"Read a Bible"

I'm the traffic girl for Kidd Kraddick in the Morning on Kiss FM in Dallas, and there was a light-hearted yet riveting conversation about homosexuality on the show earlier today. It was sort of a playful dance around the fact that Shanon is now in a serious relationship with a woman, but it got the point across. Kidd, Kellie, Al, and Rich wanted an update on how things are going on Shanon's journey toward self-acceptance, and Shanon did her best to affirm that she's happier than she has ever been. The show seemed genuinely happy for her.

I looked at the message board at http://kiddlive.com when I got home and although the posts were generally supportive of Shanon, there was one message that jumped out in stark contrast and prompted me to write this blog. It was titled, "Read a Bible" and it simply said, "Kids listen to this show. Love how ya'll make homosexuality so acceptable. Hey, let's just tear those pages out of the Bible." Signed, Troy.

A typical response I suppose. But it has become tiresome. It seems to be almost a reflex for some Christians to say something to this effect at the mere mention of homosexuality, and the tone is such that it attempts to discount all other perspectives. The title, "Read a Bible" suggests that all we have to do is glance through the pages, and the edict to condemn homosexuality on spec will be right there before us. But as I've peppered throughout these blogs and as other gay Christians have stated, there is much more to it than that. We certainly don't know it all. Troy doesn't know it all. But if we can share our Christian experiences with one another in an effort to grow beyond our current point of understanding rather than issue quick judgments and matter-of-fact indictments, we will achieve far greater levels of wisdom and understanding.

By offering support, Kidd and the other members of the morning show afford Shanon the freedom to be who she is. They're not throwing a party to celebrate the greatness of homosexuality (although that's not a bad idea). They're supporting a friend who has discovered something meaningful about herself, and in doing so they leave the judgment to a power higher than themselves. They're not somehow "making" homosexuality acceptable. Its acceptance does not hinge upon the reactions of a select few. Rather they are proving that even though they may not completely understand its origin, homosexuality is not something to be feared or condemned on spec. The person comes first.

One woman who responded to Troy's post on the message board put it best. She said, "people are gay--get over it." Indeed. Being gay is a personal truth, not a blanket ideology. I'm gay, the pages of the Bible that Troy is referring to are still intact, and they have served an essential purpose in my maturity process as a Christian. I'm not alone.

Of course, the morning show is not making any statements about homosexuality as it relates to Christianity and it's understandable why they would remain neutral. But their love and support for Shanon speaks volumes. And sometimes that's all we need.

20Something 9-28-05

Last night's study will be posted here for a week, then it will be in the September archives.

http://coh20something.blogspot.com

Our small group had a great discussion about the negative effects that judgment and condemnation can have on our ability to receive love. The good news is the support we offer each other as God works in our lives goes a long way in the healing process.

Rev. Jeff Falter answered the call. So should we.

The Fall 2005 issue of Equality, the Human Rights Campaign's quarterly magazine, contains an article about a pastor who was removed from his position after coming out in support of GLBT Christians. Rev. Jeff Falter's congregation voted to fire him after he published a sermon in an Elkins, West Virginia newspaper in February that said, "Gay and lesbian Christians are no different than the rest of us. They deserve full equality in the church and in society, for they are my brothers and sisters, people for whom Christ died."

This hardly seems like a fireable offense, but after four years of service the congregation voted to dissolve its relationship with Rev. Falter by a vote of 100-72.

As GLBT Christians, we should renew our efforts to applaud folks who take a risk and express truths like these. It shouldn't be a risk at all. But it is. The climate is not favorable for homosexuals in many religious circles, so saying something that suggests we are not immoral or somehow lesser than, incites fear and panic.

I remember studying the end of slavery in social studies class in eighth grade, and we learned that the idea that all people are indeed created equal was an essential part of the eventual willingness to part with the evil tradition. My classmates and I agreed that "Duh!" was an adequate way to sum up those discussions. During the early 1800's, slave owners had been quite content with the idea that black people were unequal and therefore undeserving of the same rights and privileges that white men enjoyed. But it's easy to see that this feeling of supremacy was not justified. When GLBT folks are finally awarded legal equality and future students recall our recent history as a civil rights movement, perhaps the ability to perceive our equality will be just as simple.

