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Rich Christians In An Age of Hunger!

By Greg M - Aug 12th, 2009 at 1:59 pm EDT

Also listed in: 7 groups

Dear Friends,

I have recently been re-reading Dr. Ron Sider's seminal book, "Rich Christians In An Age of Hunger," in its most recent updated publication, 1999.

This is a life-changing, and challenging, book to read. I have become convinced that world hunger, both in and outside of the United States is indeed the human cause dearest to the heart of God. Yes, certainly there are others nearly as important, general poverty, world-wide disease, fair trade, human rights. However, hunger is certainly the most basic and important to human life itself. And yes, there are certainly causes that are particularly near and dear to my heart because they effect me directly and those I love dearly. However, again, while there are a Billion of my neighbors in the world who are literally starving to death, my personal causes admittedly shrink in importance. This does not mean that they are not important, and not a priority for me, but, it does mean that I am compelled to fully, biblically, prioritize my efforts if I am to feel certain that I am working where Christ would most want me to be working first, and where Christ is obviously working.

In my mind, conquering the world hunger issue first would provide the working basis to begin to conquer all of the remaining issues. We simply cannot expect starving people to highly desire to learn and incorporate effective economic practices, education, apporpriate health practices and focus on human rights issues. Also, in general, poverty is the root cause of disease, violence, terrorism and violations of basic human rights, and hunger is a prominent feature of poverty.

I hope many will be gripped by the Holy Spirit and galvanized to the cause of ending hunger in our time and for all time, so that we can then work toward ending poverty, effectively battle disease, conquer all issues of human rights so that each of our neighbors experiences freedom to be who they were created to be, and thereby end the causes that recruit for violence and terrorism.

I know that many of my peers in the upwardly mobile, white, Christian world still today only care to react to these issues in fear. For whatever reason we tend to recoil and act defensively when someone dares to suggest that we may play a significant role in the causes of world-wide hunger, poverty, disease and violence, and therefore play a significant role in the causes of terrorism. No matter how vehemently you attempt to deny this truth, you will never be able to escape it. I have come to peace with it and fully accept my responsibility in it all. And, therefore, have chosen to do all that is in my power to continue to work toward being part of the solutions, rather than living in denial and fear, which only leads to the continuation of the vicious cycle we are in.

I love my country, and I love my faith, and I certainly love Christ. It is Christ at work within me through His Holy Spirit that brings me to these convictions and gives me peace about my part in world-wide sin. I am a major patriot. I'm the crazy guy you see at the fireworks displays on July 4th standing, shouting, clapping, cheering, and yes, crying! I love the United States of America. However, historically, as much good as our country has done for the world, we have also carelessly wreaked havoc in the name of democracy, while the real impetus was our own selfish economic ambitions. Prior to that, my European ancestors, both governments and religions, also wreaked havoc throughout the world for centuries, all supposedly in the name of God, but actually for the same selfish ambitions. And, still today we are dealing with the aftermath of efforts in dominating the world, colonialism, slavery, wars, and even Enlightenment/Modernist philosophy that provided learned arguments for white supremacy.

I fully realize that many of my friends and family reading this, if they read it, are angry at this point that I would say such things. However, they are most certainly true. I don't mean to acuse or cause anger in anyone, but, rather, to motivate toward actively seeking out answers to these problems. I am not promoting that we grovel in the dust and moan and groan for our sins, although, that too would be in order. I am promoting that we simply begin to acknowledge the truth of these realities, to open our eyes and our hearts to repentance, and to take responsibility for our part in becoming part of the answers rather than ignoring and denying everything and thereby bolstering the continuation of the problems.

If you feel so moved, and desire to look more deeply into these things and take a step toward becoming part of Christ's life-giving, reconciling, restoring, mission of bringing about the Kingdom of God here and now in this current dimension, please do some reading and study, and praying, and fasting, and see if God's Holy Spirit doesn't begin to lead you to the same conclusions that I have come to. I have solidly decided that asking "What Would Jesus Do?" is not the correct question to ask. I now ask "What Is Jesus Doing?" and when I see it, I try to do likewise.

There are many good books on these topics, but I highly recommend Dr. Ron Sider's, "Rich Christians In An Age of Hunger," and Brian McLaren's, "Everything Must Change." I also highly recommend Brian McLaren's novel triology, "A New Kind of Christian," "The Story We Find Ourselves In," and "The Last Word, and the Word After That." I also highly recommend any works by Rev. Jim Wallis, of Sojourners/Call to Renewal, especially, "God's Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It!" Other great books can be found by viewing my Virtual Library here on Facebook.

Finally, please take a few minutes to view this series of 5 short videos, video journalism from World Vision, "5 Days of Hunger," athttp://www.worldvision.org/content.nsf/pages/advocacy-newsletter-200906-five-days-hunger?Open&campaign=1139052&ppi=

Blessings to you as you seek God's direction... Greg McCaw

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The News From Buffetville: Kansas Church Protests at Easter Services

By Greg M - Aug 12th, 2009 at 1:56 pm EDT

Also listed in: 6 groups

OK, the following is not my writing, nor that of one of my favorite bloggers, from whose blog I stole this post. It is, of course a fictitious newspaper article, but I found it as enlightened as Eric did, so I wanted to post it to my notes here. I found this in the blog of Eric Reitan, an award-winning scholar and writer who teaches philosophy at Oklahoma State University. His blog can be found at this link... http://thepietythatliesbetween.blogspot.com

As follows from Eric's blog...

The News from Buffetville
Just yesterday, a loyal (if fictitious) follower of my blog sent me the following fabricated clipping from the Buffetville Scallion-Picayune. I thought it worth sharing with other followers of my blog, and so I reproduce it here.

Kansas Church Protests at Easter Services

By J.J. Loganberry
Senior Staff Reporter

This past Sunday, Easter services at Buffetville Baptist Church were disrupted when the congregation of Kansas-based Eastburro Church, led by Pastor Phred Fleps, came to Buffetville.

Lining the easement surrounding the Buffetville church, Fleps and his congregation of relatives greeted approaching families with jeers, derisive laughter, and signs declaring “New car owners die, God laughs!” and “New car owners burn in hell!” As services began, the Eastburro group began chanting, “God hates new car owners!”

Lilly Thesbit, a retired school teacher who has been attending Buffetville Baptist Church all her life, was distressed by the group and its message. “I don’t understand it,” she told reporters. “They’re ruining my Easter. Nobody even noticed my new hat.”

Others were equally dismayed. “I don’t know why they have to come here on Easter Sunday of all days,” said 17-year-old Joey Dick. “I mean, if they’ve got a problem with our pastor’s new Acura, why not protest it on the third Sunday in Pentecost or something? Why Easter?”

The offending vehicle, which Pastor Bill McCune of Buffetville Baptist Church purchased less than a month ago, was parked throughout the protest in the designated pastor’s space behind the church. Police were on the scene to make sure that none of the protesters vandalized the car.

