The Invisible Church Split - Part II

I previously introduced the idea that the church has a large division between the young and the old. Today I want to explore some of the issues this causes on both a small and large scale. Check out Part I for more background info!

 imagecred: richardwintle via AventuresInWonderland

Locally

This is extremely difficult to nail down simply because it begins so subtly. I have a hard time deciding what I think is healthy and what is unhealthy. However, when the young don't honor the old and the old don't teach the young, both groups suffer. 

Untaught young Christians grow into weak old Christians. This causes the local church to flounder in areas of Biblical literacy, evangelism and seeking righteousness. "Old Christians" (wherever the divide may fall in any particular body) who don't experience the process of bringing others along in their walk, begin to lack understanding for those in a less mature stage of their walk. This can lead to criticism of those with struggles inside the church (and possible denial of their own) as well as eventually causing an apathy for the unsaved.

I think this also circles back around. When the elders in the church don't have compassion for the lost in sin, young people begin to polarize. You either have to be a "church person" and separate themselves from the world completely or choose to be in it. I see so many teens and young adults fall into sinful lifestyles partly because they've been told they can't be around "those kinds of people" or "those kinds of activities". They feel shame around Christians because they've been told they're guilty of sin if they break their fathers extra-Biblical commandments. 

Regionallly

Regional areas and countries fall into their own bad habits. Though we most likely all struggle with very similar things, certain cultural aspects have an effect on a divided church. One of the major ones in the US is the death of old congregations and the emergence of churches heavily weighted in numbers of young people. Many of these churches are planted and then dwindle withing a few years because of the lack of elderly wisdom. Because of the importance of social classes, in the UK there are large churches in prominent areas struggling with being superficial and lukewarm. No one wants to man up and cross lines that would make them uncomfortable. 

Globally

Internationally, I think there is actually some benefit to this sad problem. While worldwide evangelism and disciple-making see their fair share of neglect, they also get the unhealthy church's "rejects".

For example, my pastor's wife was telling me a tragic story of a missionary she knows losing his wife. As she described him she noted that he's someone people describe as "over the top" (for instance taking his wife and children to spread the gospel in the islamic middle east) but that she felt like he embodied what Jesus described for all believers to look like. 

Similarly, we had a leader who tried to explain to us that since we were so bent on making disciples, we might want to go overseas. He wasn't sure we really fit around here.

While churches all over sit in their abundance and barely acknowledge people and places who need their prayers, efforts and resources, at least they send them the best disciple makers they have (unfortunately, to it's own detriment).

What kind of issues to you find affecting your local/regional church? What other consequences do you see that I didn't hit here?

Comment/Email your answer!

The Invisible Church Split - Part I

There is crack, a crevice almost, through many local church bodies. It splits a single congregation into two, without even the cost of a new building. While not terribly financially wasteful in most cases, it is a fissure that is always very costly.

 imagecred: richardwintle via AventuresInWonderland

The division of which I speak of is in age: the old from the young/the young from the old. We're going to take this slow and really unpack the issue. My goal is to deal with how I personally see it manifested globally and locally. (I would love to hear your personal observations as well!) I'd then like to look at the consequences on the mission of the gospel both worldwide and regionally. And thirdly, we'll go over some things each of us can do to make a difference where we are. (Hopefully I can keep myself from proposing giant generalizations that are unrealistic such as "if we'd all just...work at it!") 

What Division

I recently discussed this issue with a Spiritual leader of mine. When I hinted at the line down the middle of the room in one particular situation she looked at me with such a cluelessness that I laughed! She hadn't noticed it until I pointed it out, partly because she isn't part of the problem so she couldn't imagine young and old Christians treating each other as if they're aliens to be held at a safe distance!

In The Local Church

I'm sure there are many ways in which it appears in individual bodies, but here are things that I've observed in my own and other congregations. This is one issue on which I'd LOVE to receive e-mails/comments from you describing what you see.