Perhaps the understanding that equality should extend to minorities is generational. Perhaps it's geographical. Regardless, equality is inherent. It's not something we earn when we behave in a manner that becomes acceptable to a select few religious authorities, and it's not something we lose when we disappoint them. They do not have the final say. The congregation who voted out Rev. Jeff Falter may have chosen their battle and won, but the things they have lost hold far greater value and have much more impact. They lost a light. A congregation that eagerly snuffs out a flame that burns a little more brightly than they are prepared for is not better off because they have exercised the power to extinguish it. They have not successfully rid themselves of a cancer. They have called attention to their own sickness.

Fear is just one symptom of a greater American disease; the disease of egocentrism. Not only does egocentrism mean the ego becomes the center of all of our experiences, but it also means we consider those experiences to be the norm. In a philosophical system, egocentrism requires that one's own self become the starting point, and all actions and perceptions travel outward from that point. It's not a stretch to suggest that we might be a bit egocentric in the U.S. In an egocentric society, those who don't fit into the subjective norm are often cast aside and labeled as reprehensible and immoral. Heterosexuality may be the norm in our society only because there are more straight people than gay in America, but egocentrism is the real reason why heterosexuals and homosexuals don't peaceably coexist. (Actually, homosexuals seem to be quite content with the idea that many people are different from themselves, and are attracted to members of the opposite sex. Homosexuals may not be able to relate or fully understand heterosexuality, but they are not threatened by its existence.) Fear, a product of egocentrism, causes those with different experiences to lash out and condemn the things that don't seem to apply or can't be easily understood.

In the case of Rev. Jeff Falter, egocentrism manifested itself in the form of a public effort to purge the church of the idea that homosexuality should be embraced and not condemned. Rev. Falter simply suggested that GLBT Christians should possess a glimmer of pride that God views us as equals, but the congregation made every effort to extinguish this flame altogether. What they don't realize is, their action called attention to Rev. Falter's sermon and it allowed his sentiment to echo with greater depth than it otherwise would have. The congregation didn't extinguish a flame. They added the fuel that was necessary to allow the fire to spread beyond their own borders. And it's still burning.

HRC asked Rev. Falter if he would still publish the sermon if he had the chance to do it all over again. Here is his answer:

"Would I do it all again? Absolutely. At the end of the day, I take comfort in Christ’s words, Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets. [Luke 6: 22-23] I know that at the end of the day, I can look myself in the mirror: I have answered Christ’s call to me despite the cost."

May this be true of us as well. To join Rev. Falter in answering the call is the very least we can do. GLBT Christians risk relationships with friends and family members, we risk careers, and we risk being condemned by other Christians, but the real danger is in doing nothing at all. God is speaking through Rev. Falter, through you, and through me. And as we become more willing participants, God's ability to transform the world through all of us becomes magnified.

What's best for the kids

Angela and I have talked about having children someday, but so far it's just us and the pups. Each time we think about how much we miss our nieces since they moved to Nebraska, the urge to have children of our own gets a little bit stronger and intiates conversations about where we might put a nursery. Perhaps that will happen at some point. Angela would make an incredible parent. We would both certainly do our best to create a healthy environment where children would feel loved and empowered, so they could remain confident and grounded in the face of any discrimination that did come our way. I suppose there will always be people who refuse to accept the fact that love is love no matter what outward, earthly form it takes on.

Check out this article:

School expels girl for having gay parents
http://www.365gay.com/newscon05/09/092305calSchool.htm

The article says, "school policy requires that at least one parent may not engage in practices immoral or inconsistent with a positive Christian life style, such as cohabitating without marriage or in a homosexual relationship."

So I guess a child can have one gay parent, but not two? I don't get it.

Rather than take the time to get to know these lesbian parents and become familiar with the relationship that they have with their daughter, the school arbitrarily decides that the child is not worthy of attending. This sends the incorrect message that homosexuality is a disorder, and that having gay parents taints the child.

The only way these judgments will cease is if we continue to counter them with truth. "Positive Christian lifestyles" exist in both the heterosexual and homosexual communities, and they are not dependent upon gender or gender attraction. They are dependent upon the presence of God in our lives and in our relationships. It blows my mind to think that some people are only able to see God in those who most closely resemble themselves. But the truth can't be denied forever.

