Ruth was walking slowly past a coffee shop in the centre of town when she heard the sound. It was music and singing. Curious she walked in. There in the centre of the shop was a group of about ten young people all with rainbow coloured shirts. One person, a tall rather lanky guy playing a guitar seemed to be leading the group. What song where they singing? Oh! She recognized it. It was the song ‘No Outsiders’ by Rend Collective from their album ‘Good News’. Ruth had heard it in church, but who were these people?
Ruth sat on the other side of the coffee shop and listened. It wasn’t long before one of the rainbow shirted group noticed her and walked her way. Hello she said. My name is Orpah. That is a strange name thought Ruth. Orpah continue. You are welcome to join us. Ruth’s curiosity urged her on so she said. Sure, why not. Orpah had a warm smile and the group didn’t look dangerous. So Ruth went over and sat on a chair just at the edge of the group.
Again her curiosity urged her on so she whispered to Orpah. Who are you and where are you from? Again Orpah said. ‘My name is Orpah and I asked you to join us.’ That much Ruth already knew. ‘Tell me more.’ said Ruth. ‘Why are you singing that song and why do you have rainbow coloured shirts?’
‘Do you know what a rainbow coloured shirt represents?’ Asked Orpah. ‘Yes, I do’ Replied Ruth. ‘The rainbow colours represent the diversity of the gay community.’ ‘That is correct.’ Answered Orpah. ‘Then why are you singing that song? It is a Christian song and you can’t be gay and a Christian.’ ‘That is true’ said Orpah. ‘So why the song?’ Continued Ruth. ‘We are singing the song because of what it says – at least part of it. The part we sing is to the God we hope is there, not the one Christianity says is there.’ Orpah sighed.
Ruth was confused so she ventured a ‘Tell me more.’ So Orpah did. ‘The chorus of the song goes like this.
And there are no outsiders, to Your love
We are all welcome, there’s grace enough
You are the open door, when I have wondered Lord
There are no outsiders
There are no outsiders
To Your love’
Orpah continued. ‘Rainbow people are outsiders and the song says that for God there are no outsiders.’ ‘We know how Jesus treated outsiders and how he treated those who thought they were insiders, we hope God is that way.’ Ruth was again confused so she asked ‘If Jesus treated outsiders well and not the so called insiders, then the so called insiders were really outsiders and the outsiders were really insiders so the song has no meaning. Either way there are outsiders. Why are you singing a song that makes no sense?
Orpah clapped her hands together and the group turned and looked at Ruth. Orpah spoke softly. ‘You said it was a Christian song and Christianity has many outsiders; gays unless they go straight, the reprobate, those that do not hear about Jesus, those that turn away from Jesus because of any number of experiences and on and on. Christianity requires one to hear about Jesus believe in Him and repent and accept the gift of salvation and on and on. Christian doctrine has lots of outsiders.’
‘So why are you singing the song!?’ Injected Ruth. ‘Because it is a lie.’ Replied Orpah. ‘It is a feel good piece of fluff meant to stroke egos. Christian people sing the song and others like it because it makes them think about God in a way their humanity embraces but their doctrine rejects.’ ‘Wow!’ Returned Ruth. ‘Where did that come from?’ Orpah’s voice softened again. ‘Think about it please.’
Ruth thought for a few minutes as the group continued to sing. Her own statements suggested Christianity defines outsiders. She understood her own hypocrisy when she sang the song. She understood that she as a Christian liked to think of the gospel as good news for everyone, but it isn’t. It is terrible news for many, some because of their own doing and some for no fault of their own. She saw that Christian doctrine assigned some as insiders and many as outsiders. Sure the club was open to anyone but you had to pass an initiation test to get in consisting of being in the right place at the right time and understanding the right things and committing to them and on and on.
These thoughts enlighten and disturbed Ruth at the same time. She was uncomfortable with the idea that many of her Christian worship songs were fluff and meant to stroke egos. She asked Orpah what she meant by fluff. Orpah turned her way and sang the Chorus once again only louder. There was a look of pain in her eyes. Ruth wished she would stop. Orpah did stop and said ‘Fluff has no substance, it is meant to make one feel good. There may indeed be no outsiders but that is not what Christian doctrine says. To avoid lying Christian people should be singing
And there are many outsiders, to Your love
We are welcome, they are not
You are the open door to us, when we wondered Lord
We are the insiders
We are the insiders
To Your love.
That is what is meant when you and they are singing. But you would not feel good singing that because your humanity says otherwise. So you sing a lie.’
Ruth was dumbfounded, Orpah was right. But why are they here and singing that song? It didn’t make sense. Ruth shouted above the singing. ‘Who are you?’ Orpah turned to Ruth and quietly said. ‘I am your sister-in-law, the outsider.’ Ruth took a step backward. The sermon last Sunday was on the book of Ruth in the Bible. Ruth took delight in being named after the loyal daughter-in-law that followed Naomi home. She forgot about Orpah the other daughter-in-law. Most people do – did God?
In a moment of understanding Ruth looked Orpah directly in the eye – they saw each other. Ruth turned away. Orpah followed the group out the door. The coffee shop was empty.
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