• Lack of discipleship among believers of different generations: I know you've heard from me before on this issue, but it's the first one that comes to mind. If we weren't so afraid of each other (of judgement and approval, of vulnerability, of what we might have to say to each other...) or making our minds up without giving the other a chance, we could all learn a ton!(Titus 2:1-8)
• Lack of fellowship (inter-generational relationships): Plain and simple: we're not friends. This is not a rule, but for the most part I don't see a lot of 40+ or 50+ couples chillin' with the newlyweds, college age and high school students. Within the church, we are all equal in this: we we're outside, condemned to eternal seperation from our Creator and we have all been brought near through the Redeeming blood of Christ. Something about "those young'ns" and "those old fogies" makes us act as if we are different kinds of Christians. (Prov 27:9, Rom 3:21-25)
• Literal church splits and/or migrations: This is not an ingenious epiphany. Many have noted the increase in young people planting their own churches and leaving the grey-haired behind in a congregation with no long-term future. Young people reject the wisdom of those who've been around the block and so many experienced believers stand on non-Biblical convictions and "the way things are". Eventually someone says, "Fine, we'll just go do it our way."(Prov 16:31; 20:29)
• The physical line: Show up to your local worship service, maybe even Bible study or small group and the chances are you find this. It may appear as a line down the middle of the room, certain areas or rows that have an unspoken weekly reservation or maybe just large generationally discriminant pockets/groups. I have to be very open and honest with this one. This doesn't happen quite so much in our worship services, although everyone has "their spot" and in a rural community I think they pretty much get passed down in the will! However, I do attend a multi-generational Bible study where there has been some finger-pointing at "you young people" based on purely extra-Biblical convictions. One time I happened to sit next to another young mother who sensed my frustration simply because my body stiffened at the conversation going on around us. I (working on being slow to speak) knew I couldn't address the issue right then without overreacting in passion. She jumped in and said exactly what I wished I could have without blowing a fuse. I really appreciated her support and so I naturally migrated to the seat next to her around the table weekly. Slowly, everyone under 40 migrated to that side of the circle leaving everyone else to their own side. It was never intentional but I knew exactly what had happened.
• Failing programs: Without the wisdom of plenty of mature Christians of all ages AND the attendance of Christians (and unsaved in some cases) who have plenty to learn, also of all ages: well intended programs, classes and services die. You probably already know how I feel about cookie-cutter programs, but when people serve in the manner their community needs, people come to know the Lord and grow to be more like Him. This requires breaking generational gaps to be completely effective. Otherwise, we are severely limiting the amount of discipleship that could be happening.

These are just a few of the things that came to my mind as I write. Like I said, I'm sure there are more (maybe even obvious ones that I'm missing like my dear friends missed our physical line in Bible study).

Very soon we'll discuss the effects and some possible solutions. In the mean time, I look forward to hearing from you on what you see!

Do you notice any age separation in the church? If so, please share!

Dear Reader (to continue with my blog, i suggest you read...otherwise you may soon be offended)

Please skip the first little block if you have no interest in parenting, as you will be bored to death before you hit my epiphany:

Today my son and I are trying a new schedule. I'm a fairly undisciplined person, though I usually refer to myself as simply flexible and spontaneous. I do agree with those who say children thrive under structure. While I don't think that rigidity is answer, a parent who accomplishes what they need to and helps their children do the same is off to a good start. My version of structure has always been to get ensure that I (or my child) do what were supposed when we should, as opposed to when it is scheduled.

For example, babies need food and babies need sleep. So (unless I should wind up with multiples), I decided to let my children eat when they're hungry and sleep when they're tired. With my son, this meant letting him nurse longer than some would suggest. (Which turned out be be a wise choice because of various milk issues) After the two week mark (and I solved nursing issue #1- milk supply), I also let him sleep longer than health professionals suggest instead of waking him up for feedings. Between us and him, we naturally morphed as a family into a (very loose and flexible) daily schedule. It worked quite well!