When we openly commit to our relationships and love the children in our lives with as much power and freedom as possible, anything that comes as an affront to that should be viewed as the injustice.

20Something 9-21-05

Here is last night's study on generosity. It seems we've had plenty of opportunities to practice that lately. http://coh20something.blogspot.com

Now I love Starbucks even more

Sometimes I think perhaps our culture is calming down about homosexuality and becoming less concerned with supressing it (as if suppressing it somehow erased the truth), but then I come across an article like this. It's from http://wfaa.com. ABC's Channel 8 in Dallas.

Baylor contractor pulls cups with gay author's quote
07:39 PM CDT on Tuesday, September 20, 2005
Associated Press

WACO – A dining contractor has removed coffee cups with a gay author's quote from a Starbucks at Baylor University, saying it was inappropriate for the Baptist school.

Aramark, which oversees the coffee outlet, pulled the cups earlier this month from the campus store after consulting with Starbucks' district office and Baylor's dining service, school officials said Monday.

"I think they were trying to be sensitive," Baylor spokesman Larry Brumley said. "Obviously, Baylor is a Baptist-affiliated institution, and Baptists as a denomination have been pretty outspoken on the record about the denomination's views about the homosexual lifestyle."

The quote from novelist Armistead Maupin reads:
"My only regret about being gay is that I repressed it for so long. I surrendered my youth to the people I feared when I could have been out there loving someone. Don't make that mistake yourself. Life's too damn short."

Cade Hammond, president of the board of directors for the Gay and Lesbian Alliance of Central Texas, said he thinks the cups' removal as unnecessarily restrictive.

The Importance of Community

Angela and I used to be somewhat isolated. We maintained relationships with a few good friends, but other than an occasional evening out with them we pretty much kept to ourselves. We were very happy this way because we were each other's favorite person and the growth of our own relationship excited us more than anything outside the relationship could, but at the same time we knew we had the capacity to reach beyond ourselves and develop better relationships with those around us. We moved to Dallas in the fall of 2001, and since then we have seen a dramatic increase in the size of our community.

When we lived in Austin we tried out several different churches before settling on the one that made us feel the most fully loved and accepted. There were many churches that we could have become involved in, but none of them seemed to fully embrace us as a couple and that limited the amount of passion and emotion that we were able to contribute. When we finally did settle on a church and begin attending regularly we enjoyed the feeling of semi-permanence, and this allowed us to become more consciously generous with our time, money, and emotions. We began giving to the church more freely, and our relationship with the church and the people in it began to grow. But the more we attended the more we realized we didn't line up with it theologically as much as we initially thought. This raised a red flag and caused us to lose interest and begin to withdraw again. There weren't just a few statements that we disagreed with in a sermon. There were some major ideological differences. It turned out that we moved to Dallas just a few months later so God had something different in store, but it was disappointing to have found a gay Christian oasis in the middle of a blood red state like Texas, only to become disheartened as the roots of its nearly paganistic approach were revealed. So much about community depends upon where we happen to be spiritually at the moment.

We started attending Cathedral of Hope in Dallas in the spring of 2002 and became members shortly after that, but for the first couple of years we snuck in and out without interacting much and without investing more than we had to. We took a lot from each sermon, but we gave very little back to the church. Perhaps we were apprehensive because of our Austin experience. Or perhaps we were just selfish. But as we began to make friends and renew our efforts to become more generous, grace-filled, Christians the community that we had been seeking sudddenly sprung up around us. We became invovled with 20Something. We became acquainted with church leaders. We made dozens of new friends. We happened to identify with much of what this church believed in so we were on the same spiritual wavelength, but we had also become mature enough to forget ourselves for a minute and to become more concerned with energy that would flow through us if we let it. It's true; you reap what you sow.

As gay Christians, when we finally do find a community where we feel like we belong, it's especially important to nurture the connection so it doesn't become lost in the spiritual shuffle. Our communities aren't exclusively gay of course, but shared understanding is a more rare find when arguments about our validity still circulate, and therefore it becomes even more important to remain active in the associations that we do have.

