A Question about Sexuality and Faith

Last week, after attending the Interfaith Unity service (and writing about it online), I was contacted by someone who said:

I am bi-sexual and I know how much the "church" condemns that. However I really get the vibe that you are not that way. I feel that you are very accepting.  So, how can I have a relationship with God and not lie to myself and pretend I am not this way? I know what Leviticus and Paul have to say about some of these issues. So how is it that you have the beliefs that you do despite what the Bible says?  I just feel like something so small shouldn't be such a huge deal as everyone makes it, yet the "church" speaks about it in a VERY negative light and condemns people like me and calls me, like, perverted and stuff. I don't know what to think about all of this, so I was hoping you might help me.

My reply:

Throughout Christian history, followers of Christ have used four sources to guide them in the search for truth: scripture, reason, experience, and tradition. All four of these sources, guided by the Holy Spirit, help us know what is true.

Unfortunately, at various times in history, Christians have neglected some of these sources. This led the church to condemn Galileo and Copernicus, insisting that the solar system revolved around the earth, even though reason and experience demonstrated that the sun was actually at the center. It has also led many Christians to use scripture to justify slavery or even genocide. Even today there are Christians who deny that dinosaurs roamed the earth many thousands of years ago (despite all the scientific evidence), because it contradicts the Biblical account of "how the earth was created."

Pulling out isolated scriptures while ignoring reason, experience or tradition often leads to conclusions that are wrong and against the will of God. Consider Psalm 137:9: "Happy shall they be who take your little ones and dash them against a rock!" How much trouble would we be in if we insisted that every verse of scripture, regardless of context, was absolutely true? Our streets would be filled with dead babies ... and Christians who were happy to have killed them.

A better way to interpret scripture is to allow the Spirit to work through reason and experience. If we do that, then we will see that some verses may have been true for a particular time and culture, but are not true today. Other verses, we may even declare to be just plain wrong, because they do not fit with the overall message of the gospel. This is okay to do! In fact, to be responsible interpreters of scripture, it is something we must do.

Reading the Bible responsibly, one discovers a progression throughout many of its various and diverse books, a progression that draws the circles of inclusion wider and wider. From the beginning of his ministry, Jesus insisted that his message was for everyone, even people in foreign lands. The people of his hometown weren't so accepting, however, and they tried to kill Jesus rather than allow him to minister to foreigners. (Luke 4:14-30)

Acts 8 tells the story of an Ethiopian eunuch who went to Jerusalem to pray. However, eunuchs were not allowed in the temple, because they were sexually different (a eunuch being a castrated male) and therefore defective. Deuteronomy 23:1 says: "No one whose testicles are crushed or whose penis is cut off shall be admitted to the assembly of the Lord." So naturally, when this eunuch arrived, the door was slammed in his face by those who insisted on following the scripture.

On his way back to Ethiopia, the eunuch, I'm sure, was saddened and disappointed. As he travelled, he was reading a passage of scripture that caught his attention, pondering its meaning. It was a passage from Isaiah, about a lamb led to its shearer (do you think the image of cutting here had special significance to this castrated man?) ... a passage of one who was humiliated and denied justice (wasn't hejust denied justice at the temple?) ... a passage that mentions generations (there would be no more generations for the eunuch).

Then he encountered Philip, one of the apostles, who explained the scripture to the eunuch, explained the good news about Jesus, and then agreed to baptize the eunuch and welcome him into the family of God. Why? Because he knew that this is where the Spirit was leading. Deuteronomy was wrong, or at least no longer valid.

I could go on for quite some time.  Interpreting scripture and discovering meaning is a neverending process. So I'll just end this (for now) by saying that to exclude people just because of who they are is wrong. Jesus never turned anyone away, something that shocked many people in his time. God's love is boundless. All are welcome. With confidence I say: You don't need to pretend or lie.  God loves you and welcomes you just the way you are.

A Closer Look

The Los Angeles Zoo has been in operation for many years.  Some of the areas have undergone extensive renovations, while others are experiencing renovations right now.  In even some of the newest areas, though, they still have coin-operated telescopes that must be at least 70 or 80 years old, I would guess - and perhaps even older.

The instructions on the telescopes say that one may put a camera up to the viewfinder and take a picture.  I bet the manufacturers of the telescopes never envisioned that the camera might be part of a Nintendo DSI.