“It’s bad theology,” declared Pastor Bill. “They read a few scattered passages in the Bible that say we should care for the poor, and they interpret it to mean I can’t enjoy a new luxury car with my hard-earned money. I mean yes, technically I could make do with a used car, and technically the money I saved could be sent to Oxfam and would help save the lives of a few thousand malnourished children. But come on. I really liked the leather seats!”

Fleps has a different view. “Jesus tells us that it’s easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. And you remember what he told the young rich man who asked about what he needed to do to earn eternal life? Jesus told him to sell all his possessions and give it all to the poor.”

“It’s not just about the pastor’s new car,” Fleps continues. “That’s a symbol of a bigger problem. Just look at all these people flouncing into church in their brand new outfits. Look at all those fancy cars in the parking lot! These people who claim to be Christians are spending money on luxuries while children are starving! It’s an abomination! The least he could've done is gotten himself a hybrid car.”

But Steve Lisp, one of the deacons at Buffetville Baptist, thinks that for Pastor Bill to keep driving that six-year-old Cadillac “would give the wrong message.”

“We’re not one of those poor churches that can’t afford to pay our pastor a nice salary,” insists Lisp. “Half our congregation belongs to the country club!”

“I don’t understand why they can’t be like those Wetsboro folks, and protest real problems like gay marriage,” says Pastor Bill. “I mean, the homosexuals are destroying this country, right? The Bible’s full of stuff that condemns those homos. Me, I’m just living the American dream. God wants his obedient followers to have nice things.”

“For a pastor,” says Fleps, “Bill doesn’t know his Bible very well, does he? Jesus never mentions homosexuality. And aside from a couple of verses in Leviticus, a book that no Christian today treats as authoritative, the only unambiguous mention of same-sex acts is a passing comment in Romans. But the Bible is obsessed with caring for the poor. Let’s face it, if you’re going to be biblical about things, the controversy shouldn’t be about gay pastors, but about pastors who enjoy luxuries while there are people in the world who go to bed hungry. That’s why we’re here.”

But little Jenny Fisher, who attends Buffetville Middle School, knows the truth of the matter. “They just want attention. I mean look at them. They’re dressed like the nerd contingent at my school. They weren’t popular in school, and now they’ve found a way to get people to pay attention to them.”

As this reporter’s mother used to say, “From the mouths of babes…”

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Cerberus: Hound of Hell!

By Greg M - Aug 12th, 2009 at 1:53 pm EDT

Also listed in: 5 groups

A interesting thought: After reading about the President's actions concerning GM and Chrysler earlier, I was a bit disturbed to learn that both Chrysler and the former financial arm of GM, GMAC, are majority owned by "Cerberus Capital Management," whose chief spokesman is former US Vice President Dan Quayle, and whose Chairman is John Snow, former US Secretary of the Treasury under G. W. Bush.

The "Gabriel" fund, a fund of Cerberus partner, J. Ezra Merkin, was the major player in acquiring both Chrysler and GMAC, and was also a feeder fund for Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC.

If you're up at all on Greek/Roman mythology, Cerberus is the multi-headed (usually 3) dog which guards the gates of Hell, to prevent those who have crossed the river Styx from ever escaping. Cerberus was the faithful companion/guard of the god of the underworld, Hades, and son of Echidna (half woman/half viper),"The Mother of all Monsters," and Typhon (half man/half serpent), "the largest and most grotesque of all creatures that have ever lived."

Cerberus Capital Management founder, Steve Feinberg, has stated to his employees, during the company's earlier days, that while the Cerberus name seemed like a good idea at the time, he later regretted naming the company after the mythological dog.

I, however, would have to say that perhaps there is indeed much power in a name! Just something for all my friends to chew on a bit today! Blessings... Greg

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Letter to An Unnamed Evangelical Leader... Garry Wills

By Greg M - Aug 12th, 2009 at 1:50 pm EDT

Also listed in: 6 groups

Those who know me are aware that I am a voracious reader. A book I have recently acquired and am currently enjoying is What Jesus Meant, by author Garry Wills. "Garry Wills has written many acclaimed works on religion. His Papal Sin and Why I Am Catholic were New York Times bestsellers. He studied for the priesthood, took his doctorate in the classics, and taught Greek for many years at the Johns Hopkins University. He is now Professor of History Emeritus at Northwestern University. His works on American history have received many awards, including the Pulitzer Prize for Lincoln at Gettysburg." (…quoted from the jacket of the book)

While reading this morning I came across this letter that Garry includes in his book from an unnamed writer to an Evangelical leader. Garry admits not knowing the source of the letter, but seems to simply omit the recipient. Still, the letter is so poignant that Garry felt it was well worth including in his book, and I thoroughly enjoyed it and thought many of you would as well. Here it is straight from Garry's book, What Jesus Meant, C. 2006 by Garry Wills, published by Penguin Group, Inc., chapter 2 The Work Begins, sub-chapter Are Some Still Unclean?, pages 33 – 35.

"Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's law. I have learned a great deal from you, and try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination – end of debate. I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some other elements of God's laws and how to follow them.

1. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?
2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?
3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness (Lev. 15:19-24). The problem is: how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.
4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor to the Lord (Lev. 1:9). The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?
5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it?
6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination (Lev. 11:10), it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this? Are there degrees of abomination?
7. Leviticus 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?
8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Leviticus 19:27. How should they die?
9. I know from Leviticus 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?
10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Leviticus 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them (Lev. 24:10-16)? Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair, like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws (Lev. 20:14)?

I know you have studied these things extensively and thus enjoy considerable expertise in such matters, so I am confident that you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging."

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Stewardship of God's Creation!

By Greg M - Aug 12th, 2009 at 1:47 pm EDT

Also listed in: 6 groups

I would encourage any Christian who holds to that always distinctive and classic evangelical notion that was deeply planted within us from very young that "Jesus is coming again soon and this world's going to burn, so I don't want to waist my energy focusing on the enviornment, but rather keep an eternal focus," to go back and truly look into what the scripture actually teaches us and not just blindly repeat what we have all heard for so very long, which I'll admit, up until the past decade of my life I repeated blindly too.

To be honest, we don't really know what will happen with the actual earth after Jesus returns for us. Most hold that it will be utterly destroyed, and perhaps this is the case, but actually the Bible is in no way clear about that. It says that humanity will cease to exist in the flesh, thus, "there will be deep mourning among all the peoples of the earth." (Matthew 24:30 NLT) But, unless you're a hardline dispensationalist fundamentalist, you can admit that there is really no way to know the fate of the earth. Yes, there is the passage, "Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear." (Matthew 24:35 NLT) However, does this refer to actual places? or perhaps states of being? who is to say? And everything Jesus says earlier in this same chapter has probably already taken place just as Jesus prophesied when the Temple was destroyed in Jerusalem by the Romans in AD 70; at least this was the actual perspective of Matthew himself.

Either way, the way Matthew 24 ends is the clincher for me, as to our role as good stewards of God's Creation. Jesus uses the example of a faithful and sensible servant in the household of the Master. Of course, if we're to honestly translate Jesus' meaning here we have to recognize what God's household is. It is certainly not some actual house on the earth, nor would God's household servants who need to be fed only be humans in an earthly house. Jesus is certainly referring to all of God's creation in this passage.

