Update on Jennifer Goodman--came through surgery without any complications. She is talking a lot, looks good and hopes to go home tomorrow. Praise God! We also continue to lift up thanks for the good results from the bone and organ tests this week.
Two more questions--and I am not trying to open cans of worms. Trust me, anything even nearly resembling a snake is off limits to me. Just thought it would be good to hear from some of you on this.
1. I am considering doing a Nashville Cares AIDS walk on Saturday. My co-worker, Phil, shared this article from Christianity Today with me. Click here
How does this article strike you?
2. Any of the McLaren stuff that didn't resonate with you?
Thursday, October 07, 2004
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
21 comments:
While I thought most of what he had to say was incredibly insightful, thought-provoking, and encouraging, the one thing that makes me uncomfortable is his take on God and gender. I just can't think of God as female -- it just goes against the grain, doesn't work for me. I know I was created in His image, but He's my Father! Perhaps it's because I associate my imaginings of Him and His character so closely with my dad instead of my mom.
Wow! I understand the sentiment, but I'm not sure I would start at a parade. Maybe that's just me. I'm too uncomfortable with all this still to go to some big public thing that insinuates "we support a gay lifestyle." I would be all for going somewhere to meet a person and through friendship show them that God loved them... hopefully the fact they were gay would not get in the way.
Hey, Brandon--
I've been reading your blog for awhile. First time to comment...
1. I think I would do the walk. It's not Gay Pride, it's AIDS. You are not glorifying a lifestyle, you are standing up for the relief of human suffering. I can't imagine Jesus not doing the walk (and more). The article is very powerful and convicting. I see Jesus in the author's actions and words. I only wonder why he quoted the "hate the sin, love the sinner" line. We often use it as if we are standing on the outside. Hey, I'm on the inside. My sins may not include gay behavior, but what I do and think is just as bad, isn't it?
2. All the McLaren stuff resonated with me. Not that I was comfortable with it all. I have a sneaking suspicion that he's pretty accurate in describing the mess we protestants find ourselves in as a modern viewpoint problem rather than a Christian faith problem. Jesus seemed to celebrate faith and godly action even among those who didn't acknowledge him or God. Shouldn't we? (Hope this isn't considered "snake" handling... :)
Wow! I can't believe I wrote my blog yesterday(beanerblog.blogspot) & then read yours today!!!! You should walk. We should be concerned for the people who get forgotten - for those that are suffering. The religious people in Jesus' day didn't understand why Jesus would eat with the "lowest of the low", and a lot of people around you might not understand why you are walking, but your Father understands & Hopefully people will at least see the compassion you have in you. I am struggling right now with wanting to help the REALLY hurting, lonely, written-off by society people in this world and not knowing exactly where God wants me to begin. We will be singing "Still" this Sunday at church & I know that I struggle the most with "doing" & "being still". Thank you for the link to the magazine article. I want to be the kind of person that brings cats to dying gay people!
Matthew 6:3
I don't know how the AIDS epidemic or the homosexual population could in any way be FORGOTTEN ... if anything they are on the march, in the forefront of society, and demanding affirmation at every turn. When is the last time someone with juvenile diabetes or one of the other many diseases not associated with poor sexual choices asked me for attention or money or for special status? They can scarcely be heard over the din of what we are afraid to call deviant behavior. Sorry if that rubs anyone the wrong way. Love ... YES! Serve ... help? Yes. I cannot see Jesus in any parade except leading the captive to freedom. As someone has already suggested, loving and reaching individuals is a great thing to do.
Perhaps I wasn't clear. This is not the Gay Pride parade. In fact, it's quite different. The purpose of these types of things is to bring awareness, support, and also money for research.
I hate to remind everyone, but homosexuals aren't the only ones dying from AIDS. Yes, there is quite a platform for gay issues in America right now. However, as McLaren talked about "counting conversations over conversions" and approaching discipleship and witness like "a dance instead of a conquest", it registered with me.
No one will be reached or helped by our arm chair criticism. Obviously, that's my opinion, but I feel it pretty strongly. There will be all sorts of people walking on Saturday--families of men and women suffering from this disease, workers at corporations who want to help these who are suffering, friends, children who've lost parents, co-workers, etc. Who is blatantly missing? Churches. What are most of those people's perspective of us? Retarded men who hold hateful signs saying "God hates fags." It's an outrage.
Let all the thirsty come. Let all the hungry come. These are certainly hungry and thirsty. I agreed with what Owen wrote. I am a sinner too. If there is any way I can share the love of Jesus--even if it's just by offering a cup of cold water--I pray God will allow me the honor.
OK as I said ...that is just me.. I am not saying don't walk. I'm just saying I don't think I would start trying to minister to AIDs patients by going to a walk...unless I knew someone who had a walk team or something like that. Other wise you are just walking and they are looking at you thinking..man he looks hetro (except for that ear Jewelry:), and he doesn't look sick... (This may not be coming out the right way as it is past my bedtime.) I guess my point was relationship first, parade down the line..but if you feel so moved, GO WALK!
and, thanks, anonymous. In no way is this about me. If I made it seem that way--please forgive me.
And by GO WALK I mean, seriously, do what you feel led to do. Your heart has always been very in tune with HIM. Trust it. :) BST Your comment was not there when I typed mine! Nitey Nite!
Amen to your comment on the "God Hates Fags" people. We had a visit from them a few years ago and it was very ugly. Just want to be clear that I do not agree with that mindset at all.
