The Least of These

(Part Synchroblog for Sanity)


Today, I am speaking primarily to those who claim the label Christian.  If you are of another faith or no faith, you are welcome to read on with the understanding that I will be referencing Christ and the Bible as an example and rationale for modern beliefs and behaviors.

The Church, as a body of imperfect individuals, is capable of acts of tremendous grace, kindness, and love.  We give to those in need.  We organize relief efforts, food banks, blood drives.  We donate money to homeless shelters and volunteer our time at soup kitchens.  We have offered prayers, support, and encouragement to those both in our faith communities and out.

In spite of this, I believe there is one group of people we are failing:  the LGBTQIA community.

I have, through the course of my entire churched life, heard so many sermons about and against homosexuality, to the point I assumed all gays were twisted, debauched individuals beyond the reach of God's salvation.  And that was my assumption as a straight individual - imagine how hopeless and helpless gay Christians feel hearing that rhetoric!

I am going to say something that will likely offend and appall my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Being gay is not a sin.

Really, it's not.  Even if you're a Side B person (one who believes homosexuals should remain sexually abstinent), you cannot honestly say with the Bible's support that the mere possession of attraction toward those of the same sex is a sin.

If you view homosexual attraction as a temptation to be fought, fine.  Pray for (not against) those who are same sex attracted (SSA), but do not tell them they are wicked because they have those attractions.

 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15


Did you read that?  That passage is referring to Christ as our high priest and it says he was tempted in every respect as we are.  Every. respect.

Think about that for a minute.  

Now imagine Jesus Christ himself is attending your church.  In a moment of trust, he admits he is SSA.  How do you treat him?

Lest you think I am stating as fact Jesus was gay, I am not.  I am reminding us what Jesus said:

'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me - you did it to me. [...]Whenever you failed to do one of these things to someone who was being overlooked or ignored, that was me - you failed to do it to me.' Matthew 25:40, 45

Based on that passage alone, perhaps it's time we as the Church re-evaluate our approach to the LGBTQIA community.  Perhaps it's time we actually listen to them when they tell us our current approach of "Love the sinner, hate the sin" is hurtful.  Perhaps it's time we try to imagine what life is like in their shoes instead of making assumptions about the state of their souls.  Perhaps it's even time to apologize for continuing rhetoric that is hurtful on a soul deep level.

Perhaps it's time to view everyone as Christ in disguise, as an opportunity to minister to our Savior.

Even to the least of these. 

The Obligatory Post-Election Post

If you voted for Barack Obama: Congratulations, and thanks for voting!

If you voted for Mitt Romney:  Thanks for voting.  Better luck next time!

If you voted for a third party candidate:  Way to be a rebel and still vote.  Good for you!

If you chose not to vote:  I affirm your right to abstain from voting.


Ok, that's out of the way.


Republicans, Conservatives, Religious Right:  It's ok.  Really.

This election (like any election) was not God vs. Satan.  God (Romney) did not lose to Satan (Obama).  God (the Almighty) is not punishing America by "giving us what we deserve."

God is in control.  He is Love, not some masochistic puppeteer who gleefully punishes His minions for failing some cosmic test.

Barack Obama is not some anti-Christ or anti-patriot.  In fact, John Fea, a history professor at Messiah College in Pennsylvania, wrote,

 "Obama may be the most explicitly Christian president in American history. If we analyze his language in the same way that historians examine the religious language of the Founding Fathers or even George W. Bush, we will find that Obama’s piety, use of the Bible, and references to Christian faith and theology put most other American presidents to shame on this front. I think there may be good reasons why some people will not vote for Obama in November, but his commitment to Christianity is not one of them."

Take the time to compare your beliefs to the President's.  Not what you think he believes (he is not, nor has ever been Muslim), or what you've heard he believes.  Take the time to research what President Obama's faith is.  Read his own words.  The similarities may surprise you.

Furthermore, if you acknowledge God's sovereignty, you must also acknowledge that Barack Obama is God's ordained President of the United States for this period of time.  Pray for him. Do not pray against him (Let his days be few and let another take his office. - Psalm 109:8 comes to mind), but for him.  Pray for his health, his family, his decisions for our country.  Pray blessings on our President, even if you disagree with his politics.