So reader, why am I telling you all of this? It really does have something to do with you! I desire to honor my Redeemer (Happy Birthday Jesus BTW) with my time! I have a responsibility to glorify my God and further His Kingdom. In order to do that, I must work hard to maintain a healthy marriage, as much as is up to me, and raise God-serving children. After that I must diligently work to make disciples through hospitality and relationships. But lately, I've been going in circles trying to finish all of the things I'm supposed to get done. So I decided that I should just write out my day so I see when I have time available to check things off my list.

As I wrote out our busy week on paper, I found myself desperately searching for time to read and write. But between book, blog and the occasional freelance article, the little time I saw didn't look like it would add up to much. As I stared blankly at nap-times and church obligations I simply laid my pen down, prayed and then tried to "sleep on it" (right after I got my tumultuous analytical brain to calm down). Somewhere in my dreams God impressed this message upon my heart:

If (by the Grace of God) I wrote a spiritually challenging best-seller, how many people's lives would I truly help facilitate change in? On the other hand, if I lead my children in the Way that they should go through love AND discipline and help form them into Approved Workmen who will share the Gospel and make disciples who will make disciples who will...If I do this, will my efforts not touch more lives to the glory of God through the generations than anything I put on paper?

It is this conviction my friend, that has lead me to set aside time for teaching and praying, reading and playing. It is this same conviction that leads me to believe it is not my time to be writing a book. Neither is it a time to completely lay down the pen that the Lord has blessed me with.

This is where you come in. As I have said before, I must write. I have to trust that through social networking, blogging and you passing things on to your friends, God will bring the readers whose lives I need to touch. This means that after being a wife, parent and disciple-maker, you get my best efforts. You get my best pen and ink, my best inspirations and my deepest internal battles. I'm guessing with no book and no freelancing, you will see more of the deep theological debates that my brain has with my heart and more of the "great ideas" that I usually wake up and giggle at (or loathe) the next day.

Will you come? I hope you'll join the discussion by praying things out between you and God AND by leaving comments! Follow with blogger, Google+, Facebook or Twitter (@eliciajohnson) and let's grow each other!

This Is Why I Ask You To Read...I Have To.

Do you ever feel...useless?


Don't you ever feel discontent? Not the "Maybe I should redecorate the living room" kind of discontent. Kind of like the mean reds verses the plain old blues. Do you ever feel like you serve no purpose?

I look at my time on this earth, and I do see value through the eyes of my Saviour. (I like to spell words like the Brits sometimes; it flows off my fingers quite naturally so I refuse to listen to the spell-checker.) But I still get this ache inside. So I begin to evaluate and reevaluate my gifts, my efforts and as always, God's grace in both of these.

What am I good at? And how am I using these gifts? Am I honoring God with my time and energy? This is what I come up with:

I need to be a wife that my husband is excited to live with.

I need to be a mom that forms her quiver of arrows into true weapons for God's kingdom.

I need to write.


This what the mean reds are about. It's the Spirit tugging on my heart and mind to keep going with all I've got.

How are you unique to Jesus? What did He make you great at? What did He place before you for you to work at?

Will you do it? Be encouraged my friend. Be encouraged to do exactly what He's calling you to do, the thing the Spirit leads you to do. It's the thing your heart aches for (not your flesh, or what the world tells you you should want or what the enemy tries to distract you with).

It's ingrained in you, because it is placed there by your Creator.
Only He can write it on your heart.
He wants your praise!
He wants the kind of worship you write with your life. It's a different song from each of us; will you go and walk the unique path He has laid for you on this Narrow Way?

Dear Daughters of Eve,

My spirit is grieved and my heart is heavy.

Where do I start?