What the Media Didn't Report About Last Week's Protests

Last weekend, members of Fred Phelps' Westboro Baptist Church picketed at several locations in Long Beach, displaying their signs of hate and bigotry. As reported in the local media, they stationed themselves outside Wilson High School, Temple Israel, among other places. However, their message was all but drowned out by counter-protestors, who proclaimed messages of peace, equality, and (in some cases) frivolity.

All this the media reported. But still, as one editorial mentioned, this didn't keep the Phelps' clan from giving local Christian churches "a black eye."

Well, I wish the media, both locally and nationally, would give more attention to the great many churches that demonstrate God's love and acceptance. I saw no mention in any of our local media of the interfaith unity service that took place Saturday morning at Temple Israel, despite the fact that many leaders from various religious traditions were present, some as participants, speaking to a crowd of people so large that many had to watch from a separate room via a live video feed.

Together, we celebrated God's love for all people. We sang songs and prayed prayers, sometimes in languages we didn't understand. We demonstrated support to those who are subjected to the hate-filled bigotry of a few. We affirmed the beautiful diversity we have been blessed with here in Long Beach, diversity of religions, cultures, races, and sexual orientations.

Instead of a black eye, there was healing and wholeness present that day.

Ash Wednesday

At some point I had let it be known that, ideally, ashes for Ash Wednesday worship would come from the palm leaves used during the previous year's Palm Sunday worship. So I wasn't surprised when, a few weeks ago, our church worship coordinator handed me a large bag and said, "here are the branches for Ash Wednesday."

Tuesday afternoon, I began to set about the task of turning the branches into ashes. I opened the bag, and found... pine boughs. From Christmas.

My first instinct was to walk down the street, rip off a branch from a neighbor's palm tree, and burn it. Before doing so, however, I started to ponder why it is traditional to use last year's palm branches for this year's ashes. I'm not entirely sure, but it seems to me that the symbolism of using last year's Christmas branches might be just as meaningful.

So I made plans to burn Christmas tree branches for Ash Wednesday, even though that's not the right thing to do. However, I had spent the day hosting a lunch for local clergy, and the week was already shortened due to Presidents' Day, and I just happened to have a vial of ashes on my dresser, and pondered if it would be OK to take a "shortcut" in preparing the ashes. Unfortunately, we never had a "how to make ashes" course in seminary, so I wasn't really sure.

I thought some more about Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday isn't exactly about being "right," is it? It's not about doing everything perfectly, with dignity. Yes, we hold worship services, some of us, that are solemn and which attempt to be dignified, but how dignified can one really be when there's a black smudge on the forehead?

And that, I think, is part of the significance of Ash Wednesday. At last night's service, I mentioned how I, like most everyone else, work hard to present myself publicly as best I can, to hide my flaws, and at least pretend that I've got my act together. On Ash Wednesday, however, I am reminded of what a falsehood that is, and how prideful it is as well. Who among us really has their act altogether? Who among us doesn't feel insecure now and then? Who among us doesn't feel inadequate at times?

In the spirit of Ash Wednesday, I admit that I'm not as nearly self-suffucient as I pretend to be. Some days, I have no idea how to raise my kids. Other days, I lament my lack of knowledge in some seemingly important category, like economics and finance. And quite often, I find myself having to rely on the help and support of others, even though I'd rather be independent.

When the truth is exposed, I am humbled. I am forced to admit that I'm not perfect, no matter how perfect I try to be. I am just an earthen vessel, a clay jar, cracked, chipped, and fragile.

In other words, I'm human.

On Ash Wednesday, I repent of the pride and arrogance that makes me think I can do all things on my own. I confess my need to trust and rely on family, friends, and most especially, God. And I admit that, sometimes, I look for the easy way.

Midwinter Nap

Photograph taken Feb. 15, 2010 at the L.A. Zoo

A Way of Life

In preparation for next Sunday's sermon, I was drawn to my file cabinet. No, I wasn't looking for a past sermon to recycle; instead, I wanted to find a report I wrote in seminary. Of all the papers I wrote in seminary, I've only kept two of them: a 30-page "Credo," and the one I was looking for, a report on Navajo spirituality that I did as part of an independent study course.

My idea for this independent study course arose when I found myself taking part on a two-week trip to Dzilth-na-o-dith-hle, a small Navajo town centered around a boarding school and a health center in northwest New Mexico. I was an adult counselor on this trip, which included 53 youth and adults from various Disciples congregations in Indiana.

