Emerging Women

I read a response in the mail bag of People magazine recently. It was written in response to Lance Bass the singer “coming out”. When I read this comment, I can’t tell you the emotion that stirred within me. I wanted to post it to see what you think of it.
“Lance Bass can lead any kind of lifestyle he chooses, but he can’t be a homosexual and a Christian, and he should not mislead others into believing that he is at peace with God. Homosexuality is an abomination to God. Loving and accepting people is what all of us should do, but the Bible teaches us that the lifestyle Lance has chosen is absolutely forbidden.”
Wow where do I even begin. For one, I usually have steared clear of this topic. I also was raised with these sort of views. However, in my “walk” currently, I have very different ideas about this topic than I once held. I know many of the debate points of either side of this issue. I personally am “on the fence” and don’t really want to throw my ideas for or against. What I do find, is I am challenging my responses to the “them” of this world. I really am starting to embrace a “we”.
I have been reading Adventures In Missing the Point by Brian D. McLaren & Tony Campolo. A book that has been, for me, a very eye opening and challenging read. In the chapter “Missing the Point: Homosexuality” pg. 182 under Gospels, Tony Campolo writes:
“Jesus undoubtedly knew about homosexuality, and we can assume that he held to the teachings of the Torah on the subject. But nowhere does he condemn gays and lesbians. In fact, Jesus never mentions homosexuality even once. Homosexuality just isn’t on his Top Ten list of sins. What is number one on that list, however, is judgemental religious people who look for sin in the lives of others without dealing with the sin in their own lives (Matthew 23). Furthermore, it is uncomfortable to note that, although Jesus is silent about homosexuality, he specifically condemns the remarriage of divorced people- a practice accepted by most modern Christians. “

I think what sits with me most these days, is that I can walk in the ways of Christ, but I will never be without sin. Not that it excuses us to blatantly sin, but we are forgiven, and Jesus Loves all people equally. We look to the “others” like the homosexual community and demand things that “we” ourselves fight, the ongoing battle with our sinful nature (if that is the position that is held). Many in the Christian communities don’t want “them” in our communities, to be our friends, or to be loved by Jesus as “we” are. We focus on (our perception of) their sin, instead of extending the unjudgemental Love of Jesus. “We” have a heirarchy of sins, but sin is just sin to God. We don’t tell the overtly overweight, the decivers, the liars, the gossipers, the judgemental and arrogant, the pornographers, the self-righteous etc., etc., that they can’t be these things and still be a Christian. (I was/am at some point in my life most of these, but hid many of them well from my church and my family. The one’s that I didn’t hide, I never was told I couldn’t seek God or Jesus, or be a Christian until I was “sinless”.)

Matthew 22 (Message Bible : The Most Important Command)
Jesus said, ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.” This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ These two commands are pegs; everything in God’s Law and the Prophets hangs from them.”

Matthew 5 (Message Bible: Love Your Enemies)
….”Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best- the sun to warm and the rain to nourish-to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the loveable, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.
“In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.”

I am not in any postion “to cast the first stone” nor judge a persons heart. Whether I agree or disagree with this topic, Jesus compells me to Love and show Grace as he has given those to us. I would rather leave the judging of a person’s heart or where they are on their journey with Christ up to God. I do know that if my attitude is one like that of the People Magazine response, I am probably hurting not helping the message of Christ. I don’t know what God will do in someone’s life nor the time that it will take, but I can love, accept, and trust that God knows best; not me!

pops up all through the biblical narrative … especially in-between the lines of the silent voice.

In speaking to any group with women in the mix, it is now 1 in 3 who have had at least one forced sexual encounter without their consent (church folks included!) A high percentage of encounters are with members of their own family. Has the modern church addressed this overwhelming issue of abuse? Will the emerging?

Which biblical stories need to emerge through our teaching so women can here God’s voice, being able to find themselves in the biblical narrative? What stories give an understanding place for women to be heard? Is this one of the imperative reasons that women must emerge with an equal role in preaching and teaching so these stories have a chance to emerge with a fresh view?