The place that I fellowship has plenty of good things going on. My favorite is the mens group. I obviously haven't attended it, but by it's fruit I know great things are happening! It started as a small group and began to grow almost uncontrollably. Somehow it has maintained the same atmosphere and accountability as it did when it was a fraction of the size. They have seen multiple marriages restored, souls saved and best of all their leaders teach the Word with boldness.

The "womens ministry" on the other hand, consists of a few separate groups meeting through out the week. Three out of four have had an issue of doctrinal inconsistencies within their leaders' teaching. Invitation to one of those groups is almost like being recruited for a pyramid scheme. It's as if the women afraid that if they don't get you another group will. Two out of four choose to go through book studies and have hit a very low plateau regarding the depth of their Biblical knowledge. To summarize, scripture is not being studied the way it should and healthy relationships are DEFINITELY not growing.

So why such a vast difference? Honestly, I'm still churning it all around in my brain. So far, this is what I've come up with,

1. Insecurities.
2. Insecurities.
3. Pride
4. Insecurities.
5. Selfish Ambition

When women don't embrace the person God has made them to be and the role He's asked them to fill, they get uncomfortable. And rightly so! Unfortunately they don't use that itch to spur them on to better things. Instead they begin to compare themselves to other women. This can lead to tearing each other down through gossip and so many other malicious female activities this world often glamorizes. Pride somehow stops us from serving in the areas God has gifted us to serve in, the places we would succeed. I want to know how the female brain (my own included) rationalizes this; "I'd benefit the kingdom greatly by doing this, but it's just not really what I had pictured. I'm sure God won't mind if I slip into this leadership role instead." Does it really require more faith to do what He made us to do rather then attempt something He didn't? It shouldn't, but what it does generally require is humility and submission. Ick, nasty little words.

When we stop consulting God for our next step, we can no longer assume we're on board with His vision. And that point, we have to take it upon ourselves to ensure that the program is a hit Que the feeling of competition, its her turn. Making a plan (asking God to bless it as a side note) and then relying on our own efforts to make it work forces us to compete with others for attendance, coolness and even spiritual growth. After all, failure is not an option, because that would be humiliating.

One of these days, I pray that women all over, but specifically the women in my congregation will stop attempting to fill roles they aren't supposed to (those of men, people with other gifts and those occupied just for the sake of doing good stuff) I pray that they will serve and attend to strengthen and purify the body. They will not seek validation from their situation within the Body because they will feel confident in the love of their Father and Maker. If the women of God in my community (and everywhere) would begin to humbly approach the Throne for their assignments and band together as a big beautiful army of graceful, unique, individual soldiers...I'm emotional as words fail to adequately describe the devastation the enemy would experience.

A Political Moment

I don't blog about political issues very often. It's not because I don't care. It's more like A) I don't think it would do much good for anyone and B) it's not really a huge interest for me. It's neat to hear prophecies being fulfilled and intriguing to learn about what's going on in the world. I do try to stay fairly current in world events; but mostly because I feel like it's my responsibility.

However, while I was trying to catch up on the past couple issues of Israel My Glory, I found an article regarding some Israeli Monuments being declared national heritage sites by the (PA) Palestinian Authority and agreed upon by UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization). Considering my source, I assumed the article carried a fairly heavy bias. So, I decided to look for myself:

UNESCO Media Services: Rachel's Tomb

Basically, the PA and UNESCO are urging Israel to remove the sites from their Heritage List. They claim that it should be equally Muslim as they have been calling it a mosque for about 15 years. In reality, these tombs existed long before even the religion of Islam did. All I hear on the news is how everyone is annoyed by Israel and that they're always on the offense to neighboring countries. I know it's no surprise that all of this is going on, but it still irks me that they trying to erase the history of both Judaism and Christianity.

So there ya go, some conservative media for today...and you didn't even have to turn on Fox News!

On Capital Campaigns

Today I read a number. A big number: 232 billion. To me adding a dollar sign makes it even bigger. Two hundred and thirty-two billion dollars. This is the amount of money tied up in real estate owned by churches.