We drove for two days, spending a night in Okalahoma City on the way, and arrived at Dzilth-na-o-dith-hle late on a Tuesday evening. We were greeted and welcomed by Johnny Henderson, who ran the dorm at the school and who served as our host for our stay. His first words to us were, "the Navajo don't have a religion. We have a way of life."

Prior to the trip, I had done quite a bit of research in preparation for both the trip and my course. What Johnny told us confirmed what I had read. I had read that it is difficult to find Native American words for "religion." I had read that the Navajo would not recognize the dichotomy that exists in our culture between what is spiritual and what is material. And, I had read that "the Navajo Way" means the totality of life, both spiritual and material. There is no separating the two.

However, despite my preparation and despite Johnny's comment to us, I became frustrated in the days that followed. I knew that when I got back to Indiana, that report would be waiting for me; but so far, I was finding it hard to learn about and experience Navajo religion.

Then, about halfway through our stay, it dawned on me: everything that I had experienced so far on the trip was related to Navajo spirituality. I had not recognized it as such, because I was searching for a separate component of Navajo culture that would fit the concept of religion with which I was familiar. This, despite my research, and despite Johnny Henderson's comments that first night, all of which should have prepared me for this realization. I was, in fact, surrounded by--and immersed in--Navajo spirituality, and I didn't even realize it.

What I had been looking for was a system of belief, because that's how my religion, Christianity, had been defined to me. I had been told that Christians are people who believe certain things. Believe this, believe that,... and you're a Christian.

Navajo religion, on the other hand, is not a system of belief. It is, as Johnny said, a way of life. It cannot be separated from other aspects of life, because it encompasses everything.

There is a deep spiritual hunger among people today; but what most people are looking for is not a system of belief. They're looking for a way of life, one that gives life meaning and purpose; a way of life that connects them to the universe and to the creator.

This Sunday, I am introducing a sermon series that will last through Easter. Each Sunday, I will present one of the ancient practices (aka "disciplines") that have helped Christianity be a way of life for people throughout the centuries. The series is inspired in part by my own experiences, and in part by resources like the current "Ancient Practices" series of books edited by Phyllis Tickle. I'm looking forward to it.

Topanga State Park

It's funny how, sometimes, I'll take a picture, not think much of it, but then later find my appreciation growing. That happened with this picture, which I took a week and a half ago on Los Liones trail. I look at it now, and it seems so true to what it was like to actually hike these mountains. I can even almost smell the sage when I look at it.

Update: I liked it so much, it's now at the top of the blog!

Gone Crazy

The family and friends of this blog's author regret to report that he has gone crazy. That's not an official diagnosis, and yet they submit the following evidence as proof:

• He'd rather walk one mile to the church where he works than drive.
• He thinks convenience food is inconvenient.
• He has yet to play the new Wii the family got for Christmas.
• More often than not, he'd rather read a book than watch TV, which he can't even figure out how to turn on now that it's hooked up to both cable and Wii.
• He hasn't had a soda in over a month, preferring water instead.
• He gets way too upset when something breaks or is lost, even if it is something cheap that can easily be replaced by buying a new one.
• He actually thinks that having only one car for the family is a good thing.
• He thinks dinner should take longer than five minutes. Who has the kind of time?
• He doesn't like to buy new things. What kind of American doesn't like to buy things?
• He uses his own cup when he gets green tea at It's A Grind, even though they will give you a paper cup for free, and even double-cup it so you don't burn your hands.

If further proof is necessary, then consider how he wakes up at sunrise even on a day when he has nothing planned, or how he says he doesn't know yet if he'll watch the Super Bowl. The Super Bowl! Who doesn't watch the Super Bowl?

Unfortunately, it isn't clear what can be done with him. Most likely, you'll find him back here next week, rambling on about more of his crazy thoughts and ideas.

Los Liones Trail

I went for another hike in the Santa Monica Mountains Saturday. It's amazing what a little rain will do. Compare this picture with the one I took about six weeks ago, which is now at the top of the blog.

The hike I took (with my friend David) was the Los Liones trail to Parker Mesa, in Topanga State Park. On top, we enjoyed towering views of Santa Monica Bay and the Los Angeles basin. Unfortunately, clouds and haze did not allow for good picture-taking. However, this field, near the trailhead, was very photogenic.

I should also point out how beautiful the blossoms were on some of the trees and bushes. One tree I saw still had some orange and red leaves from fall, even while new white blossoms covered its branches. It was one very confused tree. Only in L.A., I guess.