Duck and Cover

Well, we have another scandal on the Christian scene. The strange thing is that there are so many of them that you might wonder if Christianity will survive in America. The trouble of course is the cult of Christian celebrity. We are finding out that christian celebrities just aren't the nice people they pretend to be.

I don't watch the Duggars. There is nothing about them that interests me. Anyone who thinks it is their job to populate the earth as they do in my opinion should be forced to live in a place like Tokyo Japan or better in a country where strict population limits are enforced. Its obvious they lack the basic understanding of what overpopulation is doing to our world.

Yet my objections aren't about the Duggars or Duck Dynasty. Its the christian culture that I object to. I am not surprised by the revelations about the Duggar family. Even the superstars of the Bible had their moments. Moses failed, King David failed, and of course Peter failed. They were great in terms of what God did with them, but not by themselves. We don't have to look too far to find those in those in the christian community with something to hide. There is only one person who didn't fail, yet I somehow doubt that Jesus would have even been offered a reality series. He offended the religious of His day because he cared about all people.

Christian Celebrity is a lie. It puts apparance ahead of God and reinforces the notion that only the "worthy" deserve God's favor. The great news isn't about what some ministry has accomplished. The great news is that Jesus died for people like me, broken, unworthy, and sinful as I am. The Gospel is for the Duggars, but its also for the kind of people they discriminate against. Its for those of us who have led sinful lives and who are caught up in our sinful way, as much as it is the celebrity.

Sometimes, I really wish I could be an Atheist

A while back author Anne Rice stated that she was no longer a Christian. No, she continued to worship Christ, and she continued to meet with like minded spiritual people. What she did give up with was the anti-woman, anti-homosexual, anti other things teachings of the Catholic Church. Today I read a letter in the Columbus Dispatch implying that the teachings of Christ don't apply to the GLBT community. Anne, mind if I join you? I don't want to be a Christian if it means being an, a uh well you know. I am not against Christ. Yet when I look at some of the people who call themselves "christians", I really want to be called something else.

Today, in Iran and some other countries, Christians are being persecuted, tortured, and killed because of their faith. In the US, "Crybaby Christians" whine and complain when they don't get their way or someone shows them in an unfavorable light. So Christ goes to the Cross for our sins, but somehow we think we are entitled to better treatment.

And what about the recent controversies about businesses refusing to serve certain people because of their alleged faith. Ok then, I can refuse to serve christians because of my faith. But hey, I don't see any of this in the teaching of Jesus. "Love your neighbor as yourself" Don't see any exceptions for GLBT people, or bigoted christians. If I refuse to associate with "sinners", there still is the problem of the sinner I look at in the mirror.

Yes I am ashamed of being associated with all the crap that goes with the term "christian" in this country. I am sure Jesus is too. I am hoping though that I do not disgrace the name of Christ.\  

Let It Grow

Last night at our small group R. stated that our congregation need to get more members. Agreeing, I turned to one of our elders in attendance an suggested that he order some new members from the Church Supply Catalog. Yes, I was being facetious but its like we have gone over this so many times before. Just what can we do to attract more members?

In one sense, I am not sure we can. You can do thing to provide favorable conditions for the growth of a plant, but the actual growth is a function of the life-force within it. You cannot make a church grow. It grows by being infused with God's Spirit. Did we forget that its God who gives the increase?

So what's the problem? Regrettably I am not in a position to answer specifically. All I can say for myself is that my early days were a joyous time of discovery. Now things seem more routine and bland. Everything gets old I guess, but without the urging of Holy Spirit to move us on to new challenges, things get old really fast.

I am convinced that some of the things that hinder us in the United States are the very things we take for granted. Contrary to what you may have heard from some conservatives, there is no movement of any kind to deny Christians their freedom to worship. There is no "war on Christmas".

 The Church and the prevailing culture get along quite well, and that is the problem. Just what are we offering the world that it doesn't already have? Where is the urgency to come together that the First Century Christians felt? The burning desire to follow Jesus? I love Bill Maher's remarks about the number of Christians who approve of government sponsored torture. He's right, we aren't following Christ, we're just auditing the course.

For Leelah

Dear Leelah:

I cannot begin to express the sadness the news of your death has brought me. Not only do I live only a short distance from where you lived,  it has not been too long ago since I heard the story of a "christian" couple who drove their son away because he was gay. He died from the drugs he used to dull the emotional pain he felt.

I am a Transwoman and a Christian. I have to say that all things considered I have been blessed. The Christian Psychologist I saw was a friend who was accepting and seem to know there was something feminine about me before I came out.

The friends I had "back then" are still my friends today. The church I attend accepts me as I am, even though some of the people there knew my "other self". I was even recently invited to talk to the congregation about my situation.

I want you to know that were it possible, I would have traded you my advantages if it would have saved your life. You are worth it. Jesus made it plain how much you were worth to Him.

I am sorry for the pain you experienced in your short life. At least I am in a position to understand.


Janet