"Engaging Ideas"

Let's face it, we all enjoy when someone agrees with us, and I found a column that covers some of the points I stress on this blog.

Here are a couple of points that I thought were particularly strong:

".....my friend remains willing to engage in spirited discourse that constantly challenges his beliefs, something that far too few Christians are willing to do even with each other despite the fact that Scripture calls on us to 'exhort one another daily."

"Christians should absolutely and always endeavor to grow in truth and knowledge. Especially in light of the fact that such intellectual apathy dishonors the Lord and may contribute to a culture of unbelief. The prophet Hosea delivered this charge against apostate Israel, "...my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests..." (Hosea 4:6) Hosea later issues a general warning that, "a people without understanding will come to ruin!" (Hosea 4:14)."

If people applied these principles to understanding the "clobber passages," there would be a lot better understanding of the place GLBT people have in God's kingdon.

Minority Clergy Being Recruited to Help Right-Wing

African-American pastors are being recruited in Virginia by proponents of a constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriage.

The goal, of course, is to entice the pastors of African-American churches to mobilize their congregations to turn out at the ballot box and vote for this amendment. Remember, Virgnia is the home base of both Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson, so there's plenty of right-wing money and influence to go around, but supporters of the amendment aren't taking any chances.

"African-American churches and social conservatives have more in common in our belief system than anyone could imagine," Chris Freund, of the Family Foundation, told a group of mostly black and Latino ministers last month at Pat Robertson's Regent University.

I hope pastors are sharp enough to see through this transparent and very temporary alliance. I hate seeing any group of well-meaning people used, especially in a campaign designed to restrict the rights of a state's citizens.

WHOSOEVER: Learning of Love

Someday, faith will go away. Someday, the need for spiritual warfare will end; intercession will be a thing of the past. When we finally are face to face with the Savior of our souls; when we finally see things clearly and completely; when we are made like Him, all will be perfect. I Cor. 13 paraphrased.

BUT!! We will always have LOVE. We will always need LOVE. Love is stronger than faith, bigger than hope. Love is the greatest eternal force in the universe. GOD IS LOVE!! Love will always exist because God will always exist. God formed the universe and everything in it based on the principles of love.

While we're here on this earth we still need faith. We need it to develop and grow. Our faith won't grow unless motivated by love. Our faith will become selfish and weak without love as it's foundation.

So, doesn't it make sense that we learn as much about this incredible Love as we can, and that we live and practice Its principles? Doesn't it make sense that we should diligently seek to live our lives the way God created them to be lived... in love and faith?

Let's purpose to learn about love - God's love. Before a word is uttered or a deed acted upon let's stop and ask ourselves, "Is this motivated by LOVE?" Our faith is dependent upon it.

Would Christ Bully Gay Kids?

That might seem like a ridiculous question, but then again, why are some Christian groups trying to protect the rights of straight kids to do just that to gay kids?

Apparently, there is a school of thought that goes something like "toughen them up when they're young and they'll walk the straight and narrow when they're older."

If you have some doubt in your mind about the wisdom of that last statement (I hope you don't becuase I think it reeks of ignorance), then I refer you back to the original question:

Would Christ bully a gay child?

The answer is no, he would show him or her the same unconditional love he shows all the straight kids.

PFLAG begins "Straight for Equality" Campaign

The new national president of Parents, Families, and Friends of Gays and Lesbians (PFLAG) announded a new campaign the organization launched last week. Titled "Straight for Equality," they are calling for more heterosexual people to join the fight for civil rights for gays.

Come on, folks, there's plenty of room left on this bandwagon. John Cepek, the new president, said, "I think we're on the right side of history. We're just trying to get it to the tipping point more quickly."

Char Cepek, John's wife and the president of the Illinios chapter of PFLAG, said, "All we want is our law-abiding, taxpaying gay son to have the same civil rights as our law-abiding, taxpaying straight son."

Sound logic like that holds up very well under objective, rational scrutiny.

Christians Need to Seek Together

I relate a couple of my recent experiences and tie them in with scriptural teaching to make that point in my latest Gay Christian Outreach column.

A truly active and vibrant faith is one where we are all actively learning and teaching. This needs to apply to those whom we have strong disagreements with as much if not more than those people we agree with.