During our prayer time today, I had a deep sense of the Lord asking me to go deeper into what breaks His heart. I got an image of Jesus pulling someone out of a pool of mud/mire/shit and a hand reached out of that muddy pool and grasped a hold of the persons ankle, trying to drag this person back down.
Thankfully, our God is bigger, stronger and more loving than any other being that exists in the past, present and future. He is the creator and giver of life to everything.
But we have millions of people who are caught up in a battle for their lives. Ephesians 6:12 reads
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
There is an enemy that wants to pull us...God's created ones down into the mud and mire to keep us bound, hidden and unable to move due to the weight of all the crap around us. The way we think, the way we believe, the way we act, countless ways we stay bound in captivity.
I was doing some research today on articles and organizations that have really made my heart break. One comes from a health and wellness magazine which was advertising the www.getiton.ca website. The name in and of it self can speak volumes in regards to how culture views the GLBTT community and even how they see themselves.
It says it is there to promote wellness within the GLBTT community and yet as you dig deeper within the site, it becomes quite clear that everything goes...as long as you are not hurting another person. Specifically in the Is this Normal? link. They dis-spell that sex can be an addiction...when in reality it can. They do say that if it interferes with everyday routines...you "might" consider discussing your concerns with a counselor or mental health practitioner. But find a sympathetic voice within the GLBTT community who will understand you and not make you change what is an essential part of who you are...someone who is compulsively sexual. They say that compulsive sexual behaviors which involve the internet, porn, cruising, sex or any other behaviors, stating that these are not harmful in and of themselves.
...STOP...
Not harmful? We can become liberated and free...yet there are many aspect of that statement that are untrue and are very harmful both to the physical, emotional and spiritual aspect of any person who engages in behavior such as this. It may feel liberating and free...yet it does harm us at the core of who we are.
This link goes on to spread much untruth about Reparative therapies, stating they interpret religious texts in ways that support only certain sexual preferences or behaviors. To quote "In an effort to "save" GLBTT people, reparative therapies are aimed at convincing people that they should deny their gender and or sexual identities and or preferences."
Further down, it reads that the people that are most susceptible to reparative therapies are those who identify strongly with religious communities...and that it is not easy to explore and trust an aspect of yourself that is rejected by an entire community. It gives a link to the only spiritual component to the site that I have seen which in no way acknowledges the journey of someone of faith who cannot reconcile being GLBTT within their component of faith.
It really is heart breaking the lies that have been written and forced upon people who deem tolerance and diversity to be key ways to live and accept others who may be different.
This site though it has some good articles on health, has many messages of hate, and has many messages that do not promote holistic health in any manner. It is disheartening and it grieves and breaks God's heart, as He has so much more for those in the GLBTT community.
So what now? Where do we as a faith community go or do? We love. We begin to address our issues of unhealthy ways of relating, speaking, and looking at others. We begin to get healthy in all areas of our lives. We begin to walk with a transparency and realness and a kindness that shows the love of a Father, willing to give up His son for all mankind. How are we being Christ? How are we loving others, as we love ourselves?
I believe it's time for the body of Christ to rise and takes it's place to be the redemptive voice, the hands and feet and to not bow down to the mud and mire with disgust and contempt, yet help pull people out. To help be the RESCUERS!
What are we waiting for? Are we waiting for culture to dictate to us what that should look like? Because they are. Sites like "get it on" is one of thousands that dis-spell truth and wholeness.
It's time...rise and take your place...with love, mercy and kindness that leads people to know the redemptive love of Jesus Christ, who cleans all people of the mud and mire in their life...beginning first with us.
Thursday, April 07, 2011
Tuesday, April 05, 2011
God Embraces
Who in their right mind would travel 5,000 kilometres to go to a marriage conference? Maybe putting it another way, who would travel 5,000 kilometres to the middle of West Texas to attend a marriage conference dealing specifically with the issue of same gender attraction?
This was one question posed to the group of nearly 160 participants who were in attendance. Participants who had travelled from across the Nation of the US as well couples flying in from Canada and the Philippines.
We did! This was our third year in attendance of the CrossPower Ministries Marriage Conference held in Midland Texas at Stonegate Fellowship. We know full well the impact that this marriage conference has had on our marriage and has given us many tools to use as we relate to one another as husband and wife. Though this conference is put on for couples who either the husband or wife (or both) struggle with same gender attraction, this marriage conference is also impacting the mentor couples that do not struggle who come down with the participants, as well, for the countless volunteers who served us.
The moment you arrive, you are served. You are served by an incredible spirit of love and humility. For those who volunteer from Stonegate, the participants are a symbol of what God can and will do in marriages submitted to Him. The lead pastor of Stonegate Fellowship made the comment addressed to the congregation on the Sunday following the conference, “who of you would travel countless miles to attend a conference primarily focused on your struggle? Who of you would attend a conference dealing with gossip, over eating, lying, envy, pride, lust?” It was one of those moments you just wanted everything to stop, to soak in those words. Truly, how many of us point our fingers or made a judgement or value statement about someone else, while we continue on, feeding our own ways of coping and medicating on our own substance of choice, to make us feel better?
