-i'd like to preface this post by saying: i'm speaking in generalities, obviously this doesn't pertain or describe everyone. but it is the way i have percieved my christian church these past few months...feel free to disagree, this is merely my opinion-
curiosity causes me to beg the question: why did the church become so quickly enraged and passionate about homosexuality? now i understand that Prop 8 had a lot to do with it, but really...it's not like it's a new issue, maybe more public now but definitely not new. i can't help but become skeptical, and frustrated with the church. i would like to know where in the hell, the millions of dollars that the church spent prior to voting to spread the word to vote Yes on 8 came from!? i am all about standing up for what you believe and support causes, but seriously! i can't count how many preachers who never discuss political issues are all of a sudden given sermons on homosexuality, and urging members to vote "yes". i can't count the number of campaign videos i saw prior to voting. i can't count the number of free "yes on 8" signs i saw available outside the church after sunday services. i can't count the number of conversations i had with christian people who were all of a sudden for the first time passionate about something. now that's great that the church decided to become passionate about something and really make what they saw to be a positive difference. But what about the 3.5 million (according to the national coalition of the homeless in 2008) homeless men, women and children in America? where is our passion for them? where are our finances to advertising about them? where are the sermons reminding us that our focus is to love others, when was the last time someone outside of my homeless shelter group mentioned homeless children in a "christian" conversation?...uphold God's values for the family in your life, and hold your friends accountable, but God commands us to first to love Him, then to love, protect, and provide for the destitute, the orphans, and the widows. what if the church showed as much passion, fire, and unity for the destitue as it did for the ban on homosexuality. that's great that you (the church) can rally together and keep your values in our government system, whatever...but what about the local homeless shelter...what about food and clothing drives, what about support for those who need it, what about sermons directed to remind people of GOD'S prioities for us...Jesus was exactly NOT what the Jews thought he was going to be. He didn't come and overthrow and control the government...when Jesus came Rome was ruled by dictators, when he left, Rome was still ruled by dictators...i don't think its our job to control what people do...it is our job to love our creator, and love and provide for those who need. you disagree with homosexuality...don't marry a homosexual...we aren't commanded to force our belief system, or our values on other people, but we are commanded to love people unconditionally. homosexuals shouldn't be afraid of the church, they shouldn't be afraid of Christians, they should be loved and treated as people. now i'm not saying the church shouldn't support political issues, or that christians shouldn't stand up for God's commands, but i'm just wondering why we became so consumed with that, when everyday, children, women, and men are homeless, alone, cold, and hungry in our own backyards.
i just wish the church was as passionate for those in need as it was for "protecting the sanctity of marriage."
I think you bring up some very good points - preachers do get on political bandwagons too often, and although I think it's ok for a pastor to say that a certain law goes against the Bible, I don't think they should be saying things like "vote this way". With that in mind, the Bible clearly says that homosexuality is wrong, end of story. This doesn't give us (Christians) an excuse to hate them, or ignore them--far from it, they need our love / Christ commanded us to love them just as much. But there comes a point, and it's getting harder and harder to do this, when we need to draw a line so that that world understands that we can love people without condoning sin--indeed, this is the very paradoxical nature of the love of Christ, that it is unconditional but at the same time perfectly holy. Whatever your stand on how we, as Christians, approach politics and lawmaking, I am disappointed that this entry implies that you condone homosexuality itself.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I think the church needs to continue to be just as passionate on protecting the sanctity of marriage by speaking against divorce--which is also against God's will and plan. He allows us to divorce if we've been cheated on, but in the New Testament clearly says that any other reason for divorce is not worth breaking your vow of fidelity that has made you one with another person.
ReplyDeleteAs the women in my church would say:
ReplyDelete"COME ON NOW... TALK ABOUT IT... SOMEBODY SAY SOMETHING..."