"A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. But what if the servant is evil and thinks, 'My master won't be back for a while,' and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk? The master will return unannounced and unexpected, and he will cut the servant to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 24:45-51 NLT)

I'll take the frightening challenge of putting this scripture into words we might be able to relate to our situation today: "A human who is a Jesus follower is one to whom Jesus can give the responsibility of being a faithful steward of all of God's creation. One who will see to the proper use, protection and distribution of the resources of the earth, even the universe. If Jesus returns and finds that his follower has done a good job, there will be a reward... But what if that human believes that Jesus will not return in a very long time and begins to treat God's creation in ways that please himself or herself or only select humans? What if this human says 'I have everything I want at my figertips and I will use it all as I see fit and will eat, drink and be merry, and so will my friends. Besides, Jesus won't care all that much anyway since He is going to just throw it all away right after He returns!' Jesus will return unannounced and unexpected, and will be deeply hurt and disappointed with how the human He entrusted God's creation to as a steward of it has utterly misused and destroyed God's creation." I'll be kind and leave the rest for everyone else to translate for herself or himself.

As for me, I've decided to throw out the old picture from my fundamentalist past of being a Christian on a sinking ship (the earth) with my eyes to the sky waiting to be rescued off the ship before it sinks with everyone else on it! I don't even necessarily believe I'm on a sinking ship anymore. But, even if I am, I've discovered that my eyes had better be fixed on caring for the ship and all of the people on it as best I can so that when Jesus does come for rescue, many, many more will hopefully be rescued, and who really knows? maybe even the ship itself! Blessings... Greg

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Election Night Celebration! My Story!

By Greg M - Aug 12th, 2009 at 1:41 pm EDT

Also listed in: 6 groups

Election Night Celebration!
By Gregory M. McCaw … 11/04/2008

I'm so excited! I'm back and forth between shouting and crying! I'm so surprised by my reaction right now, because for a long time I've been relatively comfortable that Barak Obama would indeed be our next President of the United States of America; in fact, I've projected to many of you that I even felt it would be by at least somewhat of a landslide. So, I really kind of thought that this evening would be for me somewhat ho hum since I didn't think it would be that big of a surprise. But, wow! Even though pretty much all that I expected to happen did indeed happen, I find myself in almost a bit of shock! I have really truly been so amazingly and pleasantly and emotionally surprised and quite simply engulfed in this uncontrollable desire to worship! to praise! to celebrate!

I know many of you must feel similarly. I remember my young childhood when I began to realize that I was significantly "different" somehow from my other male friends, and how that "difference" somehow made me afraid. I still don't know how I knew it, but somehow I knew that if others found out about how I felt "different" that I would experience rejection and exclusion on many levels. So, I made heroic efforts to hide and cover my "difference." I remember that as I entered into puberty and I had a significant hormonal imbalance that caused me to physically develop differently from other males my age in such a way that was easily noticeable and I began to receive more and more public teasing and experienced threats and was often called names by other kids. So, I made every effort to hide this unsightly "difference" as best I could, usually to no avail.

These two significant battles and struggles in my life, however, provided a special opportunity for me to get a taste of what life is like for those persons who do not fit the expectations of those who hold power in our world. As frightened as I was at the time, as a young white boy, because of "busing" (or the government mandated integration of public schools), and because I was the son of a poor evangelical preacher and therefore could not afford to go to a private school like the majority of my white friends, I was bused across town to Harding Middle School, in Oklahoma City, OK, an historical African-American school, then on to Northeast High School, also an historical African-American school, both located in the "African-American" section of the city. During those seven years, from 1972 through 1979, in the very early days of the social experiments of racial integration, I had the great honor of experiencing close up the struggles, the pain, and the suffering of "otherness" through many dearly loved African-American friends. I was able to overcome my fear and embrace them, first of all because they embraced me, and also because I found solidarity with them in my own pain and suffering. Interestingly, nearly all of the teasing and name calling and threats that I received during these years came from other white males. Very little came from white females and almost none came from black males or females. I was embraced, I now know, as a fellow "other." In addition, because of this significant connection with black students and teachers alike, I was also able to see their hope and their desire to rise above the systems that sought to keep them down. I was able to learn from them how to find hope in myself.

I will never forget the significance of one particular elder black student, Cassell Lawson. Barak Obama reminds me of Cassell. As I began my freshman year at Northeast High School, I was a shell of who I am today. I was a frightened, somewhat self-defeated, very self-conscious kid. I didn't feel very good about myself. I was a nominal Christian because I had little real faith of my own. I wore my hair long, straggly, and didn't care much for overall cleanliness. I dressed the part of what we called in those days, "greasers," or "druggies," a careless disheveled look. I was trying to be a cigarette smoker, and was coming very close to experimenting with illegal drugs. Cassell was a junior and was highly respected throughout the school, very popular, and the President of the Marching Band, the pride of Northeast High School. I was, above all else, a lover of music, and a dedicated trombonist, so I could not resist the call of the band. The Northeast High School, Mighty Viking, Marching Band was known throughout Oklahoma as one of the finest show bands in the state, modeled after colleges such as Grambling and Florida A&M. A true "black" show band. Of the other 16 white students who came into the band as freshmen with me, all but 4 had dropped out by the end of the first semester. It either proved too much for them, too "different" for them, or, in many cases, too "frightening" for them. We white people have little or no experience being in the minority, and we usually don't do very well when we suddenly find ourselves in that situation. I, however, loved music too much to quit. I was determined to stick it out.

One Friday early in the second semester that year, Cassell asked me to take a walk with him around the track of the school's football field, just he and I. As we walked, Cassell talked and I listened. I knew it was an honor just to have him choose me to spend time with. He told me about the band, and our notorious director, Dr. Alvin Jernigan, a tough, creative, black, former marine. He explained to me how difficult it had been to keep white students in the band. He expressed appreciation for me, and most importantly he expressed respect for me for having stuck it out so far. He told me that he really wanted me to stay with the band. He said that he was highly impressed by not only my musicianship, but also my ability to stick it out in the face of difficult odds. He said that this showed that I had real true character. He also said that he was impressed by my sense of rhythm and ability to move, "for a white guy!" I took that as a very high compliment. I was elated; I can still remember the feeling I had throughout my entire body and soul hearing these kind and encouraging words from this guy that I respected so much. Then, suddenly, Cassell turned very serious, and stopped me there on the track where we stood and looked me in the eye. He said, "Greg, here's what bothers me about you... you don't act or carry yourself like the kind of guy I just described. You come to school looking like you just crawled out of bed, didn't shower, and put on whatever clothes you touched first. You smoke cigarettes and hang out with some guys of questionable character who are known to smoke weed and do other drugs. You mope around with your head hung, no smile on your face and no apparent joy and sense of destination. Greg, the way you look most of the time and act most of the time doesn't jive with the character I think is really there inside of you." He said, "Greg, I've heard the names those guys call you and what they mess with you about. But, man, they don't matter; and what they think about you doesn't matter either. You have to take responsibility for your life and decide whether you're going to listen to idiots like that and let them determine who you are, or whether you listen to the hope you know you have within you, and use the inner power that God gave you to rise above all that and be who God calls you to be." Then to drive it home to me he said, "I've heard from others that you're supposed to be a Christian. Aren't Christians supposed to live victoriously no matter what?! Listen to me, man, clean up your act and be the guy I see and that God sees! If you will do that, you will become a leader, and we really need white guys like you to lead."