I'm pretty sure there are some Scriptures about that you don't see posted on Facebook.

Fluid Modesty

What do you think of when I say the word "modest?"  In the U.S., we tend to use modest as synonymous with "covered" or "clothed," just as we use obey as a synonym for "comply."

When I was growing up, I attended a very strict, conservative Baptist school.  At school,  there was a long litany of "modest" attire for girls, but boys' "modesty" involved wearing pants, a belt, and a tucked in, collared shirt.  Ironically, a girl in the same attire was "immodest," since it was considered improper for females to wear male clothing (pants).

I received many messages about modesty during that time: in sermons, through the rules, from attitudes of faculty.  What I understood was modesty = being covered from neck to knees.  Oh, and loose is also modest.  The more shapeless, the better.

The high school girls who wore just-below-the-knee pencil skirts and blouses that actually fit instead of being baggy earned the reputation of being slutty.  Yes, you read that correctly.  Girls who, in any other setting, would have had their clothing deemed conservative and modest were given a horrible label because they did not completely hide their God-given figures under tent-like jumpers or oversized shirts.

All that to say, for years I equated modesty with "having all the naughty bits covered + more for good measure."

I'll admit it:  I was judgmental of other Christians who covered less.  Rather, I was judgmental of Christian women who covered less.  Wait, that's still not right:  I was judgmental of any woman who covered less flesh than I did.  Which was almost everyone else.

And then, I joined an intentional on-line community of Christian mothers from all different denominations.  I "met" Mormons, Seventh-Day Adventists, Messianic believers, Quakers, Catholics...pretty much every flavor of Christian was represented in that group.  And we moms all wanted to teach our children about modesty.  But while I equated modesty with an appropriate clothing checklist, these moms generally equated modesty with the heart-attitude.

It shook my world to pieces.  How on earth could I teach my kids modesty without a checklist?!

But as I learned more about God's heart, about grace, about the individual priesthood of the believer, and about following the conviction of the Holy Spirit, I realized that I had no ties to my list other than tradition.  There is nothing inherently wrong with tradition, but tradition doesn't necessarily equal God's will.

Something that helped me let go of my list was a mama talking about modesty meaning different things in different circumstances.  For instance, your bathing attire, no matter how modest, is usually considered immodest in a church worship setting. (I do know of some Christian sects who insist females swim in dark t-shirts and long skirts, but still, sopping wet, clinging fabric is generally not considered appropriate at church.)

Obviously, what we deem "modest" is fluid, based on time, place, and circumstance.

Another dear mama spoke of the time period when she wore only long-sleeve blouses and ankle length skirts.  She had an affair, despite the abundance of flesh being covered.  This dear, Christian woman stated that she believed she was at her most seductive and immodest because of the clothing, not in spite of it.  Obviously, this is not true for every woman, but it was true for her.

Which left me wondering, what is modesty?  What does God mean when He used Paul to write that women should adorn themselves in "modest apparel?"

The word translated "modest" is the Greek word "kosmios," taken from "kosmos."  It has the idea of being well-ordered.  In that context, I believe it means women should take care to look nice, not to the extreme of narcissism, but as befitting an Image-bearer.  I think, also, that women (as wives and mothers) often get so caught up in the giving and doing for others that we leave ourselves out.  We neglect to honor the bodies God has given us by taking care of them properly.  We neglect to adorn ourselves in ways that remind us we have worth in God's eyes.  The nitty-gritty details of how and what to wear are left to the discernment of the believer and the leading of the Holy Spirit.

At this point in time, I believe modesty to be a heart issue between each believer and God.  I wear low-necked blouses and shirts a lot because I am still nursing, and those necklines provide easy access to the food source.  Another woman may be uncomfortable wearing the necklines I do, yet don a mini-skirt with no guilt whatsoever.  It is not my place to usurp the authority of the Holy Spirit and heap guilt or shame upon the woman wearing a skirt I deem inappropriate.  Nor is it her place to condemn me for seemingly putting the "girls" on display when in actuality I am taking into consideration the feeding of my baby.

