On October 11th of this year a very wonderful event took place. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered people came out from the sidelines and into the faces of politicians, religious leaders, work places, schools, television sets and internet sites. Those who participated in the National Equality March in Washington, DC and all over came out into the open and said that we are not going to remain on the sidelines any longer while people in governmental power drag their feet when it comes to equality for LGBT individuals. It was a fantastic sight. It drew people into an awareness, and it made visible the people, the situations and the reality of what it is like to be an LGBT individual, couple and/or family in America. People who had grown silent on the side lines, accepting injustice came out in to the open and said no more.
In our readings from the Scriptures this weekend, we hear from Jeremiah: "See, I am going to bring them from the land of the north, and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth, among them the blind and the lame, those with child and those in labor, together; a great company, they shall return here. With weeping they shall come, and with consolations I will lead them back, I will let them by brooks of water, in a straight path in which they shall not stumble" (Jeremiah 31: 8-9).
It is never enough for God to leave those who are marginalized and stigmatized by society and the church on the sidelines. Over the years as the landscape has been changing for LGBT individuals there have been moves by the Episcopal Church and the ELCA to not leave LGBT people on the sidelines, but bring them into leadership positions. Why is this important? So that those who are blinded by their own arrogance can see that LGBT individuals like anyone else left in the margins have much to offer in the service of Christ and the Church. God is never content to just let us be. God has to shake us up, move us forward and constantly bring us into a greater understanding of ourselves and others. But we cannot do that unless we allow God to bring us out of the sidelines and into the place where God wants us.
In Mark's Gospel today, we read about Bartimaeus. A blind beggar who sits on the side of the road between Jericho and Jerusalem. Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem to face his Passion and Death. How Bartimaeus knew about Jesus we are not sure. But somehow, Bartimaeus knew that Jesus would be traveling along the road where he was. "When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" Many sternly ordered him to be quiet,,," (Mark 10: 47, 48). his can often be the experience of LGBT people. As they try to draw closer to God through the Church, they experience rejection, they are told to "keep quiet." This is one of the many reasons why LGBT turn away from religion all together. They cannot speak or take part in the life of the church, unless they are willing to "change."
What is interesting about Mark's Gospel is that we continually see how those who are closest to Jesus are the one's who are blind as to who he is. A couple of weeks ago, we heard John and James fighting about who was to be first and last. But here is Bartimaeus reaching out, calling out to Jesus while those who want to see this blind man who is marginalized, remain marginalized tell him to keep quiet. But Bartimaeus is not going to take being marginalized any longer. He is not going to be told to keep quiet, Bartimaeus knows who Jesus is, and he wants to experience the mercy of God that Jesus can give him and so he cries out even louder: "Son of David, have mercy on me." And then those standing around tell Bartimaeus: "Take heart; get up, he is calling you." Then Bartimaeus throws off his beggars cloak the one that he used to collect money as people went by and after Jesus asked: "What do you want me to do for you?" Bartimeaus replies: "My teacher, let me see again." Jesus said: "Go, your faith has made you well." (See Mark 10: 46 to 52).
Sometimes, LGBT people and many who experience marginalization from churches our very own families are so afraid to get up and throw off our anger at those who marginalize us. Given how LGBT individuals are cast off by religious institutions and told they are worthless unless they "change". It is so understandable why LGBT and many people throw off religion. Many LGBT people want to draw closer to God. They have fought their inner battle with their sexuality, thinking that they were dirty and useless just because they are attracted to members of the same-sex. There are so many stories of how lesbians and gay individuals have nearly committed suicide because they were afraid of their sexual orientation. They were afraid of their parents, families, friends, pastors and the list goes on and on. At the moment a questioning individual comes to term that who they are is who they are, and God created and loves them that way, that's when they begin to experience healing. And while they are experiencing a new found love for themselves, they have religious leaders like Pat Robertson or James Dobson telling them they are going down a path of sin. Or they read in the Catechism of the Catholic Church that they are "instrinically disordered". And the LGBT individual that is coming out, feeling like there is no place for them in God's Church, go to the sidelines with this blind perception of themselves and how God sees them.
This is why it is so refreshing for me to read: "In the Eye of the Storm; Swept to the Center by God" by Bishop Gene Robinson. Instead of a Bishop writing some paper against same-sex marriage or telling an LGBT person that he is gay because his masculinity was not affirmed by their fathers, or femininity affirmed by their mothers, Bishop Robinson, shows how much the stories of LGBT people are told throughout the Bible. In stories such as the wandering of Israel in the desert in Exodus. Bishop Robinson talks about how God affirms us in Scripture by affirming every human being in their sexuality. The Bishop is being Jesus for me, by helping me to remove the blinders that I've had about myself and my sexuality. But to begin to see that, I had to get off the sidelines of my feeling guilty or dirty, to reading about an affirming prospective, and so allow Jesus to begin healing my blindness.
Today Jesus invites the blind, the black, the white, the gay, the straight, the challenged, those marginalized to come out from the sidelines and accept God's love. When the Episcopal Church and the ELCA made the allowance for LGBT individuals to discern the vocation of Priesthood and/or Bishop, as well as be married in the Church, they echoed Jesus' call to LGBT individuals to come out from the sidelines, to know and share God's love in service and sacrifice. No longer do they have to keep quiet. No longer do LGBT individuals have to remain outside of God's partnership, but they are now part of the Divine network of those who serve God not only as ordained individuals, but in all kinds of ways.
LGBT individuals who are called out from the sidelines need to take their places with others who follow Jesus Christ. We need to see that there are many people who remain marginalized by society and the church. Jesus has given us a call to help them as we are helping ourselves. And we participate in the ministry of Christ and the Church when we call on politicians and church leaders to see their own blindness when it comes to people left out by society. Every Christian and person of good will needs to be involved in this health care reform debate. The fact that over 40,000 people will die because they do not have health insurance, means that our health care system and our nation has gone blind to the people we are suppose to serve. Unless we see them as women and men of dignity and integrity, and call the insurance companies to leave behind their quest for corporate greed, and politicians from corruption, more people who could be saved, will die.
What are we doing to come out of the sidelines to participate in God's work in our lives? How do we allow the opinions of others to keep us from fulfilling what God wants? How do we use our gifts to serve others who are marginalized?
God has a place and a plan for everyone. God does not look upon anyone with shame, God looks upon us with love. God wants us to come out from our sidelines and participate in God's plan to change the world, to make the Church an inclusive place for everyone and to be God's hands, feet, and heart that extends to those who feel excluded.
God has already made the call for us to go to work. So, when and where do we begin?
O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son; Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, For the Human Family, #3, Page 815).
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