Peter and Matthew

Ken Bontrager
September 4, 2020
Third of Four / 2020 Essays on Race and Diversity

Camp Deerpark, from the beginning in 1969, has been a place where people of all cultures have come together to break down barriers. In June Kevin Smith shared his perspective on race relations and diversity. Following is the third of four short essays from my perspective.

I have been honored and blessed to have been invited into many conversations and experiences over the past 37 years which have shaped and enriched my life. Ms. Mary Joseph told me the key is changing the heart, not the laws. Dr. Drew Hart challenged me to push into knowing the other side. Jesus called both a tax collector and a zealot to be his disciples. And finally, David Miller stressed Imago Dei, the importance of seeing every person as made in the image of God.

Here at Camp Deerpark on 277 acres of land in a tiny corner of Orange County, New York, North America we have identified fifty species of birds. The McConaghay boys keep the bird feeder full and as we sit in the dining room we see a colorful variety of birds every day. I believe that diversity is at the very heart of God. Consider all of the animals, all of the plants, all of the people that God so carefully created. I get joy from watching a finch or an oriole bathe in the prayer garden stream. How much more joy does God have when observing all of creation. Revelations 7:9-10 says, “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no man could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb!”

When Jesus was putting his team of disciples together he called Matthew and Simon Peter. I am far from a theologian, but as I understand it the land of Israel was occupied by the Romans. Matthew’s occupation was to collect taxes from the Jewish people and give the funds to the Romans. Matthew was all about the establishment. At the far extreme was Simon Peter the zealot, a person who is uncompromising in their religious and political ideals. Matthew was white collar, Simon Peter was blue collar. Matthew worked with the Roman system, Simon Peter worked around and against the system. Matthew wore a mask and Peter would never wear a mask. My personal belief is that Jesus called these two men to be part of his inner circle because it is in the very nature of God to be diverse.

We are in the middle of a national election. We are literally being asked to cast our lot on one side or the other. The persuasive messages on each side are long and loud.

Yesterday I heard a podcast where Kaitiln Schiess was the guest. Her book, The Liturgy of Plitics: Spiritual Formation for the Sake of Our Neighbors, is coming out next week. Following are her thoughts:

Especially during the next two months of this election season we need to evaluate the practices in our life regarding the voices we are listening to in terms of media consumption. Give yourself a moment to ask: What is forming me? Is this the thing that should be forming me? Who is this asking me to love? Who is it asking me to fear or hate? What kind of “good life” is it offering me? And finally, how can I be conscious and recognize how all of this lines up with scripture?

As God’s children we must push ourselves to see our differences as God sees them. I understand this is much easier said than done. We need God’s grace. We should embrace those who think, look, and act differently than us. Celebrate the opportunity to expand our world view. Listen deeply knowing that God created and loves us both more than we can imagine. The beauty of our diversity is celebrated by our loving God.

Previous Essay: The Other Side | Next Essay: Made In the Image of God

Related Entries

• 2020 Essays on Race and Diversity
• Made in the Image of God
• The Other Side
• Whose Side Are You On?