Whitey Tighties, Hugs, and Gay Pride

*** Disclaimer you should read before the post. I have absolutely no wish for this conversation to deteriorate into whether or not Homosexuality is a sin. I honestly do not care whether we agree or not. That is not the point of this post. Thank you! ***

Yes, what you are viewing is not a mirage, that is a man in his underwear hugging another (buckle to buckle I might add). Honestly, this is a pretty touching moment when you read why this happened. Let me give you the story. The clothed man’s name is Nathan and here are some of excerpts from his blog (the Pride Parade outreach) on why and how this happened.

“What I loved most about the day is when people “got it.” I loved watching people’s faces as they saw our shirts, read the signs, and looked back at us. Responses were incredible. Some people blew us kisses, some hugged us, some screamed thank you. A couple ladies walked up and said we were the best thing they had seen all day.

Watching people recognize our apology brought me to tears many times. It was reconciliation personified.

My favorite though was a gentleman who was dancing on a float. He was dressed solely in white underwear and had a pack of abs like no one else. As he was dancing on the float, he noticed us and jokingly yelled, “What are you sorry for? It’s pride!” I pointed to our signs and watched him read them.

Then it clicked.

Then he got it.

He stopped dancing. He looked at all of us standing there. A look of utter seriousness came across his face. And as the float passed us he jumped off of it and ran towards us. He hugged me and whispered, “thank you.”

I think a lot of people would stop at the whole “man in his underwear dancing” part. That seems to be the most controversial. It’s what makes the evening news. It’s the stereotype most people have in their minds about Pride.

Sadly, most Christians want to run from such a sight rather than engage it. Most Christian won’t even learn if that person dancing in his underwear has a name. Well, he does. His name is Tristan.

However, I think Jesus would have hugged him too. It’s exactly what I read throughout scripture: Jesus hanging out with people that religious people would flee from. Correlation between then and now? I think so.

Acceptance is one thing. Reconciliation is another. Sure at Pride, everyone is accepted (except perhaps the protestors). There are churches that say they accept all. There are business that say the accept everyone. But acceptance isn’t enough. Reconciliation is.

Reconciliation forces one to remember the wrongs committed and relive constant pain. Yet it’s more powerful and transformational because two parties that should not be together and have every right to hate one another come together for the good of one another, for forgiveness, reconciliation, unity.

What I saw and experienced at Pride 2010 was the beginning of reconciliation. It was in the shocked faces of gay men and women who did not ever think Christians would apologize to them.

I hugged a man in his underwear. I hugged him tightly. And I am proud.”

This event happened a few weekends ago at a Chicago Pride parade, along with many other US cities, celebrated Gay Pride with a parade. As a part of the weekend, Nathan and a group of over 30 Christians from various Chicago churches went to demonstrate at the Gay Pride Parade with the Marin Foundation. Obviously, their demonstration was much different, though. Our friends (sarcasm included) Fred Phelps and the crew were, by far, the most vocal “Christian” (and I use this word loosely) presence at the parade with their now [in]famous “God Hates Fags” signs, a team from the Marin Foundation took a different approach, they chose to apologize.

To be completely honest I am both happy and saddened by this event, here’s what I mean. I think that precision in words is needed within this context. Signs like “I’m sorry how the church has treated you”, “Im sorry for how the church has hurt you” and simply “I’m sorry” are pretty wide open for interpretation.

Which Church?

How have they hurt?

What did they do?

I’ve not been to a church (that I know off) that physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually hurts people, let alone homosexuals. I’ve been involved in their counseling, recovery, and outreach programs and not seen discrimination. Just for the record I have been apart of Southern Baptist Churches and attend a Southern Baptist Seminary(supposedly the worst of them all). I also realize that I can only speak for those churches that I have been involved with and not every church. It seems that the apology is for the Phelps crew or someone on TV. How does [Phelps and crew] represent “the Church”?

As I have said before I have absolutely no wish for this conversation to deteriorate into whether or not Homosexuality is a sin. I honestly do not care whether we agree or not. The positions of the “Marin Foundation” and my own are different, but this does not lead me to question their individual lives in Christ. Again, this is not the point of this post.

The Marin Foundation’s [short] Mission statement is “… to build a bridge between the religious and GLBT (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender) communities through scientific research, and Biblical and social education.”

This honestly intrigues me that a group of believers are choosing to intentionally engage a community that seems so far from most Christians. So this begs the question, in your [honest] opinion, is this [interaction] effective? Positive or negative? Why?

I am looking forward to the conversation.