I’ll suggest Bathsheba, for starters. David saw, David sent for, she submits to his summons, he took, he sent away–life never to be the same. Bathsheba is voiceless in this part of the narrative, but issues of power, domination, fear, helplessness and humiliation are all potentially part of her side of the story of this notorious event. Can I hear her voice crying, “Let me tell my side of the story!”

mind, medicine and faith

science is finally figuring out that what’s “all in your head” really is all in your head, and that perceptions created in your head result in physical manifestations—not that you can conjure up a Jeep Cherokee by imagining one—but you can alter the course of illness or recovery. (and when it comes to benefits, feeling good beats a new car any day of the week)

does this push God into the junk heap of failed remedies? no. rather, it pushes the limits of how we allow God’s incredible creation to work.

it pushes the limits of our faith: which prayer requires more faith? “God, i beseech thee to heal me if it be thy will” or “God, grant me the faith to believe that within me lies the power to heal?”

yes, that second prayer quickly slides us into territory that contemporary Christianity shuns: Are we saying that humans have the power of God? That we are God? That illness is a symptom of not-enough-faith?

If we accept on faith that we are created by God, can we not also accept on faith that God has given us this gift of self-healing?

What if the belief that humans have the power to manipulate their own healing through the mind is not any less Christian than the belief that only God can heal?

To share a bit about my personal life…

I am getting married on October 7th. Our vision for the ceremony is, to say the least, untraditional. Our lives, and our relationship have also been, well, untraditional. During the wedding however, we are excited to make God the focus. We are also excited to celebrate our community of friends and family who have supported us throughout our journey. One of the things we wish to incorporate is communion, however as opposed to being for just Stephen and me, for all of our guests. During the time we would like to offer communion, words on community and fellowship will be spoken and we will be honoring and recognizing our community. There will be however, some guests who communion has no significance for. Our desire is not to offend anyone or make anyone uncomfortable, as many non-believers and possibly some of different denominations will be present. Any thoughts on how we could position the offering of communion? We plan to have our “wedding party” pass it out rather than asking our guests to walk up if they wish to participate in hopes that it eases things some. What we are not sure of is how to ask our guests to take part and how to express what it means to us. Should we even attempt to incorporate communion? The ceremony will be outdoors, and a bit on the casual side; we are open to suggestions of all kinds.

So after a few days taking my daughter to hang out with Grandma and Grandpa in upper Michigan, I’m back to civilization (read back on the internet). I’ve been encouraged to read about your role models. I echo what’s already been said about how the women here are encouragement and role models. Just knowing that there are other women out there asking the same questions and wanting to discover ways to serve God is a huge blessing.

To add to the list, I want to add a woman whose works I’ve come to admire just this past year. I’m sure some of you have heard of Phyllis Tickle . She is most well known for her books The Divine Hours which introduced fixed hour prayer to our modern faith practices. I first encountered her at the Emergent convention in Nashville in 2005. She was the main speaker or “blesser” at our general gatherings. What I discovered was that she was an amazing storyteller who wove together scripture and application in astounding ways. She also gave a mindblowing talk regarding the history of religion in America and the directions it is heading. I have the cd and have listened to it a few times since. Her grasp of history and her ability to see trends and explain them spoke to the literature and history major part of me.

Since then I’ve read a few of her books and have come to greatly respect and appreciate her voice. Her autobiographical works that weave in commentary on the spiritual state of America are brilliant and touching at the same time. She spent a good number of years as the religion editor for Publishers Weekly and so has a remarkable grasp of the state of religion in our age as well as a great vocabulary. Her journey of faith and her call as an intellectual woman resonated with me and encouraged me to not be afraid to use my voice and intellect for God.

I highly recommend encountering her works. My favorite is The Shaping of a Life .

I mentioned in my post about the Wake Up to Poverty event ( here ) that I would provide the downloads of the talk. They are finally available. So click here if you want to hear an amazing speech by Noble Peace prize nominee and Kenyan presidential candidate Wahu Kaara.

Leadership Blog: Out of Ur: Married to the Ministry: has the pastor’s wife’s role changed for better or worse?