March 2024 Monthly Letter

Dear Reconcilers,

Our guest writer this month is Sheila Graham. Sheila shares her perspective on walking in harmony with others on our spiritual journey.

Only Us

Almost every Saturday I join a few friends for dinner. Unlike me, my friends have lived here for years, some born and raised in the area. A couple of my friends attend church, others do not. It seems they either know or are related to nearly everyone and they say the churches are full of hypocrites. 

I offer, “Maybe they attend because going to church is helping them live better lives.” Not the case, say my friends. They haven’t changed. They’re still the cheating, lying hypocrites they’ve always been. 

Sadly, I agree some do go to church only to look good for political or social reasons. As a Christian comedian puts it, “They wear the hat but the shoes don’t match.” What a sad commentary. 

I don’t preach to my friends, but I’d like to say before we cast any stones, we need to remember who we are. One thing we all share with every other person in the world is sin. No matter our race, culture or religion we are sinners and if we think we aren’t, as the Scriptures say, we deceive ourselves.

Yes, as Christians we have been made righteous in Christ, but our sin-tainted attributes are still firmly in place. Those who believe they are above sin after they accept Jesus are in for a rude wake-up call.

Everyone is our brother or sister, wherever they live, whatever race, whatever religion. Whether they look like us or worship like us, that doesn’t make them any less our brother or sister. Christ died for all. God includes all his children in his loving embrace and wants all in his kingdom. 

As Christians, we are blessed to know we have a powerful source we can appeal to when temptations come. In spite of that understanding, unfortunately we still sin. When it comes right down to it, we are all sinners together on this journey through the ups and downs of life. So, before we exclude anyone from our lives or our prayers, consider this, God doesn’t. There are no others, only us.

Sheila Graham has a master’s of arts in religion and a master’s of arts in women’s studies in religion. Among her published writings is The Proverbs 31 Woman and Other Biblical Women, coauthored with Michael Morrison, available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble, which also addresses the question of what roles women can play in the church today.