Then they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling and those who were buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves; and he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. He was teaching and saying, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations'? But you have made it a den of robbers." And when the chief priests and the scribes heard it, they kept looking for a way to kill him; for they were afraid of him, because the whole crowd was spellbound by his teaching.
There are some days when what is going on in the Church makes me down right angry. When I hear about the sex abuse scandals that are being talked about in the media, it makes me angry. When Archbishop Rowan Williams says the Episcopal Church should exercise "gracious restraint" in the ordination and consecration of lesbian and gay bishops, it makes me angry. Some of us know of situations in our own churches and congregations that make us mad. When we see hypocrisy such as the Church causing and/or ignoring the problems of our society all the way from health care to social justice for LGBT people it can really create anger in us.
What I love about the story of Jesus chasing the money changers out of the temple, is that Jesus got mad. He saw something going on that just made him so angry. Jesus saw injustice happening. Jesus looked and noticed people misusing the house of God for purposes other than what it is there for. Jesus got mad and drove them out of there. Jesus threw one incredible temper tantrum did he not? It was as if Jesus just said: "To Wanda!" and just went for it. Jesus picked up a big stick and broke the money jars of those who were collecting the money. He threw every thing into complete chaos.
Some times when Christians see injustice going on in their own church communities, they react and then they figure what's the use? God gave us the amazing emotions that we have for a reason. Anger can help us to decide to act on what is wrong in the Church and society. It is true that there are many ways that we can react to our anger that are not a good idea. But there are also moments when we just have to let the people in charge know that we are not approving of what we are seeing. Those of us who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered need to let those who are supporting the attitude of heterosexism know, that it is not a Gospel response to diversity.
The anger that many LGBT people feel towards Christians who are opposing marriage equality, the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, ENDA and the inclusion of same-sex couples immigrating to the US, is a good and right anger. We can act on that anger through dialogue, letters to the editor of our local newspapers, blogging, helping out with the campaigns of those who support LGBT equality. We can also help overturn the tables of injustice and inequality in our churches by helping out in our LGBT action groups such as Integrity, Lutherans Concerned and many other programs based in the denominations of our church communities. The point is, we do not have to accept injustice and inequality. We can do something about it. We can get involved, speak up and tell people why the full inclusion of LGBT people in society and the Church is important.
Speaking up about injustice is risky business. We will face opposition for doing the right thing. We will hear from people like Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council and many others like him. We will find hypocrisy and conspiracy within the religious right that will seek to take us out just because we are LGBT and seeking equality in society and the Church. Like Jesus, we can continue on our way never giving up, even if it means coming to the Cross and giving ourselves up completely for what is right, just and good. God's perfect revelation in Jesus Christ helps us know that God faces everything including our death with us. We face opposition with God before, behind, around and above us in every moment of every day.
As Holy Week will lead us to the passion and death of Jesus, may we follow him knowing that the resurrection is our hope as it was also his.
Almighty God, whose dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other that the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Collect for Monday of Holy Week, Book of Common Prayer (BCP), Page 220).
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