A Big Cup

On Sunday I brought the three-year-old up for communion. Our church has a family communion time for the kids before they go to Sunday school, and I appreciate that. When I was a kid, my parents wouldn't let me take communion, despite the fact that I prayed for salvation at least weekly, if not more. I was a fearful kid.

This week during communion, I was struck by how long it takes Son4 to drink the very small cup of communion juice — several swallows — and in that moment, it felt profound. It should take several swallows — the cup of salvation is a big cup. I wonder why, then, we try to make it smaller. Why do we try to exclude people from it?

Jesus died one death, but the blood that flowed then is still flowing. It is for the salvation of all who believe. But for Christians since then, it has often been seen as the cup of salvation for all who believe AND [fill in the blank]. For some of the earliest Christians, it was the cup of salvation for all who believe AND are circumcised and don't eat certain things. For many American Christians these days, it might be the cup of salvation for all who believe AND aren't gay or for all who believe AND aren't pro-choice. I am just saying that some people might see it that way. I am fairly certain that many of us who call ourselves Christians fill in the blank in one way or the other, or at least we used to. I am asking myself how I fill in that blank or how I used to fill it in.

Why do we do that? Why do we try to exclude people from salvation? ... Because, really, I think that is what Christians often seem to think they are qualified to do. Frankly, I am happy to leave that task up to God himself, the only one who could possibly have the required wisdom and understanding.

When I look at Jesus, I see someone who blew away the boundaries of religious exclusion. "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Judgment is an exhausting burden. We are not meant for it. So let's drink from the big cup and join Jesus in inviting everyone to drink too.