For Cluck's Sake

First, let me caveat this and say this is not a point of view on free speech. Nor does it really have anything to do with what Phil Robertson said or did not say in his GQ interview. And its not an op ed on the authenticity of Robertson's faith, or his family either. Moreover, its some thoughts around the public reaction.

To surmise a bit for posterity's sake, Phil Robertson is the patriarch of the Duck Dynasty clan—who one might say are, the "christian" version of the Kardashians. Duck Dynasty is a reality show about a family who invented a duck call, and they've since made fortunes in sales and merchandising. Its a really popular show on A&E. Oh, and they pray around the table, and talk about God.

So Phil has said some comments that some found insulting and cruel to the homosexual community, and A&E has suspended him from the show. Well, there's been a tremendous amount of backlash from the "liberal media", the "right wing conservatives", "the hollywood elite", the LGBT community leadership, Christian groups and sundry other "organizations". Piers Morgan nearly blew a gasket in discussion about the subject on his CNN show yesterday, and Shawn Hannity and various Fox News analysts have steamrolled guests and shouted over one another with their perspectives and beliefs.

But enough about that. This is about the "church" and "christian" community who are yelling loudly across Facebook and other social media. There are all sorts of "those hypocrites", "they", "them", "we", "our" culture warriors in full force lambasting and protesting.

I wonder what Jesus would have done with a Facebook account.

There is so much outrage, or better yet, table turning about this topic. Now I'm not the brightest bulb, nor the most intensive Biblical scholar, but I believe the only table turning Jesus did was when He turned them over in His Father's house when others turned it into a "den of thieves". Jesus turned tables when His Father's house was impacted. When outside His Father's house, he served, loved, protected, ate with, drank with, and told stories to people. He loved them so much.

I'm not sure Jesus would have taken to the airwaves to defend Himself or His Faith.

I don't understand the Christians response of such anger, and outrage, outside of His Father's house? Jesus didn't respond that way outside His Father's house (although He did have some direct conversation with the "religious" church leadership of the day—"Snakes! Sons of vipers! How will you escape the judgment of hell?"). Jesus also said that His Kingdom is not of this world. Yet we are so focused on making it so. Where are the relationally-motivated status updates? Where is the compassion to meet others where there is need? Where are the invitations to sup? To share the Gospel vs. tell it? Where is the acknowledgement of our own sins, vs. the index fingers aimed at others?

I'm sure there's lots to this story, and I know there's lots of passion around this issue, and there's probably some theological defense, but I'm just taken aback by the lack of grace and mercy. Its like we want—check that—need to win. We're right. You're wrong. And we will gloat when we win, too. 

I guess this is a call for Grace. Too non-existent these days.

I was talking with a guy who said that he and his family have a gay friend and they went bowling with him and some of his gay friends. I don't think Jesus would lambast homosexuality. I think He'd go bowling and tell some stories. And maybe buy the first round.

Mine or Thine

There's a lot of conversation in and around the Church and the churches these days. Political, Socio-economic, Sexuality, and more. In the dialogues I've been a part of, the discourse is both closed and open-eared. I read a book over the summer by Jonathan Merritt called "A Faith of Our Own" that I believe illustrates components of a misconception by a lot of church goers. In the book Merritt challenges that its not necessarily, "what would Jesus do?", but "what would Jesus have you to do?". I've come to a conclusion that a lot of professed Christians seem to believe that we are to build THIS kingdom for God, rather than building the Kingdom of God.

In Matthew 12:28, Jesus is asked by "one of the teachers of the law" which is the greatest commandment? And Jesus replies "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.", and the teacher agrees and says "you a right in saying that" (on a side note, do you think Jesus got an ironic chuckle when this "teacher" confirmed His statement?).

I think proclaimed Christians are too clouded with political slogan and agenda, and even a call for "revival" in the churches and in our nation. Now hear me right, I am not against a Spiritual resurgence if God so sees fit, but as I am hearing about and seeing the activity around political slogan and "revival", I am curious of something. Is the intention to build THIS kingdom for God? To make it a safe and peaceful place? To make it some sort of nirvana? To make it fit a political agenda? To make it "well" for the haves? And perhaps even the have-nots?

I must continue to challenge my own thinking along these lines as well. Around hoping for and moving to make better. And why I truly want "it" to be better.

The Bible clearly states that this will pass away. And that His Kingdom is not of this world.

Let your/ours/my works be of the noble Purpose(s) of God. Not for your/ours/my ownership, peace, power, safety, security, and agenda—from our own smallness.

Yes, love and serve. Give. Help. Encourage. Revolt. Stand. Change. Hope. Participate IN THIS world. But not FOR THIS world.

Because of Relationship

Its been a while since I've written a post. A lot has been going on. Not that that's an excuse, its just that I've been speaking it or doing it, vs. writing it. So I hope that any rust is okay, and that I continue to speak and do rather than write. Or at least alongside it.

