How would you feel if I told you that a country was passing a law that would severely restrict the rights and freedoms of Christians? That the government of a country, which was entirely controlled by followers of another religion had decided to band together and do something about the “Christian threat”? What if they published the names of people they suspected to be Christians in the newspaper, and encouraged the public to harm them or refuse to associate with them? What if they passed a law so that if you were caught practicing your faith in your own home you could be thrown in jail for 7 years? What if they made it a law that if your neighbour found out you were a Christian they were forced to report it to the police or face 3 years in prison themselves? What if that law had a provision in it that if you were caught multiple times you could be put to death?
How would you feel? Angry? Sad? Would you be motivated to do something about it? Would you ask your member of parliament or senator to approve sanctions against the country treating your Christian brothers and sisters in such a way? What would you do?
Now stop. Because it IS really happening right now. In Uganda.
But there is one difference, which is why you probably haven’t heard about it. You see in Uganda this very scenario is being played out, except the people in power are Christians, and the laws are being made against gay people.
Does that change things for you? If so why?
You see, no matter what you think about what scripture says about homosexuality, we should all be able to agree on one of the most basic teachings in Scripture: the Golden Rule. “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” So here is the question: Would you want to be treated the way gay people are treated in Uganda? Would you want your government to treat you the way they are treated because your religion believed something different from theirs?
If we take Scripture seriously, then we as Christians have no right to treat those who do not share our beliefs in oppressive or unfair ways. Yet the history of our faith has shown that Christians in political power very often do exactly that. It is easy to look back at ancient examples of injustice like the crusades and think, “I wouldn’t be part of something like that.” But this is happening now, on our watch.
So the question is: What are we going to do about it? Are we going to turn a blind eye? Or are we as Christians going to speak up and say to the Christians in power in Uganda, “When you take away the basic rights of gay and lesbian people it grieves the heart of the Father and it lessens freedom for all of us.”
Do I believe that Christians should stand up for the teaching of Scripture and moral truth? Yes I do. But how we do it is as much or MORE important than what we teach. If we try to use power to force our beliefs on others, if we take away basic human freedoms from others in trying to proclaim the teaching of the Bible, then we by our actions are unfaithful to that same teaching and have failed.
If you want to know more about how you can speak up against this join the Facebook group
Or follow this link to learn more and find a list of people you can write to, to make your voice heard.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
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13 comments:
Are you seriously equating a lifestyle of sodomy to a lifestyle of worshipping God??? What's next, chastising God himself for destroying Sodom? Where are you getting your ideas about Christianity? It certainly isn't the Bible.
Dear Romans,
What I am saying is that whether we find someones lifestyle to be ungodly or not we are still to treat them as we would want to be treated. The fact that you may disagree with someone does not mean that you have the right to treat them unfairly or unjustly. We are known as Christians not by how we treat those who we agree with, but those who we disagree with. If the worst thing we can call someone we disagree with is our enemy what does the Bible say about our enemies?
Matthew Chapter 5 says:
43"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
I in no way intend to chastise God for anything, he is the righteous Judge and may do as he wills. What I take great exception to is those who claim to do God's judgement, especially when they do so in ways that are obviously unjust.
And as noted in my passage Matthew 7:12 states "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets."
The point is not whether gays and lesbians are righteous or unrighteous, because God calls us to treat our neighbours the way we would want to be treated whether they are or not.
I don't think anyone would want to be treated the way gays and lesbians are treated in Uganda, so I think it is the duty of all of us to speak up and say that it is not right to treat them that way.
Brian
Romans 2:1
Wow, Brian. You respond with the grace and aplomb that I could never even fathom mustering for such arrogant, gross misinterpretations of Jesus and the Bible. Good for you! I don't know how you do it!
Great post, my friend. Very well written, thought out, and loving.
WOW...
Amazing what happens when you flip a situation.
I wonder where the Christians of Uganda are getting their ideas about God... the Bible?
I do not support this bill. But I do find it VERY interesting how you are placing sexual orientation on the same level as religion, and I would suppose gender and race.
Could you have made an analogy to something else other than religion and still made your point?
Grace
Brian,
Again I stress that I am NOT a supporter of this bill (before anyone gets all up in arms).
But I do have problems with your analogies and points of reference.
For one, placing sexual orientation on the same level as religion, and I will presume race and gender.
And secondly, your usage of the verse, "Do unto others..." to justify your disapproval with a government's laws.
Here's why...
I think that if we truly were to do unto others as we would have done to us, we would not be prosecuting anyone for any crime.
If you happened to commit pedophilia, I'm sure you would prefer forgiveness and understanding, and even a chance to make right of your life, rather than 20 years in prison, or even 5. (BTW I have had the opportunity to prosecute for that crime against a child and I chose not to out of compassion (the penalties are severe), so no I'm not a monster who wants to see people prosecuted.)
But do you really think this is what Jesus meant--to do away with the laws of the land? How many people would commit crimes over and over again given the chance, or in the absence of severe penalty?