So, why is this necessary? Did the apostles need a mega-church to see 3,000 people added to their numbers on one day? I do feel it's important to relate to culture, but at what cost? Do we think this is a good use of Gods resources?

I attend a church that has remodeled half of a large building. It's nice looking and not very extravagant. Our multiple-purpose room is set up to function as a sanctuary. It has the "necessities," A few lights on a dimmer pack, a large (but not enormous) sound board, sound system, small stage, you know - everything Americans need to worship. Supposedly you have to have a certain percentage of empty chairs for new people to feel comfortable enough to come in, and apparently we don't have enough. Over the last year, and annoyingly more over the last few months, leadership and attendees have been pushing to begin "phase 2" aka the sanctuary.

Many people have been praying for the completion of the building for a couple years. One year ago we ran into a hiccup with our city officials and had to resubmit our plans to a new architect. A few months into it, he had a massive heart attack that put him out of commission for several more months. Just as he was near finishing, his computer crashed. He apparently had no back up because he has had to start from square one. In all of these obstacles, people are praying for God to pull through and do amazing things...I truly believe He is. It's not a coincidence that all of these road blocks fell in our way. While they would attribute it to the enemy, I credit the all-knowing God of the universe.

Let's put this in perspective, if the American church sold our buildings and started meeting in tax-payer funded buildings such as schools and civic halls, we could feed, evangelize and equip 90 million kids until adulthood through an organization such as World Vision or Compassion Intl. That doesn't take into account how much money each church spends on utilities and supplies. If our church alone stopped our building project, we could minister to hundreds of people through organizations like the afore mentioned or by sponsoring several more missionaries. I'm guessing that more people would come to know the Lord through those avenues than through another big pretty room.

I know these last couple posts may seem very cynical. Please give me grace recognizing that I am a very passionate person. I've never really "kind of" felt something, I feel what I feel with all that I am. I'm also a problem solver by nature. As a part of the body of Christ, I find that it is my problem as well as yours that we're not functioning properly (Rom 12, 1 Cor 12) and the only thing I know how to do is write and tell the people w/in my scope of influence.

Grace and peace.

I was asked what one thing I would tell couples for a healthy relationship:

I married my best friend. Cliche', I know, but it's true! We were high school sweethearts and spent our dating years fishing, off-roading and dreaming of being rock stars. Our wedding was exactly three weeks after my eighteenth birthday. Three jobs, two houses and one child later, people are asking how we do it. Often they just blurt out, "Eighteen, what were you thinking?!" and many are surprised we've made it this far.
Truthfully, many things make our marriage work. The usual, honesty, commitment, kindness, pray together, don't let the sun go down on your anger; all of these are truly important. One thing our pastor stressed was the importance of knowing and communicating our expectations; he wasn't kidding! Also, we were fortunate enough to have an older couple dating while we were who held us accountable. This assured that we built a foundation on true relationship rather than just physical intimacy. All of these things are very important, but whenever I'm asked, "How on earth do you guys do it?" the first thing that comes out my mouth is, "We fight well."
I say it with a smile that often confuses people. Arguments aren't generally something to smile about, but it's true. While we were dating, we learned how to fight. To pass on what I've learned in my years of argument experience, I summarize it something like this. Disagreements are guaranteed in any relationship, but you have to learn to care about your spouse before yourself. I would say 98% of our fights grow out of a selfish attitude. Fortunately, 100% of them end because one or both of us chooses to have a selfless attitude. Secondly, you never fight to win. If your spouse walks away feeling like they "lost" in a disagreement with you, you're the real loser. And lastly, figure out exactly why you're arguing and the best solution possible. Sometimes this requires one person to bend farther than the other. A selfless attitude is a must here! This is especially true when you've compromised in the last five discussions and you really think your spouse is wrong this time! Take a deep breath, what's truly important here?! It's even ok to agree to disagree on some things. Obviously this doesn't work with serious issues such as what state you'll live in. However, there are many times where an agreement isn't reached, but you can both walk away with a good attitude by leaving it that way (even if you have to revisit it later).
So I guess what I'm saying is that I wouldn't consider love a battlefield, but it certainly comes with its share of clashes. Fortunately, a humble and contrite spirit can assure that everyone survives!

