The blood pressure issue of the day is ordination standards. As I have said before, I am not sure I understand the passion this issue raises. Why are people more passionate about this issue more then anything else? People should have as much passion for fixing world hunger, speaking out against human trafficking or striving for world peace. We waste so much emotional energy on this issue. WWJD? We don’t agree here.
There was a young man driving down the highway one night. He notices a car broken down on the side of the road. Being fairly mechanical, he stops his car to see if he can help the stranded motorist. He quickly discovers that the stranded motorist is Hispanic and speaks no English. Through sign language, the young man convinces the motorist to open the hood and to let him inspect the car from outside and inside the car. The young man finds out there is a clutch problem. A car without a clutch is drivable (starting and stopping is difficult but you can do it if you know how). The young man tries to explain in sign language what the motorist has to do to get home. Explaining such a complicated issue was not possible without speaking the same language. The young man realizes he has a friend who is bi-lingual. He tracks his friend down on the phone after several calls and uses his friend as in interpreter and explains to the motorist how to drive his car and get home. Through the instruction, the motorist gets in the car and starts it up in gear – the car bounces down the highway. That’s what Jesus would do!
That young man was my son. My son is gay. He is in a monogamous relationship and I think I have lost him from the church forever because he gave up on the organization that he grew up in. Now he feels the church thinks he is a sinner that is not equal to others. The ordination issue and support of equality for LGBT is not about words & standards, it’s more personal then that. It is about people.
The final vote to remove the wording in ordination standards passed 53% to 46%. Dozens of people spoke for and against the issue. What surprised me during the discussion is not one person made it personal by saying ‘my, son, daughter, brother, neighbor is gay”. They were definitely out there, I guess they are still in the closet. One of the final speakers, a Hispanic minister angrily stated that he would leave the church if it passed. It breaks my heart that he feels this way and I pray that he finds peace and can let go of his anger.
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Moving and thoughtful as always Greg. The debates about this issue are almost always painful with threats to leave foremost among the "arguments." I'm not looking forward to another "debate" about this in presbytery as the arguments have all been made. Few change their minds before the abstract become personal to them.
ReplyDeleteYes, getting to know LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered) persons is the key to getting beyond our fear. The stereotype that our culture imposes upon us for LGBT people breaks down when we come to know real LGBT people, especially LGBT people of faith. God is calling all his children home--ALL. Too often the church has preached an inverted gospel to LGBT people: Change your lifestyle and God can accept you. First, we must demonstrate the Good News in our own lives by being open to new relationships. Then we can reach out to LGBT people with the true Gospel: God loves you and accepts you just the way you are, the same message we would share with anyone coming to Jesus. The Holy Spirit changes everyone who comes to Jesus sorry for their sins. We must allow the Spirit to change LGBT people in whatever way the Spirit chooses to change them, not as we think they ought to be changed.
ReplyDeleteBecky L.