Has Anyone Noticed? It’s an Election Year

Posted under Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Presidential Canidates, Racial Relations, democrate, libertarian, politics, republican, same sex

I’m neither Republican nor Democrat. I’m an independent who freely votes for the candidate who best suits my distinct creationist stream of thought. Something I’ve noticed of late is how Christianity seemingly attracts those with conservative views while repelling those who are more liberal in their politics. It’s the, “I’m sorry, Hillary and Barack, only conservatives can go to heaven” attitude.

For me, it simply reinforces my belief that elephants can be blind. Conversely we discovered in one day, actually in less than one hour, just how contradictory spoken words can be. Senator Obama established that yesterday with an articulate, yet confusing speech on his experience and understanding of his pastor of twenty years, racial division, and unity. Articulate is a word that well describes this Senator’s word-smithy talents. But unfortunately his communication was murky and muddy at best. History may mark March 18th as the turning point in Obama’s presidential run. Personally, I found little for Obama to gain from his talk.

Back to the elephants. To keep Christianity linked to a one-party system, the issues have to be few and emotionally compelling. Any broader embracing of issues that calls for a more nuanced, less emotional sorting of factors moves toward greater political ambiguity. The Gospel message of peace, justice, and non-violence, though major concerns of Jesus, are lost in the fog of hot-button issues that tend to be moral in nature (same-sex marriages, abortion, right-to-life) that galvanize voters and demonize the other side.

 In a week’s time I think more about this country’s tanking economy and the growing federal deficit than I do the effect of gays on the institution of marriage. But how excited does anyone get about the federal budget? Defending the sanctity of marriage is much more sexy, but my guess is the sanctity of marriage is not in any real danger regardless of what the Constitution says, and making same-sex marriages unconstitutional is going to have little or no effect on gay couples.

The Gospel has social ramifications and, because of that, political ones as well; it’s just that there are no clear connections between following Christ and the political platform of either party in America. The best thing that could come out of this presidential election year would be for Christ-followers to grasp the opportunity to show both solidarity and celebration as common practices among believers who agree on Christ as our Savior, even in our differences over personalities and political platforms.

Homophobia Church

Posted under Church, Diversity, anxiety, fear, homophobia, institutions, same sex

There’s a subculture within mainstream society today that is extremely antagonistic toward communities of faith because they perceive them as oppressive, homophobic institutions. I’m part of that Christian community and I love God’s people, but I’m also brave enough to stand up and admit that at times the church has been homophobic, unjust, and downright mean.

Do we extend grace to the people who have tasted the pain of divorce? Do we show grace to people who are divorced and remarried, an area Jesus specifically called sin? If so, then how do we not show grace to people in a sexual relationship that Jesus never mentions?

If we’re going to stamp out the lingering antagonism and have any legitimacy to speak out on the issue of marriage, it will have to come out of the reality of our lives, not simply our doctrine.

Here’s a thought.

Is the church brave enough to step out of the box and champion the call for justice on behalf of gay and lesbian people? If we stand on the other side of the aisle and allow discrimination against homosexuals and lesbians to continue without a hand raised or a voice uttered, we’ll find it’s difficult to say convincingly, “But we love you in the name of Jesus.”

To show the love of God we must stand up for the civil rights of those whose orientation is homosexual on the basis of discrimination. When we stand with them they’ll see us as their friend. It’s not compromise, neither is it a statement that says we have bought into homosexual eroticism. We simply recognize that discrimination is wrong and stand with them on the matter.

When we minister to this growing population of God’s creation, in that setting, and on their turf, we’re going to be surrounded by people not living the biblical ideal. I don’t affirm that, but neither do I condemn them.