Modesty is still fluid.  Now, I see it as fluctuating between individuals as well as changing based on circumstances and cultures.  Follow God, and you will be fine.

Even if it means tossing your list.

National Coming Out Day

10.11.12 is National Coming Out Day.  Therefore, I am coming out.

I am coming out as a compassionate supporter of LGBTQ+ rights.*  Gay rights are not just gay rights.  Gay rights are women's rights.  Gay rights are human rights.

Let me explain my premise that gay rights are women's rights.  Many people I know who are against gay rights are repulsed by the idea of men having sex with men. Women get a free pass for the most part.  Why?  Besides the fact that many men in the Bible had multiple wives so there was likely some kinky stuff happening in the bedroom,  the idea of a man acting like or taking the "role" of a woman in a relationship is degrading.  Again, why?  Simply put, it's misogyny.  In their minds, being a woman is degrading.  Women are second-class citizens merely by being born with a vagina instead of a penis.

Gay rights are human rights.  In the U.S., the rights to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" are guaranteed in the Constitution.  My spouse and I got married in the course of living life because we had the liberty to do so, and because it was in our pursuit of happiness.  Everyone should have that same right, regardless of gender or sexual orientation.

Gay marriage is not an attack on traditional marriage.  If anything, "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery," and traditional marriage proponents should be honored and flattered that people with same-sex attractions want to get married.  Christians especially, who hold that sex outside of marriage is a sin, should be thrilled that LGBTQ+ individuals want to marry instead of being content with co-habitating.

Honestly, anyone's sexual orientation shouldn't even be part of our conversation.  It is not my business if you like men or women.  It is not your business if I like men or women.    The only reason it is part of our conversation is because the rights inherent to the very fabric of the existence of our country are being denied to certain individuals based on sexual orientation.

And that is wrong.



*For those of you wondering how I, as an Evangelical Christian, can support gay rights, I answer this:  Jesus treated everyone with whom He came in contact in a loving, compassionate manner, Pharisees occasionally excepted.  Surely He would not expect less from His followers.  I think too often, Christianity gets overly focused on "the cause" and forgets about fulfilling Christ's command to love God and love others.  Forcing our morality on those who do not share our beliefs is not loving, nor will it do anything to further our cause.  

Can You Dialogue?

Is it your Biblical conviction to spank your child(ren)?  Would you be willing to dialogue with a scholar who believes spanking is not mandated, but wants a "pro-spanker" to point out any errors he has accepted in coming to his conclusion?

http://samuelmartin.blogspot.com/2012/09/corporal-punishmentspankingsmacking.html

Samuel Martin has actually asked several well-known proponents of corporal punishment to dialogue with him, but they have either declined or wanted to base the debate on something other than the Bible.

If you would be willing to help Samuel Martin understand how you (and ostensibly other proponents of corporal punishment) base your decision on your comprehension of Scripture, please click the link above to contact him.

Thank you for your help!

Authentic Worship

In the New Testament book of Mark, Jesus speaks to the life-worship of a widow:

Jesus sat across from the collection box for the temple treasury and observed how the crowd gave their money. Many rich people were throwing in lots of money.

One poor widow came forward and put in two small copper coins worth a penny.

Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I assure you that this poor widow has put in more than everyone who's been putting money in the treasury.

All of them are giving out of their spare change. But she from her hopeless poverty has given everything she had, even what she needed to live on." (Mark 12:41-43)

This has always been portrayed by preachers I’ve heard as some giant act of faith, some huge and positive decision that the widow rejoiced in doing.  Maybe she did rejoice in putting her last two cents into God’s coffers.  But I wonder...

Did she give out of obligation and God honored her anyway?  I was taught growing up that anything done without a happy heart didn’t earn treasure in heaven.  Doing the right thing without the right attitude would result in the billowing smoke of burning wood, hay, and stubble on judgment day.

But what matters more: our feelings or our actions?

Sometimes (ok, a lot of times), I don’t feel like sweeping or mopping.  I don’t feel like folding laundry.  I don’t feel like (yet again) taking 30 minutes to an hour to prepare a nutritionally balanced meal that will be simultaneously complained over and devoured in 15 minutes or less, leaving a massive amount of dirty pots, pans, plates, and utensils in its wake.

