That used to be OK...

Generally speaking, I try to stay out of the political fray. Partly because as a minister I am not supposed to use my influence to sway peoples’ viewpoints about matters of State, at least that seems to be the politically correct view. 

I, generally speaking, am not a conspiracy theorist, a close-minded fanatical type, or even a hell-fire and brimstone, name-the-sin kind of preacher. As far as I know I don’t hate anyone, I have no phobias that I'm aware of except mice, heights and fast rides at the amusement park, and I don’t picket or boycott things with which I don’t agree (at least not anymore).

I think I’m a pretty reasonable, likeable guy; at least I try to be.

But lately I’ve discovered that it doesn’t seem to be ok with a lot of folks that I’m also a man of conviction. I’m a man of faith, which automatically disqualifies me as a nice guy in a lot of people’s opinion. I kind of get that. People of faith, or at least people perceived to be people of faith have done a lot of nasty things over the years, and the rap kind of falls on all of us. 

I go to church, I believe in Jesus (as Savior), I tend to be conservative in most of my political views (not because I’m a person of faith or because I have an axe to grind but because those are my convictions), and I still believe that there are some absolute values that would make the world we live in a better place.

I don’t hate people whose values are different than mine, I just disagree with them. For some reason that’s not OK anymore. I’m not afraid of people whose values are different than mine, we just don’t agree about what’s important. That doesn’t mean I’m phobic, it just means we don’t see eye to eye. That used to be OK, but not anymore. If I state my opinion or decide not to support a cause, (according to some) that’s not me stating my beliefs, that’s me being “mean-spirited and hateful”, although those who may disagree with me are not being “mean-spirited or hateful” when they voice their opinions or boycott a city who has a law they don’t like.(I'm confused???)

Let me set the record straight. I don’t hate anyone. I have convictions. I’m not against anyone. I don’t believe in mistreating Muslims or gays or Democrats. I believe in America they have a right to live their lives in peace and without fear of hate crimes like anyone else. I have friends who are Muslim, some who are gay and even some who are Democrats. I have long admired Jimmy Carter (not for his politics but for his unapologetic faith in Christ) and read his devotional guide every morning. One item on my personal bucket list is to meet him in person. I’m not a hater.

I believe in freedom of speech, freedom of worship and freedom to hold unpopular opinions. I believe our words ought to be kind and considerate, our worship open and accepting of whoever wants to participate and our opinions protected even if they happen to be out of step with society. 

I long for a time and place where we are all considered important, none of us written off because of our convictions, and equally respected even when we differ with each other. You need to know that I respect you and your opinion, lifestyle and/or belief system, regardless of whether or not I agree with it.  I don’t hate you, I’m not afraid of you and I welcome your friendship and even the opportunity to build a relationship of mutual respect with you, even if we disagree about some things we both feel are very important.

That used to be OK…

I'm Afraid It's Us...

I have to be honest and tell you I’m getting pretty fed up with folks who think they are the only ones with the correct “take” on everything. I find myself having to confess the uneasy fact that I see this in the church as much as anywhere else. I mean, I expect it in politics, which is getting quite repulsive in its own way. Democrats blame the Republicans and vice versa when I think we can all agree there’s enough blame to go around several times. I even expect it in the world at large as we all have preferences about car brands, sports teams and the best way to cook a turkey. Everyone thinks they’re right.

But there is something particularly offensive to me, as a Christian, about those who are part of a growing group who believe their specific brand or sect of Christianity has all the right answers and opinions and are the final authorities on everything “spiritual.” I would agree with many who say we, as Christians, are under no obligation to please or pander to the whims of society and what they would like us to be. On the other hand, I do believe that since our own statistical data, compiled by Christian organizations and pollsters, reveals the world sees us as bigoted, phobic, intolerant and judgmental, it may be time for us to come out of our shells long enough to see if their impression of us is at all justified.

In most of the data I’ve seen over the last couple of decades, those outside the church have a generally favorable impression of Christ. However, those same folks have an overwhelmingly negative impression of Christians. My initial take is that one of us misunderstands who Jesus is and I'm afraid it's us. My guess is we’ve made a Jesus that looks an awful lot like us and therefore they reject Him. I wonder what would happen if we tried the opposite and we looked more like Him. I suspect the end result might be more positive for all of us.

In a world where we have access to nearly unlimited amounts of information, much of it unreliable and never verified before it is published on the Internet, we are quick to form judgments and opinions that end up making us look very foolish. I have pleaded with Christians to check the facts before reposting articles on Facebook. Some of those posts are years old, were not true when originally posted and time has not made them any more true. In short, we end up looking like horses’ behinds and then wonder why the world doesn’t pay any attention to us when we stand behind our pulpits and declare something to be true with the same fervor with which we “shared” our false claims and prejudiced remarks on the web. We hide behind vague claims of someone being “New Age” or “known to associate with liberals” or “emerging” as though simply our accusation makes them guilty and therefore rendering anything they’ve done, said or written worthless, without moral, social or spiritual significance.

It has occurred to me lately that Jesus Himself had lots of accusations very similar to these hurled at Him. I shudder to think what might have been had Jesus showed up in the age of Facebook and Twitter. Can you even imagine the lies, innuendos, and judgment?

I suppose what I’m a voice crying in the wilderness for is sanity, fairness, tolerance and grace. We’ve demonized those attributes in the church and equated them with a watered down, sinless Christianity. I disagree. I believe with all my heart Jesus was a man of fairness, tolerance and grace…like no other before or after. His motives were pure and his insight was keen. He did not come to condemn but to rescue and save…and this is why I follow Him.