Devotion - Thursday, December 1

The Clemson community had a guest yesterday.  Eboo Patel was here, to share his thoughts on how the world might become a bit better than it was the day before.  Eboo (he prefers folks refer to him casually, and by his first name) is the founder of the Interfaith Youth Coalition (IFYC).  This is a growing group of like-minded students (and student workers) who realize that faith (as an expression of "ultimate concern") must be integrated into our interactions with others.  Rather than setting faith questions aside when we speak with the "other", we must make such conversations central to our coming to see the "other" as a sister or brother.

Within every religious tradition, there are those who claim exclusivity.  There are those who insist that their theological framework excludes those who do not share a confession of faith.

Thankfully, within every religious tradition, there are also those who assert that the exact opposite is true.  Eboo reminded us yesterday of the parable of the Good Samaritan.  The "Samaritan" is a follower of a differing religious tradition.  Those in the room when Jesus first told the story would be inclined to think of the Samaritan as the "other."  But that story lifts him as the example of how we are to live our lives.

Your faith in Jesus Christ must be something more than a punch card for heaven.  Your faith in Jesus Christ must align you with that which ultimately concerned Jesus.  Yes, he does preach about heaven and eternal life.  Let's not forget that he also preached a lot about loving the neighbor, caring for the one in need, and about self-sacrifice for the sake of the Kingdom.

I hope we will all be reunited in heaven.  But I pray for unity now in our tireless commitment to teaching what Jesus taught and to living as Jesus lived.