A 4th of July message

On June 28th I was sitting in church listening and taking notes on the sermon and then comes the announcement, Pastor Derrick was planning to preach a message not out of the book of Hebrews (like we have been since January) but a message for the fourth of July. Truthfully, my heart was a little worried because of my aversion to politics and Christianity. Since coming to Christ it seems that people automatically believe you are a Republican and it has been annoying. As a matter of fact I’ve disassociated with all political parties because neither is right, both are annoying and neither hold any type of moral high ground (and I am being nice). That being said I walked into church on Sunday and listened to a message that rocked my face off and I pray that as you listen you hear the truth of God and that alone.

You can check out Blue Valley Baptist Church’s podcast here or on iTunes here

Why I’m NOT watching the World Cup Final

If you have read any of my tweets over the last month the title may come as a surprise, but it is the truth. I love the 2 picture of joy that these men have after scoring the game winning goal for there respective sides. I’ve loved the competition over the last month and I am truly sad that it will end until 2014, but that is it. To be completely honest it has taken me years to get to this point and I do not expect you to be here but I would ask that you consider joining me [especially if you are a Christ follower]. In this final a new [and first time] champion will be crowned at the World Cup on Sunday, when Spain meets the Netherlands in a final which has the potential to be a classic. Well-organized and experienced Spain that has the players to outplay most club teams around the world against a Dutch side that has strikers, wingers and midfielders capable of slicing through any defense (point and case Brazil). The first World Cup final to be staged on the African continent should be a memorable one if both teams bring their best game to Soccer City Stadium. So with all of this build-up why (you ask) are you going to be missing the game?

1. I have to work. Ultimately, my allegiance is not to a sport (looking at you every American sport) but to my God who has asked me to serve my family. Will I watch the score? Yes, why not? I will not let it affect my interaction with my guest and utilizing the chance to speak the Gospel into there lives. I did not ask off, and I could have, and

2. It’s just a game. We forget this in America everyday (Lebron free agency 2010), it is rather sickening when you think about it. I am not pointing the finger solely at you but myself also. We find ourselves better able to recite the stats of a person who plays a game while in the same breath our pastors and leaders that I do not have time to read my Bible, or study/ memorize it. The way we treat sports in the U.S. shows everyone else that this is much more important that God. I am not saying that you should become a monk and hide from the rest of the world but make Him more important than everything else. Furthermore, I used to be a person, when my team won or lost, let that game affect my emotional disposition for the rest of the day [week] depending on the game. Listen, I love futbol as much as the next person. i truly think that it is the every-mans game, but it is NOT God and can not serve at a sufficient one. It is just a game.

3. The game will be replayed on ESPN later. When I come home that night from working a 13 hour day, I will sit down, when everyone else is asleep and enjoy the match. Will I know the outcome? Probably? Will I care? Nope. Is it because I’m not rooting for anyone? Nope, I want Holland to win but I think Spain is the better side. I just enjoy the game for the games sake. I could watch it on my phone but I don’t want to take away from my guest experience where I work, so I’ll just watch it later. My guest pay good money to come and watch a great show. Additionally they, being mostly American, don’t care about the final and so I will not have the opportunity to discuss it with them and lastly, see point 2 (it’s just a game).

Like I said earlier I by no means am coming from a high and mighty position but I do want to offer something for you to think about. As a Christ follower I am constantly given the chance to remind myself that He is ultimate and these other things (food, money, sports, relationships, education, sex, music, pets, [add yours here]) make poor gods that always leave me not only unfulfilled but abandoned in the end. This is not just about the World Cup. What is it for you?

A [simple] reason to watch the World Cup

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbn3rOPmR9w]

Seriously, if you haven’t watched a game you have missed out on arguably the best Cup for the US. There are only a few more games maybe you should check them out. Oh, what city/person had the best reaction? Comment below….

Confession Part 3: Black in my shoes

“You are the whitest black person I’ve ever met” or “I’m more black than you are”

Invariably either one or both of these comments are made in almost every environment I end up in. Usually by (but not limited to) my Caucasian associates who feel comfortable enough with me to inform me on what they think about the way I choose to act on a daily basis. I’ve heard it in church; work, from fellow pastors, classmates, even those that I thought that their knowledge of me was extensive enough not to make such an ignorant statement. So here is my question to those statements: What is Black?

So what is being black enough? Is it based upon complexion? Is it a question of heredity and genealogy, or culture and experience? My children may be mistaken for being Hispanic, Hawaiian, biracial (which they are), and will be told that they looked like an Middle Eastern, so I suspect that one’s physical characteristics alone do not make someone black enough. Moreover, in many respects, it makes me realize how ethnic classifications based on colors are misguided anyway. Black America, in particular, not only consists of people with many variants of complexions, black culture consists of people whose racial heritage is a product and blend of the realities of sexual impropriety.