It was humbling again to be surrounded by a community that loved on those of us who often have felt marginalized and fingers pointed at, or words spoken just in ear shot regarding the issues of same gender attraction. Many of these people openly express that even in their lives, they too had once humiliated those struggling with same gender, looked down upon “that issue”, rather than be Christ's hands and feet. I have not seen so many tears shed in one place by so many people humbled by the presence of the Lord, who calls us to love unconditionally, to serve, not expecting anything in return and to show kindness that goes beyond our knowledge of a certain issue.
It encouraged us, blessed us and caused us to also ask ourselves, “Who are we serving? Are there people who we may not understand that Christ is asking us to serve, not expecting anything, but just show love to, regardless?”
Jesus walked on the earth to become a personal God. He came to bind up the broken hearted, set captives free, to look after widows and orphans and to walk along side the outcast. He showed that to us, and calls us to do the same. He went to the cross to take away our shame, to make us all one with him. Sometimes we think that the ground at the cross is uneven and that some people are more accepted to be at the foot of the cross than others. Like Pastors, Missionaries, Leaders, and yet, we are all called to that place at the foot of the cross. We are all called to be there in solidarity towards one another, not with an air of supremacy over another person, rather with a knowledge that Christ invited us all there together for us to walk with one another despite our differences and struggles.
We experienced that at this conference. We got to journey with those who have not struggled with same gender issues, but who have faced many other struggles and issues in their lives and out of meeting with Christ, recognize the need to welcome and embrace those they may not understand.
Personally, it again showed me the picture of God the Father, who welcomes and embraces all of us, through the working of His Son on the cross. This incredible love for all people and once we begin to taste this love that He has for us, it should only instill a greater hunger within us to show this love to others.
May your lives reflect the love of your heavenly Father, who asks you to receive all that He has for you, so in return you may shower that love on others, especially those you may not fully understand.
This was one question posed to the group of nearly 160 participants who were in attendance. Participants who had travelled from across the Nation of the US as well couples flying in from Canada and the Philippines.
We did! This was our third year in attendance of the CrossPower Ministries Marriage Conference held in Midland Texas at Stonegate Fellowship. We know full well the impact that this marriage conference has had on our marriage and has given us many tools to use as we relate to one another as husband and wife. Though this conference is put on for couples who either the husband or wife (or both) struggle with same gender attraction, this marriage conference is also impacting the mentor couples that do not struggle who come down with the participants, as well, for the countless volunteers who served us.
The moment you arrive, you are served. You are served by an incredible spirit of love and humility. For those who volunteer from Stonegate, the participants are a symbol of what God can and will do in marriages submitted to Him. The lead pastor of Stonegate Fellowship made the comment addressed to the congregation on the Sunday following the conference, “who of you would travel countless miles to attend a conference primarily focused on your struggle? Who of you would attend a conference dealing with gossip, over eating, lying, envy, pride, lust?” It was one of those moments you just wanted everything to stop, to soak in those words. Truly, how many of us point our fingers or made a judgement or value statement about someone else, while we continue on, feeding our own ways of coping and medicating on our own substance of choice, to make us feel better?
It was humbling again to be surrounded by a community that loved on those of us who often have felt marginalized and fingers pointed at, or words spoken just in ear shot regarding the issues of same gender attraction. Many of these people openly express that even in their lives, they too had once humiliated those struggling with same gender, looked down upon “that issue”, rather than be Christ's hands and feet. I have not seen so many tears shed in one place by so many people humbled by the presence of the Lord, who calls us to love unconditionally, to serve, not expecting anything in return and to show kindness that goes beyond our knowledge of a certain issue.
It encouraged us, blessed us and caused us to also ask ourselves, “Who are we serving? Are there people who we may not understand that Christ is asking us to serve, not expecting anything, but just show love to, regardless?”
Jesus walked on the earth to become a personal God. He came to bind up the broken hearted, set captives free, to look after widows and orphans and to walk along side the outcast. He showed that to us, and calls us to do the same. He went to the cross to take away our shame, to make us all one with him. Sometimes we think that the ground at the cross is uneven and that some people are more accepted to be at the foot of the cross than others. Like Pastors, Missionaries, Leaders, and yet, we are all called to that place at the foot of the cross. We are all called to be there in solidarity towards one another, not with an air of supremacy over another person, rather with a knowledge that Christ invited us all there together for us to walk with one another despite our differences and struggles.
We experienced that at this conference. We got to journey with those who have not struggled with same gender issues, but who have faced many other struggles and issues in their lives and out of meeting with Christ, recognize the need to welcome and embrace those they may not understand.
Personally, it again showed me the picture of God the Father, who welcomes and embraces all of us, through the working of His Son on the cross. This incredible love for all people and once we begin to taste this love that He has for us, it should only instill a greater hunger within us to show this love to others.
May your lives reflect the love of your heavenly Father, who asks you to receive all that He has for you, so in return you may shower that love on others, especially those you may not fully understand.
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