Thoughts?

If you look down in comments you’ll find two amazing Men of God who lay the case out pretty effectively. Scott Roche (spiritualtramp) and Jason Ackerman (jasonmonster) are two fairly well balanced Christian men of whom I’ve had the honor to work on a few things with and as far as I can tell, they know what they’re talking about.

The bottom line is quotes and ideas that both Scott and Jason point out. This one got me (and Scott) going. “I just didn’t feel God would tell a person to deny a big part of who they are and to keep it a secret.” When you sign up to be a Christian (as the name implies – CHRIST-like) you’re setting yourself apart from the world of sin. Mind you, we’re going to sin everyday but the focus of being a Christian is to work against that part of our humanity. We strive to be Christ in everything we do and if we’re going to even break even on that agreement we’re going to have some rules about what is cool and what is not cool.

In the eyes of God/Jesus/HolySpirit, the act of homosexual sex is a sin. We can’t argue with that. When you sign up with God it’s a whole new ballgame. Accepting Jesus into your life and heart is an agreement to turn your life over to Him and what He commands. You can’t start making up your own rules about the basic tenets of Christianity because it makes you feel better or because you think it’s the way it should be. If Christianity isn’t your bag (and it certainly isn’t for everyone*) there’s plenty of other religions out there and probably multiples willing to be more liberal and free with certain things.

*When I say it isn’t for everyone, I was meaning to say not everyone makes the choice to join up. Everyone should have the choice to choose Jesus but if you aren’t willing to sacrifice yourself and the sin you’ve worn for so long…as they say “YOR DOING IT RONG!”

Jason breaks it down in comments with this nugget -

It’s an issue of crossing the line from saying ‘we love you no matter who you are or what you’ve done, and believe there’s a place in God’s familiy for you’ and ‘your sin is justified, because God wouldn’t possibly want you to be unhappy’. That’s a dangerous line to cross, in my opinion. It actually IS a sin to act in accordance with your nature – that’s the whole point of redemption, that our nature is exactly what is stopping us from being in relationship with the God that created us.

The last point I’d like to make (and it’s one I’ve made more times than I care to count) is that Christianity can’t be reinvented, reworked or reimagined. (kudos to grant on twitter for saying, “”Christianity can’t be reinvented, reworked or reimagined.” Isn’t that the entire history of Christianity?” and to that I say I’m speaking more or less to “modern” Christianity and I hope that makes sense…)

At the end of the day it’s about Jesus, you and living a life according to Him as best as you can every day, day by day.

And if you aren’t down with that…well, that’s your decision. And I ain’t about to try and run yours or anyone else’s life. I have enough trouble keeping mine out of the repair shop.

Rick Warren was recently connected via Rachel Maddow’s cable television program to Uganda and several people who have decided it’s a really great idea (it isn’t if you haven’t guessed that already) to enact a law that makes killing homosexuals awesome (I’m paraphrasing here as this whole thing makes me want to projectile vomit), bans hanging out with them or something and makes it cool to rat out people who homosexual and tattle on those that hang out with them.

Let’s get this out of the way. What. In. The. Wide. World. Of. Sports. Is. Going. On Here. I mean, honestly. I know things in far away countries are different as beliefs that are most definitely not Western in nature have long existed for good and/or bad reasons. There is a reason why gay marriage and homosexuals as a whole continue to struggle against much of this kinds of issues. Mind you, here in the United States we’ve somehow managed to grow towards the “tolerate” marker on the “Wheel of hate” spinner and even in the last ten years started to lean towards “indifferent”.

In Uganda, things are different. And in their zest to do whatever it is they are doing (I’m not terribly concerned with offending this particular group of homosexual hating cowards for the reason that being in that camp means you’re an idiot) they’ve brought the spotlight directly onto a guy who seems destined to dance around the edge of it for a little bit longer and for mostly the right reasons. You see, Rick Warren is a big time pastor. Did Obama’s inauguration. I mean, big time. He caught a lotta mud for that, but for the most part seems like a decent enough guy to me.

Fast forward to the last two or so weeks. Rachel Maddow covers the story, connects Warren to it and suddenly it’s Christians Hate Gay People all over again. I half expected to see the loony McCloonersons from that arse-backwards church that holds signs and screams about how God hates. Never mind that this particular brand of Christianity is so far on the fringe they’re almost kind of like the Cindy Sheehan of Christianity. My immediate apologies if that connection offended anyone, but I feel it helps illustrate what I and many think of when they hear about them.

In Maddow’s story she reports that Rick Warren responded saying he doesn’t involve himself in other countries political and domestic issues and would not be commenting further. Commence the eye rolling since I know you’ve probably already started.

Honestly, I’m not mad at Rick Warren. I’m disappointed. Here was that one chance to gather his thoughts and say, “You know what? That’s pretty insane! Of course as a Christian I’m totally against it and will do everything I can to make sure they understand how abhorrent this is!” Nope. One liner about interfering with politics.

As Christians we have certain charges given to us by God. And I imagine/believe/postulate/don’t throw stones at me please that if Jesus/God/Holy Spirit was asked that very question we’d get a pretty solid answer about eyes, two by four pieces of wood and needles through the eye and how Love, Mercy, Grace and Forgiveness are something He never runs out of no matter who He’s hanging around with.

