Out of the Mud and Mire

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.