Going Deeper Than Amendment One…

Last week I wrote a blog about the upcoming vote on Amendment One (the marriage amendment).  I’m grateful that many of you read that blog and responded.  The comments from those who agree with me, as well as those who don’t, were helpful contributions.

So this week I’m wondering if it is possible to go deeper.  A conversation about an amendment or some other current issue is good, I think.  But is it possible for people who have honest questions about spirituality, theology, the Bible and contemporary culture to find a safe place to expand the conversation?

Many people feel like they are outside the traditional religious establishment.  Some have great respect for the teachings of Jesus but just don’t think of themselves as “religious” people.  Some are followers of Jesus but disagree with the direction of the contemporary church, or they’ve been “burned” by the church.  Some, who have questions and contributions to the dialogue don’t feel like they have a voice, or even a place to talk.  Maybe that’s how you feel.  If so, I hope you will keep reading.

What would it look like if our generation recaptured what has largely been lost; respectful, honest, open, vulnerable, non-judgmental, even (in the best sense of the word) loving dialogue?  Is that possible in our world?  I would argue that it is not only possible, it is already happening in many places. 

What I’m suggesting is that this could be one of those places!

If I may, let me propose a couple options for those of you who, like me, have questions and opinions about the journey and the destination.

One option is to keep using this forum.  I would really like to hear and respond to your questions. (I don’t have answers, just responses.)  Please believe me when I say that I want to offer an opportunity for sincere people of all faith traditions and no faith tradition to talk.   

Here’s another option.  If you’re more of a “face to face” kind of person, this may interest you.  What if a small group (or groups) of people just got together to discuss current topics, to address questions about spirituality, to seek guidance from the Bible, in a “neutral” location?  Would that interest you?  If so, I would be happy to participate.

I think it is significant that in the first few centuries of the church’s existence followers of Jesus met almost exclusively in one another’s homes.  Maybe we could do something similar in the 21^st century. 

If you’re interested, let me know! 

Will the Marriage Amendment Protect Marriage?

On May 8^th North Carolina citizens will have the opportunity to pass an amendment to the state constitution stating that “Marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this State.”

When I started blogging my plan was to sort of wade in slowly from the shallow end of the pool.  But here I am, diving head first into the deep end.

So here goes.  As a person who recognizes and accepts the authority of the sacred scriptures I must acknowledge that the practice of homosexuality is condemned in those scriptures as an “abomination.”  I must also admit that the sins with which I struggle almost daily like lust, greed, oppression of the poor, pride, jealously… the list goes on and on… are soundly condemned in the same way by the same scriptures.  To quote the apostle Paul, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 2:23)

So when I acknowledge that the practice of homosexuality is a sin I do not do so condescendingly.  I could write a hundred blogs on my sins alone and just be warming up.

The question is, will the marriage amendment protect marriage?  If the amendment is passed will it help make marriage a more healthy institution?  I’m not an expert, but I’m guessing the answer is no.  Let me give you a few reasons why…

1.      Statistics vary, but the population of gay individuals in the U.S. is currently around 3.5%.  So I have to wonder why some people (many of whom are my friends who I greatly respect) are putting so much effort into passing an amendment that targets such a small segment of the population.

Why not channel those efforts (and the millions of dollars being spent) toward some really proactive, constructive ways to reduce the divorce rate?  It’s at 50% right now – among non-Christians and Christians alike.  Why not pour our energies into combating child sexual abuse?  According to the National Resource Center on Child Sexual Abuse, 27 percent of women and 16 percent of men have been sexually abused (some by ordained clergy).  

If we need an amendment to reinforce the law on same sex marriage (if you didn’t know, there is already a law about same sex marriage) then why not an amendment to address problems that are much more prevalent?  How about an amendment designed to curtail an economic system that tends to nurture and reward rampant greed (a sin addressed in scripture many more times than same sex relationships)? The only reason I can think of is fear.  We are afraid of losing control.

2.      Which leads me to the next reason the amendment won’t protect marriage.  By our own admission, the movement to get the marriage amendment passed is driven by fear.  The gay community is perceived as a “threat” to the “traditional family” (as if there were such a thing).  In our religious world we tend to become afraid of certain perceived “threats” on the stability of the family or the church and, driven by that fear, we react.  Instead of “acting” in faith we “react” out of fear.  We forget that the instruction Jesus gave more often than any other was “fear not.”  I would argue that anything we do motivated by fear will not produce the desired results.