Well, that weekend, I got a haircut; I started cleaning myself and doing all I could to look as good as I could. I threw out my cigarettes (I was never a real smoker anyway), and I actually started practicing walking with my head up and shoulders back and I rediscovered my natural smile. That talk changed everything for me! I decided then, and I've never turned back, that I would be a faithful follower of Jesus Christ and his true teachings and do what he actually demonstrated in his life, no matter where it took me. When the bigots would call me names and taunt me, I would just smile and ignore them. They didn't bother me anymore! You see, I had just connected for the very first time in my life, with someone I respected who had actually experienced more pain than I had ever dreamed of and was rising above it! I had experienced true solidarity with another "other." It was life-changing, no, it was world-changing for me!

I went on in my sophomore year to become the Band's first white low brass section leader. Then, in my junior year, I was elected by the Band as its first white Band President (Cassell's former role). Then, in my senior year, I was elected the first white Drum major, and not only that, but the first white Drum major of any historically black Marching Show Band, at least that we knew of. During that year I was approached by scouts offering potential scholarships in music to both Grambling University and Florida A&M, both of which were seeking to diversify their student bodies.

I know that many of you have to have stories like that. How you've chosen to rise above your pain. I also know that there are some of us who have even experienced pain caused by those we should find solidarity with. I don't know about you, but, tonight's wonderful victory has caused me to pause and recall the hope of something greater that is within each of us. I am so thankful. Aren't you? Thank you, God, for loving me and for not giving up on me no matter what. Thank you, Barak Obama, for rising above all your pain and suffering and clinging to that hope that is within you. Thank you, America, for continually proving to the world that hope always wins, eventually. Thank you, friends, and fellow "others," for allowing me to be part of your world and to help you to find hope. Thank you, Cassell Lawson, for caring enough to be honest, and in so doing, showing me the power of hope, and changing not only my life, but also the lives of the many "others" that Christ has touched through me!

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The Great Disappointment

By Greg M - Jul 7th, 2008 at 5:50 pm EDT

Also listed in: 6 groups

"The Great Disappointment!"
By Rev. Gregory M. McCaw, Thursday, October 11, 2007

Today is "National Coming Out Day!" in the LGBT community. A day in which we celebrate our experience of "coming out" of the metaphorical "closet." We celebrate the lifting of the ultimately unbearable burden of living in-authentically, and we mourn our sense of loss of some family and friends who value their limited world-view more than they value the unlimited riches found in authentic relationship with all of God's wonderfully diverse creation of which we are but a small part.

In my mind, it is highly unfortunate and very sad that still today the vast majority of the leadership to be found throughout the great religions of the world choose to ignore the obvious extreme and unending diversity throughout all of the created order. And, if you are one who truly believes in an ultimate Creator, I wonder how it becomes possible to see and experience both the Creator and Creation in such a narrowly defined manner.

The Apostle Paul charges… "For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. Ever since the creation of the world his eternal power and divine nature, invisible though they are, have been understood and seen through the things he has made." (Romans 1:19-20 NRSV) In this controversial chapter, Paul is speaking of human beings who once knew God, but have now exchanged their worship of God for the worship of man-made idols. I wonder, has westernized Christianity made an idol of a particular model of the human family?

I am a Christian, and I am a Christian Pastor. I am distressed by the narrow definition proposed by the majority of other Christian Pastors and Leaders as the "Biblical" model of the family. This model is then imposed upon the rest of our western culture. What the world at large continues to experience from the Christian religion far too often - as is the case with other major religions as well - is a message of exclusion and rejection. I understand the message of the Bible and of Jesus Christ to be one of inclusion and embrace!

I "came out" to my family, my parents, almost two years ago. It was a very, very difficult and painful and frightening experience for me. It had taken me 44 years to arrive at a point in my life where I could no longer live my life only to satisfy my family and friends. One of my highest personal values is authenticity, and I honestly lived my life as authentically as I possibly could in every area, with the exception of one, that being my own sexual/romantic orientation. For most of those closeted years I had convinced myself that it was incumbent upon me to sacrifice my own true being for the greater good of peace and harmony among my family, my friends and my peers in Christian pastoral ministry. This seemed honorable and right to me.

However, the more and more I understood and accepted God's grace for myself and extended the same to others, the more I learned that true relationship with the Triune God, Creator, Christ and Holy Spirit, can only be experienced through true and authentic relationships with other human beings, beginning with those that God has placed you nearest by Devine providence. I realized more and more that my relationship with God could get no deeper and truer and more authentic than I myself was willing to become deeper and truer and more authentic with others around me. It is through relationship with other human persons that I learn more and more of the diverse nature and person of God. This is not something that I have made up to make myself feel better; this is supported throughout the Bible, and especially in the words of Christ.

I began to think about my relationship to my parents and to the rest of my family and to my dearest friends and peers. Do they truly know me? Do I truly know them? And, if any part of my inner being is hidden from my loved ones, can they ever truly know all of me? I knew that being completely honest about all of me with my family would be very, very difficult for them. However, I began to feel deeply moved by the Holy Spirit to become fully authentic in a public manner so that I could become part of God's healing and reconciling mission for all persons, indeed all of creation. This meant I had to begin with my parents, my family.

One day while praying about whether I was ready to do this, I felt an overwhelming sense of urgency to share all of myself with my parents. It occurred to me that if either of my parents were to leave this life before I got the courage to reveal all of me to them that they would have then actually died without truly knowing me. The thought of my parents not really knowing all of me was unbearable to me. I felt that even if it was painful for them to know all of me that if they never did then our relationship was not really fully authentic.

About three weeks before Christmas in December of 2005, I "came out." First to my parents, then to the rest of my family, then my closest friends who did not yet know, then to all of my peers in Christian pastoral ministry and the many, many students that I had mentored into Christian ministry over the years. What I have experienced in return from these persons is certainly somewhat of a mixed bag. By and large the reactions have been relatively positive. Of course, my ministry gifts were no longer desired within the Faith Community that I had grown up in and served all of my life, and many of my peers of my age group have had great difficulty in receiving the news and most have chosen not to keep in touch with me, but I am grateful to the few that have. It is a different story with my younger students, however. Almost to a person they have been very supportive and have continued to seek me out for life advice and direction. Some of my family members have been quite supportive, all continue to love me and care for me, but some, including my beloved parents are deeply disappointed.

I have come to see that westernized Christians who promote this narrow definition of the "Biblical" family are guilty of setting parents up for deep disappointment. You see, the depth of pain felt by parents when a child "comes out" is the result of the parent's realization that his or her dream for that child will not come true. Our narrow theology of the "Biblical" family sets these dreams into the minds of parents; never mind that this proposed "Biblical" family does not even exist in the Bible.

