Now is the Acceptable Time

Biblical Passages:

Galatians 3:28

There is no longer Jew or Greek; there is no longer slave or free; there is no longer male and female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.

2 Corinthians 6:1-13

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Reflection

The greatest challenges facing the early Christian movement were numerous. Those gathering in the new churches were Jews and Gentiles. The challenges were not limited to religious or geographical differences. These two groups, coming together to follow the way of Christ, differed in their cultures, languages, rituals, and political power. Reading the letters to these gatherings of people called church, named how through Christ, we are all one. The circumcised and uncircumcised, free and bond, male and female, these categories are no longer used to define a person because “you are one in Christ” (Gal 3:28). The radical nature of following Christ, which rose above categories, placed a target on the bodies of these believers.

LGBTQ+ persons seek to be human before God and recognised in nations. The beginning of decriminalisation, recognition, acceptance, and yes, the blessing of LGBTQ persons is still a young movement. Celebrations that make headlines feature parts of the world, yet other portions are silent. This silence is testimony to the existence of another reality. In our hearts, Pride is an everyday reality, even if it may not have the privilege of public display. The scripture from 2 Corinthians is a reminder of this reality.

Paul realises the religious and political powers that seek to harm these followers of Christ. The message from the epistles rings true as a message to modern Christians who wield their own religious and political power: It doesn’t matter what you think, or what you profess – the gospel of Jesus has roots deeper than dogma, branches higher than steeples, and fruit sweeter than any words. The heart of the gospel of Jesus did not beat within the temples of worship. The pulse of the gospel flowed through the villages, homes, fields, and rivers of the people. Jesus was not invited to teach at the high holy festivals. He was on boats and shorelines, in crowds and hillsides.

As followers of Jesus, to whom some Christians refer as “impure” or “sinners”. As the people who live the teachings of the Gospel and experience riots, imprisonment, beatings, and afflictions are left alone in hunger and pain, struggling to find work, and worrying in sleepless nights, let these words from 2 Corinthians 6 give you courage.  

The early church faced an established religion and government unable to recognise God Among Us; today, LGBTQ+ persons are still attacked by many professing as Christians. The attacks call them impostors, dismiss them as unknown, proclaiming death and pronouncing punishment. 

God is still God. Those who persecute the ones created in God’s image do not speak for God, only for themselves.  They have “placed boundaries on affection for us.” (2 Cor. 6:12)

The struggle to end oppression of God’s creation is one of endurance – strength from a source much greater than our own bodies or minds.

You, who live every waking, breathing moment of life preciously given and blessed by God, know the truth of God’s enduring love and grace. You who are living under the rainbow – the sign of God’s promise to the people. You are an amazing gift.  

Remember those who lived, loved, marched, battled, and died from injury at the hands of others, illness, or old age. Honour them. Stand on their shoulders, strong in your faith. 

Live the gospel of Jesus. Love your neighbour as yourself and love God.  

Author: Rev. Rachelle Brown

About the Author: Rev. Rachelle Brown is a theologian, educator, and ordained minister passionate about serving global LGBTQ+ communities. A longtime Other Sheep board member, she teaches communication, theology, and cultural history while completing her PhD at Chicago Theological Seminary. She currently serves First Presbyterian Church of Crowley, Louisiana.

**Biblical Text: 2 Corinthians 6:1-13

As we work together, we entreat you also not to accept the grace of God in vain. ² For he says, “At an acceptable time I have listened to you, and on a day of salvation I have helped you.” Look, now is the acceptable time; look, now is the day of salvation! ³ We are putting no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, ⁴ but as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: in great endurance, afflictions, hardships, calamities, ⁵ beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; ⁶ in purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love, ⁷ truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; ⁸ in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors and yet are true, ⁹ as unknown and yet are well known, as dying and look—we are alive, as punished and yet not killed, ¹⁰ as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing and yet possessing everything. ¹¹ We have spoken frankly to you Corinthians; our heart is wide open to you. ¹² There is no restriction in our affections but only in yours. ¹³ In return—I speak as to children—open wide your hearts also.