I looked around the room at the group of friends gathered at our house Saturday night and I realized that most of them had just come into our life within the past year. Yet I feel like I have known them for a decade or more. I shouldn't be surprised because God is capable of amazing things when we open ourselves up to the possiblities. I'm continually humbled by the manifestation of that in my life and I don't know why I continue to insist on re-learning that lesson. The spiritual connection among friends can grow in a hurry if you properly nurture it, and this connection inspires us, it keeps us accountable, and it affirms our relationships. All of that combined makes us more eager to increase our contributions. The exponential growth is evidence of the kind of energy and fortitude that God can unleash if we take a step of faith, and become at least a little more outwardly focused.

Angela and I still enjoy each other's company immensely, but we have found a balance between quality time alone and quality time with our family of choice. We're excited now about things both inside and outside our relationship, and those things working in tandem keep us constantly renewed and at the ready in case God needs us for something more than we are currently aware of. And we will know of others to enlist as we move forward. I don't think the value of community can ever be overemphasized.

Conformity is Not a Family Value

When the Christian right talks about traditional family values, the overall impression they leave is that the most important family value is not love, but rather conformity. It seems as though the goal is for all people to think and behave as they do. Perhaps this a product of evangelism.

Angela and I were talking on the way home from church last night about why people get so upset over the gay marriage issue, and we both said it is nearly always tied to religious roots. That's nothing new. But if that is true, doesn't the denial of the right to marry become extremely offensive to homosexuals who aren't Christians? If an atheist wants to marry a same-sex partner and he is denied that right because one sect within Christianity considers it to be a Biblical contradiction, doesn't that infringe upon the atheist's freedom? Enforcing conformity with religion as the backdrop seems wrong. It seems to me that since any Constitutional amendment to forbid gay marriage would likely have strong Christian ties, those within its scope who are not Christians would be constitutionally violated (freedom of religion).

The Christian right has the power to mobilize its constituents in a way that has a dramatic impact upon political processes in the United States. But the first amendment to the Constitution says, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..." Imposing a fundamentalist-based attitude would certainly prohibit the free exercise of other, more liberal faiths, wouldn't it? Perhaps politicians would say a law that prohibits gay marriage has nothing to do with showing favoritism to one religion (or one religious sect) over another. Yet the fact that most arguments against homosexuality continue to find roots in conservative religious groups seems suspect. There are other groups who oppose homosexuality besides Christianity--Orthodox Jews and Fundamentalist Hindus for example--but by the same token there are sects within Christianity, Judaism, and Hinduism that embrace homosexuality and some who even sanction gay marriage. To deny homosexuals freedoms that are inherently granted to heterosexuals because these freedoms contradict only the beliefs of the right wing, is evidence of the right wing's attempt to instill conformity.

I'm a Christian, and I don't think it's right to impose my values on another person. Life is a journey and each person has the right to seek understanding independently. Subscribing to a particular school of thought--especially one that attempts to categorize and limit love and control entire populations--does not make the world a better place. Conformity is not a family value. It leads to oppression.

I find 1 corinthians 1:10 interesting. In it Paul says, I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.

I think the Christian right gathers a great deal of energy and momentum from this passage. It seems to suggest that conformity is a good thing, and if this is the case then there would be no problem with imposing certain opinions upon other Christians. The problem is, every Christian thinks he or she subscribes to the proper school of thought. I do. My pastors do. The fundamentalists do. And we all have a different ideology. It's important to put the emphasis on seeking God and trusting God to show each of us what is true and then sharing that experience with those around us to see if they relate, rather than upon crafting blanket statements about entire populations that we know very little about. It comes down to the cumulative experience of faith, not thought alone.

Paul was addressing the unity of love in this passage; not doctrinal unity. Christianity is not about subscribing to a set of synchronized beliefs. It's about experiencing Jesus Christ and growing closer to God each day. This will not be without differences of opinion. To think that all Christians will come to a place where we are in complete agreement about every matter that comes to pass is a utopian idea. Christianity is not utopian, and like anything else it is not likely that it will ever be free of discord. This is not necessarily a bad thing. It's how we grow. Pressure from the right to make us believe it holds the one true Christian opinion does not increase the validity of that opinion. Experience is more valuable than conformity. And if we allow our experience to transform us, we will achieve the unity of love that Paul asks us to strive for.

In 1 Corinthians 3:19 Paul says, For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight. As it is written: "He catches the wise in their craftiness."

