A Christmas sermon over a cup of tea

A Christmas sermon over a cup of tea

One of my elderly neighbors, who is well into her 80's—who I offer to go to the store for in bad weather—phoned me a few weeks ago and asked if I would pick up some milk for her. No problem, I said, I'll be over soon. And we can have a cup of tea, she added. Like usual.

So I took a break from my pre-Christmas-services anxiety and went to my neighbor's house with her milk. Having tea with her is always a welcome respite, as she's a good conversationalist and interested in current events.

Much to my surprise, and without any prodding from me, she brought up "the gay issue.” We were talking about our churches, and she's a lifelong member of the Church of Scotland, and her father was a minister. Her local parish church minister is currently under fire for not leaving the Church of Scotland in light of its pro-gay direction.

She commented to me, People need to remember the Good Samaritan and concentrate on keeping the Ten Commandments. She told me that when she was growing up she knew her Bible content well and was on the scripture-debating team. She went on to say, There's nothing in the Ten Commandments about "it" and we should be like the Good Samaritan.

I wholeheartedly agreed with her. I told her what I tell my congregations: We're not called to like each other; the Bible and Jesus don't mention liking. Rather, we're called to love each other—especially when we don't like one another. Jesus points out that it's easy to love those we get along with; it's loving our enemies that's the hard part.

My neighbor then said that she didn't see anything wrong with having a gay minister in the Church of Scotland—it's not like there are thousands of them waiting to get in, are there? In my mind I imagined a long parade of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender folks marching up to the doors of the church. If only.

I was happy to confirm for her that there are indeed lesbian and gay ministers in the Church of Scotland, as well as students training for the ministry. Some are single and some are in committed relationships, I told her, but they just want to be allowed to get on with their work like the rest of us. And if they should let it be known that they're gay, they don't want to get kicked out. I hastened to add, No one is kicking out the people who choose to leave because gay people are in the church.

Why can’t they be like the Good Samaritan? she asked again.

So there’s my neighbor's Christmas sermon to me over a cup of tea: It all boils down to the Ten Commandments and the Good Samaritan.