Food for thought

I recently came across Paul Washer and some of his sermons on YouTube, after he was recommended to me by a friend. Needless to say, I'm becoming a big fan, based on what I've seen and heard so far. If you have time, you might check out his sermon at a youth conference in the early 2000's. Very heavy hitting, and truth I needed to hear.

The clip below is the one that I would like to discuss here, for a bit:

It would be easy to dismiss this as just another guy who is a doomsday professor -- afterall, we probably have heard more of those in the last 5 years than we care to for the rest of our lives, haven't we? Economic collapse and Armageddon are just around the corner, it seems. And maybe that's true, but it does get tiring after a while.

But I've kept thinking about what he says, especially in light of some of the recent things that have happened in the public arena regarding same sex marriage.

First, this with Louie Giglio. Then this, with Tim Tebow. And finally this, just recently in Scotland. 

It isn't difficult to see where this is headed. Already, in the public arena, if you are not supportive of the right of same-sex couples to marry, you are bigoted, and hateful.

How will this play out with athletes like Tim Tebow, RGIII, and others who are professing Christians? Or popular mega-church pastors, like Andy Stanley, and Rick Warren? At some point, they are going to be asked directly what they think about these issues. The question for many of them will be -- do they sidestep the issue -- still believing it's wrong -- but choosing to not make it the focus of their conversation? And, is that not then a kind of endorsement of it?

Closer to home, how long until the issue involves discrimination against "normal" people? At some point will the local pastor be ostracized and/or forced to attend tolerance classes if he does not endorse this lifestyle? Will charitable organizations lose their 501c3 status for not endorsing it? Will your business face losing a big client due to your stance on social issues?

To me, the power in this is going to be those who are "Christians" (and there most certainly will be -- Rob Bell has already done so) who profess their tolerance, love, and acceptance for all people, no matter their sexual orientation. From the world's perspective, why do we have to be so narrow minded and hateful? Why can't we accept everyone for who they are, like everyone else is doing?

There are so many questions these things bring up. How do we show love to LGBT people, while not endorsing their lifestyle? What does that look like on a practical level?

At what point do we just stay silent about our beliefs to avoid controversy?

I have more questions than answers. Important things to think about, though. I believe we are going to see more and more of these types of situations arise, and a huge divide on how followers of Christ should respond.

Your thoughts?

Enjoying the Process

 
   I was recently inspired with the thought of the processes of life -- spiritual, emotional, physical, whatever kind you can think of.  The process of maturation. The process of preparing for an event/calling, and everything that goes into that. The list could go on. I was encouraged by the thought that God enjoys the processes of leading us somewhere maybe as much as the place itself that He is taking us to, if that makes sense.

  Some thoughts from my journal:

   Process. I'm learning that God enjoys the process -- well, maybe a better way to phrase it is: He receives glory through the process. I learn through the process. The process is not the end goal, but if I skip it altogether, the end goal probably isn't attainable, at least like it is if I submit to the process. It's amazing to me that God delights in this. 
   I'm so impatient. I want it NOW! And I would think that if I'm God, the instant someone repents and becomes a believer, I would want to zap them and make them like Christ in one BAM! and then say -- now go out and bring me glory by being my hands and feet, and showing the love of Jesus to everyone. 
   But that's not at all how it works. It's slow, methodical. Years. Him teaching, leading, guiding. SANCTIFYING. I'm not sure if this is totally accurate, but I wonder if He doesn't almost get as much glory from preparing me, teaching me, sanctifying me slowly, as He does from the ministry/work He is preparing me for. 
   I don't know. I'm slowly realizing -- don't jump ahead. Wait. Follow Him. Trust. Believe. Hope. Sometimes I look at the world and wish that God would shake the earth, so that everyone would see His power and fall in worship. Surely that would bring Him so much glory! And someday that will happen. 
   But it seems to me that the beauty of God is revealed in more small, obscure ways. Him bringing beauty from situations that look dead and ashen. Him changing individuals from self-focused, self-absorbed, proud people into people who love, care, hope, and humbly obey. People who realize their weaknesses and don't hide them, but glory in them because God's strength is then revealed in those weaknesses. People who ARE, not do. 
  And so I need to learn to sit. To hope. To wait expectantly. And God will open the next door, and I in faith can walk through it in His strength. Hallelujah!