The moment we think we have it all figured out, it should be obvious that we don't. Our minds possess worldy wisdom. (Sometimes I wouldn't even call it wisdom at all.) The thoughts that we have in our minds must pass through all sorts of filters which can be shrouded in fear, intolerance, impatience, anger, arrogance and all sorts of other variables. Our view of the world will always be skewed because of these filters. We have to learn to see one another through the eyes of our spirits instead. This is the level on which we are all connected, and it's the level that Paul was referring to when he asked us to become more united in mind and thought. He obviously wasn't telling us to subscribe to one school of thought in 1 Corinthians 1:10, because two chapters later he tells us that wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight. Again, experience is more valuable than conformity.

Spirit houses both mind and thought and provides a very simple basis for both. The only way to unite and overcome divisions is to approach each other on this very basic level. Not with pre-conceived ideas about who a person should be, but with pre-meditated love and understanding rooted in spirit. There is instant unity when we approach life from this base and it supercedes worldy wisdom.

The world would be a pretty boring place if we all had the same thoughts. The world is a melting pot of cultures, thought, and ideologies, and that is what makes it colorful and worth living in. The United States used to be proud of the fact that it was a melting pot, but now it seems as though the most powerfully conservative groups are providing so much heat that some of that is evaporating. God gave us freedom of thought and God intends for us to use it; not to streamline it. God also gave us the freedom to act in a manner that is in line with our spiritual understanding. No matter what religious classification we assign ourselves, any law that imposes upon this freedom is misguided.

Each person is on an individual journey of faith. As long as this journey doesn't lead to another person's harm, each of us should have the freedom to live, love, and think as we see fit. That's something to value.

20Something 9-7-05

Last week's lesson has been posted here http://coh20something.blogspot.com If you don't see it on the front page check the September archives.

This Wednesday Rev. Dr. Jo Hudson is going to come and speak to us about Cathedral of Hope's possible affiliation with UCC. This is your chance to gather information and ask questions.

Have a blessed week,
Jen

The Freedom to Be

This week at church a friend of mine slyly slipped some folded up papers into my hand and gave me a wink, as if she were signaling the transfer of some highly secretive, illicit material. One glance at the glossy newsletter paper and I knew what it was. I had mentioned months ago that I would like to get my hands on a bit of this dangerous, incendiary propaganda. At last, hot off the presses, the Exodus International monthly newsletter.

On the top of the front page The Exodus Impact is in bold print. The mission statement follows; Proclaiming to, educating and impacting the world with the biblical truth that freedom from homosexuality is possible when Jesus is Lord of one's life.

All things are possible with God. But what if freedom from homosexuality is not necessary? I'm not going to spend time restating the things I've said in previous blogs, but I believe God is the author of homosexuality and that God fully accepts and loves us as homosexuals. To attempt to gain freedom from this overwhelming source of love would simply be evidence of our own private fears. We are not captives. There is nothing to gain freedom from.

There is one word that pops up throughout the newsletter in reference to homosexuality, and the use of it puzzles me. Take the end of this sentence for example. "...committed to the restoration of families affected by unwanted homosexuality." And this one. "...reaching out to those who struggle with unwanted same sex attractions." Usually, unwanted refers to something that is a nuisance or detrimental to one's well-being in some way. I realize I'm just one example, but I'm happier than I've ever been, I love my partner more deeply each day, and I am continually awed by the intensity of the Spirit that lives inside me. It seems to me that any catalyst that would come along and ruin that would be the unwanted thing.

The dictionary says to be unwanted is to be uninvited. Something uninvited would come from the outside. It would not well up from within as homosexuality does. Mosquitos, telemarketers, and nasty rumors are uninvited pests which attack from the outside. Homosexuality is a natural, same sex attraction that quite peacefully springs forth from the core. Since same sex attraction is a chemical reaction over which one has no control, it doesn't hold up to say it's uninvited. It is true that there are probably folks out there who would rather not be gay and face the associated hardships, and in that case homosexuality is truly something unwanted and uninvited. In my experience most gay folk eventually make peace with it. Either way, participation in a week-long retreat and a good bit of follow-up therapy to make it go away will do nothing to change the homosexual root.

