Scandalous God
Yet everyone has also been undeservedly justified by the gift of God, through the redemption wrought in Christ Jesus. – Romans 3:24 (IB)
God scandalously approached a young, unwed couple to carry the Word into the world, birthing that Life-Saving Baby in the dingiest of places. God scandalously broke into the human realm and flipped the world on its head through parables, teaching, and healing. God scandalously defied the laws of nature in the calming of rough storms, in the feeding of thousands, and especially in the life that sprang forth from death.
Throughout the Bible and even now, we have stories of kings, prophets, tricksters, outcasts, and unlikely heroes who carry on this scandalous trend of God’s unordinary methods of interacting with the world and all the people in it. Our God is a scandalous God who upends leaders and empires that have no regard for those most in need.
Our faith is a scandalous faith that requires us to risk what we’ve got for the sake of the oppressed. As beings created in the image of this scandalous God, we, too, ought to be a scandalous people. Certainly not scandalous in the way of the world. We’re called into the realm of a scandalous God who dares to make room for everyone, no matter their age, race, nationality, ability, intelligence, passions, or skills.
God scandalously invites us into love regardless of our failures, fears, shortcomings, or bad decisions. God scandalously loves and cares for us even when we don’t deserve it. God scandalously remains in relationship with us over and over again. God chooses us even when we don’t choose God in our words and/or actions.
And for that scandal, I give God thanks.
Prayer
Continue to gift us with your scandalousness, gracious God. Amen.
About the AuthorThe Rev. Phiwa Langeni is the Ambassador for Innovation & Engagement of the United Church of Christ. They are also the Founder of Salus Center, the only LGBTQ resource and community center in Lansing, MI.