What does this proposed "Biblical" model of the family look like? It consists of two parents, one male and one female, who have both remained virgin until the first night after their marriage. After which sexuality is expressed regularly certainly for mutual pleasure and companionship, but still more for the purpose of producing children. Both the male and the female parent begin to dream about the children they will have. If a male child, he will be strong, masculine, handsome, intelligent, athletic, popular and ambitious. If a female child, she will be refined, feminine, beautiful, intelligent, charming, popular and supportive. The child will grow up in an honorable and respectful way, also remaining virgin, and will eventually meet and fall in love with someone else's child of the opposite sex and they will then marry and produce grandchildren for whom the grandparents will then develop similar dreams, and so on.

I have read the Bible through and through multiple times and still to date have never come across a single family mentioned in the Bible that actually represents what is proposed as the "Biblical" model of the family. Of course, the main thesis for this proposed "Biblical" model of the family is found in Genesis 2:23-24 (NRSV) "Then the man said, 'This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; this one shall be called Woman, for out of Man this one was taken.' Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh." So supposedly here we see the model family; never mind that Adam and Eve did not apparently, according to the story, have a father and mother. And, as we read on we discover that this first family, this "model" family, suffered extreme dysfunction. Their oldest son murders their second son, which indeed must have ruined Adam's and Eve's dreams for their children! And, I still find myself wanting to know who Cain and Seth "married" later to have more children.

Let's consider Noah with whom all seemed to be well until after the flood when his son, Ham, did something apparently so devastating that God cursed Ham's and his son, Canaan's, descendents for eternity. This must have severely disappointed Mr. and Mrs. Noah.

How about Father Abraham? He and Sarah get so impatient for God's promise to come true that he impregnates his concubine (or Sarah's "Egyptian slave girl"), which causes not only great disappointment and dysfunction within their particular family, but throughout all peoples of the three major world religions to this very day!

Next we have Lott, the nephew of Abraham, who not only offers his daughters to the inhospitable and violent men of Sodom, but later, after they escape the city, gets so stinking drunk that he impregnates his own daughters. What a disappointment that must have been to him after he sobered up!

Search the rest of the Old Testament and you will find it difficult to find an example of the alleged "Biblical" model of the family based upon a monogamous male/female couple. Not only is polygamous marriage the prevailing practice among all of the people's of the ancient near east, but the extended Hebrew law from Torah says nothing to limit marriage to the practice of monogamy. Torah also defines the legal manner in which a father can sell his daughter into slavery, which certainly seems to fly in the face of the alleged "Biblical" family values.

I should also mention the practice of levirate (Latin) marriage or yibbum (Hebrew), commanded in the Hebrew law in Deuteronomy 25:5-10. Speaking of less than ideal families, to illustrate this practice I'll use the story of Onan, found in Genesis 38:7-11, where Er, the oldest son of Judah, is put to death by God for being wicked. Judah commands his second son, Onan, to take his brother's wife as his wife and give her offspring. Onan, for selfish reasons, withdraws early and spills his semen on the ground, so God puts him to death also. Judah then instructs his twice-widowed daughter-in-law, Tamar, to patiently wait until his third son, Shelah, is old enough to give her offspring. Interestingly enough, even though yibbum is a commanded familial practice in the Bible it is strangely not included as an option for alleged "Biblical" family values.

Let me skip numerous other examples in-between and mention King David, who not only committed adultery with Bathsheba, but then proceeded to arrange the death of her husband to cover his sin. Just read on to see how utterly dysfunctional that family became and how disappointing David's children became to him. Yet God considered David "to be a man after my heart, who will carry out all my wishes." (Acts 13:22 NRSV)

Here's one to heavily think about… The Prophet Hosea who says God commanded him, "Go, take for yourself a wife of whoredom and have children of whoredom…" (Hosea 1:2 NRSV). He marries Gomer, the prostitute, who continues to prostitute herself and over time bears two sons and a daughter, which may or may not be Hosea's. After the third child is born, the second son, she leaves Hosea and continues in prostitution, but, Hosea takes her back as his wife again as commanded by God. Yes, a Biblical family, but certainly not like the alleged "model."

Let's jump up to the New Testament now and look at the Apostle, Paul. Some believe he was never married; some believe he was but do not know what happened to his wife, some believe he may have struggled with his sexual orientation. I don't know. I'm not convinced of any of these beliefs about Paul, but there isn't necessarily evidence ruling them out as possibilities. He was apparently not married at the time he wrote his letters to the church in Corinth.

I Corinthians, chapter 7, is fully dedicated to encouraging Christ followers not to marry if they are able to control their desires. Yet a majority of Christian churches and leaders today highly encourage and even place a premium on all Christ Followers marrying (one man with one woman only) and producing children in order to fit into the dominant cultural system. Single Christ Followers will inevitably testify to the extreme pressure they feel to conform to the alleged "Biblical" model of the family. Even further, once married, a childless heterosexual couple will testify to the extreme pressure to produce children. Such extreme pressure to conform is all part of this "dream" that has risen to become part of our dominant culture.

Even Jesus' own family is no example of our proposed "Biblical" model of the family. Mary became pregnant before she and Joseph were married. Yes, we know why now, but in that day it caused a significant scandal. Joseph was not Jesus' biological father, he was Jesus' step-father, and all of Jesus' siblings were half-brothers and half-sisters. They were what today we call a "blended" family.

The proponents of this idealized, westernized, contrived "Biblical" model of the family and the "family values" that accompany it insist that this model has even been the dominant model of the family throughout human history. This too is inaccurate at best. The monogamous-marriage based family unit is a relative newcomer to human history. Polygamous marriage has undoubtedly been the dominate model of the family unit throughout human history. The alleged "Biblical" model of the family has only dominated European ethnic culture; and that only over the last millennium.

Our western ideal family model actually arises from early Greek culture, and was then made standard practice during the rule of the Roman Empire. It comes from Pagan culture more than from our Biblical Hebrew past. By the time the Roman Emperor Constantine proclaimed Christianity as the official religion of the Roman Empire, the Church had become far more institutionalized and had begun to incorporate many of the ideals of Roman politics, laws and culture into the culture and organization of the Church.

Even as the Roman Empire fell apart, the European powers that rose from the ashes of Rome kept the same basic ideals, but we have numerous examples of Kings and Rulers, thought to be the representatives of God on earth, who did not practice what was held up as the standard. I won't go into endless examples, but let's just look at Britain's King Henry VIII. The birth of the Church of England (Anglicanism) occurred because Henry desired yet another divorce so that he could marry yet another wife (Ann), but the Pope in Rome would not grant it. So, Henry created the Church of England in protest, appointed the Arch Bishop of Canterbury (a rival of the Pope's) as the working Head of the Church, and in turn the Arch Bishop crowned Henry as the Royal Head of the Church (Pope). So, Henry granted his own divorce.

