In Amsterdam

The past two mornings I've woken up, happy, gone to drink coffee and read the news (a morning ritual) and within ten minutes wanted to scream.

Racist immigration laws in Arizona, the entire idea of the tea party and all of their shenanigans, an audience on Dr.Phil thinking sex offenders should be put on an island (which, I promise, I just happened to walk in on while my mom was watching). And, other things.

People are so quick to err on the side of protection than on trust or forgiveness. It's disgusting really. Yes, we should be careful and wise, but there has to be a way to also extend a hand of welcome and grace.

The most difficult part of all of this is when people that follow Jesus are involved. There is room for different ideas, different interpretations, etc...but the church is supposed to be the epitome of acceptance and forgiveness. It breaks my heart when we act otherwise.

I'm reminded of the rebuke from Jesus in Matthew 23, a beautiful way to check our own hearts and actions. It's not the nicest thing, but you can always count on him to say it like it is. Here are several parts that I think are especially pertinent. Woe to us for acting in Jesus' name in a way that he would not.

"They tie up heavy loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them."

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to."

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are."

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Therefore you will be punished more severely."

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices-mint, dill, and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law-justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel."

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean."