Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for everyone?” The Lord replied, “Who are the faithful and wise managers whom the master will put in charge of his household servants, to give them their food at the proper time? Happy are the servants whom the master finds fulfilling their responsibilities when he comes. I assure you that the master will put them in charge of all his possessions. “But suppose that these servants should say to themselves, My master is taking his time about coming. And suppose they began to beat the servants, both men and women, and to eat, drink, and get drunk. The master of those servants would come on a day when they weren’t expecting him, at a time they couldn’t predict. The master will cut them into pieces and assign them a place with the unfaithful. That servant who knew his master’s will but didn’t prepare for it or act on it will be beaten severely. The one who didn’t know the master’s will but who did things deserving punishment will be beaten only a little. Much will be demanded from everyone who has been given much, and from the one who has been entrusted with much, even more will be asked. (Luke 12:41-48, CEB)
We are entrusted servants of Jesus. We are supposed to treat others as Jesus treats us, with love and compassion.
Will this be what Jesus finds when Jesus returns?
Suppose those entrusted servants start to beat or mistreat the others? What if they tell them they can not belong because their lifestyle is incorrect to be a part of the body of Christ?
What if they say that you can not be a leader because you are not the correct type of person?
What if they use fear to manipulate people into doing things that are not necessary to be a part of the body of Christ?
These are all things happening in today’s churches. LGBTQIA+ folks are being shamed for being who God created them to be and told that they do not belong because they are sinful. Women are told they can not be preachers or teachers or hold leadership positions because they have the wrong genitalia. And congregations use fear of hell and damnation to make people stay in line and follow the rules they set out. This is mistreatment of other servants.
We need to live and love like Jesus. Everyone, without exception and stop mistreating children of God.
You are entrusted.
aSacredRebel 