Of course, throughout European history it has been an accepted practice within the wealthy ruling elite classes for young male heirs to be married to very close family members, usually first or second cousins, but sometimes nieces and even sisters. A practice we would generally consider incestuous. This was practiced in order to horde wealth for an elite few.

Even today, right here in the United States of America, one would be hard pressed to show that the proposed "Biblical" family model is the dominant model, or ever has been. Perhaps it was for a very short period of time, but it is not today, nor can it be. First of all, far too many of its adherents have failed to carry it out, sometimes over and over again. America, indeed the world, is made up of families of every shape and size and type. There are single-parent families, no-parent families, three or more-parent families, monogamous-marriage based male/female families, monogamous-marriage based male/male families, monogamous-marriage based female/female families, multi-ethnic families, multi-religious families, polygamous-marriage based families, biological families, blended families, and on and on. And, nowadays, out of sheer necessity, surrogate families. Having largely been excluded because of failure to conform to the dominant culture - some having been "disowned" by their families of origin - single persons, and especially homosexual, bisexual, transgender and questioning persons, purposely build families with one another.

Now, please hear me when I say that I actually believe the monogamous-marriage based family unit to be the preferable ideal. I think that there is much evidence that supports this ideal as the best and most efficient and effective model among many possible models. I would assert that these monogamous-marriage based family units work equally well with male/female or male/male or female/female couplings and that there is no significant evidence to the contrary. However, I can no longer ally myself with those who choose to falsely and arrogantly glorify only one particular model of family and demonize all other types of families, especially when doing so in the name of God, Creator, Christ and Holy Spirit. I submit that there is no "Biblical" model of the family, but rather that the Bible very clearly records a variety of types of families and God's blessing on all types families, even when the family unit is quite dysfunctional, and that "Biblical" values apply equally to every family regardless of its particular makeup.

It is time for Christian Churches and Religious Leaders to become active in recognizing, assisting, blessing, admonishing, teaching, counseling, accepting and loving families of all kinds, and cease the propaganda war demonizing anything but one favored type of family unit. This is not to say that we should not encourage, teach, and lead by example in the preferable model of the monogamous-marriage based family, regardless of the gender mix of the two parents. But when we raise this model up as being the "only" model that supposedly pleases God we immediately marginalize every other family type.

As a gay man trying my best to follow Jesus Christ, I can certainly relate to Paul's wonderful and perplexing writings. But these writings speak to all of us, regardless of orientation. Meditate with me on these passages…

…on judging others…
"Therefore you have no excuse, whoever you are, when you judge others; for in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, are doing the very same things." (Romans 2:1 NRSV)
"What then? Are we any better off? No, not at all; for we have already charged that all… are under the power of sin, as it is written: 'There is no one who is righteous, not even one; there is no one who has understanding…" (Romans 3:9-11 NRSV)
"Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or your sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God… So then, each of us will be accountable to God. Let us therefore no longer pass judgment on one another, but resolve instead never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of another. I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean… So do not let your good be spoken of as evil. For the Kingdom of God is not food and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. The one who thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and has human approval. Let us then pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. Do not, for the sake of "food," destroy the work of God. The faith that you have, have as your own conviction before God. Blessed are those who have no reason to condemn themselves because of what they approve." (Romans 14:10, 12-14, 16-20, 22 NRSV)

…on personal character…
"Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us… But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. Much more surely then, now that we have been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. But more than that, we even boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation." (Romans 5:1-5, 8-11 NRSV)
"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death." (Romans 8:1-2 NRSV)

…on the reconciliation of all creation back to God…
"I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God." (Romans 8:18-21 NRSV)
"We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies… Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God." (Romans 8:22-23, 26-27 NRSV)

…on God's unconditional love…
"We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose… What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? Who will bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:28, 31, 33-35, 37-39 NRSV)

Again, I do not know what Paul's struggle was, but I certainly can identify with him in it…
"Therefore to keep me from being too elated, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, but he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.' So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong." (II Corinthians 12:7-10 NRSV)

I made far more than three appeals to the Lord asking for removal of my perceived "thorn in the flesh." God's answer to me was the same as God's answer to Paul, and is ultimately what gave me the strength to accept myself as I am… "My grace is sufficient for you!" Yes, this does mean that God loves me no matter what. However, far more than that, God's grace is the gift of citizenship in God's Kingdom because of my faith in Jesus Christ! And God says that grace, that gift, is SUFFICIENT for me!

Why does our fear, our fear of the unknown or what we do not understand, cause us to feel as if we have to demonize others who are different from us? Why do we insist upon narrowing down God's vastly diverse creation into easily manageable, monochrome, contrived in-groups and out-groups? The Bible is clear about Jesus' mission: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." (Luke 4:18-19 NRSV) My favorite translation of that last phrase is, "the Kingdom of God is at hand!" The Kingdom of God is here, now, among humankind. We are current citizens of the current (at hand) Kingdom of God. Can we not learn to be true and present and active citizens, one with another; active participants with Christ in His mission here and now? Every part of Christ's mission statement involves recovery, reconciliation and inclusion. Christ's mission is to reconcile, to include, embracing all of creation unto God; not oppressing, not rejecting, not excluding. If Christ is reconciling, including and embracing, why are so many "Christians" oppressing, excluding and rejecting?

We are given further insight into what Jesus Christ, indeed what God expects from each person who would call herself or himself a Christ Follower… "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: you shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." (Matthew 22:37-40 NRSV) I would solidly assert that any human being who would dare to usurp the role of the Holy Spirit, "ordained" or not, in attempting to determine who is "inside" or who is "outside" of God's Kingdom is in serious danger of, or perhaps is indeed guilty of breaking these great commandments.

Here is the only direct Word of Christ that can give us any legitimate clue as to who might be "outside" of God's Kingdom… "Then he will say to those at his left hand, 'You are accursed, depart from me… for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me… Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." (Matthew 25:41-43, 45-46 NRSV) Of course here, as was usual, Jesus was directly addressing the ruling religious authorities, this teaching coming directly after his outburst during his visit to the Temple in Jerusalem.

So, why do parents and family members have such a deeply difficult emotional struggle when a child or sibling "comes out?" I believe it is because they are taught this kind of in-grouping / out- grouping activity. As if it is our duty as Christians to identify who is "inside" and who is "outside" of the Kingdom of God. Parents are taught that there is only one acceptable dream for the ideal family unit. They have a demonized view of anything that strays from that one alleged "Biblical" dream that they have been dreaming for so very long. As a result, the child, the man or the woman who has "come out" feels much like Paul did when he decided to be completely truthful with the Church in Galatia.

