I didn't mean to take one, today, but it seams that they must have gotten mixed up with my Happy Friday Vitamins. So today - a dose of seriousness.
I read a quote today, in reference to some shortfalls of a well-known evangelist of our day, and it sort of slapped me in the face with way more meaning than I think the writer may have intended. I'll share it with you... and then tell you what it made me think.
"As good as it is to have an ambulance at the bottom of the cliff to help the injured, it is much better to have a fence at the top of the cliff to prevent someone from going over."
Now - maybe that's not a new quote, and maybe I'm just slow off the gate with it, but... it speaks a lot to me. Let me essplain...
As Christians, sometimes we wait for God to bring them to church so that we can "love on" them. Or we wait for the Pastor to bring them to the altar so we can "pray into" their lives. Or even more still, we wait until they respect us and our beliefs before we respect them and theirs (Ouch!). So, tell me - are we being a fence, or an ambulance?
I'm sure there are a lot of other examples in our lives of when we do this, but it really caught me off guard. I'd LOVE to hear your comments and opinions on this topic... or even just the quote.
And just a little encouragement - Speak up! God may be able to hear you, but what about the world around you?
Friday, August 22, 2008
Serious Pill
Labels: Calling, fall, God, Growing Up, help, Life, Serious pill, whisper
Posted by - Sarah :-) at 9:49 AM
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4 comments:
Well, I haven't ever heard that quote...so I am thinking on it...alot really boils down to your thoughts being a pessimstic or optimistic way of thinking.
Of course, there's also the other option, which is to drive the ambulance away as soon as you see the person falling is gay or transgendered. Hopefully, this isn't the case with your congregation, but it happens often, like in the movie, "Normal."
I 'spose he's talking about going out into the world and living among the destitute, the queers, and so on - meet them where THEY are, rather than waiting for them to come to you.
From my perspective? If y'all (speaking loosely to conservative Christians in general) want to do that, just get to know us, without judging or proselytizing. And then put y'all's love money where your mouth is. Ask your legislators to legalize gay marriage. Because, though it may feel like unconditional love when the check to the Traditional Values Coalition leaves your doorstep, it feels an awful lot like hate when it arrives at ours.
Which brings me to my question for you: Why do conservative Christians fight so hard to prevent us LGBTQ people from enjoying the same rights and responsibilities of marriage, under the protection of a supposedly secular state, that you enjoy? Why do you care who your neighbor marries? I'm really confused about this - I just don't understand the objection.
I hope my post is not offensive, and is connective instead. I feel very sad when I see the pain in my community that results from actions like Measure 36, which cancelled my friends Kent and Tim's wedding. They framed their marriage license with the notice that their marriage was annulled and the refund check from Multnomah County for their license, and hang it on their bedroom wall. They've been faithful to each other for 16 years.
Would you be willing to tell me how you feel when you read that?
Seda's on a rampage. I saw a Seda comment on another blog earlier today, then left Seda some comments of my own.
But I love Seda for the in-your-face question and we need it. Christains have become way too comfortable letting the conservative right speak for them and it is a disserves to the way of Jesus. You know, tax collectors, prostitutes, Samaritain women - Jesus was a rebel and a barrier crosser. I'm glad Seda is stirring some conversation about this.
Thanks, Kevin. I guess I am on a rampage! Hopefully it will bring healing, rather than make new wounds. That's my intent, anyway; but the "road to hell is paved with good intentions." I'm slingshotting a lot of stuff out there, and it might well be missing the mark. I hope y'all don't take it personally. It's really hard to know which Christian to talk to, since Christian viewpoint arcs across such a vast range, from fully accepting to totally judgmental. I guess I'm being kind of random - fishing with dynamite, so to speak. I'm really curious how y'all are feeling when you read this. Are you having fun, or finding it painful?
Be blessed,
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