Honestly, I’ve become comfortable enough in my skin to say that I am sick and tired of these (and many more) examples being the standard for what the definition of being Black is. So, again, what is “black enough?” My skin is brown, and this makes me subject to the same racism that any other person in America has faced. There are areas where I can’t walk without being stopped by the police. Likewise, what is “acting white?” There is not a manual that says all black people are supposed to have the same tastes when it comes to clothes, food, music, or anything else. Am I not black because I can appreciate Vivaldi or Mozart as well as James Brown or Public Enemy? Does my respect for education, learning and knowledge mean that I am “acting white?” Notwithstanding my personal likes and dislikes, I am still black! Though I can appreciate things about American culture that appear to be characteristically white, I also appreciate my black culture, history and heritage. All in all, “blackness” is undoubtedly in the mind of the beholder. The next time that you are questioning whether or not someone is “black enough,” consider that they may be asking the same about you.

This is purely hypothetical, but perhaps Malcolm X asked whether Martin Luther King was “black enough” when King was preaching nonviolence. Maybe W.E.B. Dubois questioned the “blackness” of Booker T. Washington when Washington gave his address at the Atlanta Exposition. Though these men may have had philosophical differences on how to empower blacks, one thing that they all had in common was appreciation for their heritage, the desire to take part in the ongoing struggle for freedom, respect for hard work and education, and a strong desire to unify and edify the black community’s social and economic status in an unequal America. Their lives epitomize the fact that individuals can succeed at using different methods to help blacks in their struggle for equality, and this truth really makes the question of whether or not someone is “black enough” meaningless.

Ultimately, what defines me is not the color of my skin, or the content of character but the God I serve. But we will tackle this in the next part of my confession. Tell me what you think below

**You should also read “Confession Part 1: My Story” and “Confession Part II: My Calling” **

iPhone, Porn, and Freedom

Recently I read this article called: Steve Jobs, Apple, and porn. An excerpt: [Steve] Jobs (CEO of Mac) has recently argued that he wants his portable computer devices to not sell or stock pornography. When a critic emailed him to say that this infringed his freedoms, Jobs emailed back and told him to buy a different type of computer.

Steve Jobs is a fan of Bob Dylan, so one customer emailed him to ask how Dylan would feel about Jobs’ restrictions of customers’ freedoms.

The CEO of Apple replied to say that he values:

‘Freedom from programs that steal your private data. Freedom from programs that trash your battery. Freedom from porn. Yep, freedom. The times they are a changin’ and some traditional PC folks feel their world is slipping away. It is.’

The interlocutor replied:

“I don’t want ‘freedom from porn’. Porn is just fine! And I think my wife would agree.”

In the most revealing line, Steve Jobs dismissed the critic thus:

“You might care more about porn when you have kids.”

Pause for a moment and consider what the above emails represent.

The CEO of one of the wealthiest, most successful international companies responds to the email of a customer. Business prospers on the mantra ‘The customer is always right.’ Business wants the customers’ money.

But in this case, over the moral issue of pornography, Jobs is happy to tell customers to buy a different product. He argues that children and innocence ought to be preserved—and that trumps the dollar.

I was struck by Steve Jobs’ idea of freedom through restrictions in relation to our ultimate freedom through submission to God’s Word. The world does not see that as freedom, they view freedom as the ability to do anything, which ultimately leads to some sort of slavery. Even though Jobs was not coming from a Biblical Worldview it is interesting to see him entertain the idea that one can have freedom by submitting to something. Furthermore, Macs filter less porn than PC’s out of the box. Ultimately, these are respectable statements from Jobs. As a husband and A father I am ecstatic for for him to use his platform to get this message across. However, the response of the Christian community is proof of the success of Apple’s marketing. He made a statement, not a decision that he would like to keep porn off of Apple portable devices. That is all he did. Why must Christians continue to get all excited and make decisions about products because someone says something they agree with? It would seem that the only way Jobs can keep porn off of Apple i[device] is to remove the camera and video support, Wi-Fi and data support as swell.

Do I use Apple products? Yes. Are they great? Yes, but there is no need for me to follow blindly. Do we need to support people that we agree with? Sure. I support President Obama’s statement that he wants to lower taxes, but also take issue with some other ideas he has. 40 Days of Purpose, Prayer of Jabez, The Shack, Bono, Steven Baldwin, Oprah, Ford, Pepsi, Disney, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Microsoft, Adobe, IBM and many other products have all been boycotted or embraced by Christians at some point, and some of them have had both done to them. I think Job’s newly publicized anti-porn campaign is a great idea. More people should support that type of thinking. I also think it is great marketing, especially coming from a liberal CEO towards a naive conservative fan base who has in the past questioned his Buddhist and mostly agnostic beliefs. The same conservative group who flipped out back in 1977 when the first Apple retailed for $666.66.

Will I continue to use Mac’s? Sure, if they serve the purpose. Will I purchase one because of a statement that cannot even be upheld? NO. But I do like to support people who have similar morals.

What do you think?