There were some church leaders who had convinced the Galatians that they were not really citizens of God's Kingdom because they had not been physically circumcised. You see, the physically circumcised, for many, were the "in-group" and the physically uncircumcised were the "out-group." Even though they had overlooked Paul's disgusting infirmity (whatever that may have been) and accepted him as family, they were buying into the lie that they were themselves not family because they had their foreskins. And, they were unhappy with Paul for telling them the truth. It seems they were ready to give in and try to be just like everyone else so that they would be accepted as family. They were ready to go against their own nature to become part of the "in-group." "Friends, I beg you, become as I am, for I have also become as you are. You have done me no wrong. You know it was because of a physical infirmity that I first announced the gospel to you; though my condition put you to the test, you did not scorn or despise me, but welcomed me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. What has become of the goodwill you felt? For I testify that, had it been possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?" (Galatians 4:12-16 NRSV)

My experience with my family when I "came out" was that they would have preferred that I just go on living the lie that I was living. We are taught from very young that one of the very highest Biblical virtues is truth, being honest, telling the truth. However, when it comes to this particular issue, most Christians don't really care to hear or know the truth. You see, everyone was happy with my living a lie. As long as I was living that lie, everyone's dreams were still on the road to being fulfilled, or at least by all "appearances." It is, after all, "appearance" that matters so much to we materialistic westerners, isn't it? Of course, in my case, my parents had already had to adjust their dream a bit since my wife and I were unable to have children. Still, most of the dream was intact until such time as we decided we could no longer live untruthfully, in-authentically, eventually leading to our divorce.

This irony extended into my professional Christian Ministry world as well. I was actually hearing things like, "Greg, why are you doing this? You have accomplished so much, gone so far, you're doing so well. God has and is working through you in so many wonderful ways. Why do you want to ruin your career by telling everyone you are homosexually oriented?" In other words, they would have been fine and happy had I just continued on in my career without ever telling the truth. "No problem! As long as we don't know about it, God can still use you. But, if you tell us the truth about you, God will no longer have a place for you in the ministry." "Don't ask, don't tell," has been the prevalent un-spoken policy of the institutional church well before the United States military establishment officially adopted it.

This is of course the very reason that so many within Christian ministry are being caught in inappropriate, sometimes immoral and sometimes illegal compromising situations. For reasons of career, status, ego, pride, opportunity, and sometimes just because it seems economically necessary, they remain "closeted," perhaps not acting out for their entire careers until suddenly they can hold out no longer and they make that first move toward compromise, eventually getting caught and wounding their families, their friends, their churches and their communities and destroying trust for many, many people. But our church culture encourages this; actually, it almost necessitates the lie, the hiding, and the covering of any potential signs.

I truly believe that one day healing for my family will come. I pray for the day that my parents are able to get past the great disappointment and hurt they feel in the loss of their wonderful, but unrealistic dream. I want to get on to asking and receiving forgiveness, not for telling them the truth, but rather for not telling them the truth sooner. Whether they are ever able to enjoy every part of my truth and thank God for all of me and adjust their dreams to include me as a Christian man who happens to be gay or not, I am at peace with them knowing all of my truth. I am at peace because I have been honest, truthful and authentic with everyone. The dream for family need not die, but only to embrace a possibility for family not formerly considered valid.

I also truly believe that one day my Faith Community of origin will be able to enlarge their boundaries and begin to embrace me once again, but this time, ALL of me. Until such time, they will always be in my embrace. May God help and guide us into all truth. Thanks be to God!

By Rev. Gregory M. McCaw
Wilmington, NC

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Consistent Ethic of LIfe? It Seems Right to Me!

By Greg M - Jun 28th, 2008 at 12:13 pm EDT

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Consistent Ethic of Life? It Seems Right to Me!
Rev. Gregory M. McCaw, 08/06/2007

I find it nearly impossible to comprehend how large numbers of confessing Christian people allow themselves to be lured, actually frightened, into very narrow and selfish thinking. When considering how to address humanity's most difficult social problems it seems that many Christians are inconsistent in their application of Jesus' teachings. It seems that the goal of these Christians is more to preserve a particular narrow worldview and/or their own perceived feeling of security rather than to consistently, and when necessary, sacrificially apply Jesus' teachings. One of the highly held beliefs of all Christians is the "sanctity of life." It has been my personal goal as a Christ follower to be in a constant growing and learning process of broadening my worldview, recognizing my areas of selfishness and consistently applying my belief in the "sanctity of life." As challenged by Rev. Jim Wallis, I'm developing a "consistent ethic of life."

It does not make sense to me for persons trying to live what Jesus taught to fight and demonstrate against abortion, euthanasia and equal treatment under the law for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender persons while at the same time they continue to deny the substantial work yet to be done in bringing about true equal treatment under the law for non-white persons and women; to demand enactment of capital punishment (the death penalty); to support unjust wars to "protect national interests"; to support the inhumane treatment and/or torture of prisoners/captives; to ignore the ongoing genocide in Darfur and the homeless and starving and dying masses all over the world; to demand that persons in the US illegally be treated in all kinds of inhumane ways; to insist upon our own personal comfort over the stewardship of the universe! Some have even allowed themselves to become so frightened that not only do they willing surrender the rights of other human beings but they have surrendered their own rights so that they can "feel" safer.

It seems right to me, the more I deeply embrace the unswerving grace demonstrated and taught by Jesus Christ, that a "consistent ethic of life" would be to apply the same measure of "sanctity" to ALL life and not just the unborn, the elderly and white heterosexual men. Is it so strange for us to actually apply our little catchy marketing phrase, "What Would Jesus Do?" to all of these extremely import issues of life? Rather than simply picking and choosing those issues that most advance our own particular worldview or personal comfort?

Hear the words of Jesus Himself: "Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. I'll say it again - it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!' The disciples were astounded. 'Then who in the world can be saved?' they asked." (Matthew 19:23-25 NLT)

Most of my life, I'll admit that I mistranslated this passage in two significant ways. First, I never saw myself as "a rich person." The truth is that I am the "rich person" to whom Jesus was referring. Secondly, as I was taught, I believed that to "enter into the Kingdom of Heaven or of God" meant to go to "Heaven" after my life on this earth had ended. By "enter into the Kingdom Heaven or of God," Jesus means becoming a citizen of His kingdom of peace here and now, in the present, on the earth, while in my flesh; joining myself into the active Body of Jesus Christ; becoming an active participant with Christ in His mission to reconcile the entire universe to God.

It is so difficult for me to think and act and live as Christ taught and demonstrated. Honestly it is quite nearly impossible sometimes. What makes it so difficult is that I am indeed rich in so many ways and I want to remain so. I love my position of power as a white man. I am embarrassed to say so, but I do. I love the access I have to so much of the earth's resources. It is quite natural, human, for me to hate anything or anyone who comes between me and my power, my access, my comfort, my feeling of safety and security; even my nice, neat and tidy worldview.

"To hell with most everyone else!" Why should I feel guilty for what the idiot white people did to non-white persons up through the middle of the 20th century? I wasn't even alive then! I don't owe those people anything! They have to work hard for theirs just like I have for mine! That goes for women too! Murderers? Rapists? Horse Thieves? Death to all of them so that I don't have to be concerned about them anymore! I don't want my tax dollars spent on housing murderers for life! In the "war on terror" they can do whatever to whomever, whether spying or torture, so that I can feel safe at home! I was all for bombing in Eastern Europe when so many white people were being routinely exterminated, and war with Iraq was justified in order to prevent further disturbance of the US economy, not to mention the issue of justified retaliation. Darfur, however, is a territorial dispute; they should handle their internal issues internally, and if we're being honest, there is no economic value to Darfur. I don't even like to be reminded of homeless and starving children and people dying of AIDS all over Africa, I'm just one guy, what can I do anyway? All illegal ALIENS should be rounded up and deported back to their countries of origin without delay! They are using up all of my social security dollars and driving up the costs of health care, not to mention taxes, and taking jobs from honest legal citizens! And please, build that wall! Global warming is a hoax! And even if it's not, real effects won't be of any major concern for a very long time. Let people deal with it when the time comes! I want what I want when I want it because I can!