Jesus Was Culturally Relevant

Everyone wants everyone else to do church their way. If this weren't the case, we wouldn't have thousands upon thousands of denominations within the Christian church. There are divisions and subgroups within those denominations. Young people wouldn't be running off and planting unbalanced churches because the elders don't disciple or even seem to care about them and old churches wouldn't be dying off because they refuse to change the changeables to relate to the culture. We wouldn't have five churches on one block and still have unchurched, de-churched and hungry people across the street.

Doesn't anyone want to do church Jesus' way? As the Christ, Jesus was able to prune the functions of the church while He was on earth. I think He addressed each group's habits with one of three attitudes.

The first is toward those with a lazy form of religion that I like to call Checkmark Christanity. Because of the religious leaders of the time (which I address in the second category) many followers became adjusted to simply checking the requirements of being a good Jew off of their list. Giving? Check. Attending? Check. Eating correctly? Check. Cleanliness? Check. I see Checkmark Christians everywhere I look. This is why people shop for a church like it's their Friday night movie. Does it look good? Does it have people I'm attracted to in it? Will I feel good when I walk out? Will I get home at a reasonable hour? Will my kids like it? How much is it going to cost me? Are there food and drinks available? It's because they just need to check church off their list and they want it to be comfortable. Checkmark Christians want to pull up to the window to be served their God for the week so they can go back to their busy lives and give up as little of their time and energy as possible. A prime Bilical example is that if the Rich Ruler. In Luke 18 he asks Jesus what he needs to do to inherit eternal life. After establishing that he has a check in all of the boxes, Jesus asks him to make a sacrifice a show people some love. Unfortunately he is sad and unwilling. He was raised as a Checkmark Jew and the transition, or transformation rather into authentic Christian is to much for him.

The second addresses laws that God the Father had set up for good reasons, but leaders had elaborated on them and over prioritized them to a point of making the rules themselves a religion. 'And He said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it:You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets."' You can spot these overzealous modern day Pharisees most often doing great things. These people get anxious because in their pride they rely on themselves and their gifts to grow God's kingdom, and they're right! They can't do it! You'll find them frequently looking at attendance in their services and groups because they must "measure success". They have the hardest time relying on the grace of God and trusting for future grace! Pharisees however, are great accountability partners: they never let anyone get away with anything. Another way rules religiosity surfaces is through an unwillingness to separate the changeables from the non-negotiables. Compromise is not and should not be an option in areas that deal with Truth. Unfortunately, like the original pharisees, many of today's church members get stuck on how things are supposed to be done simply because that's the way it's been. Jesus Himself managed to be culturally relevant and we know He didn't distort the Word. Why can't today's leaders imitate that?! This encompasses a good portion of today's leaders and "devout" Christians. Sadly they breed a good number of baby Pharisees and even more Checkmark Christians who've been taught to just keep the overzealous "rules people" happy. When I struggle, I admit it's in this direction. I guess I'm one of those lucky people who had my fair share of influence by Pharisees. My frustration is always directed, however, at other Pharisees.

I think the third group and habit that Jesus addressed was the group who loved God and tried to do religion right but in their humanity still needed some guidance. Jesus' disciples had to grow in many areas: shame, pride, materialism, forgiveness and faith; just to name a few. "Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

No matter how we approach living out our faith, we'll never "do church" perfectly. But we put ourselves in a good spot when we remain humble and teachable. This way when the Spirit speaks to us, we are free to follow no matter what He asks. As long as we are loving God with all of our hearts, souls, minds and strength and loving our neighbor as ourselves, we can be confident that we are following the Law! Do church the way God asks you to. Hold to the Scriptures and then don't worry about anything else!