In your analogy, you are suggesting we reduce or eliminate the penalty for something since it is not the penalty you would want imposed on you.
I do not believe this is at all what Jesus meant when he uttered those words, nor when he forgave the woman at the well.
In fact, he never forbade anyone from executing the penalty for adultery on her. Nor did he command to do away with such laws.
I do NOT support the Uganda bill, but I think you can better address this issue by not taking scripture out of context and away from it's true intent.
"Do unto others" is very subjective to the individual--another reason I do not like to see this scripture pulled out to make points such as this.
I'm interested in knowing if you believe it is unfair for Uganda to have any penalty at all for homosexual activity, or for perhaps bestiality, and if so, what you would personally deem fair?
Six months, one year, two years, five, ten? What is the burden you would be willing to bear yourself?
I also find it interesting that you imply homosexuality is a basic human freedom within a governed society. Would you say that bestiality is a basic human freedom also? Would you object to a government having any laws at all against sodomy?
I would rather just hear you say that you believe the law is cruel and way too harsh, rather than inadvertently taking Biblical meanings out of context and attempting to strip government rights to exercise authority in issues of moral conduct.
"How would you feel?" doesn't really cut it for me. I wouldn't "feeeeel" good if I went to prison for one week. Would you?
Correction: Was not referring to the woman at the well, but the woman who was about to be stoned for adultery. (That's what happens when I write at 3:AM.) :)
Fair warning: troll alert!
Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. (Romans 13:1-5)
I do not support this bill. But I do find it VERY interesting how you are placing sexual orientation on the same level as religion,
And what exactly is wrong with putting sexual orientation on the same level as religion?
Sorry, but someone has to ask it. And if the only answer is "because homosexuality is sinful," I'd point out to you that by that logic, non-Christian religions are sinful. And from certain non-Christian religious perspectives, Christianity might be seen as "sinful" or "wrong" as well. Do you really want to open that Pandora's box?
The whole "don't compare sexual orientation to religion" argument strikes me as an argument that only works if you assume Christian privilege -- and only conservative Christian privilege at that.
What Jarred said. Grace's comment was, quite frankly, graceless. Grace does not support the bill -- but does not oppose it, either.
Religion is a choice, and politically partisan, U.S.-style evangelicalism is an arguably un-Biblical choice. There is no Biblical basis for the lifestyle that most modern U.S. evangelicals lead.
Sexual orientation is not a choice. Gay people are as capable and committed as anyone to living a moral and loving life.
It is unfortunate that U.S. evangelicals have corrupted the global church by allowing their leadership to scapegoat and dehumanize spiritual brothers and sisters as a means of advancing their own sinful and impenitent lust for power -- and prosperity.
Neither true bridging nor authentic church-building can occur without a foundation.
That foundation, that starting point, must be an assumption that all people are entitled to the same human rights. Integrity, respect, humility, liberty, and commitment to factual accuracy must first be affirmed by all, for all. Without that foundation, any so-called bridging is undermined by disrespect, self-pity, paranoia, ill will, and defamation (intentionally and maliciously inaccurate claims).
Without such a foundation, bridges inevitably collapse.
Brian is on vacation - so I thought I'd jump in here for a moment.....
When I'm speaking in churches on this subject of homosexuality, I will often say that any parallel one attempts to use to better understand will inevitably fall short. But sometimes people need to connect with something in their own experience to be able to open their mind and heart to something outside of their experience.
I agree Mike that bridge-building needs a foundation. That is what we try to articulate on this blog - and why I asked Brian to write this post about Uganda. ND historically didn't speak out on political issues - but we felt strongly that this isn't just a political issue - but an issue of basic human rights and the need to speak up for just and dignified treatment of gay people in Uganda.
The situation in Uganda on one hand is very simple - but on the other very complex. It is complex because of the tragic history of colonistic power moves made in the name of religion over generations of the Christian faith. It is complex because of the many ways that Christianity, in its various expressions, seem to be so far from representing the person of Christ (who chose powerlessness, humility, servanthood, poverty, reconciliation and justice). So on one hand, we have felt compelled to speak up and speak out .... but at the same time, we are mindful of the potential for that to seem to be simply another extension of western colonialism telling an African nation what to do. In light of this, what I think we need to continue to do is to try to acknowledge the responsibility that western Christians do carry for these developments - and repent for the ways that this responsibility has arisen from expressions of the Christian faith that were .... unchristian.
I would be the first to say, that I am still learning and understanding many things about this broader complex context. But I do deeply grieve for the ways power, politics, money and religion have created a toxic combination that perpetuates deception, fear, and hatred.
And, though I said it back in March, I'll say it here again - the creators of this blog support decriminalization of consensual same-sex relations between adults. Regardless of what one's theological position may be concerning the appropriateness or inappropriateness of homosexual behaviour, the beauty of the gospel is that is an invitation - offering people the choice to follow God - not coercively legislating their behaviour.
Thanks for chiming in, Wendy.
I trust the good intentions and objectives of this project. And I'm grateful that you and Brian have spoken out about Uganda and about the misuse of criminal law.
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