Mind you, we all make mistakes and I truly believe this was an error for Rick Warren. He corrected it within the last 12 hours or so with a youtube video I’m linking below for discussion-ary purposes.

Am I right? Am I wrong? Am I half and half? Do I have anything to stand on? I’m very curious to see what the fellow believers/non believers/stone throwers/burn the witch crowds have to say on this subject.  Also, he’s posted FULL details at his website here

With Balloon Boy it was exposed. We were all more or less aware of people who want to be famous. There’s all kinds from all corners. Some manage to find their niche in the world and make it their own by serving some kind of purpose. Whether it actually does something for anyone is anyone’s guess. Then there are those that seek it and fail repeatedly. It’s usually not a bad thing when they fail. They just keep on looking for that job or life that makes them happy, satisfied and supported. And then there’s the crazy ones. The ones that are hiding just below the radar of most people. Balloon Boy is one example. The White House Party crashers are another. These are the people who seek publicity, notoriety and the money that eventually comes with all those things.

They do not care about the rules, regulations or even the safety of those around them. They are focused on one goal and one goal only. To be at the top with lights shining and people adoring. Balloon Boy showed us the darkest of it all with the father taking his family into danger. Telling his children to lie to the police. And in the end completely destroying his children. The White House gatecrashers are another. The reality of the act they committed seems lost on them. They’ve got a lawyer who will tap dance for them until the real truth comes out and everything comes crashing down on them.

You see, you can’t do this much anymore in this day and age. Lies, half truths and the rest cannot hold the dam of truth back because all this information is now readily available at our fingertips. Between Google, Yahoo and Bing all your information is there to be seen. Not only that but those around you that you’ve either swindled or confided in are less likely to hold out for you because by loosing their lips and sinking your ship they’re bound to get on the television and sell you out. And look better for doing it then being caught later right along with you.

And so we’ve come to accept these people in our world for the most part. Balloon Boy shocked us all with as huge hurricane of cold water to our collective faces. How could someone be so callous? How could a husband and wife have so little regard for their brood to ignore all common sense to believe that we’d at the end of the day not start digging into their closets filled with dusty skeletons? The White House Crashers amused me until the details started coming out. Breaking Laws? Lying to nearly everyone? And proud of it?

What has happened to us?

I don’t have all the answers but I think I have a piece of the puzzle. Humility. We’ve all (hopefully) been humbled at least once (in some cases everyday) in our lives and most of us will attest that it was one of the better things to happen to us. I’ve had it happen more times than I can count (and I can hope for more!) and have found that moment where my pride and puffed up chest collapse as if a popped balloon to be moments I treasure and remember daily.

Mind you if you’re very good at what you do and do it exceptionally well you’re allowed a little pomp and pride. What I’m referring to is people who’ve never had their reality crosschecked into the glass or when they were simply put their head in the air and kept on walking blind to the the message. Beating the odds is one thing but becoming one is not altogether pleasant.

I’ve learned a lot in my 27 or so years following and walking with God. Some I’ve talked about here while others of those lessons are waiting to be told. What I do know is that being humble, merciful, patient and gracious are far more appreciated qualities then being rich, powerful and full of it. I look at much of what I see in Hollywood and entertainment. I see some greatness in people. But only some.

When will we start fighting back against what is killing our culture, family and future?

As Mikey says in “The Goonies”, “It all starts here.”

Feel free to agree, disagree or give another perspective in comments.

When God’s people were sent to wander in the desert for all those years there was a purpose behind God’s intent.

It was never meant to happen the other way around.  We’re not meant to wander away from Him for an extended period of time.  He needs as.  He desires us.  And if you wanted to go all creepy with a twist of vampire, he hungers for us. He pines for us.  There is something about God’s Love that is everlastingly mysterious and terrifying at the same time.

God loves you no matter what. It’s not based on a litany of conditions (marriages are based on those) or requirements of daily sacraments (that got old in the…Old Testament) or how you hold you head or how many times you pray a day.

It’s is founded on a relationship of Love. At its core Christianity has no simpler message than that. Love encompasses all the actions we are to engage in towards the world and those around us and within it.

Jesus Loved. God Loves. Simple and practical.

And yes, I’m back to doing this daily. Fingers and toes are crossed this time.

The book is “The Shack” by William P. Young and it is a fascinating journey of both emotional healing and theological study in the idea of the Christian faith. You would think combining those two items would lead to one of the more tinderbox-esque pieces of prose ever created…but reality is that it draws you in, lays it out for you and then slips you a mickie right about the end. You never recover from the roofie the book throws down your gullet. Truth is, you don’t want to ever look back from the moment you close this book.

The book redraws the borders and lines of Christianity to the point of where it just about was back in the days if Acts and Romans. The relationship with God, the idea of the Church and the sheep like mold we’ve found ourselves in are all topics that are covered in a manner that is neither sleep inducing or preachy. It is simply a story of a man who lost his daughter, faced God and struggled with the idea of who God is to him.

In the discovery of all of this is the wake up call the church has been needing for years. I talked about this on my radio show in full detail and I’m going to put the link to the show below. You’ll have to endure some political talk for the first 15 or so minutes (you can skip past with a click of a button) but you’ll find the bulk of the show is me reacting to this amazing book and agreeing with just about everything in it.

Seriously, you need to hear my thoughts. And read this book.

Click here to open the show.