who has to forgive expressions of white privilege and supremacy at least one thousand times per day?  It's too hard.  It's too inconvenient.  It's too much of an effort.  This religion requires compassion, and self-examination, and kindness, and forgiveness, and constant prayer, and humility, and all of those things I have in such short supply. 

Then I recall Christ saying, "Come unto me all that travail and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."  And I want that.  I want to rest from grappling with myself and the issues of this world.  I want to wake up with the energy to do what Christ commanded, to make a difference in the lives of others.  Christ promises that to me, if I will take up his cross and follow him, if I will embrace the inconvenience of loving the whole world, if I will pray without ceasing, if I will strive to be like him no matter how inconvenient. Maybe inconvenience is the very nature of love. 

James

P.S. Read the announcements below for important information as well get ready for another full season at St. Margaret's.  Try to volunteer and/or participate in something, even if it is a bit inconvenient.  You will be blessed for it and you will be a blessing to others.