Wow. I'm conflicted tonight. I saw a post on a friend's facebook. He was dumbfounded (my word not his) by a website and video. I followed the link. I was dumbfounded. I'm amazed by the content and the lack of thought that went into the video. The content...you ask...riveted to the edge of your seat? A music video declaring that God hates fags. Ryan and I sat in my office trying to figure out for the longest time whether or not the video was real or parody. Could someone seriously declare this statement...and set it to music? Could someone seriously declare this with any degree of intelligence? It appears that, yes, this video is real and that they were smart enough to edit video and yet stupid enough to conceive the idea and put it on the internet.
I understand that people fall all over the spectrum when it comes to the "issue" of homosexuality. My point in writing this is not to debate that. Far from it. I'm sick of the debate and I'm sick of it being an "issue" when there are far more important things happening in the world with no action being taken while people point fingers and try to be "right" on this topic.
My "point" is to point the stupid stick at the statement that this video makes. I absolutely hate the fact that those people in the video would pretend to speak for the God of the Universe. I hate the fact that they use mass media to propogate their message of judgement and bigotry. I hate the fact that their controversial video will likely span the globe in hours and in the meantime they make the rest of the Church and Christians look like idiots while pretending to be on God's side. I hate being painted with someone else's brush strokes!!
What do I think about homosexuality? Doesn't matter. What matters is what I know to be true of God. God loves all people. God doesn't hate anyone. God loves us in spite of ourselves. God loves us b/c He created us. No matter what we do, God loves us the same. I screw up and God still loves me. My screw ups and someone else's screw ups look the same to God. Neither is better or worse. He doesn't like either screw up, but He still loves us. Flat out...the video's message is wrong and is bad theology. God doesn't hate fags.
God does hate when we hurts ourselves or each other. God does hate when we treat ourselves or others with less respect than He gives to us. God does hate when we try to appoint ourselves as the dictator of the universe...or the planet...or the city...or the people around us. God does hate when we overlook the plans and designs that he created to protect us from harm. God does hate when we do wrong. But God still loves everyone.
Because God loves me, I try to screw up less. Because God loves me, I seek Him and try to be like Jesus. I still screw up. God still loves me. I keep trying to be like Jesus. That's what I do. That's what I hope I can help others do. That's what I hope those guys in the video discover.
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5 comments:
Narrow minded ignorance isn't limited to music videos. In the past several elections we have had many individuals elected to important public offices - where they are asked to make decisions affecting us and the rest of the world, simply based upon their stance on gay marriage and abortion. Plans to assist the poor, stop hunger, improve the economy and promote world peace become secondary from this myopic perspective. And, as a result, many of the people we have in office at the state and federal level are essentially incompetent. The video you watched is unfortunately a microcosm of much of what is wrong in the world today and until liberals and conservatives develop a more global - and I believe Christian, litmus test for endorsing candidates and determining platforms, nothing will change. Sorry for bringing politics into the picture, but it seems to go hand in hand...
Jim Z
Jim-
I am obsessed with politics it's relationship with religion, which is how I stumbled upon the website Trevor is talking about in the first place.
I agree with your statements about needing to having more globally minded candidates and leaders. As for the "Christian" aspect, I think it would depend on the definition you are using. I think we've had enough "evangelical" influence in politics the last 8+ years and it hasn't done much (if any) good for politics or religion. If by "Christian" you mean candidates who follow Christ's example of love and respect for all people no matter what race, religion, sex, etc. then I agree with you.
Zac:
Yes - your definition of "Christian" and mine seem to be in agreement. I'm about as far from being a Biblical scholar as possible, but all the references I see in the New Testiment stress love of others, caring for others, and inclusiveness rather than segregation and condemnation.
Jim
I love the reminder that God loves...everyone. "For God so loved the WORLD..." Trevor's absolutely right that it's bad theology to say differently. Scripture is one big huge love letter from the creator of the universe to his creation. Not one of us is deserving of that love. My sin is no different than the next person's. I'm just as unworthy. Yet he loves me and he loves you and he loves homosexuals. Fiercely. Unashamedly. Unconditionally. BUT...it's also bad theology to ignore what Scripture has to say about certain behaviors. There are things that God hates. This would include all of those things that fall under the category of sin. He's a loving God but he's also a holy God. He cannot accept anything unholy. There's a lot of sexual behavior, homosexuality included, that He calls unholy. The problem for the Christian community, as I see it, is how we respond to this. We call sin what it is--but we've been good at that in the past. We need to do more than this, though. We also become ambassadors of love, of relationship, of healing, of wholeness and restoration (all things that Christ represents and provides). This is what we haven't been good at in the past, whether dealing with the whole "issue" of homosexuality or anything else that makes mainstream Christians uncomfortable. We don't reject sinners. We don't embrace sin. Simply put. Not always so simply done.
Psalm 5:4-6.
Thoughts?
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