Hebrews 12:1 - Community Connectedness

As I lay in bed this morning, I started thinking about the interconnectedness of people and how throughout the ages, writers have drawn people together by making connections and inspiring their readers with things done by people of the past. Writer's draw these two groups of people who share something in common, but are separated by time and space into a community. When you look at it up close, the people may find themselves to be very different, but on some level, they are connected and therefore part of a community.

I couldn't help but think of all the times in the Bible where the writers remind the readers of those that have gone before, to make sure their accomplishments and mistakes are remembered and held up to help the reader navigate their own life path. One of my favorites is Hebrews Chapter 12, verse 1.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,

The proceeding chapter goes through a list of people of faith and what they accomplished by their faith; the trials they endured and overcame because of their faith; the fact that through faith they looked at a goal that was beyond their lifetime and acted toward it.

Then comes verse one of chapter 12 and it draws us into community with these people and calls us to be inspired by their accomplishments and do likewise. In community with these people, we should see the end goal and live a life towards that outcome. To trade the future and long term goodness and harmony for the world at large for the instant pleasures of today for ourselves.

This is not an easy task, but a worthwhile one. One I try to choose each day. Yes, it is a daily choice to do this. Each and every day opportunities come up for us to choose a path that is easy or would bring instant pleasure that would direct us away from a future of goodness, love, and peace for the world.

Since June is Gay Pride month, I couldn't help but start thinking about the connectedness that I feel to the LGBTQ community and realize that it is very similar in nature.

If I look around at the people I interact with on a daily basis, they are mostly straight. I don't find myself spending a great deal of time in "gay" establishments, although I certainly have a proclivity to places and people that are gay-friendly (after all, who likes to spend there time in and around hostile places and people). What I do find is a strong tie of connection for me with the LGBTQ community. I desire for this community to feel at one with all of society and particular desire to build bridges between the LGBTQ and Christian communities (which is why I created Gay Christian Bridges). While I don't intersect with that community on a daily basis, I do find myself drawn to those "family events" that bring that community together. Last Sunday I walked in the AIDS walk. Personally I don't have, nor do I have friends that have AIDS, but it is something that has had great impact of the LGBTQ community and I want to do my part to support my community. Today, I will attend the Pride service at Arlington Street Church followed by the Pride parade in Boston. It is not a community I hang out with frequently, but I feel the connection to the community and am inspired by people in it.

Just as the writer of Hebrews held up people who acted on faith towards an end goal of love, goodness, and peace, the LGBTQ community has people who have striven for an end goal of love, goodness, and peace.

I respect the members of my community that have gone before me and have stood up for the right to love the person of their choice, even if when those around them have not understood that love (just as Noah chose to build an ark when those around him did not understand what it was). I respect those who have chosen and stood up for being honest about who they were as a person, rather than hide in society and be what society wanted (just as Moses refused to deny his Jewish heritage even though he had been adopted into the house of the Pharaoh). These people saw a future where there was love, peace, goodness...and lived a life to bring it about, even though it was not in their lifetime.

Do you see a future? Are you willing to live a life to bring it about, even if that requires hardship or persevering through persecution? Will you be an agent that brings the world of love that God has painted for us?

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Hebrews 12:1-2 - A Tribute to Running

So last week, I was running with one of my running partners and discussing a video we had seen about prayer. The teacher was discussing a scripture on prayer and relating it to running the Boston Marathon.

This got us thinking about the different places that the Bible talks about running....and then I decided that one of my next posts would connect running and the Bible, so here it is. This one is for my friends that are runners and have ambitious running goals.

The first scripture that comes to mind when I think about running is in Hebrews, chapter 12, verses one and two:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfector of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

I can relate to this scripture and the picture of a race. When you think of a marathon, or any race really, there are those people who run and those people who stand on the sidelines encouraging and cheering on the runners. Having been in a couple of races, I know how it feels to have someone cheering and encouraging you, it gives that burst of energy and that feeling that you can go a little bit farther. it is particularly helpful when you are tired and starting to think about stopping.

Not only that, hearing the stories of runners who have completed marathons or other races, challenge and encourage. Their passion and drive are very inspirational. I have two friends that are runners that encourage me. My friend Lizzie, who is training to make a qualifying time for  the Boston marathon and my friend Maddie who takes running seriously, but also knows how to make it amazingly fun by doing races such as The Color Run, The Zombie Run, The Superheroes Run...They both remind me that running is a discipline and a passion.

This scripture takes that image and feeling and puts it in the context of pursuing our faith. At times staying strong in our faith can be really difficult. Maybe we are facing a lot of discouragement; Christians acting in ways that don't seem Christ-like, having to make unpopular choices, standing on beliefs when it would be easier to take another path. God never promised life would be easy. In fact the Bible tells us that as followers of Jesus, we will be persecuted and scorned.

Paul reminds us with this scripture of those of faith who have gone before us and have finished the race and are cheering us on to finish. We can be encouraged by their stories and their journey.Think of stories of faith. I find Jonathan in the Bible very inspiring. He balanced honoring his father (who was trying to kill God's anointed, David) with a loyal friendship to David, and constantly lived a righteous life. Just a few months ago I wrote a blog about some everyday Christians that show courage and have inspired me, called Four Stories of Courage.

Do you have people that inspire you. Past or current Christians?Who inspires you to keep going when you feel like giving up?

Don't stop! Following God is an audacious goal. Never easy and always a challenge, but hold fast; run the race; hear the encouragement of those who have gone before you and and cheering you to the finish line!