The Least of My People

Jesus bar Joseph told his believers that whatever they did to the least of his people, that they did unto him. He also said “Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil & His angels. For I was hungry, and you gave me nothing to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink. I was a stranger and you did not invite me in.” (See Matthew 25 for full details, it speaks for itself.)

I’m not a believer of this verse or its larger mythos, but if I was… many would be cast into that eternal fire. Don’t let anyone tell you Jesus is so loving or peaceful. He’s on board with infinite punishment committed by those with finite understanding. BUT – if I was a believer, I imagine that many Christians would be turned away for what they did to the least of Jesus’ people.

My modern take on this would go something quite like:

When I needed medicine, you gouged the price
When I believed differently, you led an inquisition
When I found reciprocal love, you called it wrong
When I embraced who I truly was, you gave me the cold shoulder
When I asked for equality, you funded hate through corrupt officials
When I asked for an apology, you prayed for me instead
When I protected my peace, you called me the problem

Too frequently the Church fails to act as their beloved Jesus instructed them to. “Love god above all else, and love each other as yourself.” Yet daily I drive past Bible Belt Boulevard in my town and see brightly lit signs claiming “The Most Loving Church!” or “All are welcome!” They are designed to make you think they are accepting, and different from the rest.

They are not different; they offer the same hate, fear, and judgement as the rest. In the last two months, I have surveyed 100 different churches in a selected location. I have asked them simply two questions:

What is your church’s position on marriage?
What is your church’s outlook on the LGBTQIA+ community?

Of the 100 churches surveyed, only 4 openly welcome LGBTQIA+ and do not view it as sinful. Those same 4 perform marriages between consenting adults. Let me state it a different way:

I would gauge 4% of the polled churches as truly safe for members of the LGBTQIA+ Community.

Coincidentally, none of those 4% boasted of being the “Most Loving Church.” What results would you get if you did the same in your location? Brave enough to find out?

Questions for Consideration

When a congregation proclaims “All are welcome,” what concrete actions—or inactions—should we examine to test that claim?
What does “serving the least of these” look like in today’s world—especially when it comes to access to healthcare, legal rights, and social acceptance?
If Jesus returns tonight disguised as a refugee or a drag queen, would your church recognize and welcome him, or lock the doors?