But I do those things.  I know the consequences if I don’t.  I have obligations as a wife and mother to ensure my family has a comfortable home, clean clothes, nutritious food.

Do my feelings negate my actions?  I don’t think so.

Back to the widow.  What was she feeling?  Thinking?  I sincerely doubt she was overjoyed to drop all she had into the Temple coffers.  She probably had doubts and fears regarding her life and health.  I’ve discovered one can simultaneously trust God and feel trepidation about having daily needs met.  Trust does not eradicate doubt.  Doubt does not bury trust.  One does not obliterate the other in some sort of cosmic, quasi-spiritual duel.

In fact, I believe the very act of doubting can be counted as worship.

The LORD is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him.  For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust.  Psalm 103:12-13

God knows who we are.  There is no need to pretend with the Almighty.  True worship means being authentic with our feelings, our doubts and fears, then following God anyway.

In reality, Scripture says nothing about the mindset or emotions of the widow giving her last mites.  It was her act of giving that was recorded and lauded.

So when I don’t feel like listening to what God is telling me to do, when I don’t feel like I have anything left to give to my church or community, when I don’t feel like being genuine and want to pretend my faith is rock-solid instead of the gossamer web it has become, but I respond to God’s leading, give of my time and self, share my doubts...that is worship.

Whether I give from a place of peace or a place of doubt, the choice to act is what God deems important.

What will I give today?  Will it be life-worship -all that I have- or will it be something that looks good to others but comes from my wealth of perception? 

How a Home Birth Changed My View on Abortion pt. 3

So here I am.  Conflicted.  

You see, I firmly believe morality cannot be legislated.  John Calvin tried, and all he succeeded in doing was creating a lot of unnecessary laws.  The hearts of the people weren’t changed because they obeyed the laws (or didn’t).  The USA tried to legislate morality by enacting Prohibition.  By all accounts, immorality thrived beneath the law.  Obviously, Prohibition was an abject failure, hence its repeal.

I also believe my rights end where another person’s rights begin.  That means, although I have strongly held personal religious and political beliefs, I do not have the right to impose my beliefs on others.  

If we look at abortion as a moral issue (as pro-lifers tend to do), we do not have the right to impose our moral beliefs on others.  To do so would be tyrannical.

If abortion is a religious issue, we still do not have the right to impose our beliefs on others.  The Crusades and the Inquisition are accurate examples of what happens when a particular interpretation of religion or another is imposed wholesale on large groups of people.

That leaves abortion in the realm of politics.  A lot of pro-life individuals believe that pro-choice equals pro-abortion.  This is absolutely false.   Most pro-choice persons do not advocate mandatory blanket abortions for all unplanned pregnancies.  Instead, the pro-choice belief is that each woman has the right to decide whether she is willing to accept the health risks inherent to pregnancy and the responsibility of parenthood.  No one is better suited to make such a life-altering decision than she.  Thus, the issue is one of personal choice, not morality or religion.

Let me put it this way.  I do not smoke.  I believe the health risks associated with smoking outweigh any benefits.  I have family members who do smoke.  I wish they wouldn’t, because I am concerned for their future quality of life.  However, I do not ostracize or condemn these individuals.  They are adults who are making their own choices and accepting the associated risks.  I do have the right to ask them not to smoke in my home.  I do not have the right to ask them not to smoke in their homes.

Likewise, abortion is not something I would choose for myself.  However, I do not have the right to invade another woman’s private medical condition and demand she follow my moral compass. 

Where does that leave me in the abortion arena?

Currently, I am personally pro-life - I cannot think of any circumstance where I would choose abortion. 

BUT I am politically pro-choice - I cannot think of any circumstance where another woman’s body or medical condition and the associated risk or benefit is my business.

Frankly, it’s a scary place to be.  I’m in uncharted territory.  And I’m looking at political candidates with fresh eyes.  I do not want another woman -any woman- to feel the helplessness I felt in being forced to follow protocols against my will.  I never want any woman, regardless of youth, race, color, or socioeconomic status, to be without a voice in decisions regarding her own health, her own body, and her own well-being.  I want her to have a choice.

And I have my choice -an empowering home birth- to thank.