One section of the newsletter contains an update from United Methodists. (The Methodists have an Exodus-affiliated ministry called Transforming Congregations.) I grew up Methodist, so this peaks my interest. Basically, Methodists agree that GLBT folk are of sacred worth and are welcome to attend Methodist churches, but the Methodist section of the Exodus newsletter says, "...because homosexual behavior is incompatible with Christian teaching, self-avowed, practicing homosexuals may not be ordained as clergy, denominational finances may not be spent on pro-gay causes, and same-sex unions may not be celebrated. In reality, the denomination struggles to hold disobedient members accountable to these stated agreements."

I know many Methodists who are much more understanding and compassionate. I don't think these words echo the sentiment of all Methodists.

If a church only wants that part of me which will blend most easily into its current demographic makeup, I would just as soon read my Bible at home. If God accepts us wholly and celebrates our relationships, it seems to me that our churches should do the same. Of course, many churches don't have the understanding that God envelopes us to this degree.

Reading the Exodus International newsletter gives you the sense that many Christians still understand homosexuality to be a behavior that one can practice or not practice depending upon will and circumstances. To practice something requires a great deal of effort and concentration, but I think I'm pretty gay just sitting on the couch staring off into space. Somehow that is more acceptable to these Christians than going out on a date with my partner of seven years. A date constitutes practicing. But why would God give us a gift and require us to keep it under the Christmas tree all year? Whether I'm "behaving" in a homosexual manner or not has no bearing upon my homosexuality. Among many Christians, the act of accepting the truth that I am a lesbian is interpreted as disobedience. It may be disobedience to church doctirne, but accepting one's own homosexuality is not disobedience to God. I think God is moving in the world now in a manner that begins to convey the truth and significance of that. But there are still thousands of Christians in leadership positions who refuse to believe, and they are doing their level best to subdue the movement and prevent the truth from being fully revealed.

It's all so fear-based. Ministries like Exodus International label their targets as disobedient so that they can claim power and authority and demand respect. Churches cling to their finances and disallow spending on "pro gay causes" because doing so would be just a little too radically inclusive and it might subtract from other, more noble causes. Anti-gay doctrines and traditions remain in place because removing them could call into question entire belief systems and shatter faith. But what is faith if it is not challenged? Rather than retreat in fear and cling to power, money, and the status quo it seems it would be better to open up to the expanse of God and ask what other ways our minds can be effectively blown.

Homosexuality is not incompatible with Christianity, only with misguided Christian teachings. And these misguided teachings are doing a good bit of damage to the hearts and minds of those they reach. This friend of mine who passed the Exodus newsletter on to me is no longer associated with the ministry but she still receives the newsletters. I've only known her for about a year, but it's obvious to me that this ministry has left a remarkable scar and has contributed to a deep-seeded uncertainty about where exactly she fits in in the family of God. She has attempted suicide more than once. Other coping mechanisms have failed. She is broken. And yet through it all, you can't help but notice the effervescence of God coursing through her like a current. Her heart is pure. And as she continues to break free from the emotional chains that keep her from immersing herself in love, she will heal. Without Exodus.

It may be true that homosexuals need freedom. But not from ourselves.

We Are One. Now it's Obvious.

I hate to be repetitious, but it is true that good things can come from bad situations. We all know that. Tragedies produce the greatest opportunities for generosity and selflessness as we're seeing now in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The positive energy that is born out of the pain will go a long way toward healing the lives of those touched by it. The number of donation-related emails I've received in my company inbox alone is evidence enough that there are thousands of people mobilizing daily to contribute as much as possible to the relief and cleanup efforts. There is a great deal of power in this to be consumed not only by the hurricane victims, but also by those who give selflessly to the cause. The energy that is being created now will be restorative for all involved.

When tragedies occur, it forces us all to get back to the basics. The immediate concerns of the hurricane evacuees center around food, water, clothing, and shelter. The thousands of donation drives across the country are focused on exactly that. And the goodness that speaks to each one of us and asks us to forget ourselves for a moment and do something to help those within our reach is a very basic life force and the thread that runs through all of these efforts. It's rudimentary. The basics are the ties that bind.

It should be readily apparent to us now that many of the things we argue about in churches, in the courts, and in legislative chambers are incredibly petty if not altogether irrelevant. Homosexuality is the issue that is most personal to me so that's the one I'll address, but it's certainly not the only trivial issue we spend time and money dwelling upon.

