Not even sure what title to give this ...

Where do I begin?

Okay, I didn't watch all of the Oscars the other night. But part of what I did see I really need to comment on.

For those who saw even less of what I saw of the Oscars, actor Sean Penn accepted the Best Actor award for portrayal of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay politician in California. During his acceptance speech, Mr. Penn commented about a group of protesters who were outside the ceremony protesting Hollywood's portrayal of homosexuals in films such as Milk. Mr. Penn seemed to verbally shake his fist at Christians as if to tell us that whether we liked it or not, homosexuals were going to get equal recognition under the law.

Speaking only from my own perspective, I have never had an issue with homosexuals expecting equal rights (as far as things like health coverage from employers, insurance rates ... whatever). As citizens of the United States (or other countries as far as their laws will allow), they deserve things like knowing that those they care about are taken care of if they need to be.

BUT...

(and here I am trying to think carefully before I type; I know what I will say is likely to offend someone, but I wish to make it as LEAST offensive as possible. I just know that isn't likely to happen)

My views are from the Christian Right (in this case 'right' referring to conservative beliefs, not that I think we're correct about everything). Contrary to what the protesters outside the Oscars may have said, God loves everyone. Christians, Jews, Muslims, and yes, Homosexuals. God doesn't hate anybody. He hates the sin we all have in our lives. But no matter how you try to sugar coat it, no matter how you try to make it seem like something that it is not, homosexuality goes against everything we as Christians are expected to hold dear.

Human sexuality, within the relationship of a heterosexual marriage is one of the most beautiful expressions of God's love for us. But outside of that relationship whether it is a heterosexual couple who are not married, or it is a homosexual couple, there's no other way to say it: That relationship is sin in God's eyes.

I don't hate homosexuals. Three men whom I respect and love as brothers are very open about their preferences. They are gay. This doesn't mean that I love them any less. It does mean that I am very sad. When I've tried to speak to any of them, the general response is along the lines of "Well that's fine for you. But this is what's right for me." The problem is, its not an issue of it being right or wrong for US. Its what is right or wrong for God.

These three are not the only gay men I know. These three are simply the only three that I would consider friends. Or more to the point, friends who's opinions I care about. One of them is a supervisor in my workplace. He's a fun goofy man, a HUGE "Trekkie" and just the type of person that no matter your orientation, he's just easy to get along with.

The other two were in a committed relationship with each other, but because the state where they live does not recognize homosexual unions, as far as the state was concerned, they were just roommates sharing a house. I'll call them "T" and "J". Together, T and J owned a small business. T was the more somber quiet sort. If he liked you, he could talk your ear off. But otherwise he could be very business like. J was the more flamboyant 'stereotype'. Used expansive gestures, spoke with a lilt to his voice. Sadly, I found out from my Mother a couple of years ago that J, who had contracted HIV several years prior had died from complications of HIV/AIDS. T wound up losing the house they had purchased together, because the state didn't recognize their relationship and so gave proceeds for J's insurances to his blood family.

There are those among the Christian community who do not want ANY sort of recognition by the state for any sort of homosexual union. While I do agree that MARRIAGE is a union that is reserved for ONE man and ONE woman. I believe that marriage was not intended to be an institution of the state for the disposition of financial rights and familial responsibilities. Marriage is a union set for by God for the raising of children and sharing the loving relationship between a man and woman that most closely models God's relationship with US, his children.

I myself would have no problems if gay couples had (for lack of a better description) a civil union. A contract recognized by the state which would allow for things like the distribution of properties or the imparting of things like Powers of Attorney in legal affairs. I mean, given my "druthers", I don't see the need for it. Legally, you can empower whomever you choose to handle your legal affairs, even a stranger you meet on the street outside your lawyer's office. For things like distribution of properties (like the example of T and J's house) its a simple matter of having the purchase agreement list both names and have it stipulated in your "Will" how you wish for such issues to be handled.

I do not hold with the idea that some people are just "born that way." I have friends who were abused as children. Statistics tell us that abused kids will more likely grow up to become abusers themselves. That doesn't mean that they have no choice. There are options for those in the homosexual lifestyle if they choose to leave that life. Exodus International helps thousands leave that lifestyle. There are choices.

God does not hate Gays. God does not hate Lesbians. God does not hate heterosexuals-who-don't-do-what-HE-leads-us-to-do. God loves all of us. He wants ALL of us to live our lives following Him. But we keep trying to pick and choose how we're going to do that. But we can't do that. Its His way, or not at all.

Sadly, many will choose not at all.

Salt and Light (a look at Matthew 5:13-16)

Matthew 5:13 'Ye are the salt of the earth; but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and to be trodden under foot of men.'