It Would Be Different If She Didn’t Know Better!

           In April of this year Jennifer Knapp announced that she is a lesbian and has been in a same-sex relationship. She said that it was only a straw on the camels back when it came to taking a sabbatical from music, and that she had many things to consider. Many fans were beginning to wonder where she’d gone. After The Collection release of greatest hits, Jennifer (as I’ll explain later, I’ve always seen myself as connected enough to be on a first name basis with her) seemed to have disappeared. My friends and I used to joke that she was making attempt in the death metal scene. Well, we have our answer. The real one this time!

            As a teenager, I loved Jennifer’s music. Her folk sound was different from anything I’d ever heard in Christian music. Her lyrics were very heartfelt and intimate and I started to read into her testimony.  Jennifer had a rowdy background and when she found God, her life made a 180° turn. “The Bible literally saved my life,” she said. Songs of redemption and sanctuary in the Savior spoke straight to my heart.

            In fact her music inspired me to buckle down and truly learn guitar, not just the online tab kind of “learn”, true musicianship. Playing her songs, harmonizing to her voice and even using her words to worship my Lord, I felt like I knew her. Much like the staff of theMILL at New Life Church in Colorado Springs refers to Eugene Peterson as if they’re all the best of friends, she became simply Jennifer.

            I had some suspicions several years ago. Then recently when I played one of her songs at Friday Night Live and a listener mentioned a rumor about her coming out publicly as a lesbian. I found a USA Today report that confirmed it. “I’m certainly in a same-sex relationship,” she said. I was heartbroken. I had this little feeling in my heart; like when there’s a break-up or fight between friends that leads someone to tear a picture in half. A bond is severed. I didn’t even know her!

But for some reason I was deeply saddened. My brother frequently uses marijuana for “pain relief”. I know this is a completely separate issue but bear with me just as an example: As a Christian, I feel there are Biblical grounds for deciding marijuana is wrong. When he got a medical marijuana license, I was saddened for several reasons. For one, since he knows I think it’s wrong there is automatically weirdness. I think he knows that I love him and want him around, but I think he still feels like he’s judged and that it’s awkward. Second, someone I love is doing something that would put a huge distance between he and God. In fact, I have often wondered if he ever knew the God of the Bible at all.

Although I have absolutely no relationship with Jennifer, I felt much of the same regret for her! I wished I could sit down and buy her coffee like I did with my brother. I wanted to know her reasoning and her heart behind this matter. I didn’t need the conversation to result in her changing her mind. I just wanted to have a heart-to-heart girl talk.

For someone whose life was supposedly so changed by Scripture, she sure seems to avoid the Truth! She refers to verses that we (“the conservative evangelical") would quote as “clobber verses”. She maintains that as Christians we break other rules the Old Testament talks about such as eating shellfish or wearing a multitude of colors, so basically we have no right to address homosexuality. Although she admits that she isn’t capable of a theological argument, she does throw jabs at those who hold to what the scripture says. She excuses herself; “There's a spirit that overrides that for me.”

Well that’s just fine and dandy. She has a feeling that makes it ok. She thinks it’s right so she gets to ignore what God’s word says. Since it seems like she wants to attack our supposed legalism as if we’re Pharisees I’d like to bring this to light:

           

“Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen. Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.”

                                                                                    -Romans 1:24-27 ESV

            This is a New Testament letter to the city of Rome where homosexuality was prevalent. This seems to make it black and white for me. It’s wrong, it’s shameful and those who know and disobey God’s Word will be punished. In fact, not only those who know God’s word “deserve to die” but also those who approve of their disobedience. I just hope that impressionable young Christians don’t get caught up in her “spirit” that she seems to think excuses her from obedience.