Many churches have painted homosexuals into a corner. The abomination spotlight is on bright. But a tragedy the size of Katrina offers a renewed perspective by asking what difference it makes in the first place. If a rescue helicopter is about to pull a flood victim to safety, does it really matter if the rescue paramedic who drops out of the sky is gay or straight? Is the victim somehow more worthy of being saved if she is a heterosexual Southern Baptist? I hope these are ridiculous questions.

The point is when the basics in life are our focus, the complexities that we place upon one another in our society become glaringly inappropriate. The lines that we draw and the categories we create for entire populations speak only to our compulsion to organize the world into neat little pockets in an effort to make perfect sense of things. The resulting supremacy that abounds after some groups are assigned moral correctness and others are denied it is powerful, but invalid. We are one. And we should treat each other as such whether we happen to be in the midst of a monstrous humanitarian relief effort or in the middle of a conversation with friend, family member, or pastor. At our core we are all the same. Since we are connected, what happens to one of us happens to all of us.

If tragedy teaches us anything as Christians, it's that the identifiers we place upon others and the judgments we make about them are wholly irrelevant in the grand scheme of things. The same force of goodness flows through us all and prompts us to give of our time, energy, and resources. This force does not hold back and wait to work exclusively with the "true Christians." God is exhibited in each of our lives the moment we make the decision to allow the Spirit to flow through us. I wonder if the people who think homosexuality is an abomination also think that this goodness that flows through us is some sort of fluke. Or maybe they just think this flash of goodness is the lone highlight in a vast homosexual wasteland. Perhaps if they allowed themselves to learn more about the sum of us they would think otherwise.

I believe God recognizes the heart. This is the basis that connects each of us to one another and to God, and the vein that allows God to continually pump life and goodness into all of us. And if we view each person as part of this interconnected web of life sustained by God, the cumulative effect of what we can accomplish becomes that much greater.

Katrina's Cause and Effect

Yesterday I felt guilty every time I thought about anything other than those affected by Hurricane Katrina. I thought, how dare I go on with my life business-as-usual, while thousands of people are standing on I-10 in New Orleans wondering whether or not they will be able to find a bite of food that is not contaminated or a drop of clean drinking water, and whether or not they'll even get out of the living hell that they're in or if they'll be shot before they do. I can't imagine what it must be like to be one of thousands of hungry and thirsty people gathered around the Superdome, who have no choice but to watch others die right in front of them. This used to be a place football fans gathered to escape from reality for a few hours, and now it has become a harsh reality with no immediate escape. It's a gathering place for thousands of homeless, stranded people who were leading very different lives a week ago. The grief is multi-layered and it extends far beyond the borders of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.

The heaviness I felt yesterday left me as soon as I started doing something about it. I should have known. James 2:16-17 says, If one of you says to him, "Go. I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. Faith in action is incredibly fulfilling, and it will be what heals all of us.

Which will ultimately have more meaning; the cause or the effect? Many people have already assigned a great deal of meaning to the cause of the devastation. Understandably so. Hurricane Katrina has altered hundreds of thousands of lives, the long term effects of which we are only beginning to understand. But rather than consider the hurricane to be the impetus that gave way to destruction and therefore marks the end of something great, the world will be better served if we allow it to be a beginning. We are already witnessing an amazing outpouring of generosity--of time, of money, and of spirit. This will no doubt continue. And as it does, the effect will come to have greater power and meaning than the cause ever could. The tragedies in life are not what will ultimately define us. It's our reactions to them that make us who we are.

I'm inspired by the astronomical amounts of money being raised, by the thousands of volunteers who are taking time out of their day to deliver food and water to the evacuees, and by the hundreds of thousands of victims who are finding strength despite the seemingly insurmountable odds. The display of faith is infectious.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 says:

1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
6 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

It's time for benevolence and overwhelming love. We have the opportunity to be part of one of the largest humanitarian efforts in history. Let's make the most of it.

20Something 8-31-05

You can review or print last night's 20Something study by clicking on the link above. We had a great discussion, especially in light of everything that has happened along the Gulf Coast this week. Prayer is a resource that can be continually renewed, and it is the most immediate way to offer help.