WHERE ARE WE?
I believe that on so many fronts our nation is in a state of disconnect. Probably one of the most volatile schizms we see is between the LGBT and Christian communities (by Christian, I mean specifically among Evangelical denominations). It is an ideological battle waged in many different venues: the media, congress, military, streets, schools, and unfortunately two places where wars should never take place…the home and the church.
I’ve read too many blogs and encountered too many disillusioned people to remain silent. Something must be done to open lines of communication. Opinions need to be bridled. Emotions need to controlled. Patience needs to be exercised. Ears and hearts need to be open. And mouths need to be open and honest.
There have been those who were willing to be honest. When they were facing the greatest challenge of their lives, experiencing guilt, shame, embarassment, condemnation, empty religion, and hatred. As if adolescence wasn’t an awkward/difficult enough phase, to be left to stand alone in a hostile world. At a time when they needed understanding and support, those they thought they could count on fell miserably short of the mark.
“You’re a sinner.”
“Fags will burn in hell.”
“God doesn’t love you.”
“I won’t stand for a gay child.”
“How could you do this to us?”
“You don’t belong.”
“You don’t have rights.”
Narrow-mindedness, a sentence to hell, ostracization from youth groups and church because they’re not worthy. “God take this away from me” is a prayer that’s apparently unaswerable, which turns into “God has given up on me.”
This whole effort is to communicate a very important message: NO. God hasn’t give up on you. He doesn’t give up on anyone. There is a famous Native American saying that has been adapted – “Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his moccasins” or as more common “Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes.” That one sentence has spoken volumes to me in my quest to build a bridge, to dialogue, and to exchange ideas. Can we please agree to disagree. We view scriptures differently. There’s nothing wrong with that. Let’s talk. Let’s try to figure things out. Anyone wanna join me?
The very reason I believe that so strongly is because Jesus Himself practiced that…before judging us…walked a mile in our shoes…
WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN?
Joyeux Noel is an interesting movie about the battlefront in World War I. The scene is typical as the Scottish, French, and German soldiers have retreated to their respective sides. The night is December 24 as they all think of other places they’d rather be. One of the German soldiers begins to sing Silent Night. Others begin to join him in their different languages and instruments. The German then takes a bold move by venturing into No Man’s land which meant a sure death. But he carried with him a Christmas Tree lit with candles. One by one, soldiers from all three fronts start meeting in the place where so many others died and they decide to call a truce so they can feely celebrate Christmas.
Movie critic Roger Ebert said, “Joyeux Noël…is about a respite from carnage. Its sentimentality is muted by the thought that this moment of peace actually did take place, among men who were punished for it, and who mostly died soon enough afterward. But on one Christmas, they were able to express what has been called, perhaps too optimistically, the brotherhood of man.”
This movie, while fictional, depicted the courage demonstrated so many times during WWI. Not soldiers who were willing to die for their countries. But people who were willing to lay down their pride, egos, nationalism, personal causes, and whatever it took to focus on the bigger things.
We need to call a truce.
The soldiers didn’t change nationalities, loyalties, ideologies. The French soldiers never cried out “God save Kaiser Wilhelm.” They stopped the shooting long enough to actually get to know the person formerly in their line of fire. It will require us throwing down our weapons: frustration, anger, bitterness, hurt, and fear. We must be willing to hang out with the enemy. Yes, people are different. It’s ok.
We need to be willing to step into no man’s land
It will require us be open to talk, listen, accept, and love other people who could be so unlike us and what we’re used to. That’s ok.
We need to focus on our commonalities
They came from different nations, waving different flags, speaking different languages, fighting different causes. But on Christmas Eve, they found common ground. “Too many have bought into the illusion that our differences matter more than our common humanity.” – President Clinton Global Initiatives Conference, Fall 2006. We focus on so few things that divide and totally ignore the ways we are alike.
Let’s take a look at what they had in common:
Physical needs. They immediately began sharing food and wine from there countries. I remember from biology that the average human has 900 muscles and 206 bones, 5 senses, we all circulate blood, reproduce cells, our heart beats over 100,000 times a day, and we breathe over 23,000 times.
Culture. They shared music and dances with each other. They all started playing soccer. And it wasn’t even time for the EuroCup. Speaking of…I love Europe. Other things I love: U2, Seinfeld, 24, the West Wing, playing the guitar, writing, taking long walks. I’m pretty sure there’s some LGBT people who like those things too.
Emotional Needs. They shared photos of their loved ones, people they wanted to be with. Pretty sure we all love and need to be loved. We laugh and cry. We all need a hug, need to be accepted, to feel secure and safe.
One of my favorite lines from the movie: “Let us bury the dead’ on this day that Christ was born.” Let’s lay down the past, the scars, unkind words that have been exchanged. It’ll take courage. Christ was born to bring hope in despair, light in the darkness, joy in the midst of sorrow. And to say it clearly to the more self-righteous of my readers, let’s take a look at Romans 3:23 to see one of our greatest commonalities: “For ALL have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious standard.”
I’m ready to meet you.
