Confessions of a Heterosexual

My social networks exploded today.

Comments. Questions. Photos. Hashtags. Insults. Arguments. 

All of them pertaining to the question of homosexual equality in general, and Proposition 8 in particular. 

The question becomes this: how, as Christians, should we deal with this issue?

There are ditches on either side of the road on this one. It's like balancing on a tree branch that is spanning the gap across a river with a dangerous current. One false step and you're in trouble.

One the one hand, Christians have the tendency to bash the gay community. An extreme example is, of course, Westboro Baptist. And while most Christians won't stoop to such despicable levels of hatred against the LGBT community, I think that the mindset is still there. 

We view homosexuals as less than human. We view them as the scum of society, as a despicable group of individuals, and are not afraid to speak of them as such, within our Christian circles at least (if not directly to them). 

Let's flip the tables, though, before coming to some concluding comments.

Because, on the other hand, it is becoming trendy in the Christian community (and outside--but that's not my goal to address here) to accept homosexuality as a lifestyle choice that is really no big deal. It gets looked at as if God really doesn't address the issue. It is portrayed as a lifestyle choice, or that people were born that way--as if that makes it acceptable.

It's trendy to think we're "showing love" by supporting the LGBT community in their actions. We've either turned a blind eye to the sin, or (more often than not) thrown out the idea that being "gay" or "lesbian" is actually a sin at all. 

Rick Warren said the following...and I think he absolutely nails it:

   "Our culture has accepted two huge lies: The first is that if you disagree with someone's lifestyle, you must fear or hate them. The second is that to love someone means you agree with everything they believe or do. Both are nonsense. You don't have to compromise convictions to be compassionate."

He is spot-on. I severely disagree with the LGBT lifestyle. As the debate goes on over whether it is "choice" or something the individuals are born with, I think it is clear from a Scriptural basis (which must inform EVERY situation) that homosexuality is indeed a sin (Rom. 1:18-32, 1 Cor. 6:9-11, 1 Tim. 1:8-10, etc.). 

But, I do not hate homosexuals. I have friends...yes, friends...that are either gay/lesbian, or that are staunch supporters of the LGBT community as heterosexuals. There is no room in me, however,  for hate or fear. Despite my disagreement with their lifestyle, the LGBT community members are still created imago dei-- in the image of God. That is something every human being is born with, which gives every life dignity. Every person, therefore, is deserving of love and respect--not hate--whether or not you are in agreement with their lifestyle.

Again, this does not mean I condone the lifestyle. This does not mean the lifestyle of homosexuality is okay, no matter if an individual was born that way or not. This does not mean we should not preach against it--the practice of homosexuality is a sin (and that's a very important distinction--being gay and acting on those predispositions or preferences are very different things). 

So I call myself and my fellow Christians out of hate and into a Christian love for the LGBT community.

Yet I call myself and my fellow Christians to be willing to call out the sin of homosexuality, even when it is not trendy, hip, or popular. 

The truth in love. We must speak truth. But we must love.

Those two things are inseparable.

God, heal the heterosexual and the homosexual. We both need you.

   

" 'Build-A-God' (and other nonsense)"

"God created man in His own image. And man, being a gentleman, returned the favor."

We all have the tendency to create our own God. It's as if we flip through the sacred texts of Scripture and pull out various proof-texts that support our own preconceived notions of who God is. We like this aspect, but not this one. We enjoy God's love but shun his judgment; or we promote wrath and hell-fire and forget forgiveness. It's fabulous. We can build God exactly how we want Him.

We have made God in our image.
We ingest our theology at an eclectic buffet of divinity.

God. We've built Him from the ground up, meaning he's just like us. He's American, white, and middle-class. His will is always lined up with our will. He never asks us to do anything uncomfortable and would never give us times of suffering for any reason whatsoever.

If I was to "build-a-god," that's how I'd build him. Non-judgmental. Doesn't really care if I mess up and sin. Never requires me to care about anyone except me or do things that might be outside my bubble of comfort. I can even proof-text some of this from Scripture, probably. Behold our God...right?

False.

What's Jesus say about hanging out with those you are comfortable with? He says in Luke 14 that "The next time you put on a dinner, don't just invite your friends and family and rich neighbors-- the kind of people who will return the favor. Invite some people who never get invited out, the misfits from the wrong side of the tracks."

