I recently listened to a sermon about the amazing privileges associated with being able to call almighty God “Our Father”. It was reassuring and encouraging.
But…
Our culture tempts us to focus on the privileges and skip
the first word; “Our.” This is important
because He is not just “My Father.” I am
not an only child. I am not more privileged
than others, including those who are different (race, nationality,
intelligence, college, eye color, political opinion, age, gender, economic
status, whatever.)
This precludes me from being proud or arrogant about my status,
because “… to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, He gave the right
to become children of God (John 1: 12).”
The status is a gift, and has nothing to do with my race, nationality,
intelligence, college, eye color, political opinion, age, gender, economic
status, whatever. The status is given to
all who believe. The status is not a license
to be narcissistic. Rather we are to act
like we believe that “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father
is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained
from the world (James 1:27).”
We should be defending, loving, helping, and sacrificing for all
our (God) siblings. This is regardless
of their race, nationality, intelligence, college, eye color, political
opinion, age, gender, economic status, whatever.
God is not impressed with my position as an upper-middle-class,
middle-aged (OK, old), white, male, suburbanite professor; he gave all of that
to me. What he is watching is what I do
with it. Do not say “God, I thank you
that I am not like other men… (Luke 18:11),” but pray like this “Our
Father… (Matt 6:9)” and all it implies.