These days, most of us know salt as a condiment, something to add flavor to cooking. But in the time Matthew wrote this, salt was extremely valuable. Kings paid armies in salt, it was used to preserve foods. So Jesus saying, 'Ye are the salt of the earth ...' he was saying that you are something of high value, not to be wasted. But if something happens to you that destroys your value (your saltiness) how are you to be made salty again? So we are to PRESERVE our relationship with Jesus, and not let it be wasted by things we might do trying to pursue other 'savours'.

Matthew 5:14-16 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Have you ever been driving along at night, and see those search light type lights sweeping across the sky? The kind that are used for things like store grand openings or to draw your attention to some event like a movie premiere. This light is saying to you, "Come look and see! This is something you don't want to miss! Hey you! COME HERE!!!" Jesus is telling his disciples that we are to be the light that draws others to Him. We are to draw others' attention to Christ. As a child, I read verse 14 of this part and thought to myself, "Well of COURSE you can't hide a city on a hill!" I completely misunderstood the point. Jesus was pointing out that a city wants to be where it is easy to see. Granted, it can often times draw those wishing to attack the city, but more importantly, it draws those seeking the city. Merchants, travelers, farmers with crops to sell in the city's market place. A city needs to be seen. And while candles get less and less use these days, I think an accurate translation of verse 15 might say something like, 'if you want to use your lamp, don't leave it unplugged. Plug it in and put it on the table where everyone will be able to see it.'

Like the spotlight, Jesus wants us to draw others to Him. Shine the light for others to see, live your life in such a way that not only do people know that you are a Christian, they see by your life that being a Christian is something that (if they aren't already themselves) they would find Truth in.

Yes, we know that it is by Grace through which we are saved, and that our works cannot get US into heaven. But by our actions, we can attract others to the message that we offer! Something I've said for a number of years is that while it is very true that "faith without works is dead, but works without faith doesn't really do all that much either."

There are also Christians out there that will take their spotlight, and rather than try to use it to draw others to Jesus, will use it to shine their light on what others are doing wrong. We aren't supposed to compare others to ourselves. After all, compared to Jesus, we're ALL as sinful as the worst resident of Sodom. There's just no way that our own actions can justify our passing judgement on others. So, we are to use our lives as a beacon drawing others to Christ.

This should offend someone ...

I originally posted this on the message boards on AotC MUD, and thought to share it here. It was originally written when inspired by a message about the Reverend Billy Graham on the occasion of his 90th birthday.

In honor of the Reverend Billy Graham's 90th birthday today, I'd like to share some thoughts that came to me when his son, the Reverend Franklin Graham was being interviewed on the radio program Primetime America on the Moody Broadcasting Network.

They were interviewing Franklin on the occasion of his Dad's 90th birthday, and having been asked what one thing would Billy say about today's church (Christianity as a collective whole) that was not true back when he started preaching in the 1950's.

Franklin only hesitated a brief minute before responding that the church today was too fearful of causing offense among those who come for services. People who feel that they can get to heaven by doing the most volunteer work for the poor, or can support a church financially don't want to hear that it is not by our WORKS that we are saved, but by God's grace through Jesus Christ.
Today, people want to come to church to hear a topical sermon, something to tickle the ears and that has 'relevance' to their situation and lives. They don't want to ponder the fact that we are all sinners in need of a Savior's love.

The problem is, we ARE all sinners in need of a Savior. The struggle doesn't end when you say the Sinner's prayer. Each day of our lives, for as long as we live, we deal with the imperfections of our human bodies. We must daily depend on the grace of a God that loves us more than it is possible for us to love ourselves or others.
The love of a Savior who left the Father's side, and came down here on earth and took our likeness, and did the one thing we could not do for ourselves. He died for us.

There's no way we could WORK hard enough.
There's no way we could spend enough money.
There's no way we could pray enough prayers till the heavens rang with our utterances.
There is only one way.

Romans 10:9-10 tells us 'If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus,and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead,thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.'

The NRV (New Ronald Version) would read that If you believe it in your heart, and tell everyone around you; and if you confess to Jesus that you are a sinner and wish to be forgiven, then you will receive forgiveness. Because if you accept your sin, and admit it to God, He will forgive you.

Yeah, I know. We don't like having to admit that we're not the greatest thing since sliced bread. We want to think that we're really cool. Or that at least, we're cooler than that bunch over there. But we're no better or no worse than they are. We are all sinners in need of a Savior. But do you want to know the REALLY cool part? Jesus loves us so much, that he's ready to be that Savior!

And Reverend Graham has been telling people the secret for over 50 years. And if you didn't already know it, I've just shared it with you too!