For the record, I do not believe that Matthew 6:3 precludes participating in a public charity event. Jesus didn't even restrict himself to doing EVERY good deed privately -- nor did his disciples. Scriptures lifted out of context can be used to say just about anything.
If either of my children made a bad choice to climb onto the table & they fell down & cut themselves, of course I would probably say "I told you so" but I would be bandaging their wounds too. For those people who have made bad choices & are now suffering for them, we need to STILL love & take care of these people. We need to bandage their wounds & ease their suffering. We must also look at the Eternal Picture - those suffering because of bad life choices probably need to hear the message of Jesus' Salvation more than just someone with diabetes. My point is - where are Christians needed the most? In the ugly, dirty places of this world. So give $ & support to a variety of causes, but remember there are those who need the presence of GOD - seek out the Spiritually Handicapped in your life.
...and "for the record," my citation of Mt 6:3 was not against participating in a public event, it was a caution about making a big deal about it so as to make yourself (maybe in a subconcious way) feel undue pride in your actions or to solicit praise from your peers for your good deed.
My advice to BST, walk don't talk.
Anon-maybe you think you're doing a good deed and that's why you're choosing to be anonymous? Whatever the case, you've got a good point. However, that was not my motive in this, be it subconconcious or not. I think it's important for us to talk about these things. Perhaps I should have brought up the topic without mention of the walk. It's just so funny to me--that was the last thing I was thinking about. I had a conversation with someone yesterday about how people hear things through filters. Here's a good example.
Dear Babe,
Walk! Jesus would have joined--for a man who touched and healed lepers (the pariahs of that society) and ate with tax collectors--the walk would have been a given. This disease is a curse on Africa and is competing with the burgeoning church revival in a dramatic Satan vs. God combat to the death. Whole countries are dying, and we sit here able to send billions of dollars of aid, but do not.
No doubt, we must be careful not to do our "acts of righteousness" for the purpose of being seen. I have no problem with the main point of this anonymous commenter. Anonymous good deeds bless all involved -- the giver, the receiver, and all who hear of the deed. Jesus highly recommends it, and He's been proven right again and again. And we should absolutely remain cautious to make sure that our motives are as pure as possible.
It's anonymous correction that I don't understand. Why not add a signature or identifying information? Is there a passage of Scripture to point to for this? I'm sorry, but I truly don't understand anonymous critical comments. It makes an otherwise substantive contribution to a dialogue seem like more of a cheap shot.
I don't know if it is a good thing you guys take yourselves so seriously or a bad thing. I guess by my continuing to respond I am showing I too take myself (perhaps too) seriously.
My original post was just a lurkers attempt to add a subtle perspective. No commentary (critical or otherwise) was offered. I thought by Brandon's original reply to my post he got it.
After Matt Elliot's reply to me, which I admit I took it defensively and may have read an unecessary tone into it, I felt the need to add commentary.
I just lurk from time to time having stumbled upon this blog through some long forgotten back-assward way. I am not a part of this virtual community nor really deisre to be- just find it as one of the many ways to kill a few minutes during a slow work day from time to time. I thought a subtle, scripture dropping, with no personality to filter it through, might be helpful. Again, I thought by BST's original comment he got it and responed appropriately.
Maybe I am just particularly bored this week's end. In the altered words of Forest Gump, "Sorry to fight during your Emerging Zoe party."
Anon-
Feel free to drop by the party any ol time. Taking myself too seriously is a daily struggle that I try to season with as much reality as possible. Cause, the reality is, face it, I am a doofus much of the time. I rarely need the reminder from others, for I tend to remind myself of it almost hourly as I open my mouth. :) Peace, bro.
Brandon, I'm of course glad you're doing the walk. The reason I volunteered at NashvilleCARES today is because McLaren's writing and thinking has resonated with me. It's given me the drive to put feet on my faith and walk outside my church walls.
As far as the AIDS thing goes, I agree with your mom and offer this song by Steve Camp written back in 1988, as the crisis was becoming huge.
Do You Feel Their Pain
Steve Camp
Have we failed again, talking about the love of God
But judging those who need it most
All these afflicted ones, I feel their lives just fade away
Left to face the end alone
So we say a prayer for their needs
Afraid to touch, to hurt, to bleed
Chorus:
Do you feel their pain, has it touched your life
Can you taste the salt in the tears they cry
Will you love them more than the hate that's been
1st time)
Will you love them back to life again?
We should feel ashamed, allowing fear to close our minds
These are lives we can't ignore
Oh, don't turn away, will you see Jesus in each of them
These are souls He suffered for
There is hope for them, open up your heart
There is grace for them, do you think we've gone too far?
CHORUS
Oh empty eyes, and lonely souls
Starving for love and crying for hope
And Jesus said, "Bring them unto Me
I will make them whole, I can set them free"
Will you care for them, or let them go alone
Will you lend a hand, or will you cast the stone
CHORUS (4x) instr. fade
CHORUS (acapella)
It may be a dangerous thing to walk into this little fray, but I'm sure all of the comments have been offered in love. So, I am compelled to echo the sentiments that are in support of our mission to a dying world. It is an indictment of how exlcusionary we have become, to think that Jesus' followers would belong anywhere other than at an AIDS walk. I encourage anyone reading to look into Henry Nouwen's book "Road to Daybreak" Section 6: 'Feeling the Pain'. Jesus had a few good things to say too: start in Luke 7:33 and keep going. I pray some day I will have the courage to understand this teaching. Blessings to each of you.
Post a Comment