I've been rereading Don Miller's book Searching for God Knows What. It is a great read and was a big catalyst for introspection into my faith, and how its lived out, my first time through the pages. It talks a ton about the concept of relationship vs. lists. Particularly relationship with God vs. what is required to be a Christian. And what we think actually pleases God.

I was in discussion with my wife the other day, and we were talking about this concept. How, as a spouse, there are certain things you do and don't do. When I look at a marriage there are things like, dating another woman, keeping secrets, ignoring, or not listening, of which the "manual" would tell you you can't do. The joyful thing within real relationship is that dating another woman, keeping secrets, ignoring, or not listening to, the things you don't do—not because of any marital rules, or you could argue even vows—come out of relationship.

BECAUSE I am in relationship I will not do such and such. BECAUSE I am in relationship I will do such and such.

I've known a lot of folks that do or don't do things because of certain rules. Even live their faith out this way. And I think that would just exhaust the heck out of me, and I'd be laden with failures. My inability to keep the rules would be exposed. Perhaps I could manage the exposure, or at least I'd think I could.

But when it comes to true love, and true relation, we can't function out of rules (or at least I can't.). We must function from our relationship.

Greatest of These

Bob Goff shared the other day on Twitter "Every time we treat people as ordinary, we turn the wine back into water".

If I would just look at all through the lens of love, and not the lenses I put in front of my eyes. Jesus did, and laid down his life. He saw everyone qualified. Or better yet, He saw that He needed to qualify everyone.

Three things will last forever--faith, hope, and love--and the greatest of these is love. - 1 Corinthians 13:13.

Don't be a Good Christian

A little while ago, I was in a conversation with a few church-going guys about how to "live out Christianity in the workplace". This is a frequent topic among affluent, white, male, church-going circles. There are many blogs, email subscriptions, books, seminars, which cover this subject matter—how to be a "good Christian". Mind you, there are some incredible minds, hearts, and motives behind a lot of this. I've followed folks like WisdomHunters.com and have on occasion read Boyd Bailey's blog.

But I think too many of us are too focused on being a "good Christian in the workplace", and too concerned with what we do and say to ensure we are "being that."

So, I was in this conversation with some guys and as we discussed this "being good Christian in the workplace" experience, I asked the question, "Why?".

Why do concentrate so hard on this? Why do we need to figure out what this looks like? How it should manifest itself? The Bible is loaded with answers. So why do we struggle so much with this? Why do we need to define it? I think its because we think we can control it. Our "goodness".

Maybe I am just a "bad Christian" in the workplace, and I don't define or work hard enough at it.*  

I am a Christian. A follower of Christ. Desiring to be like Christ. Not reading enough Bible. Not praying enough. Swearing too much. Drinking too much. Putting myself first too much. And I am in the workplace. 

If I am looking too hard at being a "good" one. I am looking at others. And what they think of what I am doing. My focus is elsewhere. On my reputation. Or worse yet, my reputation on behalf of God's. And He doesn't need my help.

Jesus never called us to be good. He called us to be like Him. To "Be holy because I am holy (1 Peter 1:16)" and that "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:27)" and that "the kind of fasting I want calls you to free those who are wrongly imprisoned and to stop oppressing those who work for you. Treat them fairly and give them what they earn. I want you to share your food with the hungry and to welcome the poor wanderers into your homes. Give clothes to those who need them, and don not hide from relatives who need your help. (Isaiah 58:6-7)"

E.T. told us to "Be good.". God did not.

* That's my safe statement, y'all. It absolves any critical observation and comment from being too cutting, and puts any blame on myself and my shortcomings. After all, "All have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God."–wink.

By 2013

A little late for a New Year's resolution, but I wanted to get the show on the road none the less. I had a great Holiday season, a good bit of time off work, some quality family and friend time, and some down time for just me. Some of which was spent looking back through my annals of blog entries. And it was good to see a bit of my journey since 2010. If I do say so myself, I believe there's some good stuff there. Check that.... I KNOW there's some good stuff there. Maybe the "good stuff" is writer (THIS writer) -directed content. And I know its good...for me.

Which brings me to a New Year's declaration. This year I want to:

BELIEVE BY KNOWING
While I will never (on this earth) fully know the mind of God and His Providence. And there is such an existential quality to faith in God, His Son, and His Spirit, that sometimes what I know will be something I don't understand, or even want to hear. But I want to know more. Through study, experience, and trust.

SAY BY DOING
Words mean things. Attitude and activity mean more.

RISE BY FALLING
To my knees. Seeking more of and about God, and in-turn, myself. Being vulnerable. And perhaps failing.

I started last year with a semi-ambiguous resolution New Year's Evolution, and have found that acted upon, faith-followed, intentions happen.

I know there are some things ahead that will challenge, discourage, and cause pain, from all of the above. Additionally, there will be joy, fulfillment, and self-discovery.

10 days in. Here we go.