3.      Which leads me to the next reason the amendment won’t protect marriage.  Inevitably, our efforts to get legislation passed or get certain people elected grow out of the conviction that it is our job to “reclaim” America.  But I think we would be hard pressed to find any teaching of Jesus instructing or even allowing his followers to lean toward nationalism.  We are not called to “reclaim” our nation for Christ.  We are called to “proclaim” the gospel of Christ.  As much as I love and respect those who feel obligated to promote some form of nationalistic Christianity, I believe that those efforts are misguided and frankly, destructive.  

4.      Which leads me to the last reason the amendment won’t protect marriage.  (I think the list could get really long.)  Simply stated, the effort to pass the amendment does not reflect the way of Jesus.  The way of Jesus is the way of transformation, not the way of legislation.  Jesus came to give us new birth that leads to new life, not new laws or amendments.  Christians around the world just celebrated the Resurrection of Christ.  What is absolutely central to our faith is that the world needs the power of the Resurrection, not the power of legislation.  The world needs transformation in the hearts of men and women, not transactions in the halls of congress.  The world needs Jesus!   

Thanks for reading with an open mind.   

Sabbath in a trout stream... or wherever

I have a plaque on my office wall that says, “Fishing is not a matter of life or death.  It is much more important than that.”  Well, the first of this week I slipped away for a spiritual retreat that included this activity of eternal significance.

Jesus once instructed his disciples to get away to a quiet place and get some rest. (Mark 6:31-32)

I’m thinking that, as a good Rabbi, Jesus understood the true meaning of Sabbath.  Sabbath is about rest, renewal, restoration and recreation (re-creation).  I don’t know about you but I think that sometimes church people need to “do” church less and "be" church more.

That may sound weird coming from a pastor, but I’m pretty convinced that in our Western world we do not practice Sabbath the way God intended.  For most of us it’s not about rest, it’s about activity, it’s not about renewal and restoration, it’s about being spiritually, emotionally and physically drained.  It’s not about re-creation, it’s about saturation; more doing and less being. 

I think maybe we should load everybody up in buses one Sunday morning and take them all to the nearest trout stream, or picnic area or bowling alley or pool hall… excuse me, “billiard room” or wherever you can rest, wherever you are restored, wherever you are re-created and there observance of Sabbath.

I’m just sayin.

Can I Force Myself to Believe

This coming Sunday millions of people will celebrate Easter, the day that Jesus Christ was resurrected from the dead.  I will be one of those people.  I believe that a man named Jesus, who was the Christ, the Son of God was crucified, that he died, was buried and yes, that he rose from the dead.

I have also not believed it.  Maybe you don't believe it.

Here's what I've discovered.  A person can't force himself or herself to believe anything.  Belief is involuntary.  You either do or you don't.  If you tell me something I will either believe it or I won't but I can't force myself to believe it if I don't. 

Traditionally, particularly in my faith tradition, we have taught people that they must believe and by that we mean that they must intellectually agree with a certain doctrine or intellectually agree that a certain event really took place. 

But in the Bible belief has much more to do with the heart than with the head.  The apostle Paul said "if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.  As the Scripture says, 'Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.'" Romans 10:9-11 [emphasis mine]

So believing is more about trusting with my heart than thinking with my head.  (In Greek, the language the New Testament was written in, "believe" and "trust" are the exact same word.)

Someone has said it this way.  I can be committed without being convinced. 

My wife and I were married very young.  When we said our vows we were making very real commitments but if we had been honest we would have admitted that we weren't convinced that the marriage would last.(During the ceremony our friends were taking bets on how long we would stay together.  That was 30 years ago.)

Here's my point. If you are drawn to the story of Jesus, if something inside you resonates with his teachings, the way he loved, the sacrifice he made, but you're not sure if you can intellectually agree with everything you read in the Bible, then I would encourage you to make a commitment to him anyway.  Entrust your life to him.  Follow him. Believe in your heart.  Then see what happens.