A kick in the seat of our pants

Matters of Faith

By Dr. Bascom Ratliff, pastor

Parker, Beagle and Fontana United Methodist Churches

Scripture (NRSV): Leviticus 19: 33-34. “When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.

Matthew 22:37-40. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: love your neighbor as yourself. All the law and the prophets hang on these two commandments. 

Lately, I have found myself at odds with a number of my Christian brothers and sisters. I think we have forgotten or neglected God’s commandment that we love our neighbor. I think it’s quite clear that God is telling us in Leviticus that we are to love aliens living in our country.

Unfortunately, rather than the loving and caring for them, we treat them like lepers and criminals and undesirables. Now, I admit that some of these aliens, or migrants, living our country are criminals and dangerous. However, I fear that we have begun to label anyone with brown or black skin as criminal. If you’re living in America today and are not a white person, you are at risk for being labeled or targeted by an overzealous and violence federal agency. 

It’s important for us to take a hard look at God’s desire for us. I have no doubt that God is commanding us to love and care for others. I have no doubt that God’s grace and mercy and forgiveness are available to everyone. And I have no doubt that if the followers of Jesus Christ were to join together to demand and promote loving our neighbors, we could effect great change in our country.

A swift spiritual kick in the seat of our pants might be useful in helping us to better experience God’s love and desire for us. God’s love always trumps the law. God’s love remains the most powerful force in the universe. God has given us free will and has been fairly tolerant of misdeeds. Now might be a time to rethink our service to a loving God and our very needy neighbors.

Finally, I believe that now is the time to ask ourselves the important questions about our relationship with God and our following Jesus. Are we motivated by fear? What are we willing to give up or change as we walk with Christ? And equally important, are we willing to discard or reject God’s message of love and acceptance? 

When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we also accept his Holy Spirit into our lives and hearts. I hope that you will prayerfully reflect on your spirit filled life and seek God’s will in your love and care of others. Continue to ask God for that “kick” reminder that with God as our guide, we can replace the law with God’s love.

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If you are ready to worship and serve a loving God who welcomes everyone to God’s banquet table, please come worship with us. We will give you a warm welcome (no kicks), a hot cup of coffee, and a homemade cookie. And, most important of all, we will give you a hearty dose of God’s love.

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We will have Sunday morning services during the month of October at 10 a.m. at the Fontana United Methodist Church.

We will have Sunday morning services during the month of November at 10 a.m. at the Parker UMC.

We will have Sunday morning services during the month of December at 10 a.m. at the Beagle UMC.

We celebrate communion on the first Sunday of each month.

All are welcome in God’s House.  Come and celebrate the risen Christ.

Dr. Bascom Ratliff  (913-710-5748)

Pastor: Parker/Beagle/Fontana 

United Methodist Churches