“It Isn’t Easy Being Green.”

It isn’t easy being Christian either. The title of this essay comes from a song sang by a small green Muppet frog named Kermit, who appeared on television’s “Sesame Street” in many of the years passed. It put a perfect turn on the problem of being different; a different color, different gender, a different size, even a different species in Kermit’s case. And it hit the nail on the head of the problem of segregation, and hatred caused by the differences we all have. I wish we could all sing it from memory today. It could be our Mantra.

Being a Christian, committed to living the life Jesus wants us to live, isn’t easy, either. It isn’t easy because the way we live that life, defined for us by the writers of scripture, and the words of Christ are interpreted differently by each of us, independently from how others may interpret those same words. That’s because we are all different in the way we think, act, and respond to those words; and that is all right and a good thing. I believe God wants it that way. 

There is a problem though, and it comes forward when instead of responding to Jesus, and the Love of God, and the freedom we are allowed, we make no response whatsoever. 

This lack of a response is what caused Jeremiah to become so upset in dealing with the People of Israel twelve centuries before Christ. I have to admit Jeremiah was somewhat “Hot Headed.” He openly cried, “I have become a laughingstock all day long; everyone mocks me.” The people would not listen to him. But he continued anyway, always trying to bring the dissenters back to the Lord. 

Paul had a similar problem. His was making the people understand that, just because they could be easily and surely forgiven for their sins and missteps, did not mean that they should go on sinning. “By no means!” he said; “How can we who died to sin go on living in it?” His admonition countered the idea of easy grace, and continued sinning. Instead he called for repentance and the change that goes along with it; positive change so as to not sin again.

Matthews Gospel takes the color out of Jesus example, when the Lord recons us as Sparrows, the drab and commonest of birds. My Father has a great caring for each of these little ones, we are told by Jesus. How much more does he care for you, “... even the hairs on your head are numbered.”

Come be with the Christians in community. Love God, and love your neighbor, as yourself,  AMEN

The Rev. George O. Martin is an Ordained Deacon at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 17th and Adams, Great Bend. Send email to georgeom@hbcomm.net