Seeking God Amidst Conflict

As of today The Affirmation Declaration has acquired 1021 signatures. Let's see if we can make that number continue to grow.

Sometimes when we are in the middle of a conflict it can seem like no matter how correct our position is, the other person just is not going to give in. And many times the other person doesn't. These can be very difficult times when those conflicts happen to be about one's job, home, finances, civil rights or when confronting someone about their addiction problem. During these times it is easy to give in to frustration and anger. How many of us have found ourselves getting into a shouting match with someone and finally someone comes along and tells us to knock it off and go to our separate corners. At that point, are we more angry at the person who told us to go to our separate corners or more angry at the person who still doesn't get what we are saying? It can be all too easy in the midst of battling our feelings and opinions to forget that the other person is still a child of God and though they may not see things our way, they are still valuable people. Yet, even for the most secure and mature of persons, it can still be a challenge when there are so many mixed messages being exchanged.

Today's Gospel is full of mixed messages. Another prophecy of the end times by Jesus. In the Gospel of Matthew 24:15-31 Jesus talks of "the desolating sacrilege standing in the holy place" "nursing infants" and "great suffering." Yet there is evidence here that the writer of Matthew may have been referring to a number of different things. In the Collegeville Bible Commentary New Testament Volume it tells us: "The time of great tribulation will begin with the so-called abomination of desolation (v.15). That phrase originally referred to the attempt to set up an altar to Baal Shamen in the Jerusalem temple in 167 b.c.e (see Dan 9:27; 11:21, 12:11). It was probably used again with reference to the emperor Caligula's plan to have a statue of himself erected in the temple in A.D. 40. Perhaps Matthew identified it with the Roman profanation and destruction of the temple in A.D. 70 or with some still future event." (Page 896). Yet, the images Jesus gives here are very chilling. Where in the world is all of this going?

Well, I don't consider myself the greatest of Bible scholars though I have done my share of research and writing. But one thing I can relate to, sometimes when there is conflict at work seeking God in the middle of it is no easy task. When the world seems to be against us in terms of the economy, health care and wanting release from civil and/or religious oppression it can seem as if God is not as near as we would like God to be.

For lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people we can feel all too betrayed especially by organized religion. I was thinking about this as I was praying through Psalm 41 during Morning Prayer today. "My enemies are saying wicked things about me; "When will (they) die and (their) name perish?" "Even if they come to see me, they speak empty words; their heart collects false rumors; they go outside and spread them. All my enemies whisper together about me and devise evil against me." "A deadly thing," they say, "has fastened on (them); (they have) taken to (their) bed and will never get up again." (Psalm 41: 5-7 with some adaptations).

I thought a lot about this in terms of how "The Family" and other anti-gay groups have masterminded the creation of the anti-homosexuality bill in Uganda. As many have tried very hard to eradicate this horrible bill one of the comments that has come back is that the American LGBT community is accused of "trying to transport" the "gay agenda" to Uganda. Yet as we listen to all of the news reports it has become very clear that the anti-gay agenda via "The Family" and other anti-gay groups have been exporting a message of hating gay people to Uganda. My Christian Faith demands that I see them as children of God, however, I cannot not speak up and say that exporting hate and prejudice from one country to another is certainly not a Christian attitude. This is hardly preparing the world for the coming of the kingdom or the Christ-child when we inspire a fanatical witch-hunt on homosexuals in Uganda. Because according to Cynthia Black on Episcopal Life Online the witch-hunt is exactly what is going on. Gay and lesbian people in Uganda are living in at atmosphere of total fear at what could happen to them. And churches, political structures all over have spoken up, but others have remained way too quiet. It was reported that life imprisonment and the death penalty is being taken off the table, yet another report suggests that the individual who put those into the bill does not yet want to remove them. At what point does America take responsibility for how long heterosexism has lived in our society and American evangelicals take responsibility for exporting an anti-gay agenda? At what point do we not see that allowing things like DOMA and DADT to continue tells other nations that making anti-gay laws is a good thing? How is this related to a "desolate sacrilege?"

Because all people are created in the image and likeness of the Holy Trinity. All people are loved by God. Yet, for whatever reason the door of unconditional love shared by many Christians stops at the door of sexual orientation and/or one's sexuality. As a result, many other countries where colonialism has influenced their culture many nations have enacted laws and cultural norms where being LGBT is more than just a "sin". For many nations laws to destroy homosexuals is considered the "right thing" to do. When organizations such as Exodus, Courage, NARTH and Richard Cohen's group treat homosexuality as a "disorder" they reduce a gay or lesbian persons image from a child of God, to a sick person. As such, many other nations create laws and church's develop spiritualities that are not in keeping with the Scriptures.

Today's Gospel challenges us to continue to raise our voices in respectful dialogue and opposition to any philosophies or laws that see LGBT people as anything less than a part of God's loving creation. There is no reason for any preacher or politician for that matter to not speak up about this absurdity that is being considered in Uganda. Here in the US, the LGBT Citizens must continue to pressure our President, Congress, our local State and City governments that the rights of LGBT people must be granted and protected. We must continue to call out ministers, priests, bishops and the Pope who often make statements about LGBT people in such a way that denigrates our lives and makes us less than who or what we are. We must do it respectfully, but we must be assertive and truthful even if it causes us even more problems. We must never be afraid to remind people that God put LGBT people here on earth to be part of preparing the world for the return of Christ.

God, the creator and preserver of all, we humbly beseech you for all sorts and conditions of people; that you would be pleased to make your ways known unto them, your saving health unto all nations. More especially we pray for your holy Church universal; that it may be so guided and governed by your good Spirit, that all who profess and call themselves Christians may be led into the way of truth, and hold the faith in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life. Finally, we commend to your fatherly goodness all those who are in any ways afflicted or distressed, in mind, body, or estate; that it may please you to comfort and relieve them according to their several necessities, giving them patience under their sufferings, and a happy issue out of all their afflictions. And this we beg for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, #2. For All Sorts and Conditions of People, Page 814).