Now, I wish I could say I was just playing "devil's advocate" in that last paragraph, but that would not be true. Being completely authentic, these are actual voices that sound off in my mind regularly. As much as and for as long as I have labored to purposely remove or replace these horrid and hidden and sinful demons from deep within, they are still there seeking any and every possible expression. In fact, if I were not homosexual myself, I could add my deep fear of and disdain for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons. Ah, the ultimate position of power, which was held away from me, just out of the grasp of my fingertips. If only I were a rich, white, STRAIGHT man! Then I would truly own the world!

I have found but only one balm for this kind of woundedness that tears at my soul. The Balm in Gilead. "Jeremiah, say to the people, 'This is what the Lord says: When people fall down, don't they get up again? When they discover they're on the wrong road, don't they turn back? Then why do these people stay on their self-destructive path? Why do the people of Jerusalem refuse to turn back? They cling tightly to their lies and will not turn around. I listen to their conversations and don't hear a word of truth. Is anyone sorry for doing wrong? Does anyone say, 'What a terrible thing I have done'? No! All are running down the path of sin as swiftly as a horse galloping into battle! How can you say, 'We are wise because we have the word of the Lord,' when your teachers have twisted it by writing lies? These wise teachers will fall into the trap of their own foolishness, for they have rejected the word of the Lord. Are they so wise after all? They offer superficial treatments for my people's mortal wound. They give assurances of peace when there is no peace. Are they ashamed of these disgusting actions? Not at all - they don't even know how to blush! We hoped for peace, but no peace came. We hoped for a time of healing, but found only terror. My grief is beyond healing; my heart is broken. Listen to the weeping of my people; it can be heard all across the land. 'The harvest is finished, and the summer is gone,' the people cry, 'yet we are not saved!' I hurt with the hurt of my people. I mourn and am overcome with grief. Is there no medicine (balm) in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why is there no healing for the wounds of my people?'" (Jeremiah 8:4-22, selected, NLT)

Of course, those who hold to fundamental interpretations of scripture will claim that this very scripture actually supports their narrow worldview. However, I would remind all reading this that Jeremiah was directly addressing the religious elite. I pray daily for more of our respected Christian leaders to help stop the madness! Each Christ Follower must revisit her or his own application of the belief in the "sanctity of life." It is not that difficult, really, to know when we're hearing teachings that are not in keeping with Jesus' teachings. Listen for messages of fear, alarm, hate, rejection, oppression and exclusion and turn away from those who deliver them. Turn toward messages of faith, hope, love, forgiveness, inclusion and embrace, and begin to practice the same!

As I actually reflect on that little Christian marketing phrase, "WWJD?" in relation to a consistent ethic of life, I must first make a very serious adjustment to it. I prefer to consider the question, concerning every life issue: What IS Jesus DOING? rather than What Would Jesus Do? Because whatever I find Jesus DOING in scriptural history as well as in the NOW, I have decided to make every possible effort to join Him in His reconciling mission!

Therefore I purpose to grow increasingly toward the following:

1. I still hate the very idea of abortion and I believe Jesus does too, but pregnant women are living humans too and Jesus cares about them just as much. Although I believe them to be very rare, there are occasions where this line is very difficult to draw boldly. Rather than be militant in demonstrating against abortion, I will put my efforts and my resources toward causes that will hopefully eventually almost eliminate any need for the practice of abortion, such as care for young mothers, legal adoption reform and recruitment of adoptive parents, and eventually adopting parentless children myself.

2. Jesus demonstrated ONLY unconditional love and acceptance to every living human being and treated them with complete equality. He taught explicitly against any kind of pecking order or hierarchy or levels of sin or righteousness. The early Church demonstrated Jesus' ethic of equal treatment and the commonality of all persons. In fact, Jesus went so far as to turn what is common for us upside-down in teaching preference for the "other", the outsider, the poor, and the marginalized. This was in keeping with His Jewishness, the ideal of hospitality, of welcoming and protecting and covering the stranger, the "other." The only human members of society that Jesus regularly chastised and showed a personal disdain for were the religious elite, precisely because they were conspiring to exclude persons from the Kingdom of God in direct opposition to Jesus' mission of reconciling persons into the Kingdom of God. I must never usurp the role of the Holy Spirit, taking upon myself the privilege of determining who is "in" and who is "out." My role is always and only to be a reconciling agent of Jesus Christ, demonstrating the love, forgiveness and peace of Christ to every human I come in contact with. Agreement with another must never be required for my embrace, and disagreement with another must never exclude that "other" from my embrace.

3. There is no mistaking Jesus' teaching against retaliation of any kind. Jesus' revolutionary and "in your face" demonstration of defiance by turning the other cheek and thereby correcting the "eye for an eye" ethic must take precedence. The 10 commandments are the rule, "Thou shalt not kill!" What is true for the unborn and the elderly is also true for every human being. Capital punishment is not a policy that can be soundly supported by Christ followers. Imprisonment for life is an unfortunate necessary public burden. Further, I will work toward reform that covers the entire corrections system. We must work toward a sustainable way of dealing with justice and corrections rather than unnecessarily jailing so many human beings! For the same reasons, war is never just. It may in rare situations be humanly justified as unavoidable. In such cases, however, war must then be conducted as justly and humanely as possible. War must never be utilized to prevent war. Violence always begets violence, and even though peace does not always beget peace immediately, it is the way of Christ.

4. Matthew 25 is very, very clear as to the responsibility of Christ followers to see to the care, the rescue, the feeding, the protection, the welcoming, the health, the company and companionship of the stranger. Hospitality is a basic Christian Value. God made it clear indeed that each of us is her or his brother's or sister's keeper. "I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!" (Matthew 25: 40 NLT) The state of the US economy, "national interests", my personal comfort and feeling of security, must never be factors in determining whether I should act on behalf of Christ. This truth must be applied to all issues surrounding immigration and general human rights.

5. When the Genesis account says, "Multiply and fill the earth and subdue it. Be masters over the fish and birds and all the animals." (Genesis 1:28 NLT), it does not mean that God wanted us to rape the earth in whatever manner best suited us and the perceived "needs" of western humanity. Rather Jesus' Kingdom teaching and demonstration requires excellent stewardship of all Christ followers. We are to be the stewards of the earth. I am to be in active participation with Christ in His mission to reconcile all creation to God.

The standard of St. Francis will be my banner; "Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace!" To me, this seems right. What say you, friends?

By Rev. Gregory M. McCaw
Wilmington, NC

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