Well, that's uncomfortable. 

Why can't I just have a God that's comfortable? Because Jesus commanded things such as "Pick up your cross and follow me." He requires us to "Go into all the world and preach the gospel" in the Great Commission...and that commission hasn't expired yet, as far as I know. 

But the god I've built would never want me to be in danger...right? Unfortunately, that's part of the deal. Crosses aren't known for being safe. Oh, and as we "go into all the world," Jesus makes sure to promise in John 16 that people will kill us, thinking they are doing a service for God. 

Yay. That's comforting. 

This doesn't sound like the god I've built. That's because He's not. He is Yahweh. He's not comfortable. He's not safe. CS Lewis put it this way: "Safe? Of course He isn't safe. But He's good." 

Do I really want a comfortable God? Do I really want a God like myself? 

No. No I don't. And even when I start to think "Oh, but I really do..." God reminds me that He is absolutely incomparable to any idol I could create.

" 'To whom will you compare Me? Or who is My equal?' says the Holy One."

Junior Year in a Rearview Mirror

If you would have told me a year ago where I'd be, I'd have laughed at you.

That's the thing about the sovereignty of God--He has a plan that is higher than ours. His thoughts are not our thoughts--and that's fantastic, because (as Mike Tyson said) "Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face."

Nothing surprises our God, however.
Let me show you where He's taken me over the last semester and a half.

"In the Name of the Father..."

I was baptized this summer! Actually, it was the Sunday before I left to come back to Cedarville. It was a very meaningful moment, as it is a public declaration of belonging to Christ (though not salvific by any means).

My father was the one who baptized me, which made it an especially awesome event. And, thankfully, the water wasn't freezing cold...the joys of doing it in a baptismal instead of a cold Michigan river!

Poverty and Refugee Weekends

Obviously, I can't actually tell you about those experiences...take the classes! But those classes have done more to change my life than any other instruction I have received at Cedarville. Honestly, I never planned on taking "Intro to Urban Ministry"...until God put David Platt's book "Radical" in my lap this summer. I was hooked.

But it didn't stop there. With some coaxing from a couple friends (you know who you are!) I ended up taking a class on world missions this semester. Just another example of how God has been doing crazy things over the last 9 months. I survived "refugee weekend" and felt accomplished now that I had survived both of Dr. Cook's simulation weekends.

But the class didn't end there. In fact it has led to...

Visiting the Dark Continent: Uganda (Africa) 2013

Yeah, right. I would have laughed. There was no desire to go to Africa...or anywhere, frankly. But that's changed now. And the more I think about it, the more excited I get. I can't wait to finally board a plane and cross halfway across the world.

I'll be flying out of Chicago on July 2nd. An eight-hour flight to Belgium, followed by another eight-hour flight to Rwanda...followed by a short flight into neighboring Uganda. Jet-lag will be prevalent. But at that point, the team and I will spend three weeks doing evangelistic work in the school system there...and hopefully play some soccer with the Ugandans as well!

As Filipino friend of mine told me, "Josh, if you have an opportunity to get out of the States, do it." I think he was right. I love "'murica." But I can't help but notice that the "travel bug" has taken over a little bit...and I haven't even left yet. I may go somewhere one day and decide that I'm not called to stay in the States.. I'm open to anything.

And that's exciting to me.

Friends & Family

I feel so blessed to be at Cedarville right now, despite all the questions surrounding administrative issues. One of the best parts about this university is the people. I could list name after name of all the people that have blessed me by being in my life.

Radio station co-workers. Church friends. My refugee family. The men in my unit and women in my sister unit. Friends in my classes. And, of course, all my friends and family back home.

Just the beginning...

There's so much more I could talk about. Going to Philadelphia for a conference on issues of justice. Delivering a sermon last Sunday. The list goes on.

Unfortunately, I have the temptation to look at all these things and be proud. But God has His ways of keeping me humble. Hopefully, though, all the things listed here are encouragements and testimonies to the good things God has blessed with. And they are just the beginning of something even greater, I'm sure.

"There are far better things